Lost Microsoft Windows Bootlegs
Dec 9, 2023 22:34:40 GMT
MantleM, extremewreck2000, and 1 more like this
Post by wadmodderpudu on Dec 9, 2023 22:34:40 GMT
Throughout the years, Microsoft Windows has been considered the most pirated operating system for many since the advent of CD burners and later the internet.
However, apart from rips of the original media throughout the years, there were a couple of unofficial custom versions of Microsoft Windows that were first uploaded onto the internet and in some cases sold in some flea markets in other parts of the world as bootlegs, mostly in Asia and South America.
However, many of these custom bootleg versions of Windows have since been lost to time due to either the group who made it shutting down, a form of link rot or never being made publicly available.
Here are the following lost Windows Bootlegs according to the Crusty Windows wiki:
Windows 2000 MasterGonzalo Edition - a bootleg of Windows 2000 SP4 created by MasterGonzalot that was originally released in September 2019. The original download link hosted on MEGA has since been dead. The only remaining screenshot of this bootleg is the desktop, which the default wallpaper is simply the Bliss background from Windows XP.
Windows 2000 Service Pack Edition - a bootleg of Windows 2000 SP4 created by an unknown group in South Korea, which was modified to replace the old Windows 2000 icons and art style with those from Windows XP, that was originally released somewhere in the Mid-2000s but has since been lost to time with no existing ISO copy left other than a dead ed2k link. Screenshots of this build used to exist on BetaArchive until it was purged in 2020.
Windows 7 Android Rockz! - a bootleg of Windows 7 SP1 which was created by SRusM and relased on January 21st 2012.
Windows Mod7 - a bootleg of Windows 7 SP1 created by Megadeth58, that was released in 2019. Mod7 has not been made clear about its design goals. Screenshots exist with a Windows 8 Consumer Preview style, with some others having a Windows 7 build 6801 style. As of December 2022, no ISO is known to be available, although "2 old compiles" of Mod7 were stated to still be existing.
Windows Seven Starter 3.0 No Pain - a bootleg of Windows 7 Starter SP1 which was created by Lander X, that was released sometime in 2012. According to the description on the site and the box, it is optimized for Intel Atoms and was cracked/patched against KB971033 which was an update that broke pirated copies of Windows. The OS was sold for 50,000 Venezuelan bolivars (roughly less than a dollar of USD at the time). Three different versions are given; the website labels the version as 3.0, the box labels it as "Starter SP1 25.0" and claims it has Service Pack 1 v13.
Windows Titanium - an unfinished and never-released bootleg of Windows XP Professional, it was in development for a short period of time until being cancelled somewhere around 2003 or 2004. Not much is known about this mod, as far as we know, it was never completed and reportedly the desktop will not load at all after logging in. Screenshots were provided on air101's website until it was shut down a long time ago.
Windows XP 2010 UCV - a bootleg of Windows XP SP3, which was created by Lander X, and released sometime in 2010. Sadly the image is missing, so we don't know what this great OS may have looked like. The description claims it is dedicated to the Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV) celebrating 15 years since the author's graduation. Given this the OS presumably had some UCV theming. It's unknown what software this might've had. The description claims it had "thousands of drivers", which probably just means it comes with DriverPacks. The OS was apparently only sold at the Universidad Central de Venezuela and could only be purchased by students. The price is currently unknown as of this writing.
Windows XP MasterGonzalo Edition - a bootleg of Windows XP created by MasterGonzalot that was originally released in September 2019. Windows XP MasterGonzalo Edition was intended to be the creator's version of Windows XP, however it has been since lost to time since the original MEGA download link to this mod has long since been dead. The only remaining screenshot of this build is the desktop screenshot.
Windows XP Mundial 2010 España - a bootleg of Windows XP, which was created by Lander X, and released sometime in July 2010. Sadly the image is missing, so we don't know what this great OS may have looked like. The title and description confirms it was based on 2010 World Cup and got created from celebration of Spain's victory. Sadly we don't know anything else.
