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Microsoft Delays XP for Legacy PCs

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

March 13, 2006, 3:07 PM

Microsoft has delayed a special slimmed-down version of Windows XP for legacy PCs, which is based on the Windows Embedded code base. The Redmond company had expected to make the operating system available to Software Assurance customers this month, but now says Windows Fundamentals will ship "in late 2006."

Windows Fundamentals can run on older machines that do not support XP while providing the same level of security. The system could be utilized as a Remote Desktop or Citrix client, along with supporting management tools, terminal emulation software, and viewing of some documents. Microsoft did not give a specific reason for the delay, but the company has been focusing most of its efforts on finishing Windows Vista.

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By Kramy

edited Mar 14, 2006 - 4:23 PM

nLite, nLite Forum(for support), HFSLIP, MicroWinX, Mindows, XPGE (Game Edition)

All make/are versions of windows extremely optimized. XPGE is currently in private beta, and based on XPE. They hope to get the installed size to (under 100mb?).

Let the hobbiests do MS's work for them, since they seem to do better quality-wise. :P

The MAZZTer: Added links.

nLite is the best bet for someone new to this stuff. It lets you gut out and tweak all the common crap you might have to deal with, but dislike. It also simplifies integrating drivers into your Windows Install CD, which rocks if you're setting up your dream windows for your dream machine.

HFSLIP is more advanced, but still easily figured out if you follow the long directions, and have some nLite experience. HFSLIP is necessary for extremely lean Win2k installations, as Win2k loses support for installing DirectX if you gut too much out. HFSLIP can "slipstream" it in - overwrite the files before re-packaging for on CD. I then use nLite to finish the job and remove crud.

MicroWinX aims at creating a fully-functional yet barren windows. The idea seems to be(though I haven't read through the thread yet) to only keep the required parts of windows components, rather than the whole parts.

I haven't read up on Mindows yet.

XPGE is possibly the hardest for new people. It requires knowing how to setup an XP Embedded installation. I gather you get some extensive config files that you can tweak, and help generate and re-deploy your OS. EVERYTHING required for gaming has to be hacked in, but luckily there's a knowlegible creator and betatester actively working on it at quite a fast pace. XP Embedded was designed for PDAs, Origami-type devices, and other things. It has a MUCH lower memory/install footprint. A minimal XPe install(which can't run anything really) is 20mb - yes, XPe can boot with 20mb on the harddrive.

Hope that helps! :)

Score: 0

By The MAZZTer

edited Mar 13, 2006 - 8:58 PM

Could you link to the homepages for some of these? Google is drawning a blank on XPE/XPGE.

Score: 0

By rasqual

posted Mar 13, 2006 - 4:19 PM

Well, all these delays mean to me is that our rewarding use of the 2X client will expand. Fundamentals is likely to be dead for us.

Score: 0

By Das mod

posted Mar 13, 2006 - 3:48 PM

attack MS all you want, i still think a streamlined version of XP is gonna be pretty handy

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

edited Mar 13, 2006 - 4:06 PM

You misunderstand:

From the linked article above:

"Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs is not a general-purpose operating system*. It is designed to work with the Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection client* or third-party clients such as the Citrix ICA client."

* emphasis added

This is for use as a thin client, to access Citrix or RDP apps running on a seperate server.

Score: 0

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