Tiny XP Rev 09: Windows XP with cuise control
Installing or reinstalling Windows can be a real hassle. Although Windows XP comes with a basic set of drivers, there's a good chance you'll have to dig out the driver disc for some of your hardware, or scour the Internet for the appropriate files. And many power users apply hundreds of tweaks to Windows for increased performance and stability. Indeed, a simple reinstall can become a full fledged weekend project.With Tiny XP, cumbersome installs are a thing of the past. This powerful custom install disk contains hundreds of the drivers, both new and obscure, meaning no more hunting. The supercharged version of the Windows installer properly configured devices on our test machine, a Latitude 640, that even Dell didn't mention, such as an infrared port. In addition, Tiny XP installs thousands of registry hacks, that improve the system so much you'll never want to go back to the standard version. As if that's not enough, it even includes a bunch of cool options at boot time for trouble shooting, and even a fully functional copy of the Damn Small Linux live CD!
Downloading TinyXP is very illegal since it's basically pirated version of Windows. The argument between fair use and IP law isn't going to end any time soon, so use at your own risk. Don't worry though, although it might not be as easy, there are legal ways to get similar results.












Comments
39
Subscribe to commentsRobJun 24th 2008 4:23PM
You didn't provide any link...
RJun 24th 2008 4:42PM
@Rob:
The answer to your inquiry is in the last paragraph..
"Downloading TinyXP is very illegal since it's basically pirated version of Windows."
Translation: check your favorite torrent sites.
lilpunk1302Jun 24th 2008 5:31PM
That's the best Translation I've ever heard :P
SenJun 24th 2008 4:53PM
Probably because there's plenty of liability when providing a link to illegal software.
Alex MJun 24th 2008 6:05PM
You forgot to mention that TinyXP likely makes an awesome Windows Virtual Machine. =o)
Woof!Jul 7th 2008 1:03PM
could someone at least say which one to find it at... I cant find it at TPB
hnkelleyJun 24th 2008 11:30PM
I wonder... would it still be illegal if I use this and put in my own key from my personally owned CD/DVD of Win XP? Think about it... I ~could~ slipstream all of this into my own install disk, making the same thing that's being provided. The only difference is that I'm being saved the trouble by some kind soul who did all that work for me. I guess the Fair Use mavens would have to fight that out.
JamesJun 25th 2008 9:47AM
I think the idea is that making the software available (and depending on who you ask also downloading it) is illegal, even if the downloader has a legal license for it. Don't ask me why that is -- I'd have to guess because you (the seeder) can't verify that they have a license before they download it from you.
Now, if they could just provide the files that *aren't* on the retail CD and a script for merging them and creating a new disc image, *that* would probably be legal. I'm kind of surprised they haven't.
Lee MathewsJul 1st 2008 5:27PM
Well, theoretically, if you had a LEGAL volume license key and an XP pro license to go with it, you COULD download, burn, install, switch your key, and be legal. The legality is all about the license number that's in your registry - not Windows itself.
Also, you could just get nLite and strip out the same crap eXperience does, and have your own, legal install.
EthanJun 24th 2008 11:49PM
Hmmm, well, I managed to find it after a hunt. I went demon hunting in the deep webs and found some beasties. One of them called himself "oid." I slayed him.
Pretty cool tool! I tried another "pre-slipstreamed" XP cd and it didn't recognize my hard drive. Maybe this will. Thank you DS!!
Zachary WaldowskiJun 25th 2008 8:01AM
It's because the last slipstream you tried didn't have the SCSI drivers for your computer. You have to have a floppy or slipstream them in.
MattJun 25th 2008 6:18PM
I'm going to get killed on here for saying this but I would love to see this for vista.... although tiny and vista seem to be completely ridiculous. I have to say on a decent pc (built in the last 2 years) vista with sp1 turns out to be pretty alright. Just would like all the tweaking ect. done for me.
Joe HJun 26th 2008 1:32AM
Well, if you remove stuff from Vista with vlite, like speech recognition, handwriting recognition, Media Center, etc, you can take out gigabytes of stuff.
Speech recognition is 500 MB on its own.
Also, I prefer MicroXP, by the same author as tinyXP.
LoodacJun 30th 2008 11:11AM
Another way to get "lite vista" is to install Windows Server 2008 and convert it of Workstation.
www.win2008workstation.com
Ian DumychJun 30th 2008 11:14AM
Try searching for TinyVista on scrapetorrent.com ;)
KenJun 25th 2008 10:05AM
I don't trust those distros because they can implant rootkits to steal all your passwords or a back door into your computer.
binkJul 1st 2008 1:31PM
is there any truth to this claim? Are there any viruses and or backdoors in this distribution? Am I putting myself at risk if I use it? I own an XP license, just wanted to save myself some work with the slipstream... please let me know
EthanJun 25th 2008 11:01AM
"It's because the last slipstream you tried didn't have the SCSI drivers for your computer. You have to have a floppy or slipstream them in."
I know. I actually have a Floppy with the driver on it. However, I erm... don't have an external Floppy Drive. I keep hoping someone will get my HD by chance, or I can grab the INF file somewhere. So far, no luck.
SchwinnJun 26th 2008 10:37AM
You could simply "slipstream" the necessary drivers into your own CD, so you don't need a floppy at all. See http://smallvoid.com/article/winnt-install-cd-drivers.html
Volsfan91Jun 25th 2008 10:42PM
Let's be honest here.
Microsoft doesn't really care if you pirate their software.
Enough people buy it to keep it running.
Piracy = dependence and spread of Windows.