Windows XP

One critic, Shane Brooks, has argued that Internet Explorer could be removed without adverse effects, as demonstrated with his product XPLite [37]. Due to his central role, Vader has entered the public consciousness as the quintessential villain. The components themselves remain in the system; Microsoft maintains that they are necessary for key Windows functionality (such as the HTML Help system and Windows desktop), and that removing them completely may result in unwanted consequences. Frankenstein) brings him to life still in the restraints, which Vader breaks out of. Later, Microsoft released a utility as part of the SP1 which allows icons and other links to bundled software such as Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, and MSN Messenger to be removed. The scene in which Vader is reborn as a cyborg is compared to the the creation of the monster in the 1931 film Frankenstein—like Frankenstein, Vader lies on a table to be rebuilt, and when the task is complete, his master (like Dr. Competitors dismissed this as a trivial gesture [36]. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings; both Vader and the Witch-King dress in black, have a supernaturally fearsome presence and a hidden, pale form, are kept alive unnaturally, and serve at the hands of Dark Lords.

To avoid the possibility of an injunction, which might have delayed the release of Windows XP, Microsoft changed its licensing terms to allow PC manufacturers to hide access to Internet Explorer (but not remove it). A resemblance has also been noted to the Lord of the Nazgûl, also called the Witch-King of Angmar, from J.R.R. Microsoft asserted that these tools had moved from special to general usage and therefore belonged in its operating system. (This is further alluded in Stephen King's Dark Tower novels in which so-called "Doombots" appear that wear green hoods and iron wolf masks, much like Doom, and carry lightsabers.) Similarities have also been noted with the evil brother Hakaider, from the manga and tokusatsu series Kikaider, and the Mule, a villain in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy. Microsoft responded on its "Freedom to Innovate" web site, pointing out that in earlier versions of Windows, Microsoft had integrated tools such as disk defragmenters, graphical file managers, and TCP/IP stacks, and there had been no protest that Microsoft was being anti-competitive. One is the classic Marvel Universe supervillain Doctor Doom. The battle being fought by fronts for each side was the subject of a heated exchange between Oracle's Larry Ellison and Microsoft's Bill Gates [35]. As Vader fits the classic stock character of the Black Knight, some have noted that Vader bears more than a passing resemblance to other villains.

ACT and CompTIA are both partially funded by Microsoft. Lucas took the name "Anakin" from his friend and fellow film director, Ken Annakin. ProComp is a group including several of Microsoft's rivals, including Oracle, Sun, and Netscape. Judging by the origin of the other Sith names, Vader may also possibly be a derivative of the word "invader." In the movie's novelization Darth Sidious conjures the name from the Dark Side—"Darth Vader" is supposed to mean him, supposedly a nod to his status as the Chosen One. Both of these claims were rebutted by the Association for Competitive Technology (ACT) and the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) [33] [34]. However, in the earliest scripts for Star Wars, the name "Darth Vader" was given to a normal Imperial general. In 2001, ProComp claimed that the bundling and distribution of Windows Media Player in Windows XP was a continuance of Microsoft's anticompetitive behavior [31], and that the integration of Passport into Windows XP was a further example of Microsoft attempting to gain a monopoly in web services [32]. "Vader" is the Dutch word for "father", and the German word for "father" (Vater) is similar.

Microsoft case which resulted in Microsoft being convicted for illegally abusing its operating system monopoly to overwhelm competition in other markets, Windows XP has drawn fire for integrating user applications such as Windows Media Player and Windows Messenger into the operating system, as well as for its close ties to the Microsoft Passport Network service. So it's basically Dark Father." (Rolling Stone, June 2, 2005). In light of the United States v. And Vader is a variation of father. David Coursey, Executive Editor of ZDNet's AnchorDesk [29], and Paul Thurrott, who runs SuperSite for Windows [30] have both written positive reviews of the operating system. In a 2005 interview, George Lucas was asked the origins of the name "Darth Vader", and replied: "Darth is a variation of dark. CNET's web site lists hundreds of positive and negative reviews of Windows XP Home [27] and Professional [28] from users. The iconic breathing sound of his respirator was created by sound designer Ben Burtt, who created the sound by simply recording himself breathing into an old Dacor scuba regulator.

Supporters of the new interface praise its task-oriented nature and the automatic grouping of related windows on the taskbar to reduce clutter, and point out that the higher system requirements of Windows XP allow it to easily handle the increased processor demand; with a small amount of tweaking, it is possible to return to the Windows 2000 look, (or with minimal additional effort, the Windows 95 look can be achieved) which is faster, but which many consider to be less visually attractive. Vader's leitmotif is The Imperial March. Critics have claimed that the default Windows XP user interface (Luna) adds visual clutter and wastes screen space while offering no new functionality and running more slowly. It also resembles a German World War II-era Stahlhelm. The most famous volume license key (VLK) is one beginning with FCKGW, which was released with the first pirated copies of the final version of Windows XP. Vader's head gear resembles a Japanese kabuto (兜), which is consistent with the samurai-like order of the Jedi and kendo-like lightsaber duels. According to Microsoft, 90% of pirated installations of Windows XP use a volume-licensed version to circumvent WPA. This was later made permanent and incorporated in the story.

