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So use a directory mount point. Yes, Windows does that.

Does assigning a mount point folder path to a drive support semantics equivalent to unionfs, where files on one physical drive overlay files on another, or does a drive have to be a single directory by itself? For example, if programs were unable to install anywhere other than %ProgramFiles%\Title of Program (which resolves to something like C:\Program Files (x86)\Title of Program), how could I tell Windows which drive should contain a particular directory? This guide from Microsoft sort of implies that the mount point has to be an empty folder, which %ProgramFiles% isn't. Besides, how hard is it for the end user to discover that "yes, Windows does that"?

Or grow the volume by adding a new disk. Yes, Windows does that, too.

I found a description of the process using Google windows grow volume. But how hard is it for people to discover that Windows does that? And the volume appears to be extended at the block level, not the file system level, so it's not so good for use with external drives that may not always be mounted at the same time as the boot volume.

It isn't in the Control Panel but it is customisable:

http://www.petri.co.il/change_bsod_color.htm

What's the process ID of the nfssvr in this Windows Server 2008 log: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731909(v=ws.10).aspx [microsoft.com] Or this log: http://www.petri.co.il/images/ie7_on_ex2003_1.gif [petri.co.il]

Both of them are system logs, not application logs. Please tell me what advantage would you get from knowing what was the process id at the time of execution, since (usually) you can't have services with the same name running at the same time. And both of the error messages are quite clear on the problem and what went wrong (but sometimes you can really get some cryptic messages).

Here http://imgur.com/C2pFB you have an example of process id on the application log.

As for the "object reference" errors, in other systems/programming languages you get way more useful error messages like: (...)

You example is apples and oranges. The errors you mentioned are _parsing errors_, not runtime errors. Try with a compiled language.

In contrast I see my colleagues working till late at night wrestling with "Object reference not set to an instance of an object.", and it's not always their code they're having to fix. Maybe there's a way of turning on debugging symbols so that message is replaced with something a lot more useful, but so far they seem to get the same useless error message even with debugging on.

I don't know your colleagues nor their expertise in programming, but those kind of errors are language-dependant and not platform-dependant, and are usually easily by static analysis tools or avoided altogether with good programming practices (by the description, it reminds me of some common bugs of VB applications that were mostly solved by using "option explicit on").

FWIW I do write windows programs/services that log more informative "syslog style" error messages (with process AND thread ID- makes debugging multithreaded stuff easier), but Microsoft's own stuff doesn't do it.

Not all available software for linux/unix is that nice, also. It is true that you can tune up or down verbosity, but - as an example - postfix, samba and openvpn are god-awful to troubleshoot only by loggin in complex problems.

for example if there is a problem with an email message amongst a bunch of Microsoft Exchange servers, figuring out the path it took and where the message had problems, and why is so much more difficult than with postfix, qmail etc.

I'd say you never really had problems with qmail :D I have limited experience with Exchange (but a lot of experience with postfix), but I must say that what you describe is pretty much the experience my colleagues have reported me. From that limited experience, half of the problems arise from incompetent system administrators that don't understand the SMTP protocol. If you can access the message, you can easily examine the path taken. But hey, maybe your problems are more complex - I don't know.

Sometimes it seems to me that Microsoft's stuff was designed by some smart people, but the coding was outsourced to India or wherever. So the outsource coders will write in logging (and other features) as defined in the requirements in the easiest/cheapest way, which often turns out to be almost useless. But they don't care - they are not ever going to use what they write!

Maybe. But many applications have separate logging (SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL) to help with that. I'm not saying Windows logging is perfect, but it is not the unusable pile of crap everyone that never tried to use it say it is. I've had issues with cryptic message logs in both unix and windows (eg. try to run openvpn with certificates from "the future" - different timezones - a

What's the process ID of the nfssvr in this Windows Server 2008 log: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731909(v=ws.10).aspx

Or this log: http://www.petri.co.il/images/ie7_on_ex2003_1.gif

In Windows XP, I do not see any process ID either:

