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AppleOptionFour · Dec 15, 2006, 05:13 AM

Hi all,

Just thought I'd post these. Not sure anyone has done this yet, but Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PC's seems to be a better alternative to a full blown XP install, for me at least.

It runs most everything I need just fine: Office, IE7, etc.

Also, it weighs in at 1.66GB where the full version weighed in at 6.5GB. Not sure if those are the norm or not.

Screenshots:

Any thoughts/questions?

mduell · Dec 15, 2006, 02:25 PM

It would be nice to provide a link: Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs

ghporter · Dec 15, 2006, 04:37 PM

I wonder how they slipped this by me... A low-mass version of XP is perfect for a whole lot of uses, running under Parallels being just a minor one.

seanc · Dec 15, 2006, 05:30 PM

I suppose normal users can't get Fundamentals? It would keep the old PC's going for a few more years and get them off 2000 I'm just wondering what you can't run?

AppleOptionFour · Dec 17, 2006, 10:03 PM

Yeah I think WinFLP was a business release or something. I found it on the ground somewhere at Internet Hwy and Rapidshare.

Runs great even with only 256MB Ram given to it.

Thanks for the link mduell.

ghporter · Dec 18, 2006, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by AppleOptionFour

Yeah I think WinFLP was a business release or something. I found it on the ground somewhere at Internet Hwy and Rapidshare.

Runs great even with only 256MB Ram given to it.

Thanks for the link mduell.

It is only available through Microsoft's Software Assurance program, which is only (supposedly) available to businesses and/or through volume licensing arrangements.

You gotta watch those highways-they can be dangerous places!

Mediaman_12 · Dec 18, 2006, 09:28 AM

How is this for 'Web Dev' testing? Can it run IE7 for example.

seanc · Dec 18, 2006, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by ghporter

It is only available through Microsoft's Software Assurance program, which is only (supposedly) available to businesses and/or through volume licensing arrangements.

You gotta watch those highways-they can be dangerous places!

Do you have to be a big corporation or can you be a small 1-2 person business? It'd be good to get rid of 2000 I'm just wondering what the drawbacks to that version of Windows are.

ghporter · Dec 18, 2006, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by seanc

Do you have to be a big corporation or can you be a small 1-2 person business? It'd be good to get rid of 2000 I'm just wondering what the drawbacks to that version of Windows are.

To repeat mduell's posted link, look here. Microsoft will tell you all you need to know about their Software Assurance program and what it takes to sign up.

AppleOptionFour · Dec 18, 2006, 03:48 PM

It does run IE7.

The Godfather · Dec 26, 2006, 01:37 PM

Is it advisable for a Bootcamp partition? I intend to do the Bootcamp-Parallels thing.
Are there any Core-Duo, memory restrictions (given its name contains "Legacy PCs")?

zeppo · Dec 26, 2006, 03:05 PM

does Windows Fundamentals have pre screened list of programs it is allowed to run? I have this program called faxtalk that came with my modem and this version of windows just says invalid win32 application. All other types of windows from 98se on run it with no problems except for this one.

ghporter · Dec 26, 2006, 09:11 PM

I can't find anything like a list of "only these programs are guaranteed to work" programs for Fundamentals; I suggest trying it out to see (if you can obtain it).

In my research on Fundamentals, I've found that it doesn't seem to have an Autorun.ini file; it won't automatically run on a PC when you insert the disc, and you have to navigate to the setup file manually to get started. Not a biggie when you're installing over a corporate network, but I'm curious how Parallels can manage to install it...

The Godfather · 07:28 PM

I am trying FLP in Parallels 3036:
1. Video resolution does not change with window size
2. Coherence does not work
3. Everything else is peachy-keen

Response as fast as my Win2k VM
* 512MB MB 2.0GHz, 128 MB given to Parallels

added: with Parallels 3094, everything works

AppleOptionFour · Dec 27, 2006, 03:28 AM

Originally Posted by The Godfather

Is it advisable for a Bootcamp partition? I intend to do the Bootcamp-Parallels thing.
Are there any Core-Duo, memory restrictions (given its name contains "Legacy PCs")?

