Windows 7's dirty secrets revealed

[Night Hawk]

Windows 7's dirty secrets revealed

Hidden work arounds and complex dependencies

By Tim Anderson in Los Angeles

Posted in Operating Systems, 18th November 2009 17:02 GMT

Free whitepaper – Best practices for optimizing performance and availability in virtual infrastructures

PDC While chief technology officer Ray Ozzie was away in the clouds at Microsoft's Professional Developer Conference, technical fellow Mark Russinovich got down and dirty with the true heart of Windows - the kernel.

He presented a two-hour session on changes made to the kernel used by both Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2, shedding light on some confusing issues - like the Windows version number, which he said "means nothing at all". Windows 7 is version 6.1, not because it is a minor release, but for compatibility with applications that check the major number and would not run if it said 7.

Another of his themes was MinWin, a lightweight version of Windows whose purpose has sparked speculation. MinWin exists, he said, and contains the minimum necessary to boot and access the network: kernel, file system driver, device drivers, services and TCP/IP stack. It amounts to around 150 binaries, and requires 25MB disk space and 40MB RAM.

More at: Windows 7's dirty secrets revealed ? The Register

 

[composer]

Win 7'was my idea, not bad. But as a national
marketing and promo director at one time, the I'm a. PC and i sell fish?!?! Are you kidding me. I dont qish ill willed thought toward anyone, but that had do be the dumbest branding I've ever heard. That was extremely strange.

Windows 7's dirty secrets revealed

Hidden work arounds and complex dependencies

By Tim Anderson in Los Angeles

Posted in Operating Systems, 18th November 2009 17:02 GMT

Free whitepaper – Best practices for optimizing performance and availability in virtual infrastructures

PDC While chief technology officer Ray Ozzie was away in the clouds at Microsoft's Professional Developer Conference, technical fellow Mark Russinovich got down and dirty with the true heart of Windows - the kernel.

He presented a two-hour session on changes made to the kernel used by both Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2, shedding light on some confusing issues - like the Windows version number, which he said "means nothing at all". Windows 7 is version 6.1, not because it is a minor release, but for compatibility with applications that check the major number and would not run if it said 7.

Another of his themes was MinWin, a lightweight version of Windows whose purpose has sparked speculation. MinWin exists, he said, and contains the minimum necessary to boot and access the network: kernel, file system driver, device drivers, services and TCP/IP stack. It amounts to around 150 binaries, and requires 25MB disk space and 40MB RAM.

More at: Windows 7's dirty secrets revealed ? The Register

 

[Night Hawk]

I had a laugh when seeing the title of the blog there since it's far from the more simplified definition of what the MinWin is and how it works.

 

[whs]

There is an earlier Video of Mark Russinovich explaining some of the Win7 design principles. If you have an hour to watch, it is quite interesting.
Mark Russinovich: Inside Windows 7 | Going Deep | Channel 9

 

[Night Hawk]

Thanks for the reference there! whs That will come in useful for people still a bit unfamiliar with the improvements seen with 7 overall and the MinWin itself in greater detail.

One thing many don't realize is just how much of an impact on Windows in general this has had. For those who have run several versions of Windows 7 is standing out quite a bit more then previous versions. Even the 32bit beta outshined Vista's RC1 there!

 

[thefabe]

Another one of your interesting artical finds N.H.

 

[whs]

Night Hawk, It would be desirable if many people took the time to watch this and some of the other Russinovich videos. It gives a real insight about the thought process that goes into the systems. Having been in Operating System development myself for 35 years I realize many times that people have no clue how operating system development works and how complex that whole process is.
The people in the development houses are no phonies (as is sometimes being suggested). They are a serious bunch of professionals that do the best job possible - under the circumstances that are not always easy (schedules, funding, shortcuts, heavy handed organization, etc.). I have a lot of sympathy for these guys. My company was 4 times the size of MS and I know what they are going thru.

 

[Night Hawk]

No one ever said it was that easy! For previous versions especially XP you had to wait for 3 services packs and 2000 seeing some 5 total to work out all of the bugs plus the hardware advancements like larger capacity drives, more system memory where the 64bit will eventually be the mandatory, and so forth.

Pushing 7 out intime for the shopping season must have been strenuous to say the least and still have the retail come in better shape still then past versions once again. The RC made public and collected feedback is one thing that helped make 7 a great version when you look at things like that as well.

With all of the videos of course that's a one step at a time look at individual steps taken there over a period of time. Most people never get that far into the programming and coding side of any OS to comprehend what goes into it in greater detail.

 

[Zidane24]

I think MinWin is going to be an integral part of Windows 8. Microsoft has finally realized that they need to get the spagethetti mess that Windows is right now organized. MinWin is the fruit and concept of this effort.

If they can xort out Windows and get it orgainized in time for Windows 8...I think everyone will see a Windows OS like none other. Windows has vast un-tapped potential...just read Mark's comment when he says that "Some dependices are unknown even to them inside Windows". They are sorting it out right now...I can't wait to see the rebirth of Windows in either Windows 8 or Windows 9

 

[whs]

At one time there were speculations that a first version of MinWin would see their first distro with the second generation of netbooks. But recently it got quiet on both fronts. Maybe we have some surprises in the new year.

 

[Zidane24]

At one time there were speculations that a first version of MinWin would see their first distro with the second generation of netbooks. But recently it got quiet on both fronts. Maybe we have some surprises in the new year.

I am not sure if that will ever happen. The hardware being placed in netbooks is being improved while maintaining heat and costs...Windows 7 can run on netbooks as it is...not the best experience but it can

I think MinWin will be the driving force of Windows 8...we know the kernel revision will be 6.2 (for compatibility...) but I think this is going to be a major kernel overhaul...

 

[Night Hawk]

I think we already got a good taste of what is to come in the next version before the news on the Alpha for 8 has been published by looking at 7 acts now! If I loaded half of what went onto the 64bit RC on previous versions I would have run into a bogged down Windows real fast where I would be reducing most startups and disabling some options in different programs.

When booting into the one RC still on for a bit with a few new programs piled on top of it lately it still runs without problems and is quite responsive showing that the MS team obviously got something right this time around! It shows MS is maturing and now taking notice of what the consumer is looking at when considering a new version as well as the initial reactions to Vista.