These copies, intended for use by customers with many PCs, are referred to by some as "Windows XP Corporate Edition". It was initially imagined that Darth Vader would fly through space to enter the ship, necessitating a suit and breathing mask. There exist volume-licensed copies of Windows XP Professional that do not require Windows Product Activation at all. The current image of Vader was created when concept artist Ralph McQuarrie drew the opening scene where the Rebel ship Tantive IV was being boarded. However, as key changers and keygens were soon available on the Internet after Windows XP's release, many users managed to circumvent the product activation process. The character of Darth Vader was not originally planned to be a suited cyborg. According to Microsoft, no specific details about the hardware are transmitted. In 1978, Prowse and Jones returned as Vader in The Star Wars Holiday Special, as well as to shoot new footage that was released with the Star Wars: The Interactive Video Board Game, when it was released in 1996.

This information is used to seed the generation of a number which, along with the CD Key and country of installation, is transmitted to Microsoft. Andrew Nelson has also portrayed Vader at a number of events for Lucasfilm, as well as the videogame Rebel Assault II, and in new footage filmed for the Special Edition releases of the original three Star Wars films in 1997. It includes a cryptographic hash of the following ten values:. The character of Darth Vader also involved several stunt doubles, most notably fencing instructor Bob Anderson, who handled all of Vader's fight sequences in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.^[8] Industrial Light & Magic employee C. Microsoft then released details about the nature of the information transmitted [26]. Mat Lucas supplied the voice for Anakin in the popular animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars, as well as for the Star Wars video games that have depicted Anakin as an adult. Privacy fears were raised about the nature of the data transmitted to Microsoft. Jake Lloyd reprised his role by lending his voice to various video games that have featured the young Anakin.

If the user's computer system ever changes — for example, if two or more relevant components (see list below) of the computer itself are upgraded — Windows may refuse to run until the user reactivates with Microsoft. Several different actors have portrayed the character. Activation requires the computer or the user to activate with Microsoft within a certain amount of time in order to continue using the operating system. However, perhaps in a show of foresight by Palpatine, the system is vulnerable to Force lightning, contributing to Vader's death in Return of the Jedi. The system was introduced by Microsoft to curb illegal distribution of Windows XP [25]. In the climactic duel of The Empire Strikes Back, a blow from Luke's lightsaber appears to bounce off Vader's armor, eliciting a yell of pain from the Sith Lord. While product activation and licensing servers are common for business and industrial software (especially software sold on a per-user basis for large sums of money), Windows XP gave many casual computer users their first introduction to it. Besides the life support it provides his ravaged body, Vader's armor may also offer some moderate degree of protection against lightsabers.

For example if a user tries to run an executable File downloaded from an untrusted security zone, Windows XP with Service Pack 2 will prompt the user with a warning. The armor also enables him to breathe in vacuum while protecting him from the coldness of space. Service Pack 2 attempts to remedy this with the Attachment Execution Service that records the origin of files in alternate data streams attached to files downloaded with Internet Explorer or received as an attachment in Outlook Express. The center buckle features an audio enhancement unit built into the electromagnetic clasp. There is little defense against a user opening an e-mail attachment without realizing that it is malicious (the default setting of Windows XP to hide file extensions doesn't help in this regard), or failing to keep reasonably current on Windows Update patches. On his left, he wears a respiratory sensor matrix. Perhaps the greatest threats against Windows security are the actions of Windows users themselves. The one on his right featured a temperature regulation system.

This allows Windows XP to prevent code from being executed on areas of memory flagged with an NX bit and stops buffer overflow exploits from running arbitrary code. On his belt, Vader wears two small system function boxes. It also adds increased memory protection to let the operating system take advantage of new No eXecute technology built into CPUs such as the AMD64. Upon closer examination, the chestplate has Hebrew lettering which has been translated as, "His deeds will not be forgiven, until he merits."^[7]. Service Pack 2 enables the firewall by default. Three slot-like dataports offered diagnostic checks of his pulmonary, respiratory and neural systems. Windows XP offers some useful security benefits, such as Windows Update, which can be set to install security patches automatically, and a built-in firewall. Vader's life support system includes a chest-worn, computerized control panel unit that regulates his respiratory functions.

