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Windows XP Update Library On a CD

Posted by kdawson on from the offline-bliss dept.

KrispyKofta sends us to APC Magazine for a writeup on Project Dakota, a one-man effort to provide all Windows XP SP2 updates on one downloadable CD. It's poor man's XP SP3, but even when SP3 is out, the project will continue to offer a CD that will install all patches offline. "When was the last time you installed a fresh copy of Windows XP SP2? The process is still straightforward and relatively quick... but then you think 'I'll just make sure the patches are up to date,' and proceed to stare in horror at the 100+ security updates and critical fixes that Windows Update or WSUS demands you install. And it takes forever. A better option which we've just discovered is the innovative work of Alek Patsouris... it's a self-contained boot CD which contains all the necessary updates to automatically patch a Windows XP SP2 system with all the patches available at the CD's build time."

166 comments

  1. This was called AutoPatcher, and MS killed it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Those who don't know history...

    1. Re:This was called AutoPatcher, and MS killed it. by eldorin · · Score: 5, Informative

      M$ "tried" to kill AutoPatcher. It is back and working better then ever. Now, instead of downloading the entire distribution, you download a single small executable. It then retrieves all the XP hotfixes from M$ website. In effect achieving two goals: 1) Avoiding the source of the cease and desist that M$ sent the author. The unauthorized and unverifiable distribution of the hotfixes. 2) Chewing up M$ bandwidth instead of the author's... The thread to the new beta version is located at http://www.autopatcher.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=89

    2. Re:This was called AutoPatcher, and MS killed it. by zebs · · Score: 1

      And misses the original point - one download that can be applied to any number of PCs

    3. Re:This was called AutoPatcher, and MS killed it. by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Informative

      and after you run autopatcher. run nlite and create a XP install CD that is slipstreamed with all those updates.

      We've been doing this for years in the IT office, every month I rebuild the XP install CD iso using nlite (It's great because you also can default to a lot of settings you like!) so after install there are no patches or updates needed.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    4. Re:This was called AutoPatcher, and MS killed it. by athena_wiles · · Score: 1

      that's what we do too, and it works brilliantly. I did a clean install for someone yesterday and, using our custom install disks, got the install up and running and only had to download 7 short updates from the M$ website. plus, we've added firefox, our site-licensed antivirus, and acrobat reader to the install CD, so the entire thing is pretty painless.

      (that is, until I installed the wireless mouse drivers and the computer started giving BSODs... lovely.)

    5. Re:This was called AutoPatcher, and MS killed it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The beauty of Autopatcher was that in addition to critical and recommended updates you could also choose to install a number of tweaks, additional software like flash, shockwave, Java, etc., all from one CD. Autopatcher used Bit Torrent and UseNet (so it wasn't really using all of the author's bandwith all the time) and it released updates for itself.

      It was the best utility for small users like myself who occasionally installed XP (valid licenses) for friends and family still on dial-up; avoiding the requirement to have to go to ANY web site as long as someone with a faster connection (like me) downloaded the base and kept it up to date.

      That's the idea here: to not have to send every single computer needing all of these updates to the Internet and/or Microsoft.

    6. Re:This was called AutoPatcher, and MS killed it. by ewoods · · Score: 1

      http://www.heise.de/ct/projekte/offlineupdate/download_uk.shtml

      That one exists, works, has for years and is in Europe, so MS can't touch them. Works great, too.

    7. Re:This was called AutoPatcher, and MS killed it. by Chyeld · · Score: 1

      I've looked online a bit on how to do this and never really found more than people saying it was a PITA to accomplish. What is the best way of taking the Autopatcher files and getting them to nlite? Or is the effort involved one of the reasons you only do it once a month?

    8. Re:This was called AutoPatcher, and MS killed it. by eldorin · · Score: 1

      No, once downloaded, you can then burn it off to CD and run it on any number of systems after you've downloaded the hotfixes from Microsoft's site.

    9. Re:This was called AutoPatcher, and MS killed it. by jp10558 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Wouldn't it be easier (and faster) to create a Syspreped image with Acronis, and use Universal Restore to get the HAL + Mass Storage Drivers right?

      If I pay attention I can get a fully configured system going in 35 minutes using the image, and it'd be faster if we didn't have a hundred different hardware configurations that requires me use DriverGenius to inject the rest of the drivers once I'm booted.

      --
      Opera, Proxomitron-Grypen,GPG 0x0A1C6EE3
    10. Re:This was called AutoPatcher, and MS killed it. by kaoshin · · Score: 1

      The hard part would be justifying the insane licensing costs for that stuff when there are free methods of accomplishing the same end result.

  2. Sounds like autopatcher by ssjx · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Which does pretty much the same thing...

    --
    Visit ssjx.co.uk
  3. c't Offline Update by stefanb · · Score: 5, Informative

    Reknowned IT publisher Heise is already offering an even better solution: c't Offline Update. Update W2K, XP, Vista, Office in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and some 20 more languages by using Microsofts update catalog to download all chosen updates, then creates an ISO image per OS (CD-sized) or for everything (DVD needed). The included scripts allow for a fully automated install of all updates from the CD or DVD, even including any necessary intervening reboots.

    c't Offline Update Project Download Page

    1. Re:c't Offline Update by mrbcs · · Score: 3, Informative

      This thing is excellent. Add the updates to your xp cd with Nlite to take it one step further for those fresh installs. http://www.nliteos.com/

      --
      I'm not anti-social, I'm anti-idiot.
    2. Re:c't Offline Update by Splab · · Score: 1

      I tried to slipstream my latest XP install with nlite, but got told that I couldn't patch a 64bit installer while under 32bit OS, don't know if its nlites fault or windows, but sure sucked not knowing about the other products - took 20 or so reboots from install to completion to get all updates down.

    3. Re:c't Offline Update by Fallen+Andy · · Score: 3, Informative
      A word of advice though - make DVD's not CD's. When I last looked the XP update CD iso was too big to fit on a std. CD

      even if you just grab ENU. Perhaps they've fixed it now.

      (The solution is to slipstream the SP2 onto the CD and make a new iso which would fit, sans SP2)

      see e.g. http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp for slipstreaming SP2 on an original or SP1 CD.

      Highly recommended.

    4. Re:c't Offline Update by simong · · Score: 3, Informative

      That's actually a good way of doing it. There's an open source build server called Unattended that can provide a fully patched Windows build automatically - you provide the installer CD and it will pull down all the updates - and it recommends rebooting after each patch. That sounds like the same thing across a local network. I can recommend it as an alternative to ghost by the way: it will boot any PC that can be booted with PXE or bootp.

    5. Re:c't Offline Update by cowbutt · · Score: 1

      I've used the Heise offline update tool, and I'd certainly prefer its approach (i.e. downloading the hotfixes directly from microsoft.com) to putting my trust in a random person compiling a .iso image for me. Yes, I need to place a little bit of trust that Heise's tool isn't sabotaging the stuff it downloads, but they've earnt that trust from me over the last decade.

    6. Re:c't Offline Update by therufus · · Score: 1

      After installing nLite, get the majority of patches from RyanVM's website. Any extra patches can be downloaded and applied after that, but his post SP2 update pack covers most of the big ones.

      --
      You moved your mouse. Please restart Windows for changes to take effect.
    7. Re:c't Offline Update by Omniscient+Ferret · · Score: 1

      I prefer the smithii system, using a makefile. It's easier to examine, & it slipstreams all the updates.

