Jody Thornton

I miss some of the looks of Vista, especially having customized the captions and start menu colours in the Basic theme. However, Windows 8 is MUCH MUCH faster. Even Windows Mail (a Vista-specific application) is faster still. Windows 8 as it now stands (provided that updates continue) gives these advantages. (a) Since I only use the Explorer-based portions of the OS with Classic Shell (all Metro items are blocked), my OS essentially works like Windows 7, only faster and more modern looking. And since Windows 8.1 improvements don't affect Explorer based portions of the product, I already have what I like about Windows 8.1, but in Windows 8. (b) Since I ungroup the taskbar and restore Quick Launch, it's actually more like a modern-looking Vista. © Now that I have working updates to apply, I have unofficial support, but also no telemetry updates, nor do I have Windows 10 nags. The only disadvantage would be that the loading of the desktop by default is a tad cludgy, only because Classic Shell forces it to happen. But that's a small issue.

Well I'm happy even as it is. Plus this also gives Vista users added hope (since they're in a similar situation). They'll likely be able to do the same with patches from the original Server 2008.

Nope! Won't even bring up a download page. Just says that the Windows 7 version of IE 11 is not compatible with your system. Keep in mind that the original Server 2012 is only supporting IE 10 as well.

And I guess you're covered till Jan 10, 2023 !!! Yes it's what it seems. Now I'll use this thread for month to month results, and see how it goes from there. Even the IE updates go through. And v10, also not as good as 11, still browses most sites (should I need to use it ever)

Well would you look at that. Looks good to me So I guess Server 2012 Updates do install.

Well I got home later than I anticipated, but ran System Restore to create a Restore Point. Then I downloaded six updates (five for Windows Server 2012, and one for Internet Explorer 10). I had shut off the Windows Update service and had cleared the \Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder on a previous occasion, so I started the service and let the folder populate. Then I manually installed all of the updates one by one. (KB3115858, KB3123294, KB3126593, KB3126587 and KB3124280, plus KB3134814 for IE10) Now I had removed IE10 from my system (and even deleted the disk payload for the feature using the DISM command), but I thought perhaps that the IE update would improve security in the IE engine files that may still reside on the system. All updates installed without incident. Now to reboot. Be right back ...

I have noticed, for whatever it may be worth, that WSUS Offline Downloader has dispensed with any inclusion of updates for Windows NT 6.2, as of v10.4. So neither Windows 8 no Server 2012 has been included. How do they expect downloading of Server 2012 patches? Patch Tuesday is tomorrow, so I'll keep you posted.

Speaking of months of trouble free run time, always wondered (even back in the Windows 2000 Server days) how other admins planned to employ patches and updates. I always waited for a weekend to perform the installations and restarts, but what was common for other sys admins to do?

Are there any screenshots with Windows 10 in Classic Mode? Just curious if it were at all possible.

What do you need to customize in Server 2012? I remember with Server 2003, I had to enable Media Player and Internet connectivity if I wanted to even browse.. I adjusted RAM for programs vs cache. Does it come with the main Windows 8 desktop, or is it like "Classic"?

I'll certainly let you know what happens.

I believe you! Who or what, then, accounts for these unwelcome changes? Another thing to note is, if XUL and XPCOM were to be removed, Thunderbird, SeaMonkey, and ChatZilla would instantly be killed. The only way to save them would to be to rewrite the entire thing, and that will be a lot of work for the limited set of developers on each of these applications. (I contribute to SeaMonkey, and we have been discussing this on IRC over the past few months) By the way, when will an x64 official build of Seamonkey be in the works? The ability to run on Vista and XP x64 edition would be nice.

Here are my themes that I used on Windows XP x64 Edition. I'm not sure if all of the wallpapers or icons are there, but the visual styles are. https://www.dropbox.com/s/z02xmt6ngt70cng/Theme%20Backups.7z?dl=0

What about Windows Mail?

Kinda like these too: http://www.deviantart.com/art/Royale-2006-Final-26055364 http://www.deviantart.com/art/Windows-Royale-183605865 http://www.deviantart.com/art/Windows-7-SP1-Normal-Taskbar-147247940 http://www.deviantart.com/art/Aero-Ultimate-141818893 http://www.deviantart.com/art/Royal-Five-Color-Mod-8908279

As in Visual Styles? I used a slightly modified version of Royale Noir (with an orb and small Trubechet MS font in the title bars). For wall paper, I used the wallpaper from a Corona theme. Here's the wallpaper.

Sophy Since Microsoft will be supporting Vista for at least another year, I don't comprehend Google's reasoning for dropping support this early. Well third party developers do not need to adhere to Microsoft support timelines. Recent builds of Adobe Photshop do not support Vista x64. And Google was only allowing the non-Aero build to run on Vista for the last while anyway.

Well in about a week and a half, Patch Tuesday arrives sans any updates for Windows 8 (as support ran out for the OS on the 12th of January). So after running System Restore, I will be running WSUS Offline and downloading February's updates for Server 2012. I'll check the bulletins for each patch and see which of the patches do not relate to server-specific code, and attempt running those. If my system updates successfully, great. I have unofficial support. If not and my system barfs, then I'll return to the last restore point. Then I'll decide if I stay with Windows 8, or go back to Windows Vista for another year (after all, my taxes will be done and I won't need any newer OS for another year.) I'll keep you posted on what happens. I may need to patch/edit the update.inf file somehow, but I'm not sure yet. This will be the first time that a Windows NT 6x based OS runs out of support, to try this experiment, so I'm eager to see what happens. Here's Greenhillmaniacs Repository of Server 2012 Patches that are Suitable for Windows 8 https://mega.nz/#F!ExhDEbDA!pUhzXKVp5-hgzvylW_btfQ

That post removal was the last straw, I had to register and say something. I did try to reply after the post disappeared. Mine has also disappeared or was never approved, one or the other. If nothing else, here is the best quote from that post, preserved for posterity. It sums up the whole issue of XP compatibility in PM up from beginning to end, from dropping support in the main code line to the POSReady block: "...have gone from really liking PaleMoon to simply hating it less than all of the other options..." well said, whoever you were! Darn, I wish you had the rest of his post, and yours ... lol. Oh well. I really liked his, and I never got to read yours.

You saw that too. I wanted to reply to the guy. However, Moonchild has reversed his decision. https://forum.palemoon.org/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=10829&start=40

It works - Whew! I was sure it would, but still.

Well I run the original Windows 8 and that's no longer supported. I wonder if I should upgrade ???

The reason it was suggested NOT to recommend Server 2008 (original release) was that the OP didn't want to spend enormous amounts on an upgraded OS. Well Server 2008 is expensive, no? Actually is the original build even available?

Here it is: http://filehippo.com/download_security_essentials_vista/51103/

If you go find the MSE version for Windows Vista (version 4.4.304.0). That one will install on Windows Server 2003. Filehippo should still have it