In January 2005, Microsoft released a free beta version of Microsoft AntiSpyware which removes spyware and adware from computers. His famous mask and helmet, resembling the head of an ancient Sith droid, contain various vision- and auditory-enhancing equipment, as well as the respirator that causes the Dark Lord's ominous breathing sound. Spyware is also a concern for Microsoft with regard to service pack updates; Barry Goff, a group product manager at Microsoft, said some spyware could cause computers to freeze up upon installation of Service Pack 2 [24]. His gloves and hands are made with a unique micronized iron that can deflect anything short of a lightsaber blow. Spyware and adware are a continuing problem on Windows XP and other versions of Windows. He wears a suit of quilted, flexible, blast-dampening, multi-ply padding, and a cloak of armor weave. [23]. More visible durasteel plates cover his shoulders, upper body and shins.

Increasingly widespread use of Service Pack 2, and greater use of personal firewalls, appears to have been making worms like these less of a common occurrence. Vader's armor is built around a plastoid girdle that protects his organic and synthetic internal organs. In May 2004, Sasser quickly spread through computers running Windows XP and Windows 2000. A towering figure, the suited Darth Vader is nearly 6 feet 8 inches (2.02 meters) tall. Windows XP was also vulnerable to the Sasser worm, spread by using a buffer overflow in a remote service present on every installation. As a result of his later disfigurement on Mustafar, Vader was substantially augmented with cybernetic implants: he must wear his armor at all times when he is not meditating in his pressurized containment-chamber. Even security-conscious users had trouble with Blaster, since it could infect a computer with a newly installed copy of Windows XP before the user had time to download security fixes [22]. Even before his transformation into Vader, Anakin was a cyborg: he had a prosthetic installed after his natural right forearm was severed while duelling with Count Dooku on Geonosis in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.

In August 2003 the Blaster worm, which became one of the most well known Windows worms, exploited a vulnerability present in every unpatched installation of Windows XP and capable of compromising a system even without user action. However, the most widely accepted explanation for the slower combat of the original trilogy is the lack of "film magic" in the 1970s, considering Obi-Wan also fought slowly in A New Hope at age 57 despite Count Dooku fighting with intense speed in the prequels at age 80+. Notable worms of this sort that have infected Windows XP systems include Mydoom and Bagle. While most padawans were trained from early ages for at least a good 15 years, Luke started very late. A user who opens the file attachment(s) can unknowingly infect his or her own computer, which then e-mails the worm to more people. Luke's less-developed saber skills were ostensibly a result of his minimal training. Many attacks against Windows XP systems come in the form of e-mail trojan horses which are sent by worms. This a fairly accepted explanation for the less-elaborate saber fighting in the original trilogy as compared to the prequel trilogy.

Microsoft executives have stated that the release of patches to fix security holes is often what causes the spread of exploits against those very same holes, as crackers figured out what problems the patches fixed, and then launch attacks against unpatched systems. This fighting style contrasted with Anakin's style before his disfigurement, which utilized more speed and acrobatics. Security holes are often invisible until they are exploited, making preemptive action difficult. When striking with both hands on the grip of his lightsaber, he was able to pound his enemies with an onslaught of strong but somewhat slow strikes. Windows, with its large market share, has traditionally been a tempting target for virus creators. He struck to kill and used psychology and his appearance to intimidate his foes. Nicholas Petreley for The Register notes that "Windows XP was the first version of Windows to reflect a serious effort to isolate users from the system, so that users each have their own private files and limited system privileges." [20] However, Rob Pegoraro, for The Washington Post, noted that "XP Home's 'limited account'," the only other option, "doesn't even let you adjust a PC's clock." [21] Windows XP Home Edition also lacks the ability to administer security policies and denies access to the Local Users and Groups utility. He was calm when fighting, rarely using acrobatics.

If the administrator's account is broken into, there is no limit to the control that can be asserted over the compromised PC. His blows were forceful even when using only one arm to fight. Security issues are compounded by the fact that users, by default, receive an administrator account that provides unrestricted access to the underpinnings of the system. In battle, Darth Vader lacked the mobility and ease he once had, but his bionic suit gave him sheer strength. Windows XP has been criticized for its susceptibility to buffer overflows, malware, viruses, trojan horses and worms. Anakin was trained in Form V lightsaber combat by Obi-Wan, one of the greatest swordsmen in the galaxy, and quickly developed incredible skill in the form, which he retained even after his fall to the dark side. Security concerns have long been an issue with Microsoft products. The Expanded Universe has shown him punching through the skulls of savage animals and bludgeoning opposing Jedi to their knees with one blow.