(The following are all real errors in my event viewer)
Example error #1:
Event Type: Error
Event Source: Application Error
Event Category: (100)
Event ID: 1000
Date: 5/26/2012
Time: 2:35:31 AM
User: N/A
Computer: CORE
Description:
Faulting application , version 0.0.0.0, faulting module unknown, version 0.0.0.0, fault address 0x00000000.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 41 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 Applicat
0008: 69 6f 6e 20 46 61 69 6c ion Fail
0010: 75 72 65 20 20 20 30 2e ure 0.
0018: 30 2e 30 2e 30 20 69 6e 0.0.0 in
0020: 20 75 6e 6b 6e 6f 77 6e unknown
0028: 20 30 2e 30 2e 30 2e 30 0.0.0.0
0030: 20 61 74 20 6f 66 66 73 at offs
0038: 65 74 20 30 30 30 30 30 et 00000
0040: 30 30 30 000

Example #2
Event Type: Error
Event Source: Application Hang
Event Category: (101)
Event ID: 1002
Date: 5/12/2012
Time: 5:32:00 PM
User: N/A
Computer: CORE
Description:
Hanging application explorer.exe, version 6.0.2900.5512, hang module hungapp, version 0.0.0.0, hang address 0x00000000.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data: (useless crap omitted to pass Slashdot lameness filter)

Example of Syslog style error:
Apr 28 23:02:02 mitchell postgres[3447]: [7-1] FATAL: the database system is in recovery mode
Apr 28 23:02:02 mitchell postgres[3448]: [6-1] LOG: connection received: host=mitchell.cs.wisc.edu port=37591
Apr 28 23:02:02 mitchell postgres[3448]: [7-1] FATAL: the database system is in recovery mode
Apr 28 23:02:23 mitchell postgres[461]: [6-1] LOG: startup process (PID 3446) was terminated by signal 7: Bus error
Apr 28 23:02:23 mitchell postgres[461]: [7-1] LOG: aborting startup due to startup process failure

Much better in comparison. So what if it's not in XML, it is a lot more useful than most of the crap that gets puked out in event viewer.

As for the "object reference" errors, in other systems/programming languages you get way more useful error messages like:

(Python example)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "testerror.py", line 12, in [module]
test(myvar)
File "testerror.py", line 5, in test
print 2 + var
TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'int' and 'NoneType'

var is clearly the problem here.

In contrast I see my colleagues working till late at night wrestling with "Object reference not set to an instance of an object.", and it's not always their code they're having to fix. Maybe there's a way of turning on debugging symbols so that message is replaced with something a lot more useful, but so far they seem to get the same useless error message even with debugging on.

FWIW I do write windows programs/services that log more informative "syslog style" error messages (with process AND thread ID- makes debugging multithreaded stuff easier), but Microsoft's own stuff doesn't do it. Stuff that would be simple to do in a unix/linux system would be hard on Windows - for example if there is a problem with an email message amongst a bunch of Microsoft Exchange servers, figuring out the path it took and where the message had problems, and why is so much more difficult than with postfix, qmai

Windows can do some of this: dragging a file into an open Command Prompt window pastes its path. The feature worked in Windows 2000 and XP and was removed from Windows Vista for unspecified "security reasons" but (thankfully) restored in Windows 7.

That's one thing Microsoft did right with Exchange 2007. They built it entirely around their new powershell CLI and then built a GUI for it. The GUI is limited in compared to what you can do with the CLI, but you can get most things done. The CLI becomes extremely handy for batch jobs and exporting statistics to csv files. I'd say it's really up there with BASH in terms of scripting, data manipulation, and integration (not just Exchange but WMI, SQL, etc.)

They tried to do similar with Windows 2008 and their Core feature, but they still have to load a GUI to present a prompt...

Just like in linux, if you want something close to standardization then learn the command line. netsh.exe examples here:

http://www.petri.co.il/configure_tcp_ip_from_cmd.htm

Haha, yes, because I subscribe to the MAPS program I'm "involved" with Microsoft. I would be stupid not to given the clients I support. Maybe you could read up about it.

Actually, in a way I feel honored to be accused of being a MS shill. Imagine the money I get; backhanded deals from ol' Bill himself.

I have plenty of issues with MS, but nerds bent out of shape over Office's user interface make me scratch my head. You know vi, Gimp, Blender and lots of other OSS apps have non-standard UIs, but they are still great applications.