    8. Re:c't Offline Update by kellyb9 · · Score: 0, Troll

      Reknowned IT publisher Heise is already offering an even better solution "Reknowned" IT software developer Linus Torvald is already offering a better solution. There we go... fixed that for you... well sort of.
    9. Re:c't Offline Update by whois_drek · · Score: 1

      So that link goes to the c't online Offline Update Download Project page? Wow.

    10. Re:c't Offline Update by ozbird · · Score: 1

      I used this to go one better: Windows XP + SP2 + (most) post-SP2 patches, slipstreamed. When I was last forced to rebuild XP, it worked like a charm.

  4. I can't be the only one that thinks this by onlysolution · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Seriously, the fact that MS doesn't provide something like this for all Windows XP customers is bordering on criminal in my mind.

    1. Re:I can't be the only one that thinks this by leenks · · Score: 1

      Err, Windows Update? The Windows Catalogue lets you download all updates for a particular OS into a directory for offline installation. They aren't *that* far behind...

    2. Re:I can't be the only one that thinks this by J_Doh! · · Score: 1

      but still behind

      --
      To secure peace is to prepare for war ...
    3. Re:I can't be the only one that thinks this by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      At least in the past MS would ship you a disc full of patches for the cost of the postage (or even completely free, not sure) if you asked for it.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    4. Re:I can't be the only one that thinks this by jacksonj04 · · Score: 1

      What happened to the XP installer 'checking for updates' during install time? I've never once seen it do something useful, but even a simple "I got to the interwebs and there are some patches, should I install them now (Will take n hours to download) or do you wanna do it afterwards?" would be great. Slipstreaming into a live install must be possible somehow.

      --
      How many people can read hex if only you and dead people can read hex?
    5. Re:I can't be the only one that thinks this by RupW · · Score: 1

      Err, Windows Update? The Windows Catalogue lets you download all updates for a particular OS into a directory for offline installation. They aren't *that* far behind... Actually they've ruined it IMO - there's no longer an easy 'download all updates for this OS and IE combination', there's now a single-textbox search interface and the help is useless. If anyone knows how to tell the new interface "find me all updates for XP SP2" I'd love to hear :-/

      The problem with Windows Catalogue downloads is that you can't (AFAICR) point Windows Update at them and tell it to apply all of these updates in one go - you need to install them one at a time and reboot lots. The Windows\SoftwareDistribution directory is all GUID based so there's no easy way (AFAIK) to drop downloaded updates in there and have them picked up automatically by Windows Update as if it had downloaded them itself.

  5. slipstreaming anyone by Oriumpor · · Score: 4, Informative

    Honestly why is the latest revelation in documented common Microsoft software practices news on /. ? I mean you don't see "Latest yum library that that comes to you downloaded all rpms in one safe ISO!!1!" as a headline...

    1. Re:slipstreaming anyone by NickCatal · · Score: 1

      Exactly. I download XP copies to use with my 100% legit keys just because I want the slipstreamed versions with the latest updates.

      --
      -nick
    2. Re:slipstreaming anyone by eddy · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Slipstreaming solves a different problem (new installs). A slipstreamed installation media is pretty useless (as far as I know) when I go to person B to update his/hers ancient installation. I just want to able to run program X from a CD/DVD/USB-memory and have the system fully up to date, preferably within a single reboot.

      MS should really just put up a patch-OS-DVD torrent and keep it updated in such a way that new additions doesn't completely rewrite the structure (so a torrent update goes quickly). Would be a bit of work for them initially, but it would deliver something useful to their customers. Ah, well. Guess they're to busy marketing Vista.

      --
      Belief is the currency of delusion.
    3. Re:slipstreaming anyone by Deslack · · Score: 0

      Jigdo used by Debian already does this for its behemothian ISO images. Not that anybody downloads them all anyway. But it would fit for what you're suggesting.

      --
      .sigs are useless; it doesn't protect you from imposters.
  6. not a new idea by juventasone · · Score: 5, Informative

    This is a nice idea for individuals who only have to do this once. However, the RyanVM and Xable update packs have been offered for years and integrate into your installation disc. No need to run another lengthly installation after the install is done.

  7. all the patches? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Can it be limited to the security updates? Some of the patches are really suspicious.

    1. Re:all the patches? by Nullav · · Score: 3, Informative

      As are some of the security updates. I know it's a bit of an unreasonable demand, but I'd rather see a list of questionable updates than yet another offline patcher.

      --
      I just read Slashdot for the articles.
  8. Pirates are pirates...... by EmbeddedJanitor · · Score: 4, Interesting
    even if they are helping you. :-)

    Although it seems pretty silly, I can see MS's point of view. Autopatcher is essentially becoming a Windows patch "distro" and the more people that use this the less control MS have over patch roll out.

    Say in the future MS want to push out a patch that is so mean and so unethical that Autopatcher refuse to include it (kids, don't say that's impossible - we all know MS has infinite Evilness). Suddenly MS has a large body of people that won't swallow the patch.

    Less tinfoil-hat-wearing is that Autopatcher shows up MS's own ineptness.MS have shown for a long time that Windows users are their assets ("our install base") and don't treat them as customers. Customer service is secondary to asset control.

    --
    Engineering is the art of compromise.
    1. Re:Pirates are pirates...... by RuBLed · · Score: 5, Informative

      If I followed the events last year correctly, It seems that the main argument of MS is that the AutoPatcher team distributes the patches from their own "servers" and not Microsoft's thus the possibility of the patches being distributed could be tampered with and not the "same" as the ones in MS servers.

      Autopatcher was surely hurt by that but I believe they found a "loophole" in MS's demands. Last time I had visited the site, they are developing a client that would download the patches directly from the MS servers and after that act like the old Autopatcher.

    2. Re:Pirates are pirates...... by Ardaen · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Uhm...
      1. In any reasonable well designed system wouldn't the patches be, ya know, signed?
      2. Any third party software that you run could tamper with your system. Kinda sounds like a flimsy excuse used by someone who doesn't want to state their real reasons.

    3. Re:Pirates are pirates...... by NorQue · · Score: 3, Informative

      Autopatcher was surely hurt by that but I believe they found a "loophole" in MS's demands. Last time I had visited the site, they are developing a client that would download the patches directly from the MS servers and after that act like the old Autopatcher.
      Few threads down you can find an already existing solution from a German computer magazine, no need to wait for "Autopatcher".

      Couldn't understand why people used their packs in the first place anyways, people don't trust MS with their data, but they trust a random third party on the internet, giving them complete access to their system? Could as well visiting bareback parties.
    4. Re:Pirates are pirates...... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is of course, a ridiculous argument - Windows patches are all signed. Providing the signature is checked, they cannot be meaningfully tampered with.

      But yes. The CD includes the patches. Bad call, MS will shut it down. Apparently you have to go build this stuff yourself from a monster download from MS at least once, because MS are still firmly stuck in last century and don't allow even mirroring; because they've got Akamai! What could go wrong?! (sigh.)

    5. Re:Pirates are pirates...... by dmbrun · · Score: 1

      Wasn't there also some complaint that Autopatcher were also seeking money for their services as well?

    6. Re:Pirates are pirates...... by irtza · · Score: 1

      if MS wanted to roll out an "evil" patch - they would merely embed it as part of a much needed security update. Don't include the evil patch and your system will remain compromised. Works a lot better than trying to kill this project. but I do agree with the control issue, just don't think that this takes away as much control as it lets on (except bypassing WGA?)

      --
      When all else fails, try.
    7. Re:Pirates are pirates...... by Zidane-The-Dom · · Score: 0, Redundant

      microsoft releasing an *Evil* patch?

      so *thats* where vista came from.....

      (yes, i know, pure blatant ms bashing, but hey, i'm in a good mood today!)