Another page[19] suggests improvements to managing the list of "hidden" wireless networks. Vader also has great physical strength, which he demonstrates in his first and last appearances in the original trilogy: lifting a Rebel captain by the throat with one hand in A New Hope, and picking up the Emperor and hurling him to his death in Return of the Jedi. A document[18] on Microsoft's web site suggests that Service Pack 3 will include additional support for doing true "per-user" application installing. One explanation is that Vader used the Force (because there is a Force power in Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords called Force Deflection that allows the player to block blaster bolts without a lightsaber), while an Expanded Universe novel states that Vader's right glove was indestructible. It will be released after Windows Vista has been finished; presently, Microsoft's web site indicates a "preliminary" release date of "2H 2007" for Service Pack 3.[17] Service Pack 3 may include Internet Explorer 7, Windows Media Player 11, and many other changes, but Microsoft has not made any official statement on feature sets. In The Empire Strikes Back, Vader was able to block Han Solo's blaster bolts with his hand. Windows XP Service Pack 3 is currently in development. ^[6].

Thomas Greene from The Register claimed that SP2 was merely a placebo of sorts in terms of features, fixes, and security updates:. Vader's lack of organic hands is the direct reason he cannot create Force lightning, as Dooku and Palpatine could (Note: In the Star Wars comic book: Splinter of the mind's eye, Darth Vader can be seen using Force lightning. While well received in general, Service Pack 2 was not without its critics. Had he sustained none of his injuries on Mustafar, he would have been about twice as powerful. In addition, the Wireless Network Connection Icon, which used to show two computer symbols (like the LAN Connection Icon) now shows just one, with a radio wave symbol on the right side. Lucas claims that, as a masked and suited Darth Vader, Anakin has roughly 80% of the power of the Emperor. "Home Edition" or "Professional"). However, Lucas states that his injuries on Mustafar cost Vader much of his Force potential.

On the opening screen (where it says Microsoft Windows XP with the three scrolling squares), the "(C)1985-2001" designation at the bottom was removed, and the edition name was removed (e.g. He was born with the highest known midichlorian count (a measure of Force-aptitude) in the history of the galaxy, surpassing that of both Yoda and the Emperor. There were also some visual changes made with Service Pack 2. All of these skills, however, are secondary to his incredible mastery of the Force. [15]. His talent with the lightsaber is legendary. SP2 also includes major updates to Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and Windows XP Media Center Edition, and also supports 24 new languages from every continent. Vader still possesses his former persona's amazing engineering skills, having overseen the design of the TIE/Advanced fighter and the construction of the second Death Star.

[13] [14]. Darth Vader is a brilliant strategist and one of the greatest pilots in the galaxy. The company AssetMetrix reports that one out of ten computers that upgraded to SP2 had severe compatibility problems with their applications. Taking the proper lessons from his loss to Kenobi, he apparently learned how to control his emotions when in combat, finding a way to call upon the power of the dark side while not being blinded by emotions run amok. However, when the service pack was released some programs did stop working, and Microsoft officially listed several of them on its website [12]. He also experimented in some Form II Makashi, used by Count Dooku, as evidenced by his formal one-handed duel against Luke Skywalker on Cloud City. Other features include enhancements to the Internet Connection Firewall (ICF), now the Windows Firewall (which is also turned on by default), advanced memory protection that takes advantage of the NX instruction that is incorporated into newer processors to stop buffer overflow attacks, removal of raw socket support (which has caused a drop in "zombie" machines: infected computers that can be used remotely to launch denial of service attacks) [10], and improvements to e-mail and web browsing [11] (a full list of service fixes and modifications for SP2 is available on Microsoft's website). For the remainder of his life, he would maintain his mastery of Form V Djem So and Shien.

This helps to suppress spyware and viruses. In his mechanical life-support suit, Darth Vader could no longer engage in the energetic acrobatics of Ataru. It also includes a new API to allow third party virus scanners and firewalls to interface with a new security center application, which provides a general overview of security on the system. At that point, Anakin's fatal mistake was not in his prowess, but in his mind. Unlike previous service packs, SP2 adds new functionality to Windows XP, including an enhanced firewall, improved Wi-Fi support with a wizard utility, a pop-up ad blocker for Internet Explorer, and Bluetooth support. But in the end of the ferocious battle on Mustafar, Anakin held the upper hand in his fighting skills until the point where Kenobi placed himself on higher, solid ground. Service Pack 2 (SP2) was released on August 6, 2004 after several delays, with a special emphasis on security. In both cases this resulted in the detachment of his opponent's limbs.

