[release] Windows Server 2003 - XP Conversion Pack

Windows X · Post by **Windows X** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 12:55 am

As many guys know that Windows Server 2003 uses the newer kernel which is faster, more stable and has better memory management. Despite the fact it's made for server purposes, some claimed it's optimized for workstation purposes very well in SP1. So I gave it a try for workstation conversion and it was really a worth try. Then I decided to make conversion tool that turn Windows Server 2003 to completely Windows XP. This works on both Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 R2 and it's highly recommended to install Service Pack 1 before apply the conversion. Let's see why should we switch from XP to 2003 as XP from OSNews' article here.

Features:

Windows Server 2003/Windows XP conversion (Retail or cracked winlogon.exe only)

Server security configuration
|-Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration
|-Shutdown Event Tracker
|-Error reporting
|-Ctrl+Alt+Del requirement on startup
|-Drive auto-mounting

Features configuration
|-Manage Your Server logon window
|-Processor scheduling
|-Windows Update
|-Firewall
|-Start Menu items (You have to create new Administrator account)

Services configuration
|-Themes
|-CD-Burning
|-Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)
|-Multimedia support and DirectX acceleration
|-Visual effects

XP missing stuffs configuration
|-User accounts in Control Panel
|-Classic games
|-3-D arcade pinball game
|-System Restore
|-Shell services (logon, fast user switching, progress dialog ,user picture, etc.).

Functions

1. It can apply Windows XP conversion as close as Windows XP Professional x64 Edition SP1
2. It can undo conversion back to original (You can choose to remove some or all)
3. It can convert Windows Server 2003 CD to Windows XP CD (Not real, though)

Get Windows Server 2003 - XP Conversion Pack

boooggy · Post by **boooggy** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 5:15 am

idea: something similar but transform 2k3 into vista?

Denney · Post by **Denney** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 6:28 am

Heh, yeah, that'd be cool.

Windows X · Post by **Windows X** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 7:12 am

ummm..... This is a real OS conversion that makes 2k3 become real XP. There's no way to make 2k3 be real Vista. Otherwise, use Vista Transformation Pack.

boooggy · Post by **boooggy** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 7:38 am

i dont buy it...there is no way to make one os to become other os.....

MrNxDmX · Post by **MrNxDmX** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:29 am

will try it as soon as possible ..
EDIT: couldnt find any download link on all 5 pages?
there is just information about program. where is it?

Windows X · Post by **Windows X** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:35 am

Windows Server 2003 is improved from Windows XP based OS for server works. So it still has XP stuffs just like Windows XP but MS hide it by setting these functions to workstation code and another ones for server code. Once the OS idenfier code is converted back to workstation, XP stuffs will come back like showed screenshot. Then you'll get the better Windows XP OS.

warrior1109 · Post by **warrior1109** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:44 am

MrNxDmx wrote:will try it as soon as possible ..
EDIT: couldnt find any download link on all 5 pages?
there is just information about program. where is it?

http://www.tcmagazine.info/modules.php? ... how&id=427

Denney · Post by **Denney** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:20 am

Does this thing resolve all those "driver conflicts" with Windows XP based drivers? If it does, then I'm sold.

Windows X · Post by **Windows X** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:43 am

yea if you use SP1. But if you can't use installer to install driver, you can install it manually through driver manager.

Denney · Post by **Denney** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:46 am

Kool. I'll give this a try.

The reason I ask about the drivers is that I have an old SCSI card that I use and the Windows XP drivers don't work with W2k3 and they won't produce a W2k3 driver because the card is to old to support (only 4 years old mind you, released in 2001...).

boooggy · Post by **boooggy** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:00 am

did u try to instal ie7 beta refresh on it?

Windows X · Post by **Windows X** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:09 am

or buy a new scsi card

armond · Post by **armond** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:09 am

Bravo!!
Thank you for your grate work
What about reading the MSFN's articles!
It is highly recommended that take some time to read:
http://win2k3.msfn.org

Windows X · Post by **Windows X** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:55 am

My tool is successor of that guide

It has everything I investigated so far.

MrNxDmX · Post by **MrNxDmX** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 5:35 am

i used ur tool,good job but, i cant see system restore in system settings. is there any chance to see
it?

Windows X · Post by **Windows X** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 5:58 am

What OS are you using and did you apply System Restore properly?

seeker3 · Post by **seeker3** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:29 am

Hey everybody,
apparently I have corporate version,and no winlogon.exe,so
I can't use this converter?Or can I? Any help on this would be appreciated.

And keep up the most excellent work!

Windows X · Post by **Windows X** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 8:49 am

well, cr.....cough...cough....winlogon.exe so you can use it without any problem.

MrNxDmX · Post by **MrNxDmX** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:23 am

Windows X wrote:What OS are you using and did you apply System Restore properly?

i am using w2k3 sp1 enterprise Turkish lang. edition. and yes i did apply system restore

Windows X · Post by **Windows X** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 8:33 am

Is it nLited 2k3sp1? I mean removing help center will cause system restore unable to process because of missing pchshell.dll file.

MrNxDmX · Post by **MrNxDmX** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 8:02 am

Windows X wrote:Is it nLited 2k3sp1? I mean removing help center will cause system restore unable to process because of missing pchshell.dll file.

no i didnt use nlite to integrate it. i havent removed help center. i will try it on a new install, with every option selected. then inform u again?
just a question:
if i had managed my w2k3, i mean, if i had disabled enhanced internet explorer settings, will that be a problem for ur app to work?

