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Lugamo: I think that, if anything, it will die faster. Legal projects can't use this source code for obvious reasons
Does anyone know what those are?
Post edited September 27, 2020 by §pectre
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StingingVelvet: I think in the future we'll need pre-built legacy PCs to play old games, similar to the "Retron" type consoles, and that Windows XP is crucial to that. How this effects that, positive or negative, I don't know.
Is legacy hardware still necessary, if this leaked WinXP source code would somehow enable or accelerate the development of non-commercial virtual machine-solutions, similar to DOSBox or the console emulators?
Of course, you couldn't then "officially" use any of those WinXP VMs, especially for commercial purposes...
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StingingVelvet: I think in the future we'll need pre-built legacy PCs to play old games, similar to the "Retron" type consoles, and that Windows XP is crucial to that.
No, Wine works perfectly fine for that. Judging from the number of "Windows 10 broke muh old game!" posts I see, it's easier to play old Windows games on Mac/Linux rather than Windows these days. So you just need someone to get Wine to work on Windows.

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my name is magike catte: Well even if no one can legally release anything built from the source code, I imagine being able to study the source code will be a boon to things like ReactOS and possibly WINE.
As useful as the Nintendo source code leak was to the Dolphin emulator, which is to say, zero usefulness at all. In order to stay legal and do clean-room reverse-engineering, you can't so much as glance at source code.
low rated
tbh I don't care much.
I don't get why people like XP much, I only used to to run 1 old game... it is good for really old games.
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Gersen: Probably won't change anything, having the source code is nice and all but if you cannot do anything "legally" with it doesn't change that much, maybe it can help a couple things for Wine but that's all.
You can look for more malicious code, code which likely exists in 7 8 & 10.

Also, the code may be more usable than we think. Consider, if the current copyright law (70+life or 110 years for a corporation) gets reduced and the actual purpose of copyright (giving sole ownership for a short limited to make a profit) gets restored? Think if corporations can't sit on a library of games and sell them infinitely forever and instead have to *GASP* make games to stay profitable.

At this point it's apparent games ownership past 20 years doesn't really do anything, as companies will just do a 'remake' or 'rerelease' over and over again and the corporations get lazy and greedy. Within 4 years Discs and books are out of print and it's what's in stock but hasn't been sold.

So if a push for copyright to drop the Mickymouse copyright extention to something reasonable, the source code could actually lead to an alternate OS that many would enjoy using (at least in emulators, VM's, or in certain limited hardware)
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eric5h5: As useful as the Nintendo source code leak was to the Dolphin emulator, which is to say, zero usefulness at all. In order to stay legal and do clean-room reverse-engineering, you can't so much as glance at source code.
How would they prove that you glanced at it? If you come up with a work-alike through clean room revere engineering there's still every chance that your solution is pretty close to the original and you could be accused of copying it from the source anyway.

How do you prove you haven't seen something?
Post edited September 27, 2020 by my name is magike catte
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my name is magike catte: How would they prove that you glanced at it? If you come up with a work-alike through clean room revere engineering there's still every chance that your solution is pretty close to the original and you could be accused of copying it from the source anyway.
I don't think it's particularly likely, and the proof would be of the "reasonable doubt" variety, not 100% iron-clad. Also, just found this:
https://www.reddit.com/r/linux_gaming/comments/j08dh8/windows_xp_source_code_got_leaked_how_helpful_is/
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eric5h5: I don't think it's particularly likely, and the proof would be of the "reasonable doubt" variety, not 100% iron-clad. Also, just found this:
https://www.reddit.com/r/linux_gaming/comments/j08dh8/windows_xp_source_code_got_leaked_how_helpful_is/
That was interesting, thanks!
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Swedrami: Is legacy hardware still necessary, if this leaked WinXP source code would somehow enable or accelerate the development of non-commercial virtual machine-solutions, similar to DOSBox or the console emulators?
Of course, you couldn't then "officially" use any of those WinXP VMs, especially for commercial purposes...
I question how long we'll have a current OS for a typical desktop style open system, that's more what I was thinking. Eric is probably correct right below you though, that Linux or a similar OS would take over that role and emulate Windows.
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Johnathanamz: There you go mqstout linked it I will not link to websites like 4chan.
engadget isn't 4chan. No one asked you to link to something stupid like that. It's just customary when you post news, you post a source for it.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the likes of you frequents 4chan.
I wish MS would release the source code for the most recent DOS versions, it could really benefit DOSbox.
Post edited September 27, 2020 by Crosmando
Cool, this is useless.

I imagine that enough of hardware, microcode, and software have moved on from the 5.X series of the NT Kernel as to render this utterly useless.

Not to mention the legal barricades.
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Johnathanamz: There you go mqstout linked it I will not link to websites like 4chan.
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paladin181: engadget isn't 4chan. No one asked you to link to something stupid like that. It's just customary when you post news, you post a source for it.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the likes of you frequents 4chan.
I do not even go to 4chan I only saw it through a resetera.com topic which had 4chan described in there.
Speaking of Source Code.

Imagine if MicroSoft just officially released the Source Code for Windows XP, DirectX 9, Windows Vista and all of DirectX 10. Then eventually for Windows 7.
Post edited September 27, 2020 by Johnathanamz
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paladin181: engadget isn't 4chan. No one asked you to link to something stupid like that. It's just customary when you post news, you post a source for it.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the likes of you frequents 4chan.
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Johnathanamz: I do not even go to 4chan I only saw it through a resetera.com topic which had 4chan described in there.
Speaking of Source Code.

Imagine if MicroSoft just officially released the Source Code for Windows XP, DirectX 9, Windows Vista and all of DirectX 10. Then eventually for Windows 7.
sadly this is something Microsoft will never do, because Microsoft is not a good company.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIfNIWn2Ad4
This video shows a anti competitive practice they used to get rid of another company.

Microsoft is also highly anti opensource, they might look like they give linux some support but really it is a tactic to get rid of it someday. Microsoft buying bethesda will make the games they make not use Vuklan making it a lot harder to run games on linux now...
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aRealCyborg: sadly this is something Microsoft will never do, because Microsoft is not a good company.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIfNIWn2Ad4
This video shows a anti competitive practice they used to get rid of another company.

Microsoft is also highly anti opensource, they might look like they give linux some support but really it is a tactic to get rid of it someday. Microsoft buying bethesda will make the games they make not use Vuklan making it a lot harder to run games on linux now...
Considering Microsoft built DOS and the first Windows off stolen code, it's no wonder they would not release anything. Windows actually came about from a contract they had with apple to help develop a GUI for the APPLE ][. They breached that contract and copied many of the visual element designs they were given as a base for the system.
Post edited September 27, 2020 by paladin181