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Windows On A Usb Stick? Microsoft StartKey

#1 rigel

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Posted 05 March 2008 - 11:32 AM

Quote

Microsoft is said to be working on a product called 'StartKey' that functions as a Windows companion. The concept of StartKey should strike terror in the hearts of enterprise security professionals as it would allow users to carry their Windows and Windows Live settings on USB sticks or other flash storage devices.

Full Story (NetworkWorld) here: Windows on a USB stick and Microsoft storage unification

This post has been edited by rigel: 05 March 2008 - 11:33 AM

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#2 groovicus

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Posted 05 March 2008 - 11:50 AM

I'm not sure if that is really that big of an issue. I can already bypass security restrictions by using a bootable linux cd, for instance, or bart PE, or even linux on a USB stick. The solution is that one does not allow systems to be booted from those resources. Maybe I am missing something?

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#3 Andrew T Graham

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Posted 05 March 2008 - 02:23 PM

I would love to have that. Sounds great!

#4 Vaerli

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Posted 05 March 2008 - 11:59 PM

oh, yeah it would be great... the only problem is having the drivers and junk for stuff, along with the BIOS really doesn't allow for it.

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#5 Andrew T Graham

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Posted 06 March 2008 - 03:09 AM

we can trust microsoft to sort that out :thumbsup:

#6 david28

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Posted 06 March 2008 - 05:44 AM

Wow, technology gets more advanced as each day passes. Or, for that matter, every second.

#7 Wassim

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Posted 06 March 2008 - 03:05 PM

As groovicus said i don't see the point, a linux live CD always do it when i need something like that.

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#8 Teenage.Zombiee

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Posted 08 March 2008 - 01:59 AM

Not a bad idea I guess

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#9 Andrew T Graham

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Posted 08 March 2008 - 06:26 PM

i'm going to try myself a Linux live Cd

#10 Wassim

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Posted 08 March 2008 - 08:38 PM

I use a Linux distribution called Slax linux Kill Bill it's relativly small and contains lot of useful utilities, and another distribution wish is smaller and its just for Hard Disk management, it's been very usefull to me on computers where windows gets corrupted and you can't access the data, i use it to create a new partition where i can install windows and get my data from the other partition before i format everything and reinstall a fresh windows .

Just a thought.

Of course both are Live Versions.

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#11 Andrew T Graham

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Posted 12 March 2008 - 03:09 PM

sounds cool i'll check them out

#12 Andrew

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Posted 12 March 2008 - 03:30 PM

I remember reading about some European police agency getting permission to develop a "LiveWindows" USB setup from MS for their officers to use. This was a couple of years ago.

As has been said already, it's been done already (by Linux et al).

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#13 Saras

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Posted 30 July 2008 - 12:51 PM

If you're not using encrypted NTFS volumes, you're not even TRYING to secure Windows. Of course you can boot with anything. At least this forces you to boot with an NTFS password cracker. Like a bike lock, it doesn't stop the determined, but slows down the impulsive :flowers:

And yeah, BartPE on a stick works great. Anyone wanna try and see if they can get MSOffice to fit? :thumbsup:

#14 Thelastleap

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Posted 01 August 2008 - 08:57 AM

If you guys are interested in a linux on flash drive for a quick small solution try puppy linux, also fedora and ubuntu offers the option to put the os on a thumb drive, its easier for fedora.

yay for amazing andrew.

This post has been edited by Thelastleap: 01 August 2008 - 08:57 AM

#15 JacksonT

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Posted 08 August 2008 - 11:47 PM

Thelastleap, on Aug 1 2008, 06:57 AM, said:

Also an app called UNetBootin makes the process of creating a bootable USB install very simple.
In regards to the article, a stranded Windows install is 2GB which is rather big for a USB drive, So would this version be very stripped down of lack persistence of documets and the like to keep size down?

This post has been edited by JacksonT: 08 August 2008 - 11:48 PM