      --
      FallenSword, a free MMO you can play at work!
    8. Re:Pirates are pirates...... by dmsuperman · · Score: 1

      Right, but MS's patches aren't third party software. They don't want to be held liable for the patches, or even looked at negatively if the bad patches start being synonymous with MS's patches.

      --
      :(){ :|:& };: Go!
    9. Re:Pirates are pirates...... by William-Ely · · Score: 5, Insightful

      For me it's not about trusting the update source, it's about having a copy of the updates ready for install on a computer when time is an issue. Not everyone has the bandwidth to suck down 270 Meg service packs... yet. I used Autopatcher frequently when I was an on site PC tech since it saved a lot of time for my clients.

      --
      Mod me down with all of your hatred, and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!
    10. Re:Pirates are pirates...... by schnikies79 · · Score: 1

      I followed Autopatcher pretty closely and the closest they had to seeking money was asking for donations via Paypal on their website. There were never any nags in their software, nor any reduced functionally if you didn't donate.

      --
      Gone!
    11. Re:Pirates are pirates...... by R3d+Jack · · Score: 1

      Say in the future MS want to push out a patch that is so mean and so unethical that Autopatcher refuse to include it

      Do repeated WGA downloads count?

    12. Re:Pirates are pirates...... by Sancho · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I don't usually run Windows, but for those rare instances where I need to install it, I have to say that I was always tempted by Autopatcher. And I never ran it for the reasons stated (unknown source of patches.)

      What I did use was a script to download and install updates automatically. I could read the script and verify that it was doing what it claimed to be doing, and that it was getting updates from Microsoft.

    13. Re:Pirates are pirates...... by Sancho · · Score: 1

      Providing the signature is checked, they cannot be meaningfully tampered with. That's a big "providing." Someone using a third-party tool to download and install patches isn't going to be checking the signature first.
    14. Re:Pirates are pirates...... by LordSnooty · · Score: 1

      If MS rolled up patches into one bundle - not a service pack as we know it but a rolling update of all patches to date - then there'd be no need for AutoPatcher. Many homes and small offices run multiple copies of Windows and executing Windows Updates on each in turn is a world of pain. For a start it takes 10 mins just to evaluate which patches you need. Why do they find this disagreeable?

    15. Re:Pirates are pirates...... by COMON$ · · Score: 1

      I could be wrong but I sued to bea ble to download all the patches to a given MS product in a redistributable form. It was a pain the first time around but after that I created my own Disk with a script that updated XP with all the patches. Now I havent had cause do do this in a little over a year or two since I don't work with remote sites anymore. But I would assume you can still do it. I do remember it being difficult to get to the section on MS's site where you could get all the patches in an offline format.

      --
      CS: It is all sink or swim...oh and did I mention there are sharks in that water?
    16. Re:Pirates are pirates...... by Mostly+a+lurker · · Score: 1

      Say in the future MS want to push out a patch that is so mean and so unethical that Autopatcher refuse to include ...
      ... or, perhaps, a patch that checks whether you are running a licensed copy of Windows and connects to Microsoft every day as part of that process (maybe called Windows Genuine Advantage or something).

      I personally think it significant that Microsoft acted against Autopatcher shortly after they added MS Office support.

      It was bad news when Microsoft stepped on AP. Where I live, plenty of people still have only dial-up Internet. Assuming use of a client's legal media (so I cannot just use a generic slip-streamed DVD for install) AP used to often save me at least two hours on the full format and reinstall of XP, Office and associated gunk.

      Even now, the new Autopatcher provides much more than just XP security updates. There is support for XP, Vista, MS Office 2003/2007 and a bunch of add-ons of the type you often want to incorporate just after a new install.

    17. Re:Pirates are pirates...... by hairyfeet · · Score: 1
      I believe the reason they killed autopatcher was it let you "opt out" of WGA.I haven't bothered with an update since.I am not a pirate and have all my licenses legit,yet I will not allow the spyware that is WGA on any of my machines.Does anyone know if this lets you opt out of WGA? I can't really test this as both of my XP machines are running SP3,so if anyone knows if you can opt out the information would be appreciated.And for those who haven't tried it,the SP3 public beta gave me a 15% speed boost with no WGA and no IE7 or WMP11.I just hope they keep it that way.


      If MSFT wasn't so eager to shoot themselves in the foot with Vista they would keep XP until the low end market comes with 2GB of RAM standard and have Vista as their "gamer" OS.But instead they'll try to force Vista down everyones throat whether they want it or not,which makes no sense.The OEMs and the customers are BUYING XP,seems pretty stupid to me to cancel a selling product for one that runs like a slug on anything less than 2Gb,especially when a lot of low end machines still come with 512Mb.But MSFT has been all over the place lately(buy Yahoo,WTH?) so who knows what they are thinking,if they are even thinking at all.

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
  9. sounds like a copyright violation by martin-boundary · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Does Microsoft allow third parties to distribute official patches? If not, this sounds like a copyright violation.

    1. Re:sounds like a copyright violation by juventasone · · Score: 4, Interesting

      yes. just not the OS itself. thus why the slipstream providers can't provide you the ISO already one.

    2. Re:sounds like a copyright violation by juventasone · · Score: 1

      one=done

    3. Re:sounds like a copyright violation by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 1

      yes. just not the OS itself. thus why the slipstream providers can't provide you the ISO already one. Well, the pirates can - seems like there are monthly pirate releases all over the net with the latest patches slipstreamed in.
      --
      When information is power, privacy is freedom.
    4. Re:sounds like a copyright violation by trawg · · Score: 2, Informative

      yes. just not the OS itself. thus why the slipstream providers can't provide you the ISO already one. To the best of my knowledge, redistribution of Microsoft patches is actually explicitly denied by their EULAs and the terms of use of the microsoft.com website.

      The only things you can redistribute are the things they've marked as explicitly redistributable (like DirectX and various other runtimes).

      This is why Autopatcher was terminated. I have also contacted Microsoft in the past to obtain explicit permission to mirror their updates and was refused permission to do so.
    5. Re:sounds like a copyright violation by Sancho · · Score: 1

      That's partially true. You can download the WSUS server from Microsoft so that you can run your own Windows Update server.

  10. c't Offline Update-Makes the medicine go down. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "..but sure sucked not knowing about the other products - took 20 or so reboots from install to completion to get all updates down."

    Dude! That's sure a lot of swallowing.

  11. WindizUpdate... by joshuaes · · Score: 5, Informative
    From the site:
     
     

    Why use WindizUpdate?

    Not only will it keep you up to date with the latest updates from Microsoft, it will also keep software and drivers from other vendors updated. However, that functionality is currently missing.

    Good reasons to use WindizUpdate

            * No personally identifiable information is collected from your computer.
            * No more unwanted spyware -- Microsoft Internet Explorer can finally be removed from your computer (if that were possible).
            * It lists just the updates you need. If an update has been superceded by a newer one, it will not ask you to install the older one.
            * Using enhanced data from MBSA, WindizUpdate will find more security patches needed for your O/S than the "other" website.
            * If there is a security issue with a component that is not yet installed, it will not ask you to update it. For example, if you have not installed hyperterminal, it will not update it.
            * It is not restricted to just Microsoft products. Software from other vendors can also be updated.
            * Upgrading to the latest version of Internet Explorer is not considered a Critical Update!
            * Works on Windows versions no longer supported by Microsoft -- Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 95
            * Our plugin is not an ActiveX control.
            * Integrated download manager with error detection -- you can cancel downloads at any time, and the next time you wish to install the cancelled update, it will continue from where it left off. Only corrupted sections of the file are redownloaded.

