Battleangel

Windows FD: A semi-preconfigured version of Windows XP Pro Corp that has taken the BitTorrent community by storm. And unlike some other lame ass attempts I found it to be quite useful and as such it now replaces the old SP1 slipstream that I’ve been using for ages.

What you get:

- Windows XP Pro corporate with SP1.
- Microsoft Office Professional 2003.
- WinRAR 3.3 .
- All hotfixes up until 25/12/03.
- Certain reg fixes, a new visual theme and wallpaper.

- Key is stored on disc, making the install fully unattended.
- Booted even on a system that threw up on the old Corp disc.

It’s ironic really because as illegal as this is (even if you have a valid license), it creates the most reliable, easy to set up and smooth version of XP yet. Even if you’re a poweruser there is no denying there is time to save here. Especially if you do many fresh installs every year. Because of Windows being closed source, it does tend to get a little “stale” between updates. I figure Microsoft better start shipping something like this themselves soon. Thank god for these initiatives. Also available as a hilarious “Deluxe” version. But in that case I’d suggest adding your own tools as those included in that pack were rather dull. Who needs the entire Adobe Creative Suit for instance?

Btw. Used the FD install for the revived HTPC. Strangely enough everything worked. Network file sharing. Radmin. Internet thru the bridge and router. The works. I must check what kind of settings were activated because quite frankly I’m baffled.
On a side note, the HTPC has been offline for over 6 months. All batteries were dead of course. Crap. And the new case showed a fatal flaw in that the PSU inadvertently blows air onto the CPU. I might have to get Dremel-happy here. I really wish I had the proper tools to cut and drill metal … but more on that later …