Not tested, but Petri is a pretty solid resource: http://www.petri.co.il/how-to-disable-smb-2-on-windows-vista-or-server-2008.htm

Though a true accessory would change that bluescreen to match the case color.

Here you go:

1. Open the SYSTEM.INI file found in the %systemroot% folder (i.e. C:'Windows or other). You can easily open the file by running SYSEDIT from the Run command, or by using Notepad.exe.
2. Locate the [386enh] section in the file:
3. If not already present, create the following new entries:

   MessageBackColor=
   MessageTextColor=

   and give it a value according to the following list:

   0 = black
   1 = blue
   2 = green
   3 = cyan
   4 = red
   5 = magenta
   6 = yellow/brown
   7 = white
   8 = gray
   9 = bright blue
   A = bright green
   B = bright cyan
   C = bright red
   D = bright magenta
   E = bright yellow
   F = bright white

   For example:

   MessageBackColor=2
   MessageTextColor=F

   will change the BSOD to Green with bright white text.
   Note: Use CAPITAL LETTERS, i.e. F and not f.

4. Close SYSTEM.INI while saving your changes.
5. Restart the computer.

From: http://www.petri.co.il/change_bsod_color.htm

What I've done in a situation like this is configure two Netsh batch scripts. The first configures the NIC for office use. The second configures the NIC to use DHCP and Level 3's public DNS Servers, 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2. More info about setting up netsh scripts can be located at: http://www.petri.co.il/configure_tcp_ip_from_cmd.htm

Backup in 2008 is "cooler in other ways" though - backup images that are made are VHDs (Hyper-Vs image format) and are bootable! How about that for bare metal restore

You can get NTBackup working on Windows Vista: http://www.petri.co.il/installing_windows_xp_ntbackup_on_windows_vista.htm

I'd imagine those instructions would work on Server 2K8 as well... they're based on the same codebase afaik

Of course, this means that the rest of what you said is bullshit, too.

That is an incredibly stupid thing to say.

Doubtfully, anyone interested in this will have gone on by now, but I hope someone gets some use out of this information. First off, this is only for Windows 2000 and XP, so I don't know if it will work for Vista. I can't imagine that something similar doesn't exist for Linux, Mac OS X and/or one of the BSD variants (I haven't read all of the threads). You might want to read through this page, 'How can I optimize the Windows 2000/XP/2003 virtual memory (Pagefile)?' http://www.petri.co.il/pagefile_optimization.htm -- Bill James (Microsoft MVP) has a convenient tool, 'WinXP-2K_Pagefile', for monitoring the actual usage of the Page file, which can be downloaded {here}. A compiled Visual Basic version is available from {Doug Knox's site} which may be more convenient for some users. The value seen for 'Peak Usage' over several days makes a good guide for setting the initial size economically. Available here: http://billsway.com/notes_public/WinXP_Tweaks/ http://billsway.com/notes_public/WinXP_Tweaks/WinXP-2K_Pagefile.zip or here -- http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_pagefilemon.htm http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/XP_PageFileMon.zip Currently, I'm running Windows XP Home with 1 GB of RAM. I have my swap file set to 500MB and currently, the 'WinXP-2K_Pagefile' script says I'm only using 86MB of it. One of the scripts logs the maximum swap you've used in a session, though you have to check it. The most I've used is 486MB and it warned me that swap was getting low. Needless to say, you milage will vary. -- You also might want to read through this page. 'Virtual Memory in Windows XP' http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm I hope this helps.

You do know that you can change the color of the background on a BSOD: Changing your BSOD Background

There are 2 easy ways I can think of to recover at least someone's password.

1) Backups

2) Linux boot disk, reset the local admin password then use a couple tools available for free from Microsoft. See these articles for more info:
Windows 2003 domain
Windows 2000 domain

There are 2 easy ways I can think of to recover at least someone's password.

1) Backups

2) Linux boot disk, reset the local admin password then use a couple tools available for free from Microsoft. See these articles for more info:
Windows 2003 domain
Windows 2000 domain

You know, you can disable the UAC, and find your own drivers. Of course, if you are still using a sound blaster live! card, it is now under EOL (end of life) (click through to select your card) and will not have supported drivers for Vista.

These kind of steps are common with any new operating system that is expected to run multitudes of old, unsupported hardware (note that doesn't include OSX). But yes, the default sound drivers for Vista are crap, no argument there :).