    If you are still not convinced that WindizUpdate is the site for you, please check out our page titled "do we need to say any more?"

    Disadvantages

            * There is a delay from when new updates are released from Microsoft to when they appear on this site.
            * If you're using Internet Explorer, you will need to use Microsoft's Windows Update site for updates -- this site will be of no use to you.
            * You'll need to upgrade your browser if you're using MSIE 4.xx -- This site won't work, neither will Microsoft's. http://windizupdate.com/

    The "do we need to say any more?" link is: http://windowsupdate.62nds.com/whywelovems.php ;)

    Sure, it's not an AIO CD, but it's a great alternative to Windows Update.

    --
    "While you're watching the quiet ones, a noisy one will fucking kill you!" - George Carlin
    1. Re:WindizUpdate... by onedotzero · · Score: 1

      Why use WindizUpdate? Hrm. Reminds me of Geordie Windows 98
    2. Re:WindizUpdate... by XO · · Score: 1

      Hm. Went to their site, it told me it wanted me to isntal a browser plugin.... alrighty then, install it, it completely freezes the browser upon installation, which i have to kill from taskman, then it completely freezes explorer, which i kill with taskman, and then it comes back and says that the plugin is not installed, please install it.

      Fantastic program.

      --
      "Champagne for my real friends - and real pain for my sham friends!" http://ericblade.postalboard.com/
    3. Re:WindizUpdate... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      This piece of info is well hidden in their web site. They don't update their database anymore. Their last update is from around September, last year.

      "The site will still be operational, but no new updates will be added."

    4. Re:WindizUpdate... by morari · · Score: 1

      Ah, Windiz. It works great! I used to use it all of the time back when I was afraid of installing the WGA check. That is pretty easily cracked nowadays though.

      --
      "He who can destroy a thing, controls a thing." --Paul Atreides, Dune
  12. Innovative? by unbug · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Providing an OS + released patches on one CD is actually innovative? Oh my...

  13. Anyone have a torrent? by erroneus · · Score: 4, Funny

    C'mon! I know there must be one out there.

    1. Re:Anyone have a torrent? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://isohunt.com/download/32470134/project+dakota

      Anonymous Delivers.

    2. Re:Anyone have a torrent? by justgosh · · Score: 1

      These guys have a great sense of humor if you ask me. Their tracker is http://please.dontassrape.us/index.php
      The latest build is 0.1XPDS and can be downloaded from http://please.dontassrape.us/download.php?action=torrent&info_hash=c1734dd2530ec347e83b1c21a5d4dbf019942e09

  14. Re:Chair Fucker - Genuine Biometric Advantage by Vectronic · · Score: 0

    It's... Wizard Gay Alliance... geezus, get your shit "straight".

  15. :O by joaommp · · Score: 2, Funny

    Did it all fit onto a single CD?? :O

    --
    Onda Technology Institute
  16. It is all about control by EmbeddedJanitor · · Score: 0, Troll

    "Not on MS servers" is FUD, not a valid reason. For MS it is all about controlling the distribution chain.

    --
    Engineering is the art of compromise.
    1. Re:It is all about control by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      For MS it is all about controlling the distribution chain. Or, more to the point, the quality.

      If autopatcher breaks things then likely Microsoft will have to clean up the mess. (Remember they broke compatibility between CIFS and CIFS2 because of a bug in Samba because they knew they'd get blamed when the new OS couldn't talk to the old NAS.) They want to know that when things go wrong it's their fault.

  17. Once CD that patches Windows? by MikeUW · · Score: 1, Funny

    I think this has already been invented: http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

    1. Re:Once CD that patches Windows? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      ... then all you'll need is a patch for Ubuntu and another patch for Gnome.

    2. Re:Once CD that patches Windows? by AndGodSed · · Score: 1

      Oh, and they sent me the disks. For free. Best value for money upgrade I ever had.

      --

      Seven Days with Ubuntu Unity

    3. Re:Once CD that patches Windows? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And there it is. The inevitable out-of-place Linux reference.

  18. just quietly by spandex_panda · · Score: 1

    Theres a dude that builds an iso on tpb which will install a fully updated and updateable sp3 xp install with included handy apps, which is quite easy to use and the thing I will probably always use on my other partition (which is rarely used only for games or unruly applications which don't like wine or virtualisation)

    --
    like phosphorescent desert buttons singing one familiar song
  19. Does it include genuine advantage? by rucs_hack · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I've never installed that, and I don't want to, I object to the very idea of it. It's not much of a hardship, since I don't use any Microsoft programs aside from the OS and office anyway, so I don't care about the blocked stuff.

    This cd would be great unless it included WGA. Can anyone enlighten me?

    1. Re:Does it include genuine advantage? by 1u3hr · · Score: 1
      Yes. You have to run WGA before you can use it.

      To download Project Dakota, you need to validate the computer you are downloading it on. Please download this tool direct from Microsoft and paste the code into the box below.

      Why am i seeing This page?

      The developers believe that a WGA check and the new Terms and Conditions of download will prevent us from being shutdown by Microsoft

      So, thanks, but no thanks.
    2. Re:Does it include genuine advantage? by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      I got to that page after waiting patiently for each intervening page to load...

      I'm downloading on a Mac so no WGA validation for me...

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    3. Re:Does it include genuine advantage? by ncc74656 · · Score: 1

      I'm downloading on a Mac so no WGA validation for me...

      Try IE running under Wine on Linux. It'll validate as "genuine"...no kidding.

      --
      20 January 2017: the End of an Error.
  20. Criminal OS Maintenance Time Wasters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wasting other peoples time is or should be criminal. So is having to waste bandwidth and global warming performig redundant tasks and cpu cycles. Remember when service packs came out monthly, on CDROMS. For the sake of the planet, will someone pass an energy law making inefficiencies illegal.

    1. Re:Criminal OS Maintenance Time Wasters by somersault · · Score: 3, Insightful

      How do you propose to make inefficiency illegal exactly? All OSes provide patches. Microsoft weren't even going to do an SP3 and it's good that they are still releasing updates (can't believe I'm defending MS there...). Releasing the updates on CD ROM is wasting oil and probably a lot more energy than it takes to download the patches (have no idea how much electricity either process uses, but the amount of plastic we waste is incredible). What you said sounds like it could be a joke, but for some reason you seem serious. For the sake of humanity, will someone pass an anthropology law making stupidity illegal?

      --
      which is totally what she said
    2. Re:Criminal OS Maintenance Time Wasters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because printing up millions of CDs that will be out of date in a month is soooooooo much better for the environment when they end up in a landfill somewhere.

    3. Re:Criminal OS Maintenance Time Wasters by William-Ely · · Score: 1

      Tip: data can be saved to a USB Drive thus eliminating waste!

      --
      Mod me down with all of your hatred, and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!
    4. Re:Criminal OS Maintenance Time Wasters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's something I was going to look into...

      I've just started tampering with WinXP USB Installs via BartPE.

      I was wondering how these would work in conjuncture with a USB install? Can I just use these to batch-slipstream? Or run off the USB after a fresh install (Either via ISO+VirtualCD or just an EXE on the usb)?

      I personally am kinda killing time until SP3 is officially released (Then I'll reset my computer and laptop fresh). I'd love to have patches, drivers, program files, etc on standby so my system is ready before I set foot onto the internet.

  21. "The Dakota Project" by Thanshin · · Score: 5, Funny

    "The Dakota Project"

    "A one-man effort to provide all Windows XP SP2 updates on one downloadable CD."

