Microsoft Acquires Winternals and Sysinternals 471
SJasperson writes "In a move that will be good for Redmond but may have consequences for the rest of us, Microsoft has acquired Winternals and Sysinternals. This gives them well-known developers Mark Russinovich and Bryce Cogswell as well as dozens of well-loved and much-praised utilities, both commercial and freeware. Though Mark says on his blog that the Sysinternals site will remain 'for the time being,' this would be a good time to download the latest version of essential Windows tools like Process Explorer before they can go mysteriously missing or be locked up behind the wall of Windows Genuine Advantage."
May I be the first to say....... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:May I be the first to say....... (Score:2)
Re:May I be the first to say....... (Score:5, Insightful)
I am a little concerned about something else. Russinovich has in the past disclosed certain things (like the Sony rootkit) that he may be in no position to let us in on now that he is a Microsoft employee.
Re:Amen (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Amen (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Amen (Score:4, Funny)
Case is on his way with his Ono-Sendai, and has the extraction planned for tonight. Maas-Biolabs can't keep him protected forever.
Re:May I be the first to say....... (Score:3, Funny)
May I suggest (Score:5, Informative)
wget -w 2 --limit-rate=5k -m http://www.sysinternals.com/SysinternalsSiteMap.h
A relatively reasonable 81MB and 553 files.
And don't redistribute. As a software author, beyond it being illegal I consider it to be quite disrespectful to the authors if you were to redistribute these files in violation of their license. On the other hand, it certainly seems like a good idea to make a personal copy at this moment, and that certainly IS in accordance with their license.
Re:May I be the first to say....... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:May I be the first to say....... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:May I be the first to say....... (Score:5, Funny)
Don't panic - this is a good thing. Microsoft need Process Explorer so they can work out what the hell their OS is doing, and then document it for the EU. They'll give it back to the community when they're finished with it.
Why? (Score:5, Insightful)
Because you chose to run Microsoft software. These are the consequences.
Re:Why? (Score:4, Insightful)
Because you chose to run Microsoft software. These are the consequences.
More likely: His employer chooses to run Microsoft software, and Sysinternals actually makes it tolerable.
Time to count your options...
I feel a great disturbance in the force... (Score:5, Funny)
Mising Components... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Mising Components... (Score:2)
- improved task manager.
- ability to actually kill processes.
- new debug utilities.
woohoo! At least they can release it with something new, besides the graphic card eating Aero.
(New Aero on Vista - how can nothing costs like something?)
The Real Answers (Score:5, Funny)
Resistance is futile.
Q. How does this acquisition affect Winternals' customers?
Cost is going up, delivery is going to suck.
Q. Will you continue selling Winternals' portfolio of products?
There is no such thing anymore.
Q. Why is it a good thing for Winternals' customers?
These aren't the droids you're looking for.
Q. Will I still receive technical support and if so for how long?
How long can you tread water?
Q. Why is Microsoft acquiring Winternals and Sysinternals?
To assimilate.
Q. What exactly is a Technical Fellow?
Microsoft Bob.
Q. How many Technical Fellows are there at Microsoft?
There can be only one.
Q. My Product Assurance Contract with Winternals on Administrator's Pak (or other tool) is about to expire (or has just expired). Can I still renew it?
You're new around here, aren't you?
Q. What were the terms? How much did Microsoft pay for Winternals? Was it a cash or stock deal?
A few spare souls that have not been allocated yet.
Someone (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Someone (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Someone (Score:5, Informative)
404's on those links (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Someone (Score:5, Informative)
Get wget from http://www.interlog.com/~tcharron/wgetwin.html [interlog.com] (scan the binaries before installing and executing, of course)
To download the files quickly and easily just copy & paste the filenames into a file (call it utilities.txt), preferably in a new directory (make it easy to ID the files)
Go to the command line in that directory and type:
wget -i utilities.txt
This will download every file in the list to your current working directory.
I suggest you do so ASAP because when Microsoft says that something will always be free, they cannot be trusted.
Re:Someone (Score:3, Informative)
To download the files quickly and easily just copy & paste the filenames into a file
Easier than that, assuming there is a webpage out there which links to them all: Firefox + DownThemAllRe:Someone (Score:5, Informative)
http://thepiratebay.org/details.php?id=3504780 [thepiratebay.org]
Single torrent containing all the individiual zip files as downloaded today.
Pre-Microsoft versions in new torrent (Score:5, Informative)
There is a new torrent now, pre-MS versions. http://thepiratebay.org/details.php?id=3504886 [thepiratebay.org] See notes therein.