Well, Windows requires a lot of swap space. Let's say I have 1 gig of memory... Microsoft recommends your page file be a minimum of 1.5 times your ram size and maximum 3 times. So my swap file is 1.5gb to 3gb in size. Now let's say I purchase 3 more gig of memory, now I have to have a swap file that is 4.5gb to 9gb in size. The problem is also that Windows and it's applications are memory-greedy. So while the max I could fit in virtual memory was 4 gig before (1 gig ram and 3 gig swap), now I can have up to 13 gig in virtual memory, and WINDOWS WILL USE some of it. I would rather be able to disable the swap file altogether and just use ram. There are reasons for that, but in actuality I think my system would be faster without the swap file.

I don't think putting your swap space on a ramdisk is anything to worry about, the way virtual memory works doesn't allow for that. Otherwise you could be paging out the ramdisk to the swap file on the ramdisk. When a page is swapped out, I don't think ram can be accessed until the operation is complete, so there would be no way for the ramdisk driver to access the ram.

Unless you've got GFI or Symantec Mail Security, I'd suggest setting up IMF. It's a free spam filter included in Exchange 2003 SP2. Below is a link to get you started.

http://www.petri.co.il/block_spam_with_exchange200 3_imf.htm

Obviously it doesn't prevent the spreading of SPAM, but it doesn't mean you have to live with the incoming onslaught.

Furthermore you would also need PS2 keyboards and mice, it's easy to copy files in windows with keyboard or a mouse.
Of course many motherboards also give you the option to disable usb ports in the bios.
You could also block thumb drives from being used with a group policy.

Try googling for "Shurdown event tracker 2003". Daniel Petri describes how to disable it here: http://www.petri.co.il/disable_shutdown_event_trac ker_in_windows_2003.htm

I've been using Win Server 2k3 as primary desktop for about four months - it was constant pestering by XP to install WGA that drove me from it (despite my having a legitimate license). Since then I've only had a couple of irritations, neither of which are insuperable:

[1] Good - the IE sandbox mode disables the MSN Messenger flash ads (which irritated the hell out of me. Yeah, I use MSN - I am aware of Gaim and so on, but just plumped for the easy option). Bad - Server keeps sending notifications that data is being blocked due to sandbox mode.

[2] No Media player 11. Not a major problem, although I found MP10 a bit naff for calculating the duration of VBR MP3s, and the seek bar for DVDs seemed unreliable under V10.

[3] For some reason, Paint Shop Pro 9 seems unwilling to launch files from explorer - PSP9 fires up OK but the document fails to load. It also seems to log application errors whenever it's closed. Again an irritation rather than a problem.

Ok,

http://www.petri.co.il/add_command_prompt_here_sho rtcut_to_windows_explorer.htm

Please insert quarter to try again.

BTW - Has anyone figured out a hack to force an old style text login?

Your mistake is pointing to a Microsoft article that explains the whole thing not just now to turn it off. Here what you want:

http://www.petri.co.il/disable_uac_in_windows_vist a.htm

No matter how much RAM you have, Windows still seems to need a swap file that is constantly being written to

Nice FUD. You can disable the pagefile in Windows XP.

No matter how much RAM you have, Windows still seems to need a swap file that is constantly being written to

Nice FUD. You can disable the pagefile in Windows XP.

I had no idea you could do that, I was just asking someone earlier today actually.

http://www.petri.co.il/disable_balloon_tips_in_win dows_xp.htm describes how to do it.

Sorry mate but pirates are not the only ones to slipstream updates into installation media. Sounds like you've been following too much hype. Get with the program ;)

See Microsoft's own KBA:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/814847

I work with companies who do it quite often. When imaging isn't used, it beats having to install the OS and wait through all the screens and clicks, AND THEN install the service pack.

To the original poster: If you look around, you will find out how you can slipstream most updates into an installation package. Look into "nLite"

Also read up on
http://www.petri.co.il/forums/archive/index.php?t- 5079.html

I think bickering like that between the AC and it's parent is pointless, but this is dumb.

Create a new text file called test.txt, or whatever. Put it somewhere. Put some unique text in the file. Use the search feature to search inside of files for that bit of text. It finds it. Now, rename that file to test.java, or anything with a .java extension. Search again. Broken.