    With:

    Bruce Willis as The Architect
    Jennifer Lopez as Dakota
    Will Smith as Bill Gates

    1. Re:"The Dakota Project" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bill Gates will return in THUNDERBALL!

    2. Re:"The Dakota Project" by orra · · Score: 1

      Will Smith as Bill Gates

      I don't know if you're referencing it, or if it's coincidence, but that's a good choice remembering the lyrics of "Freakin' It".

      Will Gates of the rap game
    3. Re:"The Dakota Project" by Thanshin · · Score: 1

      Pure coincidence, but now I can almost see Bill Gates cast as Muhammad Ali.

        The Man. The Legend. The Vista.

    4. Re:"The Dakota Project" by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      Will Smith as Bill Gates

      Thats about the worst casting for the role that I could think of.

      How about Woody Allen as Bill Gates?

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
  22. hehe by rastoboy29 · · Score: 0, Troll

    Yet another way that the Linux based OS's are actually, qualitatively superior to Windows, even for normal people.  Since we don't have to worry about licensing, we can just, you know, work, and do stuff for you because we like you.

    --
    expandfairuse.org
    1. Re:hehe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, you just have to fix all those places where the Linux OS's are actually, qualitatively worse than Windows and you might persuade people to, you know, install it.

  23. MS are morons.... by cheekyboy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    They really think doing 100 updates, and 12 reboots is ok? Get real, maybe if you work for ms and want to waste 3 days work not working.
    If I was bill gates, I would walk right into the OS group and say, "listen MOFO loosers, make a single one time update for all fucking patches under 100meg, no online wizards"

    I think Bill Gee has a personal IT ass-sistant keeping his top of the line laptop always ready & working. If only Billy knew how shit his OS was. This goes to a few linux distros too,
    stop this madness 5.1 6.1 7.0 8.1 every 6 month, just update a .1 DVD ISO every 3months for gods sake, and up its number. Major release numbers should ONLY be needed if the kernel changes.

    Frigging bloody BA Managers. Clueless about IT.

    --
    Liberty freedom are no1, not dicks in suits.
    1. Re:MS are morons.... by Zorque · · Score: 4, Informative

      I decided a few days ago to dual-boot XP and Vista, since one of my devices isn't supported under Vista (its manufacturer hasn't existed for a while). I had to, of course, install all of the necessary updates for XP, but it only took one reset for over 100 patches. It's really not that bad a process.

    2. Re:MS are morons.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Major release numbers should ONLY be needed if the kernel changes.
      Have you any idea how often that is? And yes, I mean major changes. Between 2.6.22 and 2.6.23 a new scheduler was introduced, for example, and complete subsystem rewrites aren't all that uncommon (wireless, firewire). But yeah, other than that you're right, major versions (for distributions) shift way too often. Personally I think a maximum of one major version per year would be a pretty good policy and have point release in between if the dot-oh's are buggy enough to warrant them. I don't even think two years between major relases would be excessive. Unfortunately, pushing out new releases as fast as possible has become something of a publicity strategy for distributions.

      I wish they would have more long term maintenance kernels too like 2.6.16 and keep all the crazy stuff for the kernels in between.
    3. Re:MS are morons.... by Barny · · Score: 1

      Hrmm, last time I installed XP (uh, did it 6 times today... its my job) raw there was 88 windows updates, not "100s".

      For the record, using a CMD file you can script them all to run at once or...

      Search MS site for sbbypass.exe (or find it elsewhere) start up sysprep (required to run sbbypass.exe) run the bypass, then close sysprep, reboot once and you are fully patched, takes around 10 min on dsl :)

      --
      ...
      /me sighs
    4. Re:MS are morons.... by quintessentialk · · Score: 1

      If you want to talk painful...

      I recently set up a computer for my sister. I only had a service pack 1 CD.

      1. Install windows SP1;
      2. Install motherboard, video card, DVD-RW, etc. Drivers; reboot.
      3. Install wireless card and driver and reboot.
      4. Download and install gazillions of patches for SP1, requiring one or two reboots, before even being allowed
      5. To Download SP2, which installs by no means quickly;
      6. Only now are we up to the topic of this article. Downloading a mess of updates, with repeated reboots.
      7. Cleanup: going through the system, ripping out unwanted stuff like outlook express, messenger, etc.
      8. Installing firefox, office, antivirus tools, etc.; running a registry cleaner (crapcleaner) to remove references to the stuff I uninstalled.

      It took basically all day. I was doing other things while waiting, but it was not fun.

    5. Re:MS are morons.... by stinerman · · Score: 1

      I wish they would have more long term maintenance kernels too like 2.6.16 and keep all the crazy stuff for the kernels in between.

      Well Linus thought his and his contributors' fu was so good that they could merge the stable and unstable trees. I think distros can do the heavy lifting when it comes to debugging the fast moving target that is 2.6.
    6. Re:MS are morons.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, but you're just applying what MS considers 'critical security' updates. Once you get into all the updates for DirectX, MediaPlayer, .NET, etc., etc. which often include an annoying blurb about the need to be installed individually, than multiple reboots are a given. Skipping the updates for a 'complete' install will let you get by with less reboots, but at that point, you have a buggy, kind of bloated, insecure XP instead of a relatively less buggy, very bloated, maybe less insecure XP. But regardless, skip using Windows Update -- Autopatcher is a great concept and well implemented project.

  24. It is all about reputation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Which is why an open source hacked distribution server isn't a big deal. Just go to another server.

  25. Unfortunatly, Most of the software,,, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Requres a non-distrubiable EULA.

    There is about 103 updates for Win2k,
    and the only one I cannot download is the
    Certificates update.

    HTTP 5.1/BITS 2.1 is a bitch to get,
    and MS Installer 3.1 is also tough,
    but I can get everyother one. Win2k and XP, and Vista.

    Genuine Advantage is a typical M$ peice of garbage...
    Its harder to jump a turnstile on the NYMetro then get around it.

    But the easy way is to find the ftp mirror, and just suck it like a golf ball through a garden hose...( Hint: There are 6 I found, and only one has its files unprotected...._

  26. Install cycle by isorox · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Boot PC
    F12 - PXE boot
    "ubuntu-710-server"
    enter hostname
    *wait 20-40 minutes depending on time of day and bandwidth*

    Fully uptodate, patched installation, ready to go, with essential utils installed like sshd, snmp, npt, etc.

    If building a generic box, run "setup.sh", select role, and go. Depending on role thigns like apache are installed. Everyone's happy.

    Nagios checked every 6 hours for critical security patches are flags them up, test and dev systems get them installed automatically, live systems get the OK (a manual apt-get upgrade) depending on severity of exploits

    What's a CD?

  27. Re-Inventing the wheel? by lennier1 · · Score: 4, Informative

    There already a freeware tool out there which does most of this task.
    "Offline Update" (http://www.heise.de/ct/projekte/offlineupdate/download_uk.shtml) was created by Heise, a German publisher of several serious IT magazines.
    You simply choose a MS product and it will then download all updates and patches and generate an ISO image for a bootable CD/DVD. Once finished, simply put that disk into the destination computer's drive and the the rest will be done via autostart. Reboots and related stuff will be handled by creating a temporary local admin account automatically, which will be deleted again once the program finishes its run.
    A nice solution for smaller companies who don't want to set up their own WSUS node.

    1. Re:Re-Inventing the wheel? by packman · · Score: 1

      Was thinking exactly the same, use Heise's tool too - and it works brilliantly :)

  28. and I'm waiting for this one to get forked... by mathnerd314 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Project North Dakota and Project South Dakota?