Re:Someone (Score:3, Informative)
You don't need to download all the versions.
At least of ProcessExplorer (the only one I cared to download, as I don't even use windows, but who knows where I'll be working tomorrow..). From the ProcessExplorer page:
Note that the zip files are identical, and Process Explorer runs on all Windows platforms.
Re:RAR? In a Torrent!? (Score:3, Informative)
"Select elite"?
http://www.rarsoft.com/rar_add.htm [rarsoft.com]
UnRAR for OS/2 Command line freeware OS/2 UnRAR.
UnRAR for Mac OS X Command line freeware Mac OS X universal binary UnRAR.
UnRAR for Mac OS X Command line freeware Mac OS X UnRAR.
UnRAR for PowerPC Linux Command line freeware PowerPC Linux UnRAR.
UnRAR for x64 Linux Command lin
Re:RAR? In a Torrent!? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:RAR? In a Torrent!? (Score:3, Funny)
I don't necessarily agree with all your reasoning, but am totally with you on the result.
Rarred mp3s? Rarred mpegs? What are those torrent people on???
TOO LATE, they already changed the EULA. (Score:5, Interesting)
EULA: for comparison (Score:5, Informative)
Process Explorer 10.11 (old version):
This software is provided "as is" and use of the software is at your own risk. Sysinternals disclaims any and all warranties, whether express, implied or statutory, including, without limitation, any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement of third-party rights. Sysinternals does not warrant that the software is free of defects.
You are allowed to use software published by Sysinternals at home or at work without paying a commercial license fee provided that you downloaded the software yourself directly from Sysinternals, and:
* Use the software on computers for which you are the primary user; or
* Use the software on computers for which there is no primary user
(e.g. servers, including Terminal Servers) and you are a full-time
employee of the company that owns the computer; or
* Use the software on computers within your residence
A commercial license is required to use the software in any way not covered above, including for example:
* Redistributing the software in any manner, including by computer
media, a file server, an email attachment, etc.
* Embedding the software in or linking it to another program
* Use of the software for technical support on customer computers
Sales of commercial licenses support Sysinternals product development and assure that this Web site continues to offer valuable, up-to-date tools. Established software companies redistribute these utilities and incorporate the code into their products because this offers the potential to save significant development time. Sysinternals commercial licenses are priced according to the complexity of the licensed code and its role in the target application. If you are interested in licensing Sysinternals tools or source code for redistribution or for inclusion with or as part of a software product, please contact licensing@sysinternals.com.
10.2 (new version):
Sysinternals - Information on Terms of Use
ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS.
The services that Sysinternals provides to you are subject to the following Terms of Use ("TOU"). Sysinternals reserves the right to update the TOU at any time without notice to you. The most current version of the TOU can be reviewed by clicking on the "Terms of Use" hypertext link located at the bottom of our Web pages.
DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES.
Sysinternals provides you with access to a variety of resources, including utilities, download areas, communication forums and information (collectively "Services"). The Services, including any updates, enhancements, and/or new features are subject to the TOU.
PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL USE LIMITATION.
Unless otherwise specified, the Services are for your personal and non-commercial use. You may not modify, copy, distribute, transmit, display, perform, reproduce, publish, license, create derivative works from, transfer, or sell any information, software, products or services obtained from the Services.
PRIVACY AND PROTECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION.
See the Privacy Statement disclosures relating to the collection and use of your information.
NOTICE SPECIFIC TO SOFTWARE AVAILABLE ON THIS WEB SITE.
Any software that is made available to download from the Services ("Software") is the copyrighted work of Sysinternals and/or its suppliers. Use of the Software is governed by the terms of the end user license agreement, if any, which accompanies or is included with the Software ("License Agreement"). The Software is made available
Re:EULA: for comparison (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Someone (Score:3, Insightful)
What's wrong with
In other news (Score:5, Insightful)
From the article (Score:3, Funny)
Q. What are you announcing?
A. Winternals and Sysinternals have been acquired by Microsoft. Winternals is a leading provider of systems recovery tools for Windows-based enterprises worldwide and Sysinternals is one of the leading community and enthusiast sites for people interested in information about the internals of the Windows operating system.