These bootlegs are probably going to stay lost for now, unless one had previously downloaded these in the past, and any chances of these bootleg versions of Windows resurfacing are immensely slim.
However, apart from rips of the original media throughout the years, there were a couple of unofficial custom versions of Microsoft Windows that were first uploaded onto the internet and in some cases sold in some flea markets in other parts of the world as bootlegs, mostly in Asia and South America.
However, many of these custom bootleg versions of Windows have since been lost to time due to either the group who made it shutting down, a form of link rot or never being made publicly available.
Here are the following lost Windows Bootlegs according to the Crusty Windows wiki:
Windows 2000 MasterGonzalo Edition - a bootleg of Windows 2000 SP4 created by MasterGonzalot that was originally released in September 2019. The original download link hosted on MEGA has since been dead. The only remaining screenshot of this bootleg is the desktop, which the default wallpaper is simply the Bliss background from Windows XP.
Windows 2000 Service Pack Edition - a bootleg of Windows 2000 SP4 created by an unknown group in South Korea, which was modified to replace the old Windows 2000 icons and art style with those from Windows XP, that was originally released somewhere in the Mid-2000s but has since been lost to time with no existing ISO copy left other than a dead ed2k link. Screenshots of this build used to exist on BetaArchive until it was purged in 2020.
Windows 7 Android Rockz! - a bootleg of Windows 7 SP1 which was created by SRusM and relased on January 21st 2012.
Windows Mod7 - a bootleg of Windows 7 SP1 created by Megadeth58, that was released in 2019. Mod7 has not been made clear about its design goals. Screenshots exist with a Windows 8 Consumer Preview style, with some others having a Windows 7 build 6801 style. As of December 2022, no ISO is known to be available, although "2 old compiles" of Mod7 were stated to still be existing.
Windows Seven Starter 3.0 No Pain - a bootleg of Windows 7 Starter SP1 which was created by Lander X, that was released sometime in 2012. According to the description on the site and the box, it is optimized for Intel Atoms and was cracked/patched against KB971033 which was an update that broke pirated copies of Windows. The OS was sold for 50,000 Venezuelan bolivars (roughly less than a dollar of USD at the time). Three different versions are given; the website labels the version as 3.0, the box labels it as "Starter SP1 25.0" and claims it has Service Pack 1 v13.
Windows Titanium - an unfinished and never-released bootleg of Windows XP Professional, it was in development for a short period of time until being cancelled somewhere around 2003 or 2004. Not much is known about this mod, as far as we know, it was never completed and reportedly the desktop will not load at all after logging in. Screenshots were provided on air101's website until it was shut down a long time ago.
Windows XP 2010 UCV - a bootleg of Windows XP SP3, which was created by Lander X, and released sometime in 2010. Sadly the image is missing, so we don't know what this great OS may have looked like. The description claims it is dedicated to the Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV) celebrating 15 years since the author's graduation. Given this the OS presumably had some UCV theming. It's unknown what software this might've had. The description claims it had "thousands of drivers", which probably just means it comes with DriverPacks. The OS was apparently only sold at the Universidad Central de Venezuela and could only be purchased by students. The price is currently unknown as of this writing.
Windows XP MasterGonzalo Edition - a bootleg of Windows XP created by MasterGonzalot that was originally released in September 2019. Windows XP MasterGonzalo Edition was intended to be the creator's version of Windows XP, however it has been since lost to time since the original MEGA download link to this mod has long since been dead. The only remaining screenshot of this build is the desktop screenshot.
Windows XP Mundial 2010 España - a bootleg of Windows XP, which was created by Lander X, and released sometime in July 2010. Sadly the image is missing, so we don't know what this great OS may have looked like. The title and description confirms it was based on 2010 World Cup and got created from celebration of Spain's victory. Sadly we don't know anything else.
These bootlegs are probably going to stay lost for now, unless one had previously downloaded these in the past, and any chances of these bootleg versions of Windows resurfacing are immensely slim.