    --
    Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur.
  29. also starring... by Loibisch · · Score: 2, Funny

    Also starring:

    the Evil Monkey as Steve Ballmer

  30. Better solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There is a better solution. WSUS is no option for smallers users/firms. Install IPCOP on a old pc with a 10GB hard disk. Then install Advanced Proxy written by a very smart guy Marco Sondermann.(http://www.advproxy.net). Install the add-on Update Accelerator (http://www.advproxy.net/update-accelerator/). Regardless of standard Squid settings Update Accelerator caches updates from MS, Adobe, Symantec and the new version caches Apple,Avast,Linux (deb & rpm) and Trend Micro updates. No hassle around with cd's. I am systembuilder and this is opensource at it best.

  31. nLite by Nehle · · Score: 2, Informative

    Ever heard of nLite or vLite? They let you build your [u]own[/u] XP/Vista ISOs with update, service pack and additional driver integration as well as literally every customization you can think of. So, yes, this is nothing exactly new, and I'd rather prefer my own customization.

    1. Re:nLite by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      But does it give you underline-support on /. though?

    2. Re:nLite by Sancho · · Score: 1

      This doesn't solve the problem of updating a current Windows install offline.

  32. lies! by catmistake · · Score: 1

    "relatively quick"

    Relative to what? Geological time? no, it is not even remotely quick! even w/o patching XP takes a good 2 hours to install, unless its the "stripped to the bone" edition, which is pretty fast, ~30 minutes, pre-patching. Patches add another 4 hours of downloading/rebooting... having the patches offline will save maybe 2 hours...

    get a watch.

    --
    The Admin and the Engineer
    1. Re:lies! by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 1

      And if you're doing it often enough, you're installing from a custom CD with the various service packs and vital patches already slipstreamed in, and letting your local SUS or SMS server deliver the non-critical-but-still-needed patches overnight or whatever, right?

      --
      Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
    2. Re:lies! by catmistake · · Score: 1

      yes. absolutely right.

      --
      The Admin and the Engineer
  33. In Soviet Russia by vespacide2 · · Score: 1

    Microsoft updates you!

    --
    Mever nind the typos.
  34. Whoop-e-dy-doo by ZeroExistenZ · · Score: 1

    They used to ship these for free from MS HQ, even shipping was free. (I still have these "security updates" CDroms laying around. Got an invoice of 0 USD)

    At the moment they seem to charge 8 (Offline SP2 CDrom). If you feel thats too much, download teh redistributable, burn it to cdrom or make a slipstreamed XP if you have to do alot of installations.

    Do you trust a random guy "patching" your system? I don't.

    --
    I think we can keep recursing like this until someone returns 1
    1. Re:Whoop-e-dy-doo by kasek · · Score: 1

      you do realize you linked to a SP2 CD, while this article is discussing a CD containing all the POST-SP2 patches and updates?

  35. Dial-up still exists by tepples · · Score: 0, Troll

    Releasing the updates on CD ROM is wasting oil and probably a lot more energy than it takes to download the patches How many megabytes of patches for Windows XP are there, and how much energy does a computer use while downloading them over a dial-up link at 16 megabytes per hour?
    1. Re:Dial-up still exists by somersault · · Score: 0

      Dialup? What's it like living in 1997? Do you have those mini-skirt things? I used to envy all those in the US with their fancy cable/broadband connections, but now pretty much everyone in the UK has broadband. I understand that America is a big place and it's difficult to connect that last few percent of people out in the middle of nowhere, but I'd think the majority of peeps still have broadband? If you're on dialup you're not likely to be online much anyway, as well as having a dynamic IP, therefore you have a bit of security by obscurity anyway. Anyway, I'm not saying that there are no situations where CDs aren't more effective - in this case it is quite effective, but starting to argue that it's better to do this because it's better for the environment is just stupid.

      --
      which is totally what she said
    2. Re:Dial-up still exists by tepples · · Score: 1

      I understand that America is a big place and it's difficult to connect that last few percent of people out in the middle of nowhere For these people, the fastest Internet access they can get is IDSL at $79 to $99 per month, and the next step up is a T1. When members of one of these last few percents are active contributors to some of the forums I visit (gbadev.org and tetrisconcept.com), it's hard for me forget about them.

      but I'd think the majority of peeps still have broadband? You use that word "majority". At what percent of remaining user base should, say, Microsoft discontinue support for Windows XP?

      If you're on dialup you're not likely to be online much anyway, as well as having a dynamic IP, therefore you have a bit of security by obscurity anyway. You appear to underestimate the power of Warhol worms, which can port-scan the entire IPv4 address space in fifteen minutes.

      Anyway, I'm not saying that there are no situations where CDs aren't more effective - in this case it is quite effective Thank you.
    3. Re:Dial-up still exists by wolrahnaes · · Score: 2, Interesting

      A dynamic IP hasn't been a decent protection against any form of attack for ages. Sure, back when most attacks were directed at a specific target it might have helped, but for at least the last few years the kind of threats targeting the average Windows XP (or any other desktop OS for that matter) user are automated and basically use the shotgun approach against entire subnets at a time.

      For example, drop an unpatched Windows XP RTM box on the internet, no firewalls or anything, and watch it get infected within seconds. No one knew you were going to put that box online, but the quantity of machines scanning the internet for new vulnerable targets is just so high that any publicly routable IP probably gets scanned by every single major worm at least once a minute.

      I know looking through my logs that before I implemented DenyHosts and a blacklist preventing logins from outside the country all of my Linux boxes were getting over 100 root login attempts per minute from a few different hosts trying to brute force my password. They didn't get in since I had password login disabled, but the logs were annoying.

      --
      I used to get high on life, but I developed a tolerance. Now I need something stronger.
    4. Re:Dial-up still exists by somersault · · Score: 1

      Scary stuff. I guess I wasn't aware just quite how many zombies there are doing their master's bidding. Sad how things have got to this stage.

      --
      which is totally what she said
    5. Re:Dial-up still exists by dawich · · Score: 1

      No numbers (why would I use facts in an argument on /.?) but it's got to be more than a few percent. I live in a big city in the MidWest, and yet 14 miles away are areas that have only satellite-based Internet if they don't want dial-up. The phone company won't provide DSL yet, and the cable company provides digital cable, but not internet-over-cable yet.

    6. Re:Dial-up still exists by jridley · · Score: 1

      I can't get DSL of any kind. I have cable, but if I lived a half mile farther north, I'd be in dialup land. I'm less than 30 miles from Ann Arbor Michigan, one of the original major hubs of the internet.
      Where I grew up, there is no high speed available for about 40% of the area, except for satellite. If my choice were satellite, I'd stick with dialup.

  36. Customizer by immortalpob · · Score: 1

    I work for the Geek Squad and we have had something like this for a while. It is called Customizer and will automatically do all the patches, including doing restarts between waves of patches. We use it on new computers, after restores, and spyware/virus removal.

    1. Re:Customizer by wile_e_wonka · · Score: 1

      I work for the Geek Squad and we have had something like this for a while. It is called "Fix Computer" and will automatically format your hard drive and reinstall a clean version of XP, complete with updates. We use it for all of our customers that need a restore, have spyware of virus problems, or would like some new software installed.

  37. I often build SP2 machines by spywhere · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I frequently find myself in the exact situation for which this project was intended: I've just done a clean build of Windows XP SP2, and it's time to bring it up to date.
    However, I prefer to change the sequence up a bit:

    -- Run a scripted build from a modified SP2 CD.
    -- Install all the 'inside-the-case' hardware drivers: IMHO, Windows Setup isn't complete until Device Manager is clean.
    -- Install the Micro$oft Java VM, and its latest updated version (must be done as two steps, thanks to $un).
    -- Install a Google-tweaked version of IE7.
    -- Install the latest versions of Flash Player, QuickTime, Real Alternative, and Nero.
    -- Install Media Player 10 (which reclaims all the file associations that Media Player can handle).
    -- If the machine will get Office, install it.