Native support for Serial ATA was added. That is to rely on Soresu entirely until there is a hole in the opponent's offensive barrage, and to immediately slash away with some broad Ataru strokes. LBA-48, which allowed the OS to view and use HDD space above 137 GB, was enabled by default. Like his duel with Grievous, Kenobi would rely on his "wait them out" philosophy. Service Pack 1a was later released to remove Microsoft's Java virtual machine as a result of a lawsuit with Sun Microsystems. Frustrated by his inability to break this defense, Anakin would make mistakes that he wouldn't have made had he been able to remain focused and patient. This utility was later brought into the older Windows 2000 operating system with its Service Pack 3. Obi-Wan was the greatest defensive master in the Order and his absolute dedication to Soresu would prove vital to his win.

For the first time, users could control the default application for activities such as web browsing and instant messaging, as well as hide access to some of Microsoft's bundled programs. Whereas Anakin's strength lay in his offensive barrage, Kenobi's resided in his defense. Its most notable new features were USB 2.0 support and a Set Program Access and Defaults utility. Though Anakin could call on the Dark Side to overpower his opponents, his mounting emotions could also distract him from executing as well as his master. Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows XP was released on September 9, 2002. Kenobi held a psychological edge since it was he who traditionally would win in their sparring days. Microsoft occasionally releases service packs for its Windows operating systems to fix problems and add features. Though younger, more athletic, and gifted with more raw Force power than Obi-Wan, he lacked the experience, calmness, and focus which his master possessed.

In addition, another Microsoft-created theme, called "Royale", was included with Windows Media Center Edition, and is available for download on Microsoft's site for Home and Professional Editions. Anakin's fatal flaw was his rage. Several third party utilities exist that provide hundreds of different visual styles. By defeating Dooku when Kenobi had failed twice, Anakin seemed to have proven his mastery of the Force, and established himself as one of the greatest swordsman in the Order, next to only Yoda and Mace Windu. The Windows 2000 "classic" interface can be used instead if preferred. In the rematch with Count Dooku at the Battle of Coruscant, Anakin's mastery in Djem So, combined with his young age, better physical condition, impressive strength, and considerable reserve of Force energy, enabled Anakin to tear through the precision and elegance of Makashi and break through Dooku's tenacious defense. The default wallpaper, Bliss, is a JPEG photograph of a landscape in the Napa Valley outside Napa, California, with rolling green hills and a blue sky with stratocumulus and cirrus clouds. According to Count Dooku in Revenge of the Sith novelization, Anakin's mastery of Djem So was the greatest he had ever seen in his life.

More computer literate users "patch" the uxtheme.dll file that controls the ability to use visual styles. Apart from Shien, Skywalker mastered Djem So during the Clone Wars, a Form V style beyond the classic Shien. In order to use unsigned visual styles, many users turn to software such as TGI Soft's StyleXP or Stardock's WindowBlinds. Appreciative at last of how much he had to learn, Anakin spent the next three years of the Clone Wars honing his Form V skills. Luna refers only to one particular visual style, not to all of the new user interface features of Windows XP as a whole. No match for the seasoned focus and skills of Dooku's Form II Makashi swordplay, a style of elegance and precision, Anakin lost his right forearm and was only narrowly saved by Master Yoda at the end of Episode II. As Windows XP requires 64 MB of RAM to install, this means that it is enabled for practically all users. Ultimately Anakin would learn his lesson against Count Dooku at the Battle of Geonosis.

Luna is the name of the new visual style that ships with Windows XP, and is enabled by default for machines with more than 64 MB of RAM. However, Anakin's frequent application of Form V, a style that tends to foster an inappropriate focus on dominating others, clouded his judgment and pulled him to the dark side of the Force frequently during his numerous battles in the Clone Wars. However, visual styles must be cryptographically signed by Microsoft to run. By the time of Attack of the Clones, Anakin began to believe he was one of the best swordsmen in the Order. Windows XP adds the ability for Windows to use "Visual Styles" to change the user interface. With Anakin's exceptionally high concentration of midi-chlorians, he mastered Shien faster than any other Padawan in the Order. However, if the video card is not capable of hardware alpha-blending, performance can be substantially hurt and Microsoft recommends the feature should be turned off manually [9]. An aggresssive style which focuses on strength and lightsaber attack moves, Shien takes the defensive principles of Form III (Soresu), the style practiced by Obi-Wan Kenobi, and converts them to offensive moves.

[8] Some effects, such as alpha blending (transparency and fading), are handled entirely by many newer video cards. Anakin Skywalker was trained in classic Form V (Shien) lightsaber combat. Users can further customize these settings. Anakin's style featured elements of many masters that made him outstandingly talented at a very young age. Windows XP analyzes the performance impact of visual effects and uses this to decide whether to enable them, so as to prevent the new functionality from consuming substantial additional processing overhead. Through him, Anakin would inherit a rich tradition of lightsaber pedigree. The Start menu and search capability were redesigned and many visual effects were added, including:. Anakin Skywalker was trained by the Order's most promising Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Windows XP features a new task-based graphical user interface. Therefore the claim that in order to have "balance" in the Force that there should be no Sith is relatively justified based on this particular viewpoint. Some of the most noteworthy and recognized include:. The presence of the Sith, it is believed, serves to once again tip the cosmic scale in favor of the dark side. Windows XP introduced several new features to the Windows operating system line. Theoretically, a relatively small number of beings dedicated to pure good and service of the light side of the Force are able to balance against all the negative energy contributed by everyone else and maintain relative balance in the universe. ^[4] [5] [6] [7]. Multiplied by the trillions of beings in the Star Wars universe, this amounts to a massive dark side shift in the cosmic balance.

