"Registry hack turns XP Pro into server, vice versa"

[hanybanoub]

Hey Everyone,

I searched for "hack" and was surprised that all of you aren't all over this

I first found out about this from tb.com, and they had the story from TheRegister US edition

Any comments/thoughts? Has anyone tried this yet?

(This won't work w/ Win XP, according to the, now famous, NTSWITCH program as it'll turn it to "Windows Whistler Server", an unstable OS and is NOT recommended)

 

[SaigonK]

This "hack" makes for some serious memeory leaks in your OS, causing unstability and crashing within a short amount of time.
Do yourself a favor...dont bother.

 

[hanybanoub]

3am labs mention that



<< Microsoft has taken measures to keep the user from changing these registry values.

The operating system has two watcher threads that revert any changes made to these two registry settings, as well as warn the user about "tampering".

The good guys at SYSInternals have supposedly created an application called NTTune.

They did not release it to the public, but only to the press - their intent was to demonstrate the fact that there's really no difference between Server and Workstation.

However, they did not make their utility publicly available. The application disabled the system threads thus letting the user change the aforementioned registry values. >>



And they go on to point to a site which provides the "manual" details of doing this.

SaigonK, could the 2 watcher threads be the cause of poor performance and memory leakage you mention?

 

[SaigonK]

It could well be, many companies will purposely make Beta apps memory hogs to deter long term usage, (Photoshop was notoroious for that).
I imagine MS is looking to do the same so you dont "steal" (for lack of a better term) their new server OS.

 

[robisc]

Bet you this thread will get locked after some of the folks around here who get their panties all in a wad when the word "hack" is used and then call the mods. I posted a similar topic on this last week and here is what came from it. Good topic and IMO opinion it is just info.

link 1


link 2

 

[Sunner]

Damn this board has got to be the most uptight board in existance.

Oh and I saw this on the UK version of The Register a few days ago.

 

[Derango]

<< It could well be, many companies will purposely make Beta apps memory hogs to deter long term usage, (Photoshop was notoroious for that).
I imagine MS is looking to do the same so you dont "steal" (for lack of a better term) their new server OS. >>



There is no better term, because by using this hack, thats what you're doing.

 

[Saltin]

<< the folks around here who get their panties all in a wad when the word "hack" is used >>



It really doesnt have anything to do with the word "hack" it's got more to do with the fact that it violates the EULA . Regardless of wether you own the OS or not, you are not licensed to use it in this manner.
Some of us here make our living rolling out MS domains and infrastructure, I think things like this suck.

 

[Sunner]

Geez, get a life and get that stick out of your a$$es.

Its not like he asked "Hey anyone know where I can download a hack to do this since I dont wanna pay $1000 for Win2K Server".

Gotta say Im interested in knowing if this actually works in any good way myself.

 

[hanybanoub]

Isn't it interesting that both OSes are really the same, and MS makes a killing from profit (not to mention OS upgrades so often).

 

[tigerwannabe]

i just read the article on this myself. it's interesting from a technical standpoint and it doesn't surprise me that the workstation & server versions share the same codebase.

 

[Saltin]

<< Its not like he asked "Hey anyone know where I can download a hack to do this since I dont wanna pay $1000 for Win2K Server". >>



And if you notice, no one is attacking the poster either. My comments are in regard to the hack/product. I think it's wrong, and I'm certain it's against the law. That's all Im saying. You guys can do what you like! I could care a less. But when it comes to unlocking features you havent paid for, well, I think thats stealing. It's not about having a stick up the a$$, it's just that I think stuff like this is wrong. You dont have to like that, but you don't need to jump on someone for expressing thier opinion either.

 

[Sunner]

Come to think of it I should have directed my comment more towards the dude who posted in Forum Issues and called for a lock.

Sorry about that, guess Im just getting a tad bitter by all the "better than thou" and "NTFS vs FAT32" people in these forums...

 

[manly]

It's been known since at least NT4 that the NT4 kernel is tuned through registry parameters to differentiate the workstation vs. server OS.

The only new twist seems to be M$ has implemented plumbing to conceal this reality. It's not a crack if the OS kernel was designed to be tuned in this manner; the parameters are just undocumented. It's unfortunate that the words "hack" and "hacker" have received a negative connotation in mainstream usage.

The performance of betaware is a completely different issue, since most beta software is compiled with debugging, and is non-final code. Unless you're arguing that M$ Winblows is perpetual betaware.

I find it laughable to actively defend a software EULA, straight from the BSA playbook.

 

[Psychoholic]

<< I find it laughable to actively defend a software EULA, straight from the BSA playbook. >>


Well I found it laughable that you find it's okay for someone to not get paid for their work. So does that make us even???

 

[manly]

<<

<< I find it laughable to actively defend a software EULA, straight from the BSA playbook. >>


Well I found it laughable that you find it's okay for someone to not get paid for their work. So does that make us even??? >>



You mistakenly assumed that is my stated opinion on the matter. The bulk of my statements were regarding technical issues.

My point is simply that many software EULAs are onerous legalese, and it's questionable that many would hold up in court as enforcable contracts.

 

[Psychoholic]

<< You mistakenly assumed that is my stated opinion on the matter. The bulk of my statements were regarding technical issues. >>


I guess it has something to do with the bias I immediately see in your posts. I hardly view someone who uses M$ as unbiased, or that will give anything that comes out of Redmond a fair chance.

 

[n0cmonkey]

This just supports what I have been saying all along. Microsoft still has not made a decent server

My reasoning:
Workstations and Servers work differently. There are performance enhancements for workstations that could hinder the performance of servers and vice versa. Apparently this kernel is big enough to be able to do both based on certain registry edits. This could be ok if the kernel was VERY modular, but I dont think the NT kernel is that modular.