    -- Finally, open the Windows Update page, and immediately click over to Micro$oft Update. Choose the options to hide Media Player 11, and any video driver updates from M$ (they usually break things). Launch the process. Go to lunch.

    If the project included an option for starting with a machine that already has IE7, has the M$ Java, and is meant to be left with MP10, it would be perfect for me.

    1. Re:I often build SP2 machines by holden+caufield · · Score: 1

      Setup isn't complete until Device Manager is clean. -- Install the latest versions of Flash Player, QuickTime, Real Alternative...Media Player 10

      You're concerned about the cleanliness of Device Manager, and yet you install Flash, Real, and MP10?
      To paraphrase Mr. Montoya, "You use the word clean. I do not think it means what you think it means."
      --
      I'll create an amusing sig when I have something meaningful to post.
    2. Re:I often build SP2 machines by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dude I havn't used Windows Media Player in like 50 years it still asks me to config it when It accidently starts.
      I just download the latest torrent of windows with the latest service pack
      sorry ms I own 50 real copies and have no use for them
      install drivers from a thumb drive that I made sure was fully up to date before the build
      then intstall winamp followed by a codec pack (legit one)
      I make sure the computer is 100% offline the entire time
      Sure this is illegal, but isn't forcing me to pay for vista on that laptop I just bought?
      Or forcing me to run Vista to make use of DX10?
      I applaud any effort to make a SP distro as I was just nailed by the latest messenger update which FORCES you to update to solve a major flaw in the webcam feature (who uses that in MSN?)
      Sounds incredibly fishy that they FORCE me to download the update to run a frigging chat app

      In the quiet words of Sean Connery
      SHUCK IT M$

  38. Doesn't take forever... by pdusen · · Score: 1

    Windows update doesn't take forever. Last time I installed XP the whole thing was done in about 20 minutes. And at this point, Ubuntu 7.10 takes just as much time.

    I can see how this could be useful for those without decent-speed internet connections, though.

    1. Re:Doesn't take forever... by Culture20 · · Score: 1

      Last time I installed Windows, I left the network cable plugged in and the whole thing was done-in in 20 seconds. Worms & script kiddies still exist. Always offline update any OS.

    2. Re:Doesn't take forever... by pdusen · · Score: 1

      Just because you can't protect yourself is no reason to preach overzealousness. After thousands of updates on a number of different OSes, I've never been attacked through an online update system.

      And in any case, that would be a waste of effort on a fresh install. What exactly is a worm / script kiddy going to do when you have nothing to lose?

    3. Re:Doesn't take forever... by Culture20 · · Score: 1

      The question is, how do you know you've never been attacked while updating? I only knew because drivers started going wonky. The only way to be _sure_ is to do updates offline, and lock down the machine before it ever touches the 'net. BTW, "Just because you can't protect yourself" is a silly comment to make when you're advocating online updates to an OS that has open remote exploits by default (whether it be windows or Solaris with their silly telnet issues).

    4. Re:Doesn't take forever... by pdusen · · Score: 1

      I just don't see offline updates as that much more secure. The software comes from the same place. You might be installing something malicious and have no idea until the next time you connect to the internet.

      There is no real security, and it does no good to be paranoid about it; just keep sensitive information well separated and you're golden.

  39. Here it goes by eiapoce · · Score: 1

    Here it goes another excuse for microsoft not to roll out a much needed service pack 3.

  40. It looks to me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...that if it wasn't so full of holes you guys wouldn't have to patch it sooo much. In addition, isn't it vulnerable to attacks and exploits while taking 4hrs to download the patches? When is too much bullshit enough for you windoze apologists? I couldn't and wouldn't put up with microsoft's closed, proprietary formats and OSs. Im sure some of you will say but we have to!! That is a line of bullshit. Today there are many alternatives and to say there isn't is approaching lunacy or dare i say stockholme syndrome?

  41. call me paranoid, but by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't trust updates from a third party nearly as much as I trust updates from MS themselves. Even if the third party is altruistic, it opens up a whole new vector of attack. I just installed XPSP2 on a PC I rebuilt a couple nights ago, and even over a less than amazing connection it was updated and running in about forty minutes with very minimal manual intervention. If I'm installing windows on one PC, I don't mind having to reboot it twice while I'm doing something in another room. If I'm installing it on several PCs, there are better options (network installs, etc).

  42. agree by filthpickle · · Score: 1

    Did this just yesterday for the X-millionth time....once XP finishes installing I just point it at windows update and walk away. Take a look at it every 20 minutes or so. Was a pretty painless process over my wireless network. Should an OS need such a volume of updates?...probably not, would it be faster to make the updates torrents?...doesn't matter because it's never going to happen.

    It sucks when you are reinstalling on your main machine I guess...but isn't that what television/consoles are for?

  43. Germans been there, done that, again by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://www.heise.de/ct/projekte/offlineupdate/download_uk.shtml

    Why must we already be reinventing the wheel, sigh.

  44. Cool by thorkyl · · Score: 1

    I like this idea
      Now when I build 10 to 15 machines for a client I don't have to kill my internet connection
    or try to download them all to the LAN

    Now, how long will it take MicroShaft to file suit or buy the guy out?

    --
    -- I am the NRA, enough said...
    1. Re:Cool by Sancho · · Score: 1

      There have always been solutions you could use to solve this problem, though. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/wsus/default.aspx

      Toss it on a laptop, and away you go.

  45. Don't forget to also add the driver packs to your by Joe+The+Dragon · · Score: 1

    Don't forget to also add the driver packs to your install disk

    http://driverpacks.net/

    you can also use RyanVM with it as well but then you likely will need a DVD as it will be to big for a cd.

  46. I have my Windows autopatcher CD. by ls+-la · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    It's labeled "Ubuntu"

  47. The answer: Offline-Update. Saves a lot of reading by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Use Heise Security Offline-Update to patch any installation of Windows XP with the latest service packs and security updates.

    Why? Heise Offline-Update handles everything. It comes from a reputable company that makes money selling other security services; they have a strong incentive to do it right. To make the CD or DVD, it downloads all the patches from Microsoft's servers, and makes an .ISO file which you burn to a CD or DVD. To use Heise Offline-Update, you insert the CD or DVD, start the program, and let it run.

    Shortcomings of Heise Offline-Update? 1) It does only security updates. 2) The web site is mostly in German, although there is an older English explanation.

    Why not the others? 1) Autopatcher and others were much more amateurish. Autopatcher is now back with a scheme like Heise Offline-Update, but that is after months of experimentation. The volunteers at Autopatcher don't seem to have the resources necessary. See the Autopatcher downloads page which says "This page will be back very soon :)" (2008-02-12). Before, Autopatcher provided patches directly from their servers; Microsoft stopped that, due to security risks, it said. But Microsoft did not provide its own solution.

    Problems with Slashdot: 1) Bad stories create bad discussions. Slashdot editors apparently don't know much about Microsoft Windows. Almost all Slashdot readers have to deal with Windows, even if only to help family and neighbors. Sloppy stories that have not been researched waste reader's time. 2) Lots of readers comment when they don't have much to say.

    That said, Slashdot is by far the best web site I know for computer-oriented news.

    Problems with Microsoft: What Microsoft offers is not complete, so volunteers try to help. In my opinion, Microsoft is often extremely adversarial toward its customers.