Not broken.

File searches in XP are done with file-type handlers. This is actually a pretty neat idea because it allows users to search for content in specially-formatted, or even binary files, because a DLL is handling the search. Programs register their handlers when the user installs them.

Windows ships with a generic plain-text handler, but it only knows about a limited number of file types (file extensions). By adding additional file extensions to a specific registry key you can tell this handler to work with any other kind of file (java, cs, css, whatever). The only negative is that there is no simple GUI to get it done, though there are some WSH scrips available to do it for you. Alternatively you can configure the indexing service to index all file types, not just ones it knows about and this does have a GUI.

If you qualify a bug like this as meaning the software is broken, then it's unlikely you'll find any software that isn't.

These ports have to do with things like name resolution, network file sharing, remote execution, and stuff. I don't really know all the details. While linux can talk samba with windows, it is more a windows to windows kind of thing. Read this for some more info. What port 445 does

One should probably never have 139 and 445 exposed directly to the internet, one should probably only have them exposed beyond an individual workstation if that workstation is part of a realish network (eg, three pcs that never talk to each other plugged into the same linksys router wouldn't count). When in doubt, block it and see what happens.

UAC can be turned off with a number of methods including the Control Panel.

http://www.petri.co.il/disable_uac_in_windows_vist a.htm

Sadly, it isn't always contiguous since it has an initial size and a maximum size. [...] I had to page defrag over it (a SysInternals tool). After running it a bunch of times, it's still at 800 pieces even now.

You're right. "Ensure" is too strong a word I suppose. You can minimize fragmentation of the pagefile by setting custom values, using the same number for the initial and maximum size (1.5 x RAM). This will prevent it from growing and fragmenting that way. The other way it can fragment is by creating the file on an already fragmented volume. If you defragment the disk first, then re-create the pagefile it should be better.

I think the easiest method to defragment a pagefile is just to remove it (assuming you can), reboot, and then re-create it with custom sizes like I mention above. This will make the system re-allocate space for the file, and assuming the disk you're using is not too fragmented, it's easy to get a 100% contiguous file.

I prefer the Linux method since you can choose a swapfile or a swap partition. A partition guarantees no fragmentation (and optimal performance since there is no underlying fs), but you have the flexibility of a swap file if you need it.

I've known a guy who did that with Windows. He would make a partition just for the pagefile, and swore it made a difference, though aside from preventing fragmentation, I never saw how it could. Putting it on a different physical disk from the system drive can help some though.

Here's more pagefile tips.

... several new levels of security settings that the end users will never see unless they actually try to stick the verbally prohibited USB drive in their machine.

Actually, you don't need Vista for that.

Given autoplay and the fact that many USB keys do not need drivers, this could turn out to be a serious problem.

Why not just disable USB keys? They don't need to take that data home with them...the ChoicePoint disaster, several laptops stolen out of cars... these companies need to make are personal data more secure.

I couldn't agree more.

The reason: the scarcity of Linux and open source documentation

One thing is certain, it's not the lack of documentation. Rather the lack of quality documentation.

On the other hand, nobody can say Windows Server has quality documentation. Have you been to Technet? Hello? It's like they set their marketing team loose and let them make it up as they went along.

What do most people do when faced with the really hard to fix Windows problems? They do as MS suggests and reinstall Windows.

Either that or wade through the bullshit on Technet, try the 25 alleged fixes one at a time. It is like Microsoft doesn't even know it's own Operating System.

We had an application server that crashed everytime anyone logged out. I searched for the stop error in Microsoft's knowledge base, turned up nothing. I searched on Google for the same stop error, it takes me to the Microsoft knowledge base article. The alleged cause was a "missing font" causes terminal services to crash. Fix: Uninstall SP2 or call Microsoft for an untested hotfix. First, what in the hell do fonts have to do with Terminal Server? Second, how did the font dissappear from the system?

For Linux? It seems they get on the net and ask around until they A) find and answer, and B) leave an electronic trail in the process for others with similar problems to find.

I have been lucky enough a few times to accomplish the same with Windows Server. There are a few indispensable NON-Microsoft resources available such as Daniel Petri's website, and the TechGenix websites which have been my only saving grace at time.

