Vista SP1 and XP SP3 vs. Mac OS X and Linux
Despite constantly downplaying the relevance of Linux and Mac OS X, because of a variety of reasons, from high Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) to security risks and inferior shipment volumes, Microsoft is well aware of the real threat to Windows represented by the open source platform and Apple's operating system.
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1.8.2008 Linux and Mac OS X Eat Away at Windows, Even with XP SP3 and Vista SP1
Even with the latest service pack releases for the two supported Windows clients, rival operating systems Linux and Mac OS X are still eating away at the install base of Microsoft's proprietary operating system.
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3.7.2008 Vista SP1, XP SP3, Windows 7 Are Old News Non-Windows Singularity OS Is a Hit
Microsoft is by no means all about the Windows operating system. In fact, Windows Vista Service Pack 1, Windows XP Service Pack 3, as well as the next iteration of the Windows platform, Windows 7, are old news by now.
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21.3.2008 Windows 7 SP1 beta rumored by end of 2009, RTM summer 2010
Windows 7 may be out, but Microsoft is of course still hard at work improving the operating system. Rumor has it that SP1 for Windows 7 will come sooner than it did for Windows Vista.
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2.11.2009 It Will Be Windows 7 SP1 to Go Against Google Chrome OS
In the second half of 2010 Microsofts client operating system will have a new rival platform hungry for a piece of its market share.
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16.9.2009 Microsoft: Vista follow-up likely in 2009
With Vista just out the door, Microsoft is now drawing up plans to deliver its follow-up client operating system by the end of 2009, according to the executive in charge of building the product's core components.
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10.2.2007 Businesses delay Vista plans until 2009
Businesses remain unconvinced about the benefits of moving to Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system and most are delaying any plans to upgrade until 2009 at the earliest.
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29.11.2007 Windows 7 debut in 2009? Another reason to skip Vista
If Windows 7 really is scheduled to make an appearance during the second half of 2009, does this mean that making the move to Vista is now a pointless effort?
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18.1.2008 Vista SP2 and Windows 7 by the End of June 2009
The evolution of the Windows client, involving both Windows Vista (now with Service Pack 1) and Windows 7, appears to be closer than Microsoft is ready to acknowledge officially.
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18.10.2008 The First Anniversary of the Windows Vista Grace Timer 2009 Crack
Windows Vista is a tad under a month away from its first anniversary, taking into consideration the January 30th, 2007 consumer launch of the operating system. In November 2006, Vista was released to manufacturing and, then, Microsoft Chief Executive Officer, Steve Ballmer, gave businesses the green light to Vista.
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3.1.2008 Windows Vista successor scheduled for a H2 2009 release?
Several industry sources have confirmed to TG Daily that a very early version of Windows 7, previously code-named Blackcomb Vienna, already has been shipped to key partners as a Milestone 1 (M1) code drop for validation purposes.
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16.1.2008 Windows Vista successor scheduled for a H2 2009 release?
Several industry sources have confirmed to TG Daily that a very early version of Windows 7, previously code-named Blackcomb Vienna, already has been shipped to key partners as a Milestone 1 (M1) code drop for validation purposes. A roadmap received by TG Daily indicates that the new operating system will be introduced in the second half of 2009.
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17.1.2008 Microsoft readying RC of Vista SP2 for February 2009
Citing a source at Microsoft, Techarp has revealed that Microsoft is targeting a release candidate (RC) version of Windows Vista SP2 for February 2009.
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24.11.2008 Vista SP2 RC in February, RTM in April 2009
Microsoft is laboring to serve Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista a little over a year after the availability of Service Pack 1, beating Windows 7 to the market.
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24.11.2008 Vista SP2 and XP SP3 June 2009 Patches ISO Image Available
This months release addresses 31 total vulnerabilities with 15 rated as 1 on our Exploitability Index, meaning there is a high likelihood that reliable exploit code may be developed in the next 30 days, stated Jerry Bryant, Sr. security program manager lead.
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12.6.2009 Vista Most Secure OS
Microsoft has applauded Vista from the get go as the most secure Windows platform, but according to a comparison put together by Jeff Jones, Security Strategy Director in Microsofts Trustworthy Computing group, the status quo is also valid for rival operating systems.
