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Microsoft Releases SP4 for Windows 2000
Snake_Plisken writes "I checked Windows Update today on a lark and found that Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 has been released." You can read a short CNet article discussing the media player patches as well as one more about
the fixes in SP4.
As with other OS service packs through Windows Update, you won't be allowed to download/install it without a valid license.
~Berj
Go here for the change log to Windows 2000 Service Pack Four. Some of the changes are quite amusing.
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." - Oscar Wilde
As always, please read before blindly updating...
SP4 FAQ
Lists of fixed bugs
DavaK
I know this is slashdot, but I have been very impressed with Win2k. It's fast, stable, and reliable. I've flirted with XP a couple times, but I always end up reinstalling 2k.
Well my laptop and two of my desktops at work haven't crapped out since installing it this morning. I just got done streamlining CDs for Pro, Server and Advanced server. Something to watch out for - SP4 re-enabled the Background Intelligent Transfer and Automatic Update Services. It doesn't re-enable Automatic Updates if you had that disabled, though.
BTW, the md5sums for the service pack linked to by OSNews (I assume it's the same one that Neowin found.) and the one on the official Microsoft download page are identical.
Actually, they supposedly made changes to SP4's EULA in direct response to the foofaraw over SP3's. I haven't read it yet, but they apparently spell out clearly what they can do to your machine (install updates automatically) and how you can disallow them from doing it, which is by turning off Automatic Updates and the media player automatic codec download thingy.
*This page intentionally left pointless*
how long will it take now to install win2k and all the service packs? a couple of my friends who have worked with win2k said that it takes a few hours to install because of all the patches , drivers, and reboots inbetween.
> "I allege that SCO is full of it" -Linus
yes. for the automatic updates you simply disable the windows service by going to 'adminstrative tools' in the control panel and opening up 'services'. i do it everytime i do a clean install, as well as a few other services... such as "remote registry access" and useless things like that.
If this was Apple they give it a dot rev and charge $129 for it.
Software Update Services can't push Service Packs, just individual patches.
My only complaint so far is that, after rebooting and logging in for the first time, it took several minutes before it got to the "loading user preferences" pop-up. Much longer than usual for a service pack or patch.
The fact that it doesn't seem to apply until you log in is also important - make sure you log into each machine, afterwards, so that you know it's installed.
Also, don't forget to also apply the (additional) media player 9 series patch. It's actually separate from the main SP4. Luckily, you don't have to reboot afterwards.
Of course, I just ran the end-user version. It's quite possible that my complaints only apply to this version of the SP.
Get off my launchpad!
Please define "broad range". Until than - consider an example listing from the Linux kernel 2.5.73:
[leonid@sn-tower linux-2.5.73]$ ls -1 arch/
alpha
arm
arm26
cris
h8300
i386
ia64
m68k
m68knommu
mips
mips64
parisc
ppc
ppc64
s390
sh
sparc
sparc64
um
v850
x86_64
That I call a "broad range"... Not Windows.
Leonid Mamtchenkov
SUPPLEMENTAL END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT
MICROSOFT WINDOWS 2000 SERVICE PACK 4
PLEASE READ THIS SUPPLEMENTAL END-USER
LICENSE AGREEMENT ("SUPPLEMENTAL EULA")
CAREFULLY. BY INSTALLING OR USING THE
SOFTWARE THAT ACCOMPANIES THIS SUPPLEMENTAL
EULA, YOU AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS
SUPPLEMENTAL EULA. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE, DO
NOT INSTALL OR USE THE SOFTWARE AND, IF
APPLICABLE, RETURN IT TO THE PLACE OF
PURCHASE FOR A FULL REFUND.
THIS SOFTWARE DOES NOT TRANSMIT ANY
PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION
FROM YOUR COMPUTER TO MICROSOFT
COMPUTER SYSTEMS WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT.
1. GENERAL
This EULA is a legal agreement between you (either an
individual or a single entity) and Microsoft Corporation
("Microsoft"). The accompanying Microsoft software
includes computer software and may include associated
media, printed materials, online or electronic
documentation, and Internet-based services
(collectively, the "Components"). The Components are
provided to update, supplement, or replace existing
functionality of Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional,
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Microsoft Windows
2000 Advanced Server, and Microsoft Windows 2000
Datacenter Server (the "Software"). Your use of the
Components is subject to the terms and conditions of
the end user license agreement (either from Microsoft
or some other entity) under which you have previously
licensed the Software (the "Software EULA")
and this Supplemental EULA.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A VALIDLY LICENSED COPY OF
THE SOFTWARE, YOU ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO
INSTALL, COPY OR OTHERWISE USE THE COMPONENTS
AND YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS UNDER THIS
SUPPLEMENTAL EULA.
2. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF YOUR USE
OF THE COMPONENTS
a. Installation and Use.