If the server is just the workstation without some artificial limits built in. Come on. Thats lame. 10 connections for the workstation is fine, but if all they need to do is tweak a registry entry and remove that limit to make a server they dont deserve as much money as they charge for it.

There is plenty of software on win2k pro (for example) that is not necessary on Win2k server. ActiveX is totally unnecessary. Outlook express and software like that is just silly. DirectX? Why?

Dont take these as flames because I believe they are reasonable concerns about Microsoft's server operating systems.

 

[sonar]

I have to say that I find this whole digital copyright subject intersting, MS has come out and said that this allteration does not make this a trus Serrver OS, so does that mean it still qualifies as illegal? Does this mean that any alteration of the registry violates the EULA? I remember that I use to hack the registry in 98SE back in the 56K modem days to alter the MTU and TTL settings, was i breaking the law then? It also sems that we have a different standard when it comes to music and MP3's, it seems people feel that stealing music is less offensive than stealing software. It would be a shame to see this thread locked, I think it is a fascinating subject.

I also wanteed to add the question, do we really need more legislation to control the manufacturing of hardware, this program seemed to disappear pretty quickly from the U.S. web sites, I think the copyright laws seem to be functioning pretty well.

 

[Derango]

If one of the things this hack does is raise the 10 connection limit to a computer (this is most likely part of what it does), then it is voilating the EULA. Its not just changing some registry settings and speeding things up, it is altering the behavior of the operating system so that it becomes a server OS, somthing the EULA of the product you purchased (or should have purchased) specificly prohibits.

 

[Sunner]

One funny thing that I've seen pointed out many times is that EULA's dont show until you buy and open the software.

Once you've done that, you can read it, but if you dont like it, you're screwed.

Not trying to justify piracy or anything, just thougt of it while on the subject.

 

[Saltin]

<< This just supports what I have been saying all along. Microsoft still has not made a decent server >>



n0c, are you sure it's not just that they make an excellent workstation?

Ive stated this on other threads a few times, but it bears repeating when comments like this arise. Even with the switch applied, the new "server" will never be able to provide network services (DNS, DHCP, RRAS) or host an Active directory. IIS6 hasnt even been written yet! How does this switch magically make that appear?

It doesnt. It doesnt do anything close to turning an XP pro box into a .net server. All it does is break the 10 client connection limit. Big deal. That's still not a server.

You often take opportunities like this to completely ignore the jist of the thread and instead talk poo-poo about MS's servers. I'm not saying thier the greatest either, but I am saying you need to think about what you are saying before you say it. You are clearly a UNIX/Linux guru, but you know sweet f-a about 2k.

 

[n0cmonkey]

<<

<< This just supports what I have been saying all along. Microsoft still has not made a decent server >>



n0c, are you sure it's not just that they make an excellent workstation? >>



Maybe



<< Ive stated this on other threads a few times, but it bears repeating when comments like this arise. Even with the switch applied, the new "server" will never be able to provide network services (DNS, DHCP, RRAS) or host an Active directory. IIS6 hasnt even been written yet! How does this switch magically make that appear? >>



You can download programs to take care of those services though. You can install IIS 5 or whatever on current workstation OSes and be completely happy in a patch-or-die sort of way. And if you have no qualms about this warezish program you shouldnt have any problems warezing other applications.



<< It doesnt. It doesnt do anything close to turning an XP pro box into a .net server. All it does is break the 10 client connection limit. Big deal. That's still not a server. >>



Agreed. But with the help of other applications it can be made into a server.



<< You often take opportunities like this to completely ignore the jist of the thread and instead talk poo-poo about MS's servers. >>



I think the concerns I mentioned about Microsoft's servers are legit. This thread looked basically like another "I deserve free stuff so piracy is ok" type of thread. I also stated that it is possible that Microsoft has the solution to atleast one of my problems with their server implimentation, but my bias keeps me from believing it and I dont think anyone but the developers will ever know for sure.



<< I'm not saying thier the greatest either, but I am saying you need to think about what you are saying before you say it. You are clearly a UNIX/Linux guru, >>



Thank you.



<< but you know sweet f-a about 2k. >>



Not sure what the "f-a" stands for, but I get the jist

I admit to knowing very little about Windows products. I have no problems with that. If you would like I can start another thread where you can combat each and every one of my problems with Windows servers. Maybe you could convince me that Microsoft is right and I am wrong. Maybe not. But you are right, not all of my concerns were on topic and I apologize to everyone in the thread for that.

 

[Saltin]

You're backpedaling now. Third party apps arent part of the discussion. Can we just agree that XP pro is not = to .Net server please? It's painfully obvious (and what third party app is going to give you AD?, the best part of any MS server, to be sure).



<< This thread looked basically like another "I deserve free stuff so piracy is ok" type of thread. >>



Agreed!

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< You're backpedaling now. >>



Take it how you will.



<< Third party apps arent part of the discussion. >>



Ok.



<< Can we just agree that XP pro is not = to .Net server please? >>



Since I cannot be 100% sure I will agree with that.



<< It's painfully obvious >>



Ok.



<< (and what third party app is going to give you AD?, the best part of any MS server, to be sure). >>



AD is in its basic form LDAP.



<<

<< This thread looked basically like another "I deserve free stuff so piracy is ok" type of thread. >>



Agreed! >>



I was trying to branch it out a bit and maybe get some worthwhile discussion, but we can save that for another time