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23.6.2007 .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 for XP SP3 and Vista SP1
Microsoft has made Service Pack 1 for .NET Framework 3.5 for Windows Server 2008 available for download. Designed to integrate seamlessly with Windows Vista SP1, Windows XP SP3, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008, .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 is now live on the Microsoft Download Center.
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11.8.2008 Making 64-bit Vista SP1 Say It's Vista SP1
Making a 64-bit copy of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 confirm that it is actually Vista SP1 might require a minimum amount of effort on behalf of the end user, such as right-clicking My Computer and selecting Properties, but things are a tad different when an application is programmed to identify the operating system versions or the service pack releases.
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25.8.2008 Microsoft Must Turn To Virtual OS After Vista
Microsoft can't afford five-year gaps in between major operating system releases, Gartner says, and the way around the delays is with modules.
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8.9.2006 CompUSA Guarantees Vista, Will Reinstall Old OS If Necessary
CompUSA will guarantee that customers are satisfied with their Windows Vista update or the retailer will refund the purchase price and reinstall the PC's original operating system, the company announced Monday.
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23.1.2007 My Expose - cool OS X application for Vista
Thanks to Steve Jobs for this download. My Expose - Apple EXPOSE! from OS X Expose for Vista and its for free.
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7.5.2007 Mac OS X Leopard vs. Windows Vista
HardwareLogic has partnering up with Newegg to sponsor the User Guide Of The Month.
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8.5.2007 Last OS Standing: Make the Most of Windows Vista
Now that Windows XP is no longer being sold by Microsoft, PC users will be stuck with Windows Vista. Here's a roundup of PC World's best tips for making Vista easier to use.
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3.7.2008 OS X versus Vista, RAM division
As I noted earlier this week, Ive begun using a MacBook (the basic white model) and keeping a log of my experiences.
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26.10.2008 Windows Vista Beta 1 vs. Mac OS X "Tiger
From Paul Thurrotte's SuperSite:
In part one of my comparison of Windows Vista Beta 1 and Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger," I looked at three key aspects of each system: Look and feel, desktop search, and data visualization and organization. For the most part, OS X came out well ahead of Windows Vista, as you'd expect, since it's a polished finished product. Vista, meanwhile, is all knees and elbows, an awkward teenager on its way to maturity.
. Microsoft will iron out the details, I'm sure, but the end result will likely not change much. Specifically, OS X will always be elegant, and Windows will almost certainly lag behind in the fit and finish department. The only questions are how much Vista will improve when compared to previous Windows versions, and whether it will be enough to keep customers from moving to OS X.
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29.11.2005 Microsoft To Ship All OS Bits With Every Version Of Vista
Microsoft plans to market several versions of Vista but will distribute all of the OS bits with every product shipped so users can easily unlock and step up to more full-featured versions using electronic keys, sources said.
"No matter which edition you buy you get all the bits and a key to unlock it. Everyone will have all the bits," said one source familiar with Microsoft's plans. "Right now we maintain master images for each version of Windows XP and it's a lot of work. Now there's just one master image."
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9.1.2006 Windows Vista Bitlocker encrypts only OS partition
Just had a great session on Integrity in Windows Vista from Steve Riley. This security guy from Microsoft is allways great to listen to.
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13.6.2006 Microsoft Helps Those Upgrade to Vista from a Legacy OS
Microsoft launched a page that clearly explains how to upgrade your existing system in-place from a legacy Windows OS to any Windows Vista version; or, in the case of certain systems, whether you'll need to perform a completely clean installation.
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20.7.2006 Ballmer Dispels Notion of Vista as Last Client OS
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer today attempted to end rumors that Windows Vista will be the last Windows client operating system, claiming that Microsoft has "plenty more where that came from" at a press event to mark the consumer launch of the new OS and Office 2007 in New York.
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30.1.2007 Microsoft's new OS Vista spurs computer sales
US sales of computers carrying Microsoft's new operating system Vista soared in the week after it was launched, defying the expectations of analysts who gave Vista lackluster reviews.
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10.2.2007.NET Framework 3.0 SP1 & 2.0 SP1 on Vista RTM?
