3rd party Microsoft downloads: What risks are there?

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Ryan;
Could it have? Yes.
Did it? Unlikely but the possibility varies depending on the integrity,
security etc of the download site.

Microsoft as well as other major software manufacturers go to great lengths
to ensure the integrity of their downloads.
That is one reason why Microsoft does not permit 3rd party distribution of
their software.
If SP-1 came from a source other than Microsoft, Microsoft did not authorize
it and can not attest to the quality, that is strictly up to the user.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol
http://www.dts-l.org


"Ryan" <ryanr@dejazzd.com> wrote in message
news:1112821687.045761.13900@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>I have recently reformatted hard drive & this time taking extra
> precautions w/all these hackers and spyware and viruses on the web.
> I've learned a lot while visiting this group. Before I reformatted HD,
> though, I made sure to download a copy of the Network ed. of file
> xpsp1_en_x86.exe. However, I would like some feedback about installing
> this file that I found on a 3rd party's website. In other words, I did
> not get this file from Microsoft's Windows XP SP1a website. I really
> thought that the court was wrong in ruling that the original release of
> SP1 was illegal since MS implented there own JAVA script VM, which
> explains why I consulted another source for Service Pack 1.
> Could my file have been tampered w/by the 3rd party in ANY WAY. It's
> on a CD just need to install it. Any assistance in this matter will be
> greatly appreciated!
>
> Thank you,
> Ryan

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

In news:1112821687.045761.13900@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com,
Ryan <ryanr@dejazzd.com> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

> Could my file have been tampered w/by the 3rd party
> in ANY WAY.

Yes.

Galen
--
Signature changed for a moment of silence.
Rest well Alex and we'll see you on the other side.

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Thank you so much for your feedback, Jupiter Jones. Somehow I thought
guys/girls like you would have left this topic a LONG time ago. I
really appreciate your expertise on xpsp1_en_x86.exe.
In another forum, I asked some others about this file. Someone
mentioned about checking the file's checksum. If you would be so kind
as to assist me further, I would greatly appreciate it! What is a
checksum? What would the value of the checksum show me and how can I
display it?
Again, your help is always appreciated. Thank you!