CrustyWindows:About: Difference between revisions

While most bootlegs of Windows are free, a few cost money - for example, [[:Category:Bootlegs created by Lander X|Lander X]]'s bootlegs, and [[Radiant OS 11]], which requires a TeamOS VIP subscription to download, which, funnily enough, is available for free {{link|url=https://crustywindo.ws/collection/Windows%2011/Radiant%20OS%2011%20%28TeamOS%20FBConan%29.iso|name=here}}.

Sometimes, bootlegs can extend beyond simply being modifications of the Windows OS, as Linux-based mods such as [[YLMF OS 34.0]] and [[Windows 12 Lite]] are known to exist.

Crowning examples of bootlegs can be named down to the likes of [[Windows 7 FaceBooK Edition 2012]], [[Windows 7 Angry Birds Edition]], [[Windows The Avengers]], [[Windows Mac OS XP]] and [[Windows Horse XP 2013]], all of them being the embodiment of what a "crustyCrustyWindows bootleg" is.

The first bootleg that was created for Windows was not really a bootleg, but more of a [[transformation pack]], called [[BedOS]], which released in early 2000. The OS required an existing install of Windows 95 or Windows 98 to function, and had releases in both RussianEnglish and EnglishRussian (available if you register, it is a paid exclusive). While technically not an actual bootleg, it laid the foundations for many bootleg creators, as it added a custom theme, icons, and several additional drivers and programs, as well as removing some bloat from the existing installdistribution. It was a very important OS for kicking off the Windows bootleg scene as a whole, and just the Russian bootleg scene in general, as this bootleg cameis fromof Russian Russiaorigin.

The second earliest bootleg known to exist is one based on Windows XP before it was even released, known as [[Whistler Build 2531]]. Being based on a Release Candidate 2 build of Windows XP, this bootleg also features many common changes of a bootleg, such as additional backgrounds, registry tweaks, cracked activation, and more, except this is closer to an actual bootleg Windows build unlike [[BedOS]]. Hilariously, this ISO seems to have been created out of spite towards the Windows beta scene of the time, who were known for hoarding betas and being picky about quality.

It can do a variety of things, like integrating updates (and slipstreaming "addons", which came in CAB and INF files which would receive extensive use as forums and sites began to produce them), like DriverPacks, Kels' CPL Bonus, the latest Windows update packs and security patches, Windows Media Player 11 and Internet Explorer 8, etc., preinstalling extra software via the setup hotfix feature, custom themes with theits UXTheme patch, unattended installsinstallations (used to pre-activate the OS, and change the registration information), and even add in their own post-setup routines and drop custom files to certain locations. Because of its extensive feature set and ease of use, lots of modders use it to create the finishing bits of their creation, alongside editing the system files (and changing the image resources around) with Resourcevarious Hackerutilities, and other important additions.

The early versions of nLite were first released sometime in October 2004, although it did not gain much traction until around 2005, when some early XP (including 2000, ''and [[Tomato Garden Server 2003|2003]], to a lesser extent'') bootlegs began to use the tool. The group which birthed nLite, MSFN, would soon become an important face in the Windows bootleg community as they would begin to regularly update and evolve the software, and make various other important contributions to the community such as creating the WPI, which also skyrocketed in popularity and received heavy usage like nLite did. The WPI would soon become the most popular solution for people looking to include program installers in their mods.