[nyder]

I have some more info and another program for you guys. I came across this last year and used their utililty on a few installations. Currently just my laptop is running w2k3, but my workhorse will be also.

I will be checking out the util that was posted, looks good.

Okay, here's the link to the article about the utility. Their link to it no longer works, so I uploaded it to a fileshareing site.

Here's the article:
Windows 2003 - XP Conversation Pack

And you can download the file from here:
Download xpconv.zip

I would run it after I installed the W2k3 EE edition. It would say something about the activation, but it didn't apply to mine. The warning only has to do with people using a pirated copy of W2k3. So take heed of the warning if you are!
Then on all the options in the program, I just selected them all.

Then after it installs some stuff (xp themes & stuff), changes some settings around. After the reboot it comes up like you are using XP.
One problem I found is that even though it turns on fast user switching, I can't find what program XP uses to do it. So I would end up having to log out to long in another account.

Enjoy!

 

[nyder]

No problem. I'm glad you posted this, so i was able to get a new tool. I like running w2k3 better then xp, that's for sure. As soon as I stop being lazy and start backing up my downloads and empty my drives, I will be installing w2k3 on my other computers.
I'm going to install in on my gaming computer, but I'm not sure if I will end up using it. I guess it depends on how it is with games. plus i don't mind having to run xp on it, since it's just going to be used for gaming, nothing else. Well, maybe some folding also when I'm not gaming. =)

If anyone knows of a forum or something that people talk about using w2k3 as a workstation, please post a link. I got some questions I'd like to run by someone people who knows what's up with windows OS.

 

[nyder]

I take it the "low cal" xp is something someone made using Nlite or something?

No thanks, I've had enough of those "Roll your own" xp installs. While I don't know who does this one, it's been a way people have been able to install rootkits onto your machine. And whats so nice about this compared to getting rootkitted another way, is they can hide it even better.

Plus i've other problems with different ones in the past. Stuff not updating correctly, losing networking ability (not internet, just being able to network with the other computers on my network), and some plain system instability.

Mainly since they almost all are made using Nlite.

But, I know nothing about the "low cal" xp, so I'm not saying anythings wrong with it, it might be the shizzzal

If you don't have a lot of computers so you can test stuff, I recommend setting up vmware or something similiar, as a clone of your computer so you can test the OS under safe conditions. Of course, thats a pain and time consuming.

Well, I guess I'm anxious to hear how the "low cal" works out, and I'd ask what it's filename is so I could find it on usenet, but I don't think we are supposed to talk about warez stuff.

 

[nyder]

I have no problems benchmarking before & afters when I get myself take care of. Just need to get some DVD's and clear off my harddrives. I will try to test the "low cal" also, providing I find it.

I've been considering working on my own stripped down XP for gaming. It wasn't anything I ever planned on sharing really, was just planning on doing it for myself. Most people don't just have a "gaming" computer, they use their computer for everything, so I didn't figure a demand for something like that would be that great. Otherwise I would hear nonstop complaints about services and programs not there/working.

I wonder how much better games would run if they actually ran on an OS made just for gaming. I just wonder how much bloat windows OS adds on top. (just wondering, not asking, rhetorical ya, that the word!)

 

[nyder]

Good news for the EQ2 players, apparently EQ2 works just fine under 2k3. =)