Due to the fact that it will be sold at the same price as the full version, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo and Fujitsu Siemens have chosen not to stock the product, and preliminary figures imply a lack of consumer interest. They claim that the average sentient being contributes a sizable amount of negative energy to the universe throughout their lifetime by means of what we would call normal and natural emotions like anger, jealousy, etc. Microsoft wanted to call this version Reduced Media Edition but EU regulators objected and suggested the Edition N name, with the N signifying "not with media player". Instead advocates of this particular view believe that the "balance" in the Force is the balance between positive and negative energy throughout the universe. This version will not include the company's Windows Media Player but instead encourage users to pick and download their own media player. Yet another view held by only a small amount of fans claims that the idea of "balance" in the Force has nothing to do with either there being an equal number of Jedi and Sith or neccessarily just the destruction of the Sith. In the meantime, it plans to offer a court-compliant version of its flagship operating system at the same price as the full version. Indeed, at the conclusion of Episode I and Episode VI, a voice in the cheering crowd can be heard to cry out "The Son of Suns!", thus giving weight to this being a possible portion of the prophecy.

Microsoft is currently appealing the ruling. In begetting Luke and defeating the Emperor in the Return of the Jedi he is fulfilling his massianic role, but none of this would be possible or even neccessary if he had not fallen from grace and become Darth Vader. The Commission claimed Microsoft "broke European Union competition law by leveraging its near monopoly in the market for PC operating systems onto the markets for work group server operating systems and for media players".
On another level, the notion of balance and equilibrium which Skywalker was supposedly destined to restore could only exist if the force were disturbed in the first place. In March 2004, the European Commission fined Microsoft €497 million and ordered the company to provide a version of Windows without Windows Media Player. A quote was originally to precede the "A Long Time Ago" text:. Many markets where it is available have seen the uptake of cracked or pirated versions of the software instead. One possible piece of evidence supporting this theory comes from an early draft of A New Hope.

In the mass market, however, the Starter Edition has not had much success. However, the exact text of the prophecy is never revealed in the films, so it may not be possible to conclude that the Chosen One must be born of a virgin. In late July 2005, Microsoft announced [3] that they reached a milestone of 100,000 units of Windows XP Starter Edition sold. It is presumed that the Chosen One of the Jedi Prophecy must be born of a virgin mother (as Anakin allegedly was), since Yoda for instance, despite his historical number of midi-chlorians, is never regarded as a candidate for the prophecy. There are also fewer options for customizing the themes, desktop, and taskbar. He does it because he is redeemed by his son." Lucas gave a similar explanation in the final VHS release of the original trilogy in November 2000: "[In] Episodes IV, V and VI,...Anakin's offspring redeem him, and allow him to fulfill the Prophecy, and bring balance to the Force by doing away with the Sith, and getting rid of evil in the universe.". There is also an 80GB disk size limit, but Microsoft has not made it clear if this is for total disk space, per partition, or per disk. He becomes Darth Vader; Darth Vader does become the hero, Darth Vader does destroy the Sith; meaning himself and the Emperor.

In addition, the Starter Edition is licensed only for low-end processors like Intel's Celeron or AMD's Duron. Frequently cited as evidence for this interpretation is Yoda's warning to Obi-Wan that the prophecy "misread, could have been." In the Episode III DVD featurette "The Chosen One," Lucas summarizes as follows: "The Prophecy is that Anakin will bring balance to the Force and destroy the Sith. The maximum screen resolution is limited to 1024x768, and there is no support for Workgroup networking or domains. Adherents of this view find it particularly noteworthy that, by the end of Episode III, there is a precisely equal number of Jedi and Sith: Obi-Wan and Yoda, Sidious and Vader. Only three applications can be run at once on the Starter Edition, and each application may only open three windows. In this viewpoint, the Jedi and the Sith metaphorically represent two opposing weights on a scale, with an excess of either disrupting the balance of the Force. In addition, the Starter Edition also has some unique limitations [2]. Many fans argue that Anakin fulfilled the Jedi Prophecy by bringing a new "balance" to the Force by nearly eliminating the Jedi.

