Project Dakota

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. Infobox Software
name = Project Dakota



caption =
author =
developer = Christopher Harris, Alek Patsouris
released =
latest release version = PD_0.2XPAS (Windows XP), PD_0.103AS (Server 2003)
latest release date = 15/07/2008
latest preview version =
latest preview date =
operating system = Windows XP Server 2003
platform = Microsoft Windows
language = English
genre = Software utility
license = Freeware
website = [http://www.projectdakota.net/ Project Dakota Online]

Purpose

Project Dakota was designed for:
* Users that format their hard disks or reinstall 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, DVD or flash drive.
* 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 media such as CDs, DVDs and USB flash drives 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 off all computers. Project Dakota achieved this by creating text files that were uploaded to the schools server according to their hostname. [cite web
title = Fun Facts about Project Dakota
url = http://www.theatticnetwork.net/forums/index.php/topic,24.0.html
accessdate = 2008-01-05 ]

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. [cite web
title = Bugs in version 0.1AB
url = http://www.theatticnetwork.net/forums/index.php/topic,22.msg44.html#msg44
accessdate = 2008-01-05 ]

The Project was inspired by the song Dakota by the Stereophonics. [cite web
title = Fun Facts about Project Dakota
url = http://www.theatticnetwork.net/forums/index.php/topic,24.0.html
accessdate = 2008-01-05 ]

Project History

Windows XP

Version 0.1AB

* Code Name: Dolphin
* First Version as a BETA copy.
* Released: 01/01/2008 at 12:00AM [cite 0.1AB Is live!
url = http://www.theatticnetwork.net/forums/index.php/topic,25.msg52.html#msg52
accessdate = 2008-01-05 ]

Version 0.1CS

* Code Name: Strawberry Spider
* Fixes bugs in the first version and adds some updates.
* Released: 13/01/2008 [cite 0.1CS Is live!
url = http://www.theatticnetwork.net/forums/index.php/topic,30.msg67.html#msg67
accessdate = 2008-01-13 ]

Version 0.2XPAS

* Code Name: Tallawarra
* Fixes bugs, adds updates.
* Released: 15/07/2008 [cite Here comes 0.2!
url = http://www.forums.theatticnetwork.net/index.php?topic=570.0
accessdate = 2008-07-15 ]

erver 2003

Version 0.103AS

* Code Name: Windeyer
* First version.
* Released: 15/07/2008 [cite Here comes 0.2!
url = http://www.forums.theatticnetwork.net/index.php?topic=570.0
accessdate = 2008-07-15 ]

References

* [http://www.theatticnetwork.net/forums/index.php/topic,24.0.html Fun facts about Project Dakota]
* [http://www.theatticnetwork.net/forums/index.php/topic,22.0.html Bugs in version 0.1AB]
* [http://www.theatticnetwork.net/forums/index.php/topic,25.0.html 0.1AB is live]
* [http://www.theatticnetwork.net/forums/index.php/topic,30.msg67.html PD 0.1CS is out]
* [http://www.forums.theatticnetwork.net/index.php/topic,570.0.html Here comes 0.2!]

External links

* [http://www.projectdakota.net Project Dakota Homepage]
* [http://www.forums.theatticnetwork.net Project Dakota Forum]