XP 64, and other 64 bit OS...

here is a link for a 2 months trial of Windows XP 64. I'll take here an opportuniy to say that Microsoft made a huge mistake by releasing all versions of Vista in both 32 and 64 bit. Jesus, they should only have made a 64 bit version available this time! Thousands of software companie have not yet been able to release compatible versions of their products since the release of XP 64, a couple of years ago (and PGP corporation belong to them). What can we expect from the same lazy teams if they still have the choice? Microsoft should have definitely forced them to develop for 64 bit by releasing ONLY 64 BIT VERSIONS OF VISTA! What a loss of time...I heard Gates say that we were still in a transition phase between 32 and 64 bit OS, when will that transition end? (he actually talked "slowly slipping into the 64 bit era", lol!).

Tweak Guides

here's the link to one of the best winXP tutorial: "Tweaking Companion". The author explained a while ago how he had to remove the words "Windows XP" from his guide title...a telephone call from the MS team (lol). You'll notice that in the quick links panel of the page, more and more guides from the author concern games. That was formerly not so, as Tweak Guides used to relate mostly windows related software, or windows itself. So here is the link for guides that only treat system software. There's also a forum there.

SP3 for Windows XP

thanks for the info Justin, nice to hear that for people willing to stick to XP, Microsoft will still provide support during 7 years. As I read the article I found that other link about SP3 for XP, being delayed to 2008.
I personally would not advise to anyone to rely on that, not that I doubt that Microsoft will hold its promises, support will be there, and sp3 will be released. But who will want to count on an OS in 5 years from now, when 99% of software will be optimized for Windows Vista. Then as you might have already understood, my advice is, people if you can, upgrade to Vista, as soon as you can.

Windows XP Gets a new lease on life

Read the full story at the link below.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=188&tag=nl.e622

auto-streamer for xp/sp2

for those having trouble with running windows after a post install of service pack 2 for xp, here is THE way to switch back to a cool setup, without renouncing to sp2. The workaround is called auto-streamer. Install the program, insert you original Windows XP cd in a drive. Follow the instructions: you'll be prompted to tell auto-streamer where your sp2 files are located. That can be somewhere on your hard disk if you downloaded sp2 from there
or on the CD (available for free)
Auto-Streamer will then create an ISO image to a place of your choice, that you can burn on a CD.
Done. You just made out of a legal copy of windows xp a strictly legal slipstreamed version that will allow you to install XP/ sp2 directly.

Auto-Streamer is available here for download. The file there refers to version 1.33. The one I downloaded a year ago was 1.33.1, found on the developer's site, can't find it anymore.

Otherwise I just found that, haven't tried it, don't know if it works:

"Is slipstreaming really that hard ?
Just copy the CD to X:\XPCD then put sp2.exe into a folder like X:\SP2, then open the cmd window and type:
x:\>sp2\sp2.exe /integrate:x:\xpcd
then of course create a bootable cd with Nero or Roxio."

update: the developer's site can be find there. No trace from auto-streamer anymore, just from auto-patcher. I do not advise to use auto-patcher. This program integrates microsoft update files for those who would be too lazy to launch MS update normally. I f you really want to use it, go carefully through all the updates listed there and see if you really need them. I personally find this program useless and dangerous.