Provided you comply with all applicable license terms and
conditions contained in the Software EULA (which are
hereby incorporated by reference except as set forth
below) and this Supplemental EULA, Microsoft grants
you the right to reproduce, install and use one
copy of the Components on each of your computers
that is running a validly licensed copy of
the Software ("Computers").
b. Reservation of Rights.
The Components are protected by copyright and other
intellectual property laws and treaties. Microsoft
Corporation or its suppliers own the title, copyright,
and other intellectual property rights in the Components.
All rights not expressly granted to you in this Supplemental
EULA are reserved. The Components are licensed, not sold.
c. Capitalized Terms.
Capitalized terms used in this Supplemental EULA and not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned
to them in the Software EULA.
3. AUTOMATIC INTERNET-BASED SERVICES.
The Software features described below are enabled by
default to connect via the Internet to Microsoft
computer systems automatically, without separate
notice to you. You consent to the operation
of these features, unless you choose to switch
them off or not use them. Microsoft does not
obtain personally identifiable information
through any of these features. For more
information about these features, please see
your Software documentation or the Microsoft
online support site.
a. Windows Update Features.
Under the Software's default configuration, if you connect
a device to your Computer and the correct device driver is
not available on your Computer, then Windows Update
features on your Computer (including Device Manager
and the Plug & Play CDM Module) automatically attempt
to check Microsoft computer systems via the Internet
for the correct device driver. Having this happen
automatically makes Plug-and-Play
read the license. you can legally run it.
Unless that hardware is a laptop. XP is much more laptop friendly. Also, if you care about amount of time to boot, XP is a win as well.
"and doesn't try and mess with the concept of the UI too much."
Under XP:
Switch to Classic Theme (Display->Themes)
Turn off Effects (Display->Appearance->Effects)
Get rid of the rest of the visual effects (System->Advanced->Performance Options->Visual Effects.
"Even "classic" mode is a bear, because the control panel is all munged up. Erg!"
As another poster mentioned: switch to the old style control panel.
I like Office 2000 better than XP as well
It's faster, it takes less memory... But it's MDI, and it was worth the upgrade to Office XP for me just to get away from Windows 3.1 style MDI windows.
Bypassing the Windows 2000 Serial Check
h tml
First you want to copy your Windows 2000 setup files from your CD to your hard drive. You have to copy at least the I386 directory (I recommend copying all the files, so you can burn a complete CD later). Now go into the I386 directory you just copied onto your hard drive. Find the setupp.ini file. Right click it, select Properties, and remove the Read-only checkmark. Now open the file to edit it.
Your setupp.ini file should read something like this:
[Pid]
ExtraData=6166656C736263737373B2574A0581
Pid=51873XXX
Replace the 3 X's (generally it'll be three zeros) at the end with "270". It should now read something like this:
[Pid]
ExtraData=6166656C736263737373B2574A0581
Pid=51873270
Thatâ(TM)s it! Now you can now install Windows 2000 without a serial number!
Copied from http://www.thetechguide.com/articles/win2kserial.
Wait, it isn't as easy as
for i in $(ruptime | awk '{ print $1 }')[1]; do ssh $i sp4.exe; done
you say?
Oh wait..
[1] or however you'd compile a list of your hosts. This example works for one subnet only since ruptime/rwhod uses broadcasts blablabla..
Of course it runs NetBSD. BTC: 1NT7QvbetmANwaMzhpVL6
>> Using a program (which i'd strongly reccomend to you if i could remember what/where it was)
;)
Fortunately, I can.
One tool that does what you describe is called "Process Explorer" and is available from SysInternals. Free.
The trojan that you found sounds like one of the many mIRC replacement programs that are used for botting and DDoS attacks. We found one on our network and were able to trace it's introduction back to a website. It used an exploit in IE that allows the installation of applications without the approval or awareness of the user.
Just one more reason to not allow the use of IE in the workplace...
Ryosen
One man's "Troll, +1" is another man's "Insightful, +1".
>I think they're at SP6 for that one....
SP6a actually, SP6 had some problems.
Microsoft officially stops selling NT4 licenses
and providing support on the 30th of July, which is next monday.
I will still be running it for some time to come.
NT4 includes version 2 of IE. IE2 is so old it dosn't support http1.1 and can't access virtual hosted sites cutting it off from a lot of the web.
With mozilla it is practical to run NT4 without installing a later version of IE. Installing IE4+ and ending up with bits of IE jammed into the system DLL's significantly slows down NT. Without IE it is pleasent to use on a 200MHZ machine given plenty of RAM.
I want a new version of NT4 with updated drivers and USB support which I would happily roll out instead of 2k. Microsoft plans to maximise revenue direct otherwise.
For those of you who don't realize it, this post seems to reference this troll, which has been appearing all over the place.