Q. How does this acquisition affect Winternals' customers?
A. Microsoft will stop and kill everything as soon as all legal, hardcopy contracts are over
Q. Will you continue selling Winternals' portfolio of products?
A. No, it will get integrated halfly into Windows 2006 though.
Q. Why is it a good thing for Winternals' customers?
A. It is a good thing because now they can't spend any money anymore on stupid tools and they can finally switch to Linux
Q. Will I still receive technical support and if so for how long?
A. Winternals will continue to provide technical support for the current term of your Product Assurance Contract.
Q. Why is Microsoft acquiring Winternals and Sysinternals?
A. Extend, embrace and extuingish.
Q. What exactly is a Technical Fellow?
A. The guy that will come install Linux on your servers
Q. How many Technical Fellows are there at Microsoft?
A. A lot, they are undercover penguins.
Q. My Product Assurance Contract with Winternals on Administrator's Pak (or other tool) is about to expire (or has just expired). Can I still renew it?
A. No, there are no plans for renewal.
Q. What were the terms? How much did Microsoft pay for Winternals? Was it a cash or stock deal?
A. Microsoft threatened with a lawsuit over some of the programs.
Re:From the article (Score:2)
Oh Boo Hoo (Score:5, Insightful)
Good for them. Now they get fat paychecks, good bonuses, and they work for the empire.
And I'd bet that if MSFT offered you $$$$ for whatever you were making, and a fat paycheck with good bonuses - you'd be a fool to not take it...
Re:Oh Boo Hoo (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Oh Boo Hoo (Score:2)
Re:Oh Boo Hoo (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Oh Boo Hoo (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Oh Boo Hoo (Score:3, Funny)
Still living the single life, I see.
Re:Oh Boo Hoo (Score:5, Insightful)
People can live on less money you know. Lots of people with wives and kids manage to live on salaries you would consider insulting.
Re:Oh Boo Hoo (Score:4, Insightful)
Admiral Cogswell: Lord Ballmer, the company has moved out of hyperspace and we are preparing too...unk...ack...cough
Lord Ballmer: You and your cogs have failed me for the last time Admiral....Captain Russinovich!
Captain Russinovich: Yes, Lord Ballmer.
Admiral Cogswell: hack....cough
Lord Ballmer: Make ready to deploy our programs beyond their firewall and deploy the company so that nobody can switch OS...you are in command now Admiral Russinovich.
Admiral Cogswell: THUNK!
Captain Russinovich: Thank you, Lord Ballmer.
Re:Oh Boo Hoo (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Oh Boo Hoo (Score:3, Insightful)
This is hypothetical, but imagine you make 100k a year (after taxes) as an independent software company owner (this also means you can live in lush and cheap areas, keeping most of that money in your pocket)
Re:I'm not so sure (Score:3, Interesting)
Perhaps you do not realize that they also offer a pro tools kit, which has all of these tools and then some, and which has support. Until the support contracts run out, because Microsoft will not be supporting them.
Interoperability (Score:5, Interesting)
Now Microsoft takes over tools which enable interoperability with its plattform and puts them under their licensing control. What we will see next is a restrictive Microsoft EULA for it which discourages use for reengineering or interoperability for Ms competitors etc.
Worth to file a complaint at the responsible EU competition consumer liason office [europa.eu].
Looking for Windows kernel experts... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Looking for Windows kernel experts... (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Looking for Windows kernel experts... (Score:3, Insightful)
Alternate explanation (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Looking for Windows kernel experts... (Score:3, Funny)
No longer an independent. (Score:5, Insightful)
Mark's investigations into Windows workings have been very informational and useful over the years. Now that he'll be under NDA and non-compete...
Re:Anything SysInternals did was the best... (Score:4, Informative)
All you have to do is file a complaint under Article 82 or 81 EC Treaty:
Or just mail to COMP-MARKET-INFORMATION@cec.eu.int
What you need to provide about yourself and your enterprise and how to write a complaint see here [europa.eu]
Re:Anything SysInternals did was the best... (Score:5, Insightful)
*ahem* Flamebait? Pot, kettle, black.
Somehow, I think that silencing [microsoft.com] SysInternals [microsoft.com] would [microsoft.com] break [microsoft.com] a lot of [microsoft.com] Microsoft's [microsoft.com] links [microsoft.com].
Seriously. I know everybody loves to bash Microsoft, but for God's sake, is it too hard to believe that they honestly want to *gasp* hire top-quality programmers? The sysinternals guys have proven themselves to be top-quality coders. They make utilities that the MSDN knowledge base references 172 times [microsoft.com]. MS developers use Sysinternals tools. They think the Sysinternals guys are smart, knowledgeable about their system, and could add value to their company. So, they hire them.
All this conspiracy about "silencing a website" is crap. They wouldn't recommend the use of Sysinternals tools if they were embarrassed by them.