Windows X · Post by **Windows X** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 2:26 am

Mrs Peel · Post by **Mrs Peel** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 3:05 am

Please explain to me why you have publically declared here....

http://www.tcmagazine.info/comments.php ... 46&catid=3

....that "Server 2003 to real Windows XP is illegal" and yet you are still openly sharing this pack here, despite Ryan making it quite clear that we are not to share content on this board which infringes copyright or circumvents licensing?

We are a public forum and if it's not legal to do it at Techconnect then it is certainly not legal to be doing it here.

I trust you will do the right thing and cease putting this board at legal risk.

Windows X · Post by **Windows X** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:01 am

You should have read news in that site also that I released version 1.1 which removed real XP Conversion to satisfies legal lovers though it's not about being illegal app at all. Yes, it will turn your 2003 into illegal Windows XP but program itself is not illegal in that case at all. However, I removed it for your satisfication.

rytukz · Post by **rytukz** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:05 pm

Windows X, i have one question.
I have printer - HP photosmart 7260. Drivers of printer in Windows server 2003 don't work.

After Conversion how be with drivers - it's works or no???

Windows X · Post by **Windows X** » Sat Apr 08, 2006 3:06 am

works

armond · Post by **armond** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:49 am

Hi Windows X,
I have a suggestion:
Some programs, like FaxTalk Messenger install printer drivers for sending faxes from other applications. I have to manually set this:
Group Policy\Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Printers:
Disallow installation of printers using kernel mode drivers: Set to Disabled.
Please add this functionality to your conversion pack. Thank you again for your grate work.

newsposter · Post by **newsposter** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:14 am

That 'functionality' is a major security feature of the OS. There is no reason to disable it for the entire user base just to accomodate a single user with a single driver problem.

armond · Post by **armond** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 12:32 pm

Remember that the project name is: "Windows Server 2003 - XP Conversion Pack"
The followings are not "major security feature of the OS"?

Internet Explorer Security enhancements---You can disable it by the pack.
Shutdown Event Tracker---You can disable it by the pack.
My post was only a suggestion. You know that Windows X can safely ignore it.

newsposter · Post by **newsposter** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:31 pm

has anyone used this thing yet??

boooggy · Post by **boooggy** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:38 pm

http://www.tcmagazine.info/articles.php ... rticle=204

newsposter · Post by **newsposter** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:24 pm

Yup, know and read all that.

Need first hand experience.

And FWIW, the home page of the software has gone dark. Does anyone have an updated url??

roirraWedorehT · Post by **roirraWedorehT** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:31 pm

newsposter wrote:has anyone used this thing yet??

I tried it with the freely downloadable (from Microsoft) trial copy of Windows Server 2003 R2 and it works exactly like he says. The only program it hasn't fooled into thinking it's a Workstation Windows is Diskeeper 11 made by Executive, but someone made a patch so that it'll work.

It is fun making software do things that it's not supposed to do.

You can even use the software to quasi-integrate the changes onto the installation CD. Actually, it appears to just automatically run and make the changes once Windows 2003 starts up to the desktop for the first time.

You can get a copy of what the web page claims is v1.0 of XPConv from http://slil.ru/22652915/675066788/xpconv.zip

I downloaded what another web page claimed was v2.0, and it is about 33% larger than "v1.0". Within the programs, it's impossible for me to tell which is what version because they don't say one or the other. The file properties don't reflect the information. There are definite differences between the two versions I have, and I think the v2.0 is in fact really v2.0.

If anyone plans on trying it to integrate the changes, you'll have to manually copy xpconv.exe to the I386 installation folder before you burn your new CD, plus I made cab versions of both xpconv.exe and xpconv.sif and put them in there as well. Actually, the program correclty put xpconv.si_ in the I386 folder but then the Windows installation complained that xpconv.exe doesn't exist to copy to the hard drive, so I put both cab'ed and non-cab'ed copies of both files in I386.

Although the program complains when it's run on XP, you can perform the "integration" from XP no problem.

Intriguing.

roirraWedorehT · Post by **roirraWedorehT** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 7:23 pm

You can find a link to download XPConv v2.0 at http://www.windowsxlive.net/?page_id=92

newsposter · Post by **newsposter** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 2:06 am

It would be nice if the conversion 'tool' would tell you what version it is and the compile date or build.

roirraWedorehT · Post by **roirraWedorehT** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 5:51 pm

newsposter wrote:It would be nice if the conversion 'tool' would tell you what version it is and the compile date or build.

Yes, it would be. And it would be nice to know for sure where to look for updates in the future, if any.

SoKoOLz · Post by **SoKoOLz** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 7:19 am

After I've converted my Win2003 SP1 R2. It boots up with the activation screen.
But before the conversion the OS works fine and have a valid key.
Please help

boooggy · Post by **boooggy** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 7:30 am

what about dont use it?

SoKoOLz · Post by **SoKoOLz** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 8:12 am

boooggy wrote:what about dont use it?

LOL, that might be the good thing to do.

Actually, using this method is better :http://win2k3.msfn.org

newsposter · Post by **newsposter** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 12:11 pm

we know the provenance of the msfn method, we know nothing about the 'conversion pack' or it's author.....

roirraWedorehT · Post by **roirraWedorehT** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 10:28 pm

Eh, the whole thing was fun fooling with anyway. Now it's back to reality. There seemed to be some advantages of using Windows 2003 in Workstation mode but there were some strange crashes of some programs which I commonly use so therefore you can only fool Windows and the programs so much.

The thing that really pushed me back into using real XP is that the Logitech steering wheel driver wouldn't provide Force Feedback under Windows 2003 in Need for Speed.

xiaox · Post by **xiaox** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 5:53 am

the links were dead

Post by **mooms** » Sat Feb 23, 2019 12:58 pm

This thread is 13 years old, what did you expect ?

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