    It has been more than 3 years since Microsoft issued a Service Pack for Windows XP; that has wasted the time of hundreds of thousands because Windows XP is so unstable and buggy and malware-prone that it often needs re-loading. Often malware replaces a system file, and the only way to recover is to re-load the operating system. Re-loading Windows XP preserves all the programs and settings; however, the latest Windows XP CD from Microsoft has only Windows XP Service Pack 2; there have been hundreds of megabytes of updates since then, making updating over a dial-up connection extremely slow.

    Microsoft does have a system for updating, but the system requires the very expensive Windows Server 2003, which requires a network and at least one other computer. Obviously requiring all that creates problems in helping someone with his or her home computer, or with a cash register computer in a small store, for example.

    More problems with Microsoft -- Windows Update often fails. Amazingly, Microsoft is unable to deliver an updating system that works reliably. I just worked on a friend's computer, for example, and running Windows Update gives a long numerical error message with no help for fixing the error.

    There have been many, many different kinds of problems with Windows Update. See, for example, Microsoft's Windows Update Discussion Group.

    I guess that millions of hours are lost every year because of Microsoft's sloppy programming. Bill Gates deserves his title, Chief of Grief, although soon the chair-throwing, bad-mouthing Steve Ballmer will be the Chief, apparently. (The

  48. Updates on CD are innovative? by gig · · Score: 1

    Only Microsoft could make downloadable updates suck so bad that an update CD would be called "innovative".

  49. MS already has this you fools by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    microsoft already has a downloadable cd every month with all of its updates. all you would have to do is change a simple batch file, like i do at work to include the new ones. This "project" is nothing but a waste of time. for those of you who are not smart enough to type windows update iso in the search box on microsoft i will provide the direct link to the KB article http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/913086

  50. Hello Linux!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Tell me about it. Why do they need to make is so fsucking difficult?

    Many retail and computer stores plan to make the Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD available free charge as a courtesy to their customers, and in the past, computer magazines have often distributed service pack CDs as an insert..

    So, for $8 I can order a CD that will take 4-6 weeks to arrive, but why would I want to/should I have to wait that long? If I turn on the automatic updates, I can download the SAME STUFF in dribs and drabs as the updates are created, but it's done automatically; I don't get a chance to tell them to go fuck themselves when they try to put a devious update on my computer. It seems you can download everything else on the site with such ease, so why not the fscking courtesy of a link to SP2 on their site?

    And if I buy the $8 CD?

    Share This CD with a Friend

    After you have installed Service Pack 2, Microsoft encourages you to give this CD to a friend or family member using Windows XP.

    Oh, how kind of them. I have a better idea - for quicker distribution, why don't I put the CD contents up on my website and help M$ out? Because The Microsoft Download Center site is your only authorized web source for downloading a licensed copy of Windows XP Service Pack 2. To report a website offering unlicensed copies of Windows XP SP2 for download, please send e-mail to: piracy@microsoft.com or visit http//www.microsoft.com/piracy/ReportingUs.mspx.

    Hmmm, lemme get this straight - a licensed copy of something you're giving away for free that you're encouraging me to give away for free as long as I don't pirate it. Howzzat work?

    You know what M$? - Let's make a deal - I turn my partial transition into a full transition to Linux and you stop calling me a customer. Deal?
  51. offline updater by glaese · · Score: 1

    Has anyone tried CT' Offline Update? http://www.heise.de/ct/ftp/ I have been using this for a while and have had nothing but good results. Very nice for some of my clients who do not have broadband. This is an app designed by some german engineers for creating standalone update discs for the last few flavors of windows and ms office, too.

  52. What MS sysadmin doesn't already make their own by Culture20 · · Score: 1

    What MS sysadmin doesn't already make their own patch CD? Download all of the (critical and important) patches to a linux box, burn them onto a CD with a batchfile something like
    for /f %%X ('dir /b *.exe') do %%X --quiet --noreboot && sleep 120

    Then let the intarweb handle the non crit patches. Tada.

    1. Re:What MS sysadmin doesn't already make their own by Culture20 · · Score: 1
      for the pedant in all of us:

      for /f %%X in ('dir /b *.exe') do %%X --quiet --noreboot && sleep 120
      there, I fixed your^W^H my command line
  53. with heath ledger by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    playing the role of BSD

  54. Doing this at the moment :( by hurfy · · Score: 1

    You want a really awful experience try it a firewall/spyware suite installed that asks about system changes :/

    At least 4 passes thru windows update and about 200 queries from the security software and MS programs toss in a few more questions for good measure. Right in the middle of 50 updates is IE7 that has to download more of itself so i can't download the updates,pull the plug and kill the security program, too obvious :(

    I answer ok as i get the chance, when i get up, etc. as it is too far away to reach :(

    I always thought a Service Pack was the earlier updates combined. Why does it then d/l 50 updates, SP2, 50 more updates?

  55. Re:The answer: Offline-Update. Saves a lot of read by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    you can always use the slipstreaming feature of the xp patches or use nLite to create an updated XP cd.
    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/828930
    http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/view/web/23/

  56. It needs WGA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You can't download Dakota without WGA, but what if you don't want to run that piece of MS Spyware on your PC?

  57. Smithii is pretty much the same. by sirjaymz · · Score: 1

    http://www.smithii.com/slipstream_xpsp2 Same thing as smithii solution. I prefer smithii as it uses the KISS method. :)

  58. Re:The answer: Offline-Update. Saves a lot of read by lsatenstein · · Score: 1
    The problem I see is not that MS is incompetent, but that XP is maintained by many departments or subgroups, and thus, when a patch is released by one group, it has to go to QA, to be verified against existing code. They too cannot test everything, so....

    Microsoft realizes that XP and Vista are losing propositions, and that the operating systems should be left to third party developers. Still, the cash cow to come is Vista, but MS is looking to applications for revenue and that is certainly confirmed by the offer for Yahoo. MS is a sinking ship. It is not IBM that reinvented itself.

    --
    Leslie Satenstein Montreal Quebec Canada
  59. IBM is a special case, in my opinion. by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 1

    "It [Microsoft] is not IBM, that reinvented itself."

    I think IBM is a special case. Companies with offices in more than one location need technical support, and few support agencies besides IBM have offices in every populated area, including in other countries. In general, it is very unattractive for companies to try to contract for support with more than one support agency.

    The people who contract with IBM are often not technically knowledgeable enough to fully understand if they get bad service. So, it is not that IBM does well, IBM just provides a recognized name for a service that companies must have. As has often been said, "No one gets fired for recommending IBM"; executives can avoid responsibility if they choose IBM and that is later understood to be a bad choice.

    1. Re:IBM is a special case, in my opinion. by lsatenstein · · Score: 1

      In a way, I agree. That was true before the era of UNIX and Linux. When the mainframe was OS390, and IBM was king, they charged like kings too. Competition is here from global companies such as CGI and the like. IBM is there, and Microshaft has to join them. The milk cows, (XP and Office) are going to run dry. Thats all. Leslie Satenstein

      --
      Leslie Satenstein Montreal Quebec Canada
  60. Hello stupid by billcopc · · Score: 1

    even when SP3 is out, the project will continue to offer a CD that will install all patches offline

    When SP3 is out, any decent sysadmin will burn a copy to CD, stick it on a publicly-accessible share, and copy it to their USB key. Same as they did for SP1 and SP2.

    This project is yet another waste of time and talent. MS killed Autopatcher, and for posterity's sake I hope they kill this one too. The average doofus should NOT be fooling around with 3rd-party patches.

    --
    -Billco, Fnarg.com