Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Linux, Microsoft, Freeware
Tiny XP Rev 09: Windows XP with cuise control
by Ian Dumych Jun 24th 2008
Installing or reinstalling Windows can be a real hassle. Although Windows XP comes with a basic set of drivers, there's a good chance you'll have to dig out the driver disc for some of your hardware, or scour the Internet for the appropriate files. And many power users apply hundreds of tweaks to Windows for increased performance and stability. Indeed, a simple reinstall can become a full fledged weekend project.With Tiny XP, cumbersome installs are a thing of the past. This powerful custom install disk contains hundreds of the drivers, both new and obscure, meaning no more hunting. The supercharged version of the Windows installer properly configured devices on our test machine, a Latitude 640, that even Dell didn't mention, such as an infrared port. In addition, Tiny XP installs thousands of registry hacks, that improve the system so much you'll never want to go back to the standard version. As if that's not enough, it even includes a bunch of cool options at boot time for trouble shooting, and even a fully functional copy of the Damn Small Linux live CD!
Downloading TinyXP is very illegal since it's basically pirated version of Windows. The argument between fair use and IP law isn't going to end any time soon, so use at your own risk. Don't worry though, although it might not be as easy, there are legal ways to get similar results.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Rob said 4:23PM on 6-24-2008
You didn't provide any link...
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R said 4:42PM on 6-24-2008
@Rob:
The answer to your inquiry is in the last paragraph..
"Downloading TinyXP is very illegal since it's basically pirated version of Windows."
Translation: check your favorite torrent sites.
lilpunk1302 said 5:31PM on 6-24-2008
That's the best Translation I've ever heard :P
Sen said 4:53PM on 6-24-2008
Probably because there's plenty of liability when providing a link to illegal software.
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Alex M said 6:05PM on 6-24-2008
You forgot to mention that TinyXP likely makes an awesome Windows Virtual Machine. =o)
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hnkelley said 11:30PM on 6-24-2008
I wonder... would it still be illegal if I use this and put in my own key from my personally owned CD/DVD of Win XP? Think about it... I ~could~ slipstream all of this into my own install disk, making the same thing that's being provided. The only difference is that I'm being saved the trouble by some kind soul who did all that work for me. I guess the Fair Use mavens would have to fight that out.
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James said 9:47AM on 6-25-2008
I think the idea is that making the software available (and depending on who you ask also downloading it) is illegal, even if the downloader has a legal license for it. Don't ask me why that is -- I'd have to guess because you (the seeder) can't verify that they have a license before they download it from you.
Now, if they could just provide the files that *aren't* on the retail CD and a script for merging them and creating a new disc image, *that* would probably be legal. I'm kind of surprised they haven't.
Lee Mathews said 5:27PM on 7-01-2008
Well, theoretically, if you had a LEGAL volume license key and an XP pro license to go with it, you COULD download, burn, install, switch your key, and be legal. The legality is all about the license number that's in your registry - not Windows itself.
Also, you could just get nLite and strip out the same crap eXperience does, and have your own, legal install.
Ethan said 11:49PM on 6-24-2008
Hmmm, well, I managed to find it after a hunt. I went demon hunting in the deep webs and found some beasties. One of them called himself "oid." I slayed him.
Pretty cool tool! I tried another "pre-slipstreamed" XP cd and it didn't recognize my hard drive. Maybe this will. Thank you DS!!
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Zachary Waldowski said 8:01AM on 6-25-2008
It's because the last slipstream you tried didn't have the SCSI drivers for your computer. You have to have a floppy or slipstream them in.
Ken said 10:05AM on 6-25-2008
I don't trust those distros because they can implant rootkits to steal all your passwords or a back door into your computer.
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bink said 1:31PM on 7-01-2008
is there any truth to this claim? Are there any viruses and or backdoors in this distribution? Am I putting myself at risk if I use it? I own an XP license, just wanted to save myself some work with the slipstream... please let me know
Ethan said 11:01AM on 6-25-2008
"It's because the last slipstream you tried didn't have the SCSI drivers for your computer. You have to have a floppy or slipstream them in."
I know. I actually have a Floppy with the driver on it. However, I erm... don't have an external Floppy Drive. I keep hoping someone will get my HD by chance, or I can grab the INF file somewhere. So far, no luck.
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Schwinn said 10:37AM on 6-26-2008
You could simply "slipstream" the necessary drivers into your own CD, so you don't need a floppy at all. See http://smallvoid.com/article/winnt-install-cd-drivers.html
Matt said 6:18PM on 6-25-2008
I'm going to get killed on here for saying this but I would love to see this for vista.... although tiny and vista seem to be completely ridiculous. I have to say on a decent pc (built in the last 2 years) vista with sp1 turns out to be pretty alright. Just would like all the tweaking ect. done for me.
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Joe H said 1:32AM on 6-26-2008
Well, if you remove stuff from Vista with vlite, like speech recognition, handwriting recognition, Media Center, etc, you can take out gigabytes of stuff.
Speech recognition is 500 MB on its own.
Also, I prefer MicroXP, by the same author as tinyXP.
Loodac said 11:11AM on 6-30-2008
Another way to get "lite vista" is to install Windows Server 2008 and convert it of Workstation.
www.win2008workstation.com
Ian Dumych said 11:14AM on 6-30-2008
Try searching for TinyVista on scrapetorrent.com ;)
Volsfan91 said 10:42PM on 6-25-2008
Let's be honest here.
Microsoft doesn't really care if you pirate their software.
Enough people buy it to keep it running.
Piracy = dependence and spread of Windows.
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Josh said 8:46PM on 7-03-2008
I know how to get it. Its on torrent sites like demonoid. And its invite only and I can only let 5 people join. So the first 5 that respond get an invite. And that is the ONLY way to get an account. And you can only invite people after you have been a member for a while. Demonoid is the best torrent site around. And everyone is a member that was let in by someone else. I can also tell you other ways to get it, like a direct download. But you have to message me. s1ymshady-webblogs (at) yahoo TinyXP is awesome. It has DSL, Hiren's BootCD 9.5, Acronis back up and restore, and so many other boot tools you can use. And SpinRite 6 that fixes your hard drive. Just message me.
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