Aaron Ruckman: I've received the following type of question a few times and would like to give the answer with some background:
Q. Where is the .NET Framework 3.0 SP1 & 2.0 SP1 for Vista RTM?
A. .NET Framework 3.0 & 2.0 released with Vista as OS Windows
Components, which means that they are serviced as any other windows Component. Therefore, the .NET Framework 3.0 & 2.0 Service packages will be
officially released as part of the Vista Service packages. When Vista SPX is shipped then .NET Framework 2.0 & 3.0 might also include updates in that
service package.
In this case the .NET Framework 3.0 & 2.0 have a service package that will be shipped with Vista
SP1. Vista SP1 RC is available now (
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsvista/bb738089.aspx)
NOTE: The same logic stated for Vista and .NET Framework will also be true for Windows2008 & .NET Framework 2.0 & 3.0, only Windows
Server2008 will release with .NET Framework 2.0 SP1 & 3.0 SP1 in the OS.
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21.01.2008Rumor: No Vista SP1 Until 2009?
It cannot be stressed
enough that is purely a rumor
at this point and that nothing
has been confirmed by
Microsoft.
Say it
aint so, Microsoft. Lest Vista
become a waterslide away from
me that takes me further every
day. Say it aint so.
Rumors are currently
flying about that Vistas first
service pack (SP1) wont be
available until 2009. Thats
impossibleor is it?
Valleywag
reports that Microsoft
has apparently told executives
at one of the worlds largest
PC makers not to expect a
formal release of Windows
Vista SP1 the first major set
of upgrades and bug fixes to
its Vista operating system
until 2009 at the earliest.
This might explain
the
comments
from Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci
from a few days ago.
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25.07.2007XP SP2 vs. Vista RTM vs. Vista SP1: Gaming benchmark
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes: Here are the benchmark results that many of you have been waiting for - a look at how well ten popular games work on XP SP2,
Vista RTM and Vista SP1.
Its been nearly a year since I took a look at the state of gaming under the Vista OS. The last time I
compared XP SP2 to Vista, I was disappointed with Microsofts new OS as a gaming platform because I could get far more bang for my bucks out of XP than
I could out of the new OS. Partly I put this down to immature drivers, but on the whole I was convinced that at the core of the problem was Vista.
So, is Vista worth bothering with as a gaming platform?
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28.02.2008Expiration dates for Vista SP1 and XP SP3 blocks announced
If you're an IT professional and currently using Microsoft's Service Pack Blocker, the software giant recently announced that the current
blocks for Vista SP1 and XP SP3 are going to expire in a few months. The Service Pack Blocker Tool only temporarily prevents Windows from the
installation of a Service Pack via Windows Update, and the block is only effective for one year after the Service pack is released to the market via
Windows Update. Effective April 28th, 2009, Windows Vista SP1 will no longer be blocked by the tool and will be delivered via Windows Update. The
same goes for Windows XP SP3, but the block will be lifted on May 19th, 2009.
Read full story.....
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30.01.2009Why installing Vista SP1 might fail via Windows Update
When you try to install Windows Vista SP1 via Windows Update you can get error: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is not available for installation from
Windows Update and is not offered by Automatic Updates.
To help ensure a positive update experience, Windows Update will temporarily not
offer Windows Vista SP1 to systems that have the following device drivers. In some cases, these device drivers are problematic on Windows Vista-based
computers when you update to Windows Vista SP1. By installing updated device drivers, you will resolve the issue and enable Windows Update to offer
Windows Vista SP1.
Click read more to view a list of drivers that don't work well with Vista SP1:
Read full story.....
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20.03.2008Photos: Installing Vista SP1 beta
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes: Earlier today I downloaded the standalone installer for Windows Vista SP1 build 6001.16659 and installed it on a few systems
to see what it was like -- and I thought you might like to take a look at it.
Don't expect huge UI changes after installing SP1
-- the changes are small and subtle. In fact, if you're not familiar with Windows Vista, you might miss the SP1 changes. I've put together an image
gallery showing some of the most significant changes.
