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Forum: Geek Forum Topic: NT Switch started by: just_dave Posted by just_dave on Mar. 31 2002,19:20
Has anyone played with NTSwitch. Its a program that edits the registry of NT4,2000, and xp and makes it server versions or workstation versions. According to the files, 2000 pro and 2000 server share the same binaries and the server stuff is just disabled via registry and this little program fixes it. We took xp Pro and ran nt switch and now under my computer it says "Windows XP Server".Any thoughts?? Posted by Wiley on Mar. 31 2002,19:49
Yeah ...you have a copy of XP Pro that says Server. I don't think it can really serve much though.On the WinNT and Win2K switching though, you just have to be careful about the connection licenses, especially if you are running the server as an ICA/RDP application server. The initial server install licenses different then the Workstation/Professional versions. You may end up with an application server that you can't add licenses to, or a file/mail/ftp/whatever server that will only accept 5 incoming connections. And always keep in mind that unless you know exactly what reg keys any third-party software changes and exactly what the results will entail, you are essentialy blindly fucking with the registry and that's pretty dangerous idea in a production enviroment. I watched a guy get fired after using some utility to switch the active PDC among the various BDCs (I don't really know why he was doing this ...he muttered something about freeing resources from netlogon) and the thirdparty app corrupted the SID of the PDC ...and the securities of all the user accounts. Long story short, everybody in the building was all of a sudden on an untrusted domain. ...Goodbye co-worker. I did see a whitepaper from Microsoft on exactly what files and reg structures were different on an NT Server (Standalone & DC), NT Terminal Server, NT Enterprise Server, & NT Workstation ...so I don't think they were really trying to hide the fact that is esentially the same OS, just making the installs and support easier by selling them as different versions. Posted by just_dave on Mar. 31 2002,22:56
True True... But I still think its sorta kewl where it says Windows XP Server. But anyways, I dont use it for a production enviroment, I have 2000 advanced server ... Its just something to play with, but if you want to see it, leave me ya email and I will send it to you. The site is already taken down where I got it from. -dave Posted by Beldurin on Mar. 31 2002,23:24
The changed "Win XP" to "Win XP Server" stuff isn't too difficult. All you need is a resource hacker. I don't recall the specifics (did it 1.5 years ago on a PC at work on 2000), but you can change the way all sorts of shit looks. As a matter of fact, I think I found the instructions off of a link from the old detnet...anyone remember what I'm talking about?
Posted by just_dave on Apr. 01 2002,05:15
Yeah i remember that link. It was posted about the time I had installed 2000. I didn't post it but I remember what you were talking about. But, not only changing the way the os looks it adds the server functions. Its just a kewl program and freaked me out that the site took it down after about 4 hours of releasing it. I don't know why they did it. I just found it kinda kewl.-dave Posted by RadioActive on Apr. 01 2002,06:20
the site was taken off because they were threatened by a lawsuitthis was posted on the register a little while ago, this program is designed to show that professional and server operating systems are same thing and there is no point on paying the difference. i can still install all server parts given the proper .msi files. but most of them will not function properly since your computer is considered a workstation. changing that can result in a fully functional server at the cost of professional. now i am not saying this is infact true. i haven't tested how all server parts would behave on a pro machine after nt switch and with all the services installed. but i suspect it would work. Posted by Wiley on Apr. 01 2002,18:46
Wiley@cbk.net |