Windows SteadyState has been discontinued – no more downloads after December 31, 2010
December 29, 2010 44
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Windows SteadyState, a once promising tool, has been discontinued by Microsoft. Why? I am not particularly sure why; it was (is) a useful program that had (has) excellent Windows integration, something missing in other tools like Returnil, Wondershare Time Freeze, AyRecovery, etc. Maybe it was the economy. It must be noted, though, that the discontinuation of SteadyState is hardly a surprise, seeing as it was last updated in 2008 and does not support Windows 7. (If Microsoft doesn’t want to support it and update it, it would be interesting if they threw it out to the open source community to see if someone brings SteadyState up to speed.)
SteadyState will be available for download until until December 31, 2010 and support will be provided until June 30, 2011:
Windows SteadyState will continue to be available for download through December 31, 2010. Support for Windows SteadyState will continue to be available through the Microsoft Knowledge Base portal through June 30, 2011.
This announcement does not affect your right to continue to use Windows SteadyState.
If you think you will find use for SteadyState in the future, be sure to grab it now and keep it safe because after Friday it will no longer be available (not from official sources, anyway). You should keep in mind, though, a security program that hasn’t been updated in over two years is not one you should depend too heavily on (or depend on at all, for that matter); it is bound to have vulnerabilities exploited by scumware and the lack of support means the vulnerabilities won’t be patched.
The following is a brief list of features of SteadyState features (as per Microsoft):
- Windows Disk Protection – Help protect the Windows partition, which contains the Windows operating system and other programs, from being modified without administrator approval.Windows SteadyState allows you to set Windows Disk Protection to remove all changes upon restart, to remove changes at a certain date and time, or to not remove changes at all. If you choose to use Windows Disk Protection to remove changes, any changes made by shared users when they are logged on to the computer are removed when the computer is restarted
- User Restrictions and Settings – The user restrictions and settings can help to enhance and simplify the user experience. Restrict user access to programs, settings, Start menu items, and options in Windows. You can also lock shared user accounts to prevent changes from being retained from one session to the next.
- User Account Manager – Create and delete user accounts. You can use Windows SteadyState to create user accounts on alternative drives that will retain user data and settings even when Windows Disk Protection is turned on. You can also import and export user settings from one computer to another—saving valuable time and resources.
- Computer Restrictions – Control security settings, privacy settings, and more, such as preventing users from creating and storing folders in drive C and from opening Microsoft Office documents from Internet Explorer®.
- Schedule Software Updates – Update your shared computer with the latest software and security updates when it is convenient for you and your shared users.
You can grab SteadyState from the following links:
Version: 2.5
Supported OS: Windows XP/Vista
Download size: 6.4 MB
[via TechSupportAlert]
Ashraf,
Could you post your bank account details.
That way I will be able to transfer $1,000 to your account, the instant that I hear MS -
“threw it out to the open source community”
@Rob (Down Under): Smooth…
hurry up, gonna download it
I don’t know if I am legally allowed to do it, but I think I am going to host a mirror for SteadyState on dotTech so people can still get it after December 31.
Just a guess here but the reason MS is getting ride of it is that with a little work you could replicate that using VM technology, Group Policy, and some features in Server 08 (might need R2, don’t remember off hand).
@Samuel: Sounds like someone is volunteering to write up a guide. :-P
@Ashraf: I was thinking of doing that as I was writing that, the problem is that I doubt anyone here could do it, since I doubt many of them have a server lying around they could use, have an unused copy of Server 08, and want to use Active Directory in their house….
(I happen to have at least the first two actually)
@Ashraf:
“I don’t know if I am legally allowed to do it, but I think I am going to host a mirror for SteadyState on dotTech so people can still get it after December 31.”
And there will be another $500 for you if MS allows that.
Hi Ashraf,
I just posted another comment, and it is not appearing ?
I used the Reply button before.
This one I just typed at the bottom of the page
PS The comment was -
There will be an extra 500, if MS allows you to do that.
@Samuel: No kidding. So did Microsoft think everyone can apply this SteadyState alternative? =P
@Rob (Down Under): It may have gone to spam. I will look for it.
EDIT: Yeah, it went to spam. I manually cleared it. Sorry about that – a slap on the wrist for the spam filter!
@Ashraf: Maybe the home user market was very small? Or maybe they plan to integrate the home needs into Home Server V2?
@Samuel: I am thinking they may integrate SteadyState features into MSE. Wouldn’t that be something?
@Rob (Down Under): Is this $500 contingent on Microsoft releasing SteadyState to the open source geeks or is this $500 offer completely separate and unrelated? ‘Cause I am looking to cash in. :-D
@Ashraf: I’d doubt that since MSE is suppose to be lightweight…
@Ashraf: Well don’t forget Mono…
@Samuel: How much bloat would a SteadyState add onto MSE? The installer itself is only 6.4 MB; I can’t remember if it downloads anything extra during installation. It is true, though, SteadyState’s disk protection requires quite a bit of hard drive space.
@Ashraf: I meant more from a technology stand point then HD size…
@Samuel: So do I. I was merely using the installer size to say how much bloat can something that small add to a program.
The $500 is separate.
I have two reasons for believing that MS would not allow it -
1) They are not very sharing
2) VB6 was the most popular programming language in the world.
MS decide to go 100% ‘OO’ (Object Oriented), and decided to throw in as much complexity as they can, and released VB.NET
They then proceeded to purge VB6 from their world, and if they had a button to remove it from the universe, they would press it.
They would like to do the same with XP, so they ain’t going to be releasing anything that might encourage us to stick with XP
@Ashraf: True enough…can’t really say…
I think I will do an article on how to do a Windows version of Returnal’s ability to rewind your machine…
@Samuel: Honestly, I think it would be a bloody brilliant move by Microsoft to include SteadyState features (may be not all of them, but some of the main ones) in MSE. No other free security program could match that; the only one I know of is Returnil and that uses VirusBuster signatures so MSE would still rock it.
@Rob (Down Under): How you plan on paying? No credit cards accepted. =P
And yeah, I agree with you: I don’t see there being a high-chance of Microsoft releasing proprietary code as OO.
@Ashraf: “I think I will do an article on how to do a Windows version of Returnal’s ability to rewind your machine…” That plus MSE and there you go.
As for you and Rob’s debate, don’t forget Mono!
@Samuel: Is this the same thing you were referring to earlier that requires a server? If not, then it sounds like a very interesting article.
Speaking of articles, what do you think about IE9? I haven’t looked much into it, but I have been using it lately and it seems like a big, positive step ahead. I especially like the new look even if it is Chrome inspired.
@Samuel: Excuse my noobiness, but whats “Mono”?
@Ashraf: I can do the “Whole System Sanbox” concept that Returnal does with out a Server, all you need is Windows 7.
Been running IE9 Beta since it came out and for the most part I’m loving it. I should really do a follow up article…in fact I need to find the time to write a bunch of articles!
Mono is the LEGAL Open Source version for the .NET Framework of Linux.
@Samuel: Well, then, I am sure Windows 7 users will enjoy that article.
Take your time to write article… dotTech and Microsoft ain’t going anywhere.
No offense but hearing .NET Framework and Linux in the same sentence just makes me laugh, even if it is officially supported/allowed by Microsoft. It is a very interesting idea though; seems like Microsoft is trying to follow Java’s footsteps in market penetration.
@Ashraf: Thanks.
That may be true, but if I wait too long the articles will be irrelevant.
It’s OK, it is a bit shocking but it makes some sense: Silverlight!