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28.09.2007Windows XP SP3 Yields Performance Gains Over Vista SP1
After a disappointing showing by Windows Vista SP1 (see previous post), we were pleasantly surprised to discover that Windows XP Service Pack 3
(v.3244) delivers a measurable performance boost to this aging desktop OS. Testing with OfficeBench showed an 10% performance boost vs. the same
configuration running under Windows XP w/Service Pack 2.
Since SP3 was supposed to be mostly a bug-fix/patch consolidation release - unlike
w/Vista SP1, Microsoft made no promises of improved performance for XP - the unexpected speed boost comes as a nice bonus. In fact, XP SP3 is
shaping-up to be a "must have" update for the majority of users who are still running Redmond's not-so-latest and greatest desktop
OS.
Of course, none of this bodes well for Vista, which is now more than 2x slower than the most current builds of its older sibling.
Suffice to say that performance-minded users will likely choose to stick with the now even speedier Windows XP - at least until more "Windows
7" information becomes publicly available.
Read full story.....
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24.11.2007Businesses delay Vista plans until 2009
CIO Jury: "It could be a long wait"
Businesses remain unconvinced about the benefits of moving to Microsoft's Windows
Vista operating system and most are delaying any plans to upgrade until 2009 at the earliest.
One year after the business launch
of Vista, only one of silicon.com's 12-strong CIO Jury IT user panel said they had plans to move to the new OS in 2008.
Most
plan to stick with the stability of Windows XP and implement Service Pack 3 for that OS before they even start thinking about Vista.
Adrian Hughes, head of IS for insurance company Amlin, said: "We are sticking with XP and look to take XP SP3 in 2009. Vista not until 2011,
unless there is a good reason to migrate, by which time the next OS may be out so we would then skip a generation."
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29.11.2007Improved startup repair tool, media throttling among Vista SP1 changes
To reassure customers that it really has been addressing consumers' concerns about Vista, Microsoft has made its change log to Windows Vista SP1
publicly available early...
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11.12.2007Changes to UAC in Vista SP1: Much less than meets the eye
A video is making the rounds showing how Vista SP1 has significantly improved Vista's immensely annoying User Account Control (UAC). But there
appears to be less to the improvement than meets the eye --- hardly any changes were made to UAC in SP1, and it remains a very big Vista annoyance.
Microsoft blogger Michael Kleef
has
made a video that he says illustrates how much better UAC is under SP1 than before SP1. It very nicely shows that when you create a new folder in
Program Files, you only need to go through one UAC prompt under Vista SP1, rather than four previously.
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17.05.2008Closer Look: Beta Windows Vista Service Pack 1
With dissatisfaction over the Vista operating system persistent, can Microsoft right the OS's wrongs with its upcoming Vista service pack?
Microsoft made the latest beta of Vista SP1 available to the public earlier this month, and after informally testing it for a couple of days, I find
my PC is working more reliably--and some tasks especially file copying, take less time. But I was hoping for more out of SP1, such as bigger system
performance gains and fixes for Vista annoyances including the oft-criticized User Account Control feature.
And if you are waiting for
major improvements to switch to Vista, you'd better hope that Microsoft's SP1 development team goes into overdrive before the service
pack's official release and gives you more compelling reasons to make the jump to the OS. Vista undergoes no major overhaul with the SP1 release I
looked at.
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24.01.2008Windows Vista SP1 Application Non-Compatibility List
Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista is an important update for Windows Vista. Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) contains many security, reliability, and
feature updates for Windows Vista. A program may experience a loss of functionality after you install Windows Vista SP1. However, most programs will
continue to work as expected after you install Windows Vista SP1.
This article lists programs that have been reported to
experience a loss of functionality when they are installed on a Windows Vista SP1-based computer.
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19.02.2008Language Packs and Windows Vista SP1
Nick White: We have some information we'd like to share in regards to Windows Vista SP1 and folks running Language Packs. Some of you may have
noticed that after installing Windows Vista SP1 on Windows Vista Ultimate - the Language Packs fail to appear on Windows Update (
KB947875).
We will be releasing Windows Vista SP1 in two
"waves". The first wave will only provide Windows Vista SP1 to Windows Vista Ultimate PCs running the following 5 Languages: English, French,
German, Japanese and Spanish. The second wave will follow shortly after - supporting all 36 languages.