If Redhat could convince, say, Larry Wall to work for them, doing the projects they want developed, would that be a conspiracy? Larry Wall is a kickass contributor to Linux (via Perl), and he would add value to any Linux-oriented company that could retain him. The Sysinternals guys hold a similar relationship and relevance to Microsoft.
The SysInternals programmers are the finest... (Score:3, Interesting)
I am also very aware that Microsoft has no utilities at all for some of the Windows functions people need, and Microsoft employees have long been recommending SysInternals utilities for those functions.
Remember, the Windows Command Line Interface and command line utilities are upgraded DOS programs. DOS is shockingly primitive c
the reason (Score:2, Funny)
Just in time for Vista... (Score:4, Insightful)
I'm sure with Vista coming out soon that Redmond would love to obfuscate or disappear these utilities that would help let people know what Vista is really doing under the hood.
Microsoft as the borg... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Microsoft as the borg... (Score:5, Insightful)
When Google hired Guido van Rossum (Python head-honcho), there were no "Google is hiring this guy only to NDA valuable information from the rest of us" comments. Everybody understood that Google merely found a bright guy doing something related to their business (Google uses Python on a massive scale) and snapped him up. But when MICROSOFT hires a coupla guys who seem to be doing something cool with Windows, we get dumb comments like "Yet another proof that Microsoft can't behave like a normal market player".
Look, I hate Microsoft as much as the next geek (*more*, probably, as I've been stuck developing exclusively on PCs since DOS 2.1), and I'm sure SysInternals will soon disappear, but comments like "they feel the need to control everything under the sun" just don't add anything to the discussion.
Re:Microsoft as the borg... (Score:3, Insightful)
Maybe it's just me being c
Nooo! (Score:2)
Lots of files to download... (Score:2)
Re:Lots of files to download... (Score:3, Interesting)
Good news, bad news (Score:4, Interesting)
On the other hand, the Winternals utilities represent about 10% (IMO) of the utilities needed to really analyze and fix Windows when it malfunctions. I'm too old to do this myself, but maybe a group of ambitious analysts could step up and continue the good work. Even more important, maybe a good group of analysts could develop a methodology for analyzing the OS and then point the way toward needed utilities.
I'm actually feeling a little grief over the demise of Winternals as an independent company.
at least we still have OSR (Score:4, Informative)
By the way, I highly recommend their classes. I have taken a bunch of them and I am pretty sure that these folks know windows internals better than any other organization...maybe even MS.
Guess which tool isn't accessible (Score:5, Informative)
what a surprise... Microsoft takes down the locksmith. Anyone have it for me?
Thanks
Re:Guess which tool isn't accessible (Score:3, Informative)
Headline in a month... (Score:5, Funny)
need a new icon (Score:3, Insightful)
EULA - before and after (Score:3, Informative)
Some old downloads do not seem to contain any EULA at all (just a readme.txt with some general disclaimers)
more recent downloads (february 2006) contain a short and easily understandable EULA.
All zip files I just downloaded from sysinternals have a change date of 18.7.2006 17:53 GMT+1 (yesterday) and contain a changed and much longer EULA, that also mentions that sysinternals is a part of microsoft now
Old EULA:
NEW EULA:
Re:Seriously? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Avoiding WGA with Auto-Updates on? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Avoiding WGA with Auto-Updates on? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Avoiding WGA with Auto-Updates on? (Score:3, Interesting)
Not totally on-topic, but, one "critical update" that showed up on my server a few weeks ago was to remove the swastika from a font. If Microsoft thinks that s
Re:Seriously? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Seriously? (Score:5, Insightful)
No, he's complaining of being constantly suspected to be a thief by Microsoft, as well as, sometimes, being a collateral victim of malfunctionning paranoid DRM.
Come Along Queitly (Score:2, Funny)
No, he's complaining of being constantly suspected to be a thief by Microsoft, as well as, sometimes, being a collateral victim of malfunctionning paranoid DRM
That's preposterous, who in their right mind would beli
Microsoft have determined your installation of Windows includes non-registered components. Failure to comply will result in the shutdown of your operating system and a visit from the BSA Stormtroopers.
ike it was something out of Star Wars with Darth Vader and all. Sheesh, get real!
Re:Seriously? (Score:5, Informative)
Do not go thinking that even that technology cannot be without drawbacks to legit customers.
