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Microsoft Acquires Winternals and Sysinternals

SJasperson writes "In a move that will be good for Redmond but may have consequences for the rest of us, Microsoft has acquired Winternals and Sysinternals. This gives them well-known developers Mark Russinovich and Bryce Cogswell as well as dozens of well-loved and much-praised utilities, both commercial and freeware. Though Mark says on his blog that the Sysinternals site will remain 'for the time being,' this would be a good time to download the latest version of essential Windows tools like Process Explorer before they can go mysteriously missing or be locked up behind the wall of Windows Genuine Advantage."

21 of 471 comments (clear)

  1. May I be the first to say....... by caffeinatedOnline · · Score: 5, Funny

    Noooooooooooooooo!!!! WHY, God, WHY!?!

    --
    The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel...
    1. Re:May I be the first to say....... by ozmanjusri · · Score: 5, Funny
      Noooooooooooooooo!

      Don't panic - this is a good thing. Microsoft need Process Explorer so they can work out what the hell their OS is doing, and then document it for the EU. They'll give it back to the community when they're finished with it.

      --
      "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
    2. Re:May I be the first to say....... by mgblst · · Score: 2, Funny

      Start your wgets!!! GO!

    3. Re:May I be the first to say....... by BalanceOfJudgement · · Score: 3, Funny

      Personally, when I get home I'm going to download every single one of those utilities, even the ones I never used, and burn them to disc. Heck, I might create a mirror where people can download the regular 120kB version instead of Microsofts 45MB version.

      --

      We are the fire that lights our world.. and we are the fire that consumes it.
    4. Re:May I be the first to say....... by Crayon+Kid · · Score: 4, Funny
      Personally, when I get home I'm going to download every single one of those utilities[..]
      Bzzt, wrong answer. This is Slashdot, the correct reaction is "who cares, I run Linux."
      --
      i ate crayons when i was a kid and now i have two braincells and the blue ones taste nicer
  2. Mising Components... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 5, Funny

    After months of ripping out what's not important, Windows Vista is finally getting a heart and a brain. Alas, no courage is yet available.

  3. The Real Answers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Q. What are you announcing?

    Resistance is futile.

    Q. How does this acquisition affect Winternals' customers?

    Cost is going up, delivery is going to suck.

    Q. Will you continue selling Winternals' portfolio of products?

    There is no such thing anymore.

    Q. Why is it a good thing for Winternals' customers?

    These aren't the droids you're looking for.

    Q. Will I still receive technical support and if so for how long?

    How long can you tread water?

    Q. Why is Microsoft acquiring Winternals and Sysinternals?

    To assimilate.

    Q. What exactly is a Technical Fellow?

    Microsoft Bob.

    Q. How many Technical Fellows are there at Microsoft?

    There can be only one.

    Q. My Product Assurance Contract with Winternals on Administrator's Pak (or other tool) is about to expire (or has just expired). Can I still renew it?

    You're new around here, aren't you?

    Q. What were the terms? How much did Microsoft pay for Winternals? Was it a cash or stock deal?

    A few spare souls that have not been allocated yet.

  4. From the article by guruevi · · Score: 3, Funny

    Before it gets slashdotted:

    Q. What are you announcing?
    A. Winternals and Sysinternals have been acquired by Microsoft. Winternals is a leading provider of systems recovery tools for Windows-based enterprises worldwide and Sysinternals is one of the leading community and enthusiast sites for people interested in information about the internals of the Windows operating system.

    Q. How does this acquisition affect Winternals' customers?
    A. Microsoft will stop and kill everything as soon as all legal, hardcopy contracts are over

    Q. Will you continue selling Winternals' portfolio of products?
    A. No, it will get integrated halfly into Windows 2006 though.

    Q. Why is it a good thing for Winternals' customers?
    A. It is a good thing because now they can't spend any money anymore on stupid tools and they can finally switch to Linux

    Q. Will I still receive technical support and if so for how long?
    A. Winternals will continue to provide technical support for the current term of your Product Assurance Contract.