To appeal to foreign markets whose consumers may not be computer literate, the Starter Edition includes additional specializations not found in the Home Edition such as localized help features for those who may not speak English, a country-specific computer wallpaper[1] and screensavers, and other default settings designed for easier use than typical Windows XP installations. Still, Anakin's pivotal role is undisputable, ranging from his intervention in Windu and Sidious' duel in the Chancellor's office, to the enormous influence that his progeny wield in the original trilogy as well as the Expanded Universe. According to a Microsoft press release, Windows XP Starter Edition is "a low-cost introduction to the Microsoft Windows XP operating system designed for first-time desktop PC users in developing countries." It is seen as an effort to fight unauthorized copying of Windows XP, and also to counter the spread of the open-source GNU/Linux operating system, which has been gaining popularity in Asia and South America. His role in the destruction of the Jedi was an ancillary one, as much of the plan was already underway long before Anakin's fall; indeed, it began with the invasion of Naboo, when he was only a child. It is similar to Windows XP Home, but has some features either removed or disabled by default. In particular, Anakin's status as the Chosen One is regularly disputed. Windows XP Starter Edition is a lower-cost version of Windows XP available in Thailand, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia, India, Brazil, and Spanish for Latin America (Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela). The Jedi Prophecy is a frequent source of debate among fans.

Applications will typically be run on a remote server using Remote Desktop. In the novel The Unifying Force of the New Jedi Order series, set 30 years after the Battle of Yavin in A New Hope, Anakin's voice would speak to his grandson, Jacen Solo, telling him to "Stand firm!" in his battle with the Supreme Overlord of the Yuuzhan Vong. It will only be available to Software Assurance customers, who would like to upgrade to Windows XP to take advatage of its security and management capabilities, but can't afford to purchase new hardware. Leia Organa Solo, who was initially horrified to learn that Vader was her father, eventually forgave him after learning her family's full history, and named her youngest son Anakin in remembrance of her father's redemption. In March 2006, Microsoft will be introducing a "thin-client" version of Windows XP called Windows Fundamentals For Legacy PCs, which will target older machines (as early as the original Pentium). Later, Vader transferred their services to Grand Admiral Thrawn. Another unique edition is Windows XP Embedded, for specific consumer electronics, set-top boxes, kiosks/ATMs, medical devices, point-of-sale terminals, and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) components. In the Thrawn trilogy, it is explained that Darth Vader was the first representative of the Empire to find the Noghri, a race with exceptional combat skills, whom he manipulated into serving as his personal commandos and revering him as their master.

It cannot be purchased separately from a Tablet PC. Vader also makes occasional appearances in Dark Horse's Star Wars comic books set between the movies, especially Star Wars: Empire. The Tablet PC Edition is compatible with a pen-sensitive screen, supporting handwritten notes and portrait-oriented screens. The story also gives more insight into Vader's thoughts and ambitions, as it reveals that he knows there is some good left in him and that he wishes to heal his body through the force in an attempt to return his physical appearance to that of his former self (Anakin). For specially designed notebook/laptop computers, Microsoft designed the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. In the story, Prince Xizor, leader of the crime organization Black Sun, plots to overthrow Vader as the Emperor's second in command. Another update was released in 2004, and again in 2005, which was the first edition available for System Builders. Vader also has a prominent role in the 1996 novel/comic/video game Shadows of the Empire, which takes place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

In 2003 the Media Center Edition was updated as "Windows XP Media Center Edition 2003", which added additional features such as FM radio tuning. In The Star Wars Holiday Special, Vader searches for the Rebels responsible for the destruction of the Death Star, almost thwarting Han and Chewbacca's goal of reaching Kashyyyk in order for Chewie to reach his family for Life Day. Originally, it was only available bundled with one of these computers, and could not be purchased separately. The extent as to which these new injuries may have worsened his condition (if at all) is somewhat disputed among the Star Wars fanbase. The Windows XP Media Center Edition was made for special Media center PCs. On Mimban, Vader suffers massive injuries when he falls into a pit. The current design, whereby different versions of the same operating system are produced for different architectures, represents a fundamental shift in the design philosophy of Microsoft's operating system and marketing efforts. Later on, in the Alan Dean Foster novel Splinter of the Mind's Eye (which takes place shortly after the events in A New Hope), Vader meets Luke for the second time, and combats him in a lightsaber duel for the first time on the planet Mimban.

