Windows Vista with Extended Kernel (Current Version is v26102021)

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oamd
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Windows Vista with Extended Kernel (Current Version is v26102021)

Post by oamd »

Wait, what is this?

Well, let's just say, it's exactly what it sounds like, so basically this is a Windows Vista x64 iso with the Extended Kernel by win32 preintegrated and enough updates for it to work, but it's not just that.

Other things integrated:
all C++ runtimes up to 2019
.NET 3.5 and .NET 4.6
TLS 1.1 and 1.2 support in IE
The Ultimate Extras (Ultimate only, obivously)
The SHA-2 Updates (Build number is now 6003 rather than 6002)

So what's the deal with having an iso for the extended kernel? It's not like we can't install it ourselves.

So basically, it's for the sake of convinience.

So where can I download this?

You can get the current version which is v10262021 (Version numbering scheme changed to match the extended kernel version) from here:
WIM: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cUbyk2FhJnE2bT1fLjo1Dg5yKh3tY5O6/view?usp=sharing
SWM (requires 2 DVDs or something): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ADMEelZj07qrqwK_jMBuWxepiIHvrHXX/view?usp=sharing
ESD (unsupported, you gotta figure out how to install this yourself): https://drive.google.com/file/d/17XeFX1mZwvrgFOQsHcPj2aYKOa3ICsjg/view?usp=sharing

and for the sake of perservation, here are also the older versions (v1-v5.5)
V1: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UkX4oSEE3Za2L4ZNPoPGtwVwCAMUr3Jq/view?usp=sharing
V2: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L-covM6uALRJRlI5u2Vrz8Vw-2X-ZJDT/view?usp=sharing
V3: https://mega.nz/file/448BgaDR#vm8M0hHXMM_skcTw0WHJwA9JTUqmGdzGyiM1UoKzNeg
V4: https://www.mediafire.com/file/h8u5bef944qfs3c/Windows_Vista_with_Extended_Kernel_v4.iso/file
V5: https://mega.nz/file/qp5F0I6B#Ha4gzchtLDiDOXs9G68s1V8FVWVMH9ZHHvzRabWSj7c
V5.5: https://www.mediafire.com/file/rtrdll0pfjff1ko/Windows+Vista+with+Extended+Kernel+v5.5.iso/file
V6: https://www.mediafire.com/file/0d3d3w2z9t52ein/Windows+Vista+with+Extended+Kernel+v6+(Ultimate).iso/file

If any bugs are encountered in the current release, don't hesitate to contact me on discord: oamd#9690

Hope you all enjoy using Vista with some modern software!
Last edited by oamd on 02 Nov 2021, 10:57, edited 2 times in total.
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Sven Svensson
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Re: Windows Vista with Extended Kernel (Current Version is v6)

Post by Sven Svensson »

Good material.
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Re: Windows Vista with Extended Kernel (Current Version is v26102021)

Post by ArcticFoxie »

Forgive my ignorance on the topic, this is my first dip into "extended kernel".
I am an XP-holdout and still use XP on all nine of my computers ranging from Core 2 Duo T7500 to i7-4770.
Garage laptop is older but I don't recall what it is offhand.
My company provides me with Win 7 Enterprise and Win 10 LTSB 2016 (I could probably obtain 2019 if I requested it from IT).

Seems EclecBoard heavily favors Vista so that is my first question - Why Vista instead of 7?

Next question, just what IS an "extended kernel"?
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Re: Windows Vista with Extended Kernel (Current Version is v26102021)

Post by win32 »

I added various API functions to Windows Vista that allowed it to run many newer applications. This is what makes up the "extended kernel", that is the modified system files.

Windows 7 files are harder to modify and is slower on my systems.
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Re: Windows Vista with Extended Kernel (Current Version is v26102021)

Post by ArcticFoxie »

Is it possible to provide an example of a few applications where Version X works with Vanilla Vista but Version X+1 requires Extended Kernel Vista?
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Re: Windows Vista with Extended Kernel (Current Version is v26102021)

Post by Ryan »

ArcticFoxie wrote: 27 Mar 2022, 08:01 Is it possible to provide an example of a few applications where Version X works with Vanilla Vista but Version X+1 requires Extended Kernel Vista?
Web browsers, for one. The latest Firefox ESR and mainstream releases (x64) work as of writing. x64 Chromium also works, albeit with some caveats. There's also improved compatibility for Qt5/6 applications.
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(Precision 3610) Xeon 2667 V2 | 32 GB RAM | EVGA GTX 970 SC | SU650 240 GB (Vista Exkern) | 840 Pro 256 GB (Vista Ultimate/10 IoT) | 8 TB storage
(Latitude E6530) i7-3740qm | 16 GB RAM | HD 4000 | 870 EVO 500 GB (Vista Ultimate/10 IoT) |2 TB storage
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Re: Windows Vista with Extended Kernel (Current Version is v26102021)

Post by ArcticFoxie »

Do you have any suggested "performance metric" software that I can run in Vanilla Vista to get a "quantitative number", then run in Vista Extended Kernel for a "quantitative number", then run in Windows 7 for a "quantitative number"?