One case where I bought something, the cashier rang it up and put it in a bag. I got it home and discovered an antitheft tag still on the item. And it was the kind of tag that would wreck the item with dye if removed incorrectly. So I had to return to the store to get the tag removed. And this store was a fair distance away. That technology cost me money in gas and time.
There could be an analogy made for WGA. Analysis of the strings in WGA code leads to the conclusion that WGA code can shut down a windows install that WGA thinks is invalid. If WGA is wrong (Microsoft? Bugs? Never!) then a legit copy of Windows may go inactive with a major hassle to get it working again. Even if the owner has the Certificate of Authority. I don't blame people for opting out.
Re:Seriously? (Score:3, Interesting)
Has that happened to anyone yet? I don't know anybody who had a legit copy of Windows and got screwed over with WGA.
Also, I don't think MS will actually shut down Windows machines just yet, too many issues with that:
1. They're scared of the situation mentioned above
2. If they do it they have to make sure you can't get around it (easily)
3. LOTS of their software is pirated in cou
Re:Seriously? (Score:3, Interesting)
Well, at least the kill switch code has not been enabled yet.
But check out this article [computerworld.com] In it we have this quote:
So apparently there at 20% WGA validation failures that are not due to leaked or stolen codes. That seems to leave that
Re:Seriously? (Score:4, Insightful)
Oh please, please let them do this. The lawsuit would be staggering, and it would probably be Microsoft's XCP in terms of convincing the execs that the whole approach was a massive business liability and should be stopped permanently.
Re:Seriously? (Score:5, Insightful)
People who don't buy Win* because they use ReactOS (Score:5, Interesting)
It's not the "purchased version" part that I'm worried about but the "of Windows" part. I'm complaining that I can't use the utilities with Wine (an independent implementation of Win32 spec, commonly used with *BSD and *Linux) or with ReactOS (an operating system consisting of Wine on top of a reimplementation of the NT kernel).
Re:People who don't buy Win* because they use Reac (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Seriously? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Seriously? (Score:4, Informative)
One in five computers labelled as counterfeit are running legitimate operating systems
This does not mean that one in five computers are flagged as counterfeit. It means that of all the computers that are flagged as counterfeit, one in five are incorrectly flagged. No percentage is given as to how many computers are actually flagged so we have no idea what the overall ratio is. Please work on your reading skills before making claims like you did.
Re:Seriously? (Score:2)
Re:Seriously? (Score:2)
I would be more scared their tools were bundled exclusively with OneCare. In either case, the next release version of any of those tools will probably include several megabytes of Microsoft Bloat®. Can't wait for Clippy to tell me how to use Process Explorer.
Personally, my only problem with WGA is that it's a weird user experience. I need to click through about twenty times - even on IE - to have my system transmit "Yes, he's using a real version of Windows." It shouldn't be that complicated.
Re:Seriously? (Score:3, Insightful)
The name is also stupid. It should be called "Windows Copy Protection".
You do have a point, though.
Re:Seriously? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Seriously? (Score:2, Interesting)
Microsoft doesn't get it. It's very obvious. They add features they would like, not what the rest of the world actually wants.
Re:Seriously? (Score:3, Interesting)
I think their full of it.
The license dies (for me) with transfer of license ownership (ie: giving my disk / 4th generation pre-keyed backup to another person).
Meanwhile, I wonder if there's a market for pre-keyed windows installations? ie: purchase a windows disk, create a pre-keyed / slipstreamed / no question / extra utility (say, ClamAV and Spybot S&D, set to run silently at regular intervals at low prio)/ extra app (say, Openoffice, Firefox and Thunderbird preinstalled as well) DVD version, and se
Not quite... (Score:3, Interesting)
If you just want to upgrade, though, and your old motherboard is working fine, then it's considered that you bought a new computer, and need a new copy of Windows.
That's assuming that said copy of Windows is an OEM version, rather than retail box.
Retail box you can transfer to your heart's content, as there's no restriction to a specific computer.
Re:I never understood... (Score:3, Informative)
The problem is that WGA enforcement sometimes blocks innocent users of ReactOS and other Wine-based software stacks.
Re:I never understood... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:I never understood... (Score:5, Interesting)
Also, much of the complaint this time around, at least in regards to this, is not just that WGA sucks. It's that very good, useful, high quality software which has previously been available to anyone will likely be made available only to people who install useless DRM from MS. While MS may have the right to do whatever they want with the software now that they've purchased the company, it doesn't mean people have to be happy about it.
Re:I never understood... (Score:2)
I might just block them at my router.
Re:I never understood... (Score:3, Insightful)
If some MS exec decides