XP Service Pack Does the Impossible

Peyna writes "This article over at C|net discusses the upcoming Microsoft Windows XP service pack, which will contain the normal bug fixes, but more importantly, will make XP more modular, allowing you to override their default products. I assume this means Internet Explorer and possibly some other apps as well."

Comments

Still bloated

[TheVidiot]

Oh, it's still bloated. IE, OE, Messenger, etcetera aren't uninstalled, most likely because XP still depends on their DLLs. It seems like you could accomplish nearly the same thing by deleting the relevant icons from the Start menu...

Modular my *ss - Lets talk about Mira :-)

[gamorck]

It sounds to me like the update is really just allowing Windows to be shipped with third party applications links on the desktop. I guess Microsofts packaging tools used to remove these links (which would suck no doubt) and part of SP1 will change that "functionality".

As for it making Windows more modular - thats a load of crap. I love how the editors and the submitters around here intentionally embelish just so they can get more pageviews and comments. Oh well I guess they suceeded today... :-)

Whats really going to rock in SP1 for XP is the new Mira technology stuff. If you dont know what that is - I suggest you cruise on over to http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/mira_preview. asp and take a long hard look at some of the cool shit MS is doing.

J

what's the big deal?

[Quasar1999]

All this does is HIDE the icons for internet explorer and outlook express and windows media player.

I can already do that. Tweak UI does it. And as for file associations, who here thinks that if you accidentally start up windows media player even after this service pack, that it will still redo all your file associations without asking...

This is not a plea of guilt on Microsoft's part, hell this supports their case, they aren't removing anything, they are just hiding it (since of course, windows would stop functioning if you removed it)...

Re:Please Can you Stop the Headline as Commentary?

[darien]

Well, I thought it was quite funny.

But, as several commentators have already pointed out, this isn't really modularising Windows at all - MS have been using the word "hide", which strongly suggests that all their stuff will be installed, it just won't have icons (rather like NetMeeting in XP).

So far so redundant.

But I was interested in the bit at the end of the article where it mentions "freezing" copies that have been activated with a known pirate key. I thought most pirate copies of XP were the corporate edition, that doesn't need activating, and should therefore be indistinguishable from legit copies? Or do they really mean the Product Key, which you enter when you install Windows? In which case, what's to stop you simply changing it in the registry - or, very worst case, simply finding a working Product Key on the net and reinstalling? Still far far easier and cheaper than going out and buying XP.

Register Article is More Interesting

[donnacha]

Don't know why /. chose to use the Cnet story to highlight this subject, there's a more interesting article over at The Reg.

Re:Biting the hand that pirates it

[edgrale]

Quite useless really, there has been keygens on the net for quite some time now.

They are fighting a battle they cannot win, for each key they disable 10 more will pop up on the net.

(mod me down if you wish, this not intended as a troll/flamebait.)

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:It isn't anything you can't do now.

[Yo Grark]

Control Panel Applet?

Hell, I've had x-setup in the control panel for years. Offers all the functionality I've ever needed. At it's most basic, it helps me avoid loading what I don't want loaded, and even better is when it helps me block MS from telling me what preferences are "mandatory". Even tells the average user when not to mess with a setting (unless you're a pro) A really good FREE app, made for the people, by the people.

http://www.xteq.com/products/xset/

-Yo Grark

Watzup with today's google doodle?

You've always been able to do this

[martyn s]

There's a file called sysoc.inf. This file describes what will appear in add/remove programs pane. So what you do is hit ctrl-h (find-replace). Then put ,hide in the find box, and leave the other box empty. Hit replace all, and save the file and then you'll be able to remove annoying stuff like Windows messenger, and if you wish, IE. The ones that are not hidden by default.

NtComponents=ntoc.dll,NtOcSetupProc,,4
WBEM=ocg en.dll,OcEntry,wbemoc.inf,7
Display=desk.cpl,Disp layOcSetupProc,,7
Fax=fxsocm.dll,FaxOcmSetupProc, fxsocm.inf,,7
NetOC=netoc.dll,NetOcSetupProc,neto c.inf,,7
iis=iis.dll,OcEntry,iis.inf,,7
com=coms etup.dll,OcEntry,comnt5.inf,hide,7
dtc=msdtcstp.d ll,OcEntry,dtcnt5.inf,hide,7
IndexSrv_System = setupqry.dll,IndexSrv,setupqry.inf,,7
TerminalSer ver=TsOc.dll, HydraOc, TsOc.inf,2
msmq=msmqocm.dll,MsmqOcm,msmqocm.inf,, 6
ims=imsinsnt.dll,OcEntry,ims.inf,,7
fp_extensi ons=fp40ext.dll,FrontPage4Extensions,fp4 0ext.inf,,7
AutoUpdate=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,au.inf,7
msmsgs=ms grocm.dll,OcEntry,msmsgs.inf,hide,7
RootAutoUpdat e=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,rootau.inf,,7
IEAccess=ocgen. dll,OcEntry,ieaccess.inf,,7

Games=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,games.inf,,7
AccessUtil =ocgen.dll,OcEntry,accessor.inf,,7
CommApps=ocgen .dll,OcEntry,communic.inf,7
MultiM=ocgen.dll,OcEn try,multimed.inf,7
AccessOpt=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,op tional.inf,7
Pinball=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,pinball.in f,7
MSWordPad=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,wordpad.inf,7
Zo neGames=zoneoc.dll,ZoneSetupProc,igames.inf,,7

Basically the ones with two commas in a row are not hidden by default, but when you delete the word hide you have to also delete a comma, so there's only one comma. Don't ask me why this is what works.

Not suprisingly, for IE, it doesn't actually allow you to remove it, it says "remove access to internet explorer". If you open up the file tree browser thing, ("windows explorer") or just any file folder, and type in a URL in the address field, it just turns into IE.