Project Dakota
Encyclopedia
Project Dakota is an alternative to Microsoft
's Windows Update
developed by Alek Patsouris & Christopher "doc" Harris to update a Windows XP
system from a CD, USB drive or network drive, without the need to use the Windows Update
website.
Distribution of the program started on 1 January 2008 at 12:00AM.
such as CDs, DVD
s and USB flash drive
s as well as being able to run from a Network (mapped drive) or local hard disk.
When the project was adapted for general use, the project still generated the text file, but uploaded it to an FTP server with details about the hardware and what updates were installed. Many users assumed Project Dakota was obtaining their Windows Product key, but this was not the case.
The Project was inspired by the song Dakota
by the Stereophonics
.
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
's Windows Update
Windows Update
Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components, including Internet Explorer...
developed by Alek Patsouris & Christopher "doc" Harris to update a Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
system from a CD, USB drive or network drive, without the need to use the Windows Update
Windows Update
Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components, including Internet Explorer...
website.
Distribution of the program started on 1 January 2008 at 12:00AM.
Purpose
Project Dakota was designed for:- Users that formatDisk formattingDisk formatting is the process of preparing a hard disk drive or flexible disk medium for data storage. In some cases, the formatting operation may also create one or more new file systems...
their hard diskHard diskA hard disk drive is a non-volatile, random access digital magnetic data storage device. It features rotating rigid platters on a motor-driven spindle within a protective enclosure. Data is magnetically read from and written to the platter by read/write heads that float on a film of air above the...
s or reinstallInstallation (computer programs)Installation of a program is the act of putting the program onto a computer system so that it can be executed....
Windows frequently. - System builders / Network Administrators seeking to quickly install all updates to multiple Windows PCs.
- Security conscious users who do not wish to expose their computer to the internet.
- Users with a slow connection to the Internet who want to avoid slow download times by using a faster connection on another computer to download Project Dakota, and burn it to a CD, DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
or USB flash driveUSB flash driveA flash drive is a data storage device that consists of flash memory with an integrated Universal Serial Bus interface. flash drives are typically removable and rewritable, and physically much smaller than a floppy disk. Most weigh less than 30 g...
. - Users with a small Internet usage cap who don't want to use it all on updates.
- Users who want a faster way to update Windows without having to connect to the Internet to download updates
Media
Project Dakota is able to run from removable mediaRemovable media
In computer storage, removable media refers to storage media which is designed to be removed from the computer without powering the computer off.Some types of removable media are designed to be read by removable readers and drives...
such as CDs, DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
s and USB flash drive
USB flash drive
A flash drive is a data storage device that consists of flash memory with an integrated Universal Serial Bus interface. flash drives are typically removable and rewritable, and physically much smaller than a floppy disk. Most weigh less than 30 g...
s as well as being able to run from a Network (mapped drive) or local hard disk.
Background Information
Project Dakota came about from seeing the need for a better method to update multiple school computers at once, and to keep track of the status of all computers. Project Dakota achieved this by creating text files that were uploaded to the schools server according to their hostname.When the project was adapted for general use, the project still generated the text file, but uploaded it to an FTP server with details about the hardware and what updates were installed. Many users assumed Project Dakota was obtaining their Windows Product key, but this was not the case.
The Project was inspired by the song Dakota
Dakota (song)
"Dakota" is a song by the Welsh band Stereophonics. It was the first single from their fifth studio album Language. Sex. Violence. Other? and was released on February 28, 2005. It was the first Stereophonics single to reach number 1 on the UK Singles Chart or to chart on the US Modern Rock Tracks...
by the Stereophonics
Stereophonics
The Stereophonics are a Welsh rock band now living in turners x that formed in 1992 in the village of Cwmaman in Cynon Valley, Wales. The band currently comprises lead vocalist and guitarist Kelly Jones, bassist and backing vocalist Richard Jones, drummer Javier Weyler, guitarist and backing...
.
Version 0.1AB
- Code Name: Dolphin
- First Version as a BETA copy.
- Released: 1 January 2008 at 12:00AM
Version 0.1CS
- Code Name: Strawberry Spider
- Fixes bugs in the first version and adds some updates.
- Released: 13 January 2008