Create DOS Boot Floppy Disk in Windows XP

You can make a slipstream CD with XP and SP2 applied.

That way when you install it on other machines, they are SP2'd from the start.

http://www.petri.co.il/windows_2000_xp_sp_slipstre aming.htm

It has it, except it is crippled in that you can only do striping. Unless you open up some choice DLLs with a hex editor and change a couple of bits.

http://www.petri.co.il/software_mirror_in_windows_ xp.htm Officially, You Don't

http://www.vttoth.com/mirror.htm Unoficially, You Do! ;)

2. Backup software: yes, because Exchange has its internal database format (i.e. it does not use only flat files). You can't back that up without suspending I/O to a consistent state which means you have to have an application-side plugin.

http://www.petri.co.il/backup_exchange_2000_2003_w ith_ntbackup.htm

last i checked ntbackup was free with windows 2000/2003 and is upgraded to support live backups of exchange when exchange 2000/2003 is installed but what the hell do i know i only support about 20 exchange servers for various clients half of which depend solely on ntbackup for all there needs. At least be accurate although ntbackup isn't feature rich it does perform the job of backing up exchange. And does it rather well i might add.

Although this whole article is bulls***, you CAN insert OEM text in the support information.
Instructions for the curious

dd if=/dev/cdrom of=./winxp.iso
vi winxp.iso
/Pid\=
(change values)
:wq
cdrecord dev=ATAPI:/dev/cdrom -v ./winxp.iso

Here's a tutorial on how to install Windows XP (with screenshots). If you're a new user and you happened to miss that F6 message and don't have your SATA driver disk or something (or don't even know to press F6 since it only mentions to press that key for SCSI drivers), get stuck partitioning your hard disk, or don't know how to install drivers for all the devices Windows XP didn't detect, you'll have a hard time, but these aren't problems in installing Linux.

Cant get to the listed site since its totally /.ed but another interesting one re: XP, 98, me and page files

Virtual Memory in Windows XP http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

Windows 98 & WinME Memory Management http://aumha.org/win4/a/memmgmt.htm

and there is
How can I optimize the Windows 2000/XP/2003 virtual memory (Pagefile)? http://www.petri.co.il/pagefile_optimization.htm

Cant get to the listed site since its totally /.ed but another interesting one re: XP, 98, me and page files

Virtual Memory in Windows XP http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

Windows 98 & WinME Memory Management http://aumha.org/win4/a/memmgmt.htm

and there is
How can I optimize the Windows 2000/XP/2003 virtual memory (Pagefile)? http://www.petri.co.il/pagefile_optimization.htm

These days if you have the entire drive encrypted, you can't just reset the password using Linux or whathaveyou. Look for the word "Caution"

There are ways around it, but it's non-trivial for Joe Random computer thief. So if I'm just worried about some personal data getting found while poking around on the hard drive, I'm good. The thief would have to get my personal password somehow (I use long, random passwords, so a dictionary attack would fail) and then use a specialized tool to read the drive. Very few thieves would go to that trouble unless they knew there was something _really_ worth looking for.

If I were hiding my Swiss Bank account with millions of dollars in it, I might consider using something stronger. But for most cases it's fine.

My understanding is that it is a pain (or perhaps impossible) to slipstream a Update Rollup. That just sucks for people who want the latest fixes on a clean install. Somebody please prove me wrong, I want it to be easy, or at least possible to do!

~ only those with Administrator rights can modify that portion of the registry.

Okay, you might also need some cheap hardware and a universal case-opening device

"..make a TEXT FILE and append it into the ISO file structure..."

Or you could just edit the .ini file to not require a CD key, while you're slipstreaming in a new service pack.

ok posted anonymously because i dont need the karma and i run a warez version of XP.
When m$ released sp1 for xp, they "banned" the most commonly posted cd keys in the sp. If you were using a banned key, the sp wouldnt install. Easily fixed and bypassed, due to articles such as this .

M$ key generation algorythm seems to have been broken too. There are programs that will generate LEGIT xp pro corporate keys. And windows update works JUST fine with these keys. Try it for yourself. The below link is for a keygen that works for xp pro.

Do not visit this link using IE . It will try to install spyware via activeX. Use Mozilla or another safe browswer.