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04.03.2008Vista SP1 to be just 45MB over Windows Update?
Mary Jo Foley got a chance to
see a note sent to certain
testers of Vista SP1 earlier
this month and quite a few
interesting factoids have
turned up in it:
Q: How big is SP1?
A: Windows Vista
SP1 is approximately 45 MB
when delivered over Windows
Update and is designed to not
significantly change the UI or
regress application
compatibility.
Q: What are some examples
of support for emerging
technologies and
standards?
A:
With SP1, Windows Vista can
boot via EFI (Extensible
Firmware Interface) on an x64
machine. SP1 supports ExFAT, a
new file format that will be
used in flash memory storage
and consumer devices Support
for SD Advanced DMA Support to
improve transfer performance
and decrease CPU utilization
is part of SP1
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30.07.2007The Vista SP1 saga: the best ad for Mac and Linux yet?
Alex Zaharov-Reutt: First, it was a 5 year delay for Vista minus plenty of features, drivers and software compatibility. A year later, Vista SP1
launches, but few can get it yet. Then two SP1 pre-updates launch, only to have many reports of endless rebooting. What more can Microsoft do to
convince people to try a Mac or Linux?
I wouldnt exactly call the delay of Vista SP1 a comedic situation, but the whole thing
seems to have gone from comedic to shambolic in less than three weeks since the February 4 announcement that Vista SP1 had gone to RTM.
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21.02.2008SSD tests show Windows 7 beta beating Vista SP1
Windows 7 is supposed to be able to detect that a Solid State Drive (SSD) is being used, and make changes to some settings so that it can take
advantage of the technology. TweakTown has run some tests with the Patriot Warp2 128GB SSD SATA drive for both RAID 0 and single drive setups,
comparing Windows 7 beta and Windows Vista SP1. Based on the results found, the site has concluded that Windows 7 currently has a slight edge over
Vista...
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19.01.2009Vista SP1 x86 appears on Torrent Sites
In the last few days, certain Neowin forum members have reported that an image of Vista SP1 x86 Final has leaked to torrent sites. This file is
supposedly a slipstreamed image of the final Service Pack 1 for Vista x86. It is allegedly available in various languages, including English. Since
many believe that this is indeed the download that Microsoft will provide in the upcoming weeks, I would like to emphasize that this is not the case.
This release is not official, nor is it genuine. I repeat: Vista SP1 has not gone final.
Neowin members are reporting that the file in
question may be SP1 Refresh 2 slipstreamed or simply a malware-filled release. I would like to remind our members not to post links to any Vista SP1
build, unless it comes directly from Microsoft’s servers.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
28.01.2008Microsoft acknowledges Vista SP1 Refresh 2 = RTM
Which build of Vista SP1 became the release to manufacturing (RTM) edition? This was definitely a topic of high speculation in the last few weeks,
even before SP1 hit the RTM milestone. Many were adamant that SP1 RTM was, or would be, different from the final release candidate, while those on the
other side grasped at straws to prove their suspicions. The Microsoft Watcher, also known as Mary Jo Foley, has finally received confirmation from
Microsoft that the Vista SP1 RTM build (6001-18000) is none other than Vista SP1 RC Refresh 2. The latest official statement from the software giant
is:
"RC Refresh 2 code is the same as RTM. In final stages of a product Microsoft likes to get as much validation as possible before
releasing. The release candidate ended up being a high enough quality to be approved to release to manufacturing."
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
08.02.2008Windows Vista SP1 downloadable now, ships tomorrow
Just a few hours after Amazon told its customers that Windows Vista SP1 packages would be shipping tomorrow, Microsoft made Service Pack 1 for Vista
generally available. The update is 435MB for the x86 version...
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18.03.2008I spy the Windows Vista SP1 x86 Full DVD (integrated)
Keith Combs: Windows Vista SP1 x86 (FULL) is now on the TechNet Subscriber download center. It's the 32bit fully integrated version of the
OS. I just downloaded it, burned a DVD and have the install running in a Virtual PC 2007 virtual machine. Finally!!!
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26.02.2008