    Q. Why is Microsoft acquiring Winternals and Sysinternals?
    A. Extend, embrace and extuingish.

    Q. What exactly is a Technical Fellow?
    A. The guy that will come install Linux on your servers

    Q. How many Technical Fellows are there at Microsoft?
    A. A lot, they are undercover penguins.

    Q. My Product Assurance Contract with Winternals on Administrator's Pak (or other tool) is about to expire (or has just expired). Can I still renew it?
    A. No, there are no plans for renewal.

    Q. What were the terms? How much did Microsoft pay for Winternals? Was it a cash or stock deal?
    A. Microsoft threatened with a lawsuit over some of the programs.

    --
    Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
  5. the reason by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    The reason for the acquisition is obvious. The programmers at Microsoft were constantly complaining about not knowing what processes were running on their machine, or the need for a utility to defrag their pagefile, etc. Most software development shops would develop the necessary tools. Microsoft, not having a clue what's actually going on in their OS, decided to purchase the company that made these tools...

  6. Come Along Queitly by ackthpt · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, he's complaining of being constantly suspected to be a thief by Microsoft, as well as, sometimes, being a collateral victim of malfunctionning paranoid DRM

    That's preposterous, who in their right mind would beli

    Microsoft have determined your installation of Windows includes non-registered components. Failure to comply will result in the shutdown of your operating system and a visit from the BSA Stormtroopers.

    ike it was something out of Star Wars with Darth Vader and all. Sheesh, get real!

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  7. Alternate explanation by robogun · · Score: 2, Funny

    They want to halt all the tech calls, gray hair and suicides caused by this.

  8. the full stiry quote by WeAreAllDoomed · · Score: 2, Funny
    "Mark says on his blog that the Sysinternals site will remain 'for the time being,'..."

    mark then put on his high heels, lipstick, and sun-dress, and passed around cocktails on a tray at billg's dinner party.

    --
    free software, open standards, open file formats, no software patents.
  9. Re:Oh Boo Hoo by quantum+bit · · Score: 2, Funny

    and he can use telekinesis to throw a chair across the bridge?

  10. Re:Oh Boo Hoo by westlake · · Score: 2, Funny
    I used to get a fat paycheck and great bonuses. Now I make less money and no longer touch Microsoft software. I'm much much happier. Money isn't everything.

    Still living the single life, I see.

  11. Headline in a month... by crazygamer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Google aquires former Microsoft developers Mark Russinovich and Bryce Cogswell

  12. Re:Looking for Windows kernel experts... by SpaceLifeForm · · Score: 2, Funny
    Microsoft had to find someone that knows how to document their APIs so that the EU will be appeased.

    --
    You are being MICROattacked, from various angles, in a SOFT manner.
  13. Re:Amen by plover · · Score: 3, Funny
    Someone please organize a pro-bono heist of Russiniovich's soul from Seattle & give it back to him.

    Case is on his way with his Ono-Sendai, and has the extraction planned for tonight. Maas-Biolabs can't keep him protected forever.

    --
    John
  14. I feel a great disturbance in the force... by Emetophobe · · Score: 4, Funny

    ..as if millions of slashdotters cried out and then were suddenly silenced.

  15. Re:I never understood... by toleraen · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's ok, I have no interest in having an argument with someone who cannot check their facts, even when I made it obvious the other's made a mistake. Arrogant much?

  16. Re:RAR? In a Torrent!? by x2A · · Score: 2, Funny

    DOWN WITH RAR!!!

    I don't necessarily agree with all your reasoning, but am totally with you on the result.

    Rarred mp3s? Rarred mpegs? What are those torrent people on???

    --
    The revolution will not be televised... but it will have a page on Wikipedia
  17. Re:Perhaps the tools will be bundled by default by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    perhaps many of those great tools will soon be officially bundled by default as part of sys admin tools in windows...