What you need to know
- A YouTuber managed to compile the Windows XP source code that leaked last week into a working operating system.
- The code is seemingly authentic, though it was missing some components.
- The videos showing the process have been taken down.
Alleged code of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 leaked online last week. At the time, it was unclear if the code was authentic. Now, it seems clear that the code is genuine, as a YouTuber managed to compile the code into a working operating system.
NTDEV, an IT technician who runs Twitter and YouTube accounts by the same name, managed to compile the code into a working OS, though some holes had to be filled. The videos showing this in action have since been removed due to a copyright claim by Microsoft. Before they were taken down, ZDNet spoke with NTDEV and broke down the videos.
"Well, the reports were indeed true. It seems that there are some components missing, such as winlogon.exe and lots of drivers," said NTDEV in an interview with ZDNet.
While the code was genuine, according to NTDEV, there were some holes that needed to be filled. NTDEV explained to ZDNet that "Certain files, such as the kernel and the Explorer can be compiled easily." Adding, "I have tried some programs from the compiled source of XP, and it seems that they are identical to the retail versions of Windows."
NTDEV states that apart from the Windows Server 2003 source code is similar to the Windows XP leak, in that it isn't complete but appears authentic. In fact, the Windows Server 2003 is more complete than the Windows XP leak. NTDEV states that "The leaked source of Server 2003 is actually more complete than the XP one, but it lacks, just as the XP one, the Winlogon source code."
Windows XP reached end-of-support in 2014, but over 1 percent of PCs still use it, according to NetMarketShare. The leaked code for Windows XP could lead to security issues for those still using the old operating system.
