Clean install of Vista with SP1

[Brian W]

Managed to get hold of the MSDN Vista SP1 integrated DVD image (thanks to
BitTorrent!). So my plan is to do a complete clean install, complete with
SP1.
Always perferable to using the SP1 update package IMO, as it clears out all
the updates and saves disk space.

 

[Rich]

Managed to get hold of the MSDN Vista SP1 integrated DVD image (thanks to
BitTorrent!). So my plan is to do a complete clean install, complete with
SP1.
Always perferable to using the SP1 update package IMO, as it clears out
all the updates and saves disk space.

With disks being so cheap why bother trying to save space. Bit-torrent, you
get what you pay for!!

Good luck with all that!

Rich

 

[Brian W]

With disks being so cheap why bother trying to save space. Bit-torrent,
you get what you pay for!!

I'd rather have a clean, efficient system without all the previous updates.
The BitTorrent version has the same MD5 hash code as the MS download, I'm
not silly!

 

[C.B.]

I'd rather have a clean, efficient system without all the previous
updates. The BitTorrent version has the same MD5 hash code as the MS
download, I'm not silly!

Brian W,

The fact that the software you downloaded from BitTorrent has the same
MD5 hash code as the MS download does not necessarily mean that it is the
same software and/or that it is secure.
Vulnerabilities have been found in MD5, MD4 and even SHA-1. Personally,
I'll wait for the official release on Windows Update.
I hope your download is secure and that you have no problems with it.

C.B.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

Vulnerabilities have been found in MD5, MD4 and even SHA-1.
Personally, I'll wait for the official release on Windows Update.
I hope your download is secure and that you have no problems with it.

Vulnerabilities?? Are you serious??

Do you realise how amazingly unlikely that anything would be different?

ss.

 

[AJR]

The following is a quote from a previous post by Synapse Syndrome "... I
think they are fine if you get ones from a trusted source...." - Torrent
sites trusted source?

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

The following is a quote from a previous post by Synapse Syndrome "... I
think they are fine if you get ones from a trusted source...." - Torrent
sites trusted source?

I have only used it very little myself. I have just been reading how you
can reverse engineer a MD5 hash into a file though, so I was wrong on that
count.

ss.

 

[C.B.]

The following is a quote from a previous post by Synapse Syndrome "... I
think they are fine if you get ones from a trusted source...." - Torrent
sites trusted source?

AJR,

If you say so then you must be correct. I think I'll download all my
future software from BitTorrent, especially if the hash codes are the same
as the developer's hash codes. Then, if my system takes a sh_t it must be
for some other reason.

C.B.

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Brian

It's not necessary to use the full Vista with SP1 package. The SP1 update
will include a tool that removes anything replaced or orphaned by the SP1
update package.

 

[C.B.]

Brian

It's not necessary to use the full Vista with SP1 package. The SP1 update
will include a tool that removes anything replaced or orphaned by the SP1
update package.

--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience

Mr. Vernon,

Although you were replying to Brian W I appreciate your answer. I
always wondered if this was the case but never researched the issue or asked
anyone about it.

C.B.

 

[Brian W]

Brian W,

The fact that the software you downloaded from BitTorrent has the same
MD5 hash code as the MS download does not necessarily mean that it is the
same software and/or that it is secure.
Vulnerabilities have been found in MD5, MD4 and even SHA-1.
Personally, I'll wait for the official release on Windows Update.
I hope your download is secure and that you have no problems with it.

C.B.

The SHA-1 hash matches too, so I'm happy that there is no difference.
Besides, sites like My Digital Life would not be providing links to the
torrents if there was a problem with them.

 

[Brian W]

Brian

It's not necessary to use the full Vista with SP1 package. The SP1 update
will include a tool that removes anything replaced or orphaned by the SP1
update package.

Fair enough, I'd still rather clean install though. I've always done the
same with each XP service pack.

 

[kevpan815]

I Am Halfway Tempted 2 Report You 2 (e-mail address removed), Because This
Offends Me As Both A Real MSDN Operating Systems Level Subscriber, And As A
Real Microsoft Tech Net Direct Subscriber, Just FYI. You Have 24 Hours 2
Remove Your Illegal Copy Of Windows Vista Service Pack One Before I Report
You 2 (e-mail address removed), Just FYI.

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Hi Brian

Yeah, me too. I prefer to clean install for any major update, like a service
pack.

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

C.B.

Your welcome. We had to fight hard for this tool during the beta.

 

[C.B.]

The SHA-1 hash matches too, so I'm happy that there is no difference.
Besides, sites like My Digital Life would not be providing links to the
torrents if there was a problem with them.

Brian W.

I'm not trying to argue with you. I'm just stating that it is better
and safer to wait for the official release from Microsoft provided via
Windows Update. Better because you will then have no doubt that the download
contains all the components. Safer because you are almost guaranteed it has
not been hacked while on Microsoft's servers.
All legitimate websites hope that the downloads they offer are safe and
not tampered with. However, there is no way to prevent a hacker from
altering the download even after it has been put on the website. This has
happened many times and can be verified. The fact the hashes are the same
does not mean they have not been altered after the verification.
There are ways to insert code into an application without the
application realizing changes have been made and there are ways to hide code
that cannot be discovered. I'm not a hacker so I don't know how to do this.
However, it has been done before and is also currently being done.
I may be wrong, but I think Microsoft offered an update years ago that
contained some kind of malware. I don't know if this malware was inserted
into the update by someone at Microsoft or an outside hacker. Again, I could
be incorrect about this issue. If so, then mea culpa.
I'm only trying to prevent you from compromising your system. However,
it is not my right to tell you how to use your own machine so you should
make the decision yourself.

C.B.

 

[C.B.]

Mr. Vernon,

I'm glad you fought for it yet it amazes me that you actually had to
fight for it. I really don't understand some of the things Microsoft does.
It seems like common sense to me that Microsoft would want to clean out
orphaned and duplicate entries. Thank you again for all your assistance.

C.B.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

I'd rather have a clean, efficient system without all the previous
updates. The BitTorrent version has the same MD5 hash code as the MS
download, I'm not silly!

What is the MD5 hash code?

Cheers

ss.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

It is command code that checks the integrity of files that you have
downloaded. For more information see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MD5

--
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

It is command code that checks the integrity of files that you have
downloaded. For more information see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MD5

No, I know what MD5 hashcodes are. I have been using them for years, and
all my server FTP files ave hashcode files alongside.. I meant what is the
MD5 hashcode for the Vista SP1 ISO download.

ss.