I personally "never" believe somebody telling me "this" performs better than "that" without some sort of "measurement" to reveal we aren't talking about some "gut feeling" or "placebo effect".
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Re: Windows Vista with Extended Kernel (Current Version is v26102021)

Post by ArcticFoxie »

ps - I'm not trying to be "difficult".

I've been running XP for *decades* for a "reason" and I'm now being faced with 'finally' upgrading to 7, 10, or Vista.

I need to make "certain" that I am updating to the "correct" non-XP OS and I don't want to rely on "gut feelings" or "placebo effect".
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Re: Windows Vista with Extended Kernel (Current Version is v26102021)

Post by ArcticFoxie »

Found this as far as a better answer to what applications require "extended kernel" -- https://msfn.org/board/topic/181696-software-compatible-with-windows-vista-extended-kernel/page/20/#comment-1209536
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Re: Windows Vista with Extended Kernel (Current Version is v26102021)

Post by Ryan »

The "best" version is entirely subjective. The best advice I can give you is to try each of them and see what you like most.

Going in chronological order:

Vista's interface sports a similar DWM to Windows 7, it's UI and style of navigation is more similar than not. There are some XP-like elements kept around, though. The taskbar, chiefly. Then smaller details like the true Classic Control Panel, QuickLaunch by default, etc. Subjectivity comes into play here, but I do prefer Vista's bolder and more colorful take on Aero as compared to 7. The drawbacks, however: It's not as compatible as 7 with newer software and hardware. The software list is closing between the two with Vista closing that gap with each kernel update, but it's still a WIP, and there's the matter of hardware compatibility. Vista does not play particularly well with Intel 4th gen (Haswell) and above. I'll let @win32 @Ximonite provide a more thorough explanation regarding this in due time.

Windows 7 is very similar to Vista. I used this OS on the daily for 6 consecutive years, and longer than that intermittently. It's quite similar to Vista, although I find its defaults to be a bit subpar. Furthermore, its window manager is sluggish in comparison. It has quite a feature rich theme engine and can be extended on, but making more than surface level visual changes to its interface requires tinkering about with system files. Overall, I find it to be a step down from Vista, but not enough to really compromise the user experience. It's perfectly good enough to use it without making any changes to it, and some surface level tweaking can make it quite bit more ergonomic. (eg 7+TT, enabling the QuickLaunch bar). It'll run a bit more software than Vista can, but not overwhelmingly so if you're not a gamer. Hardware is another matter entirely, however. Given that you mentioned owning an i7 4770, Vista can be ruled out for that particular device. 7 is the obvious choice there.

Windows 10. Well. If you lock down enough, disable its automatic updates, remove the annoyances such as Defender, and so some surface level tweaking to improve the interface some (eg. Open Shell), then it too is a decent experience. You'll have the added perk of having an even more compatible system on the software front, but I don't feel it's too considerable as of now.

While not on your radar, I actually quite prefer Windows 8.1. It does require a bit of tweaking to make it as ergonomic as Vista or 7, but it doesn't really resist user changes either. Being in a relatively fixed state now makes it rather safe to update as well if any customizations are applied. It has quite a comprehensive theme engine that can be patched in memory to run unsigned theme, it handles said theme resources more like Vista and contains most visual resources within the themes themselves, in contrast to 7. There's the issue of Metro, but so few system settings applets actually rely on it when you rid yourself of the Start Screen. I've counted two, user settings, and bluetooth. The latter of which I don't even use, as I have quarrels with bluetooth. I do realize having to tweak an OS into a sane state, however little the effort required, does not bode well with some. 10 has a menu by default, but a mediocre one so Open Shell/Classic Shell or similar is a must regardless

My advice? Well as stated above, try each of them. Maybe you'll find one fares better on x machine than the other. I think you mentioned owning 7 machines earlier? Well that's 7 possibilities there, and 7 to try 7 on :lol: (this may be fate)

There's no magic synthetic test that will reveal the ideal OS for your hardware. They're all int he NT 6.x family, and they all perform similarly as far as raw performance goes. The best one depends on user preference. Happy house hunting! :D
Image
(Precision 3610) Xeon 2667 V2 | 32 GB RAM | EVGA GTX 970 SC | SU650 240 GB (Vista Exkern) | 840 Pro 256 GB (Vista Ultimate/10 IoT) | 8 TB storage
(Latitude E6530) i7-3740qm | 16 GB RAM | HD 4000 | 870 EVO 500 GB (Vista Ultimate/10 IoT) |2 TB storage
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