I don't think there are any mem restrictions...though I have no source for that.

I would advise installing fundamentals if you are going to use the Windows environment only on occasion, that is not as your primary.

As with all things, try the install and see if you have any problems. I've not come across any, but then again all I run is Office, IE7 and a few simple apps.

I would really like to know if it improves gaming performance for things like CS:Source.

AppleOptionFour · Dec 27, 2006, 03:30 AM

Originally Posted by ghporter

In my research on Fundamentals, I've found that it doesn't seem to have an Autorun.ini file;...but I'm curious how Parallels can manage to install it...

Good question...I didn't even look at that since it booted right up in Parallels.

Any boot camp reports out there?

AppleOptionFour · 03:53 AM

This screenshot shows WinFLP running on a Core Duo machine.

http://bink.nu/photos/news_article_i.../original.aspx

(Note the T2300 model number in the screenshot.)

Based on this I would expect WinFLP should handle what ever amount of memory you throw at it.

More WinFLP screenshots from bink.nu

tkmd · Apr 17, 2007, 11:36 PM

Originally Posted by AppleOptionFour

Good question...I didn't even look at that since it booted right up in Parallels.

Any boot camp reports out there?

Yes I just set it up in BC - Its works great. Total space needed for is 651 MB! As I have stated in other post it can be updated with the latest version of direct x so it makes for a great gaming OS since a majority of the overhead (read=bloat) has be cut out of it. I think it sees four processors in my MP but I am not sure it actually uses then since I believe it is based off of the XP home version , not XP professional (anyway one can tell?). Half-life 2 flys on it at high settings (even with my 7300 card ).

macintologist · Apr 18, 2007, 12:57 AM

If you already own a license to Windows XP Professional, why not scour the relevant sites out there for Windows XP JACKED Core?

ghporter · Apr 18, 2007, 08:53 AM

Please enlighten me on this "JACKED" core.

mduell · Apr 18, 2007, 06:36 PM

JACKED is a hacked up release to minimize memory usage... some versions of it come with a handful of other (pirated) software pre-installed during the Windows install process (which is almost entirely scripted).

legacyb4 · Apr 18, 2007, 07:12 PM

Does it allow for joining to a domain? I would assume so if it's a business release...

ghporter · Apr 18, 2007, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by mduell

JACKED is a hacked up release to minimize memory usage... some versions of it come with a handful of other (pirated) software pre-installed during the Windows install process (which is almost entirely scripted).

That's kind of what I expected. I'll stick with Fundamentals if I go a minimalist route. For the moment XP is doing fine for me...

mfbernstein · Apr 20, 2007, 12:16 PM

If you don't need the absolute latest versions of Office/IE, I've found Win2K to be remarkably fast (at least in VMWare), and much smaller than XP too.

peeb · Apr 20, 2007, 03:12 PM

Yep - nothing wrong with 2k.

macintologist · Apr 22, 2007, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by mduell

JACKED is a hacked up release to minimize memory usage... some versions of it come with a handful of other (pirated) software pre-installed during the Windows install process (which is almost entirely scripted).

Which is why I recommended the Core version since it leaves all those extras out, which is also why I said "if you have a Win XP Pro license"

liquidsilver6840 · Apr 22, 2007, 04:42 PM

Where can I get Windows Fundamentals?

mduell · Apr 22, 2007, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by liquidsilver6840

Where can I get Windows Fundamentals?

That's already been answered in this thread. Please read the thread before posting.

tavin64 · Apr 23, 2007, 04:57 PM

I installed Windows Fundamentals last night, and it is based off of XP Pro. If you have an XP Pro key you can install fundamentals. I tried it on both bootcamp and vmware and everything works. It can run WoW on my bootcamp side with no problems. If you have an Pro key you can download the torrent and just install with no problems.