The files necessary for all of the architectures were included on the same installation CD and did not require the purchase of separate versions. In the comic book Vader's Quest, he hires bounty hunters to bring him information about the author of the destruction of the Death Star, ultimately meeting his son Luke for the very first time. Microsoft had previously supported other microprocessors with earlier versions of the Windows NT operating system line (including two 64-bit lines, the DEC Alpha and the MIPS R4000, although Windows NT used them as 32-bit processors). Vader is expected to at least make cameo appearances in the upcoming Star Wars live-action TV series, which is slated for either a 2007 or 2008 release, and will run 100 episodes. This version of Windows XP supports AMD's Athlon 64 and Intel's Pentium 4 with EM64T. The book Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader, a sequel to Revenge of the Sith, focuses on Vader's mission to hunt down the remaining Jedi who were not killed in the Great Jedi Purge. AMD 64-bit processors, namely x86-compatible 64-bit (x86-64) ones, may be used on Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, which was based on Windows Server 2003. In the young adult series The Last of The Jedi, Boba Fett, at the age of fourteen, is hired by Imperial leader Inquisitor Malorum to investigate Padmé's death at Vader's request.

However, Itanium support continues in the server editions of Windows. The Yuuzhan-Vong are mentioned in this novel also, though not by name. This edition was discontinued in early 2005, after HP, the last distributor of Itanium-based workstations, stopped selling Itanium systems marketed as 'workstations'. The ships are also alive. The Windows XP 64-Bit Edition was designed specifically for Itanium-based workstations, and is incompatible with most other 64-bit processors. The inhabitants of the planet are famous for making the fastest ships in the galaxy. Five different versions of XP for specific hardware were designed, two of them specifically for 64-bit processors. In Greg Baer's novel Star Wars: Rogue Planet, Anakin Skywalker, at the age of twelve, is sent with Obi-Wan Kenobi on a mission to Zenoma Sekot.

Microsoft has also customized Windows XP to suit different markets and there are now several different versions available. The New Droid Army, a video game made for Game Boy Advance, also details some of Anakin's adventures during the war. Some Centralized administration features, including Group Policies, Automatic Software Installation and Maintenance, Roaming User Profiles, and Remote Installation Service (RIS) are also unavailable in the Home Edition. Despite Anakin's periods of separation from his wife, the twins Luke and Leia are conceived during the Clone Wars. Although it has been reported to work on some dual-core microprocessors available from both AMD and Intel, Microsoft has recommended upgrading to Professional Edition for improved stability and compatibility. During a mission to save the Nelvaanian Braves, Anakin goes through a cave that reveals what would become of him in the future. Windows XP Home Edition does however support the Hyper-threading functionality present on some Intel microprocessors. He is later made a full-fledged Jedi Knight.

Also absent is Symmetric multiprocessing, the ability to divide work between multiple processors (CPUs) — Windows XP Professional supports up to two CPUs, while the Home Edition supports only one. In the animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker goes through many battles in the war, earning him the moniker "The Hero With No Fear." One of such major events in it is his battle with Asajj Ventress on Yavin IV. iSCSI support is also unavailable. During the victory celebration on the forest moon of Endor, Luke is able to see the redeemed spirit of Anakin Skywalker, standing once again with Obi-Wan and Yoda. The Encrypting File System that encrypts files stored on the computer's hard drive so they cannot be read by another user, even with physical access to the storage medium, is absent. That night, Luke burns his father's Sith armor (and whatever remains inside^[5]) in the manner of a Jedi's funeral. Offline Files and Folders, which allow the PC to automatically store a copy of files from another networked computer and work with them while disconnected from the network, is unavailable. Luke escapes with his father's body as the Death Star explodes, destroyed by the Rebel Alliance.

The Remote Desktop, which lets users operate one PC over a local area network or the Internet while using another PC, is available, however, it can only act as the client and not the server (It can control XP Pro based machines, but other XP Pro or XP Home machines cannot operate it). In his dying breaths, Anakin Skywalker is redeemed, finally admitting to Luke in his dying breaths that the good within him was not destroyed after all. Several features available in the Professional Edition are unavailable in the Home Edition. Through sunken eyes, he looks up at his son and back at a lifetime of regret. It also uses by default a simplified access control scheme that does not allow specific permissions on files to be granted to specific users under normal circumstances. Freed from the mask that had caged his head for half his life, Anakin is a sad, withered man in his mid-forties, his skin ghostly pale from not having seen natural light for more than two decades. Many businesses that use Windows have a Windows Server and a domain. Luke complies and, for the first time, father and son look into each other's eyes.

For instance, the Home Edition cannot become part of a Windows Server domain — a group of computers that are remotely managed by one or more central servers. Moments from death, Anakin begs his son to take off his breath-mask so they see each other face-to-face. The Home Edition lacks several features provided by Windows XP Professional. By destroying both the Emperor and himself (as Darth Vader), Anakin fulfills the prophecy that claimed he would bring balance to the Force, but he is mortally wounded by the Emperor's lightning in the process. The two major editions are Windows XP Home Edition, designed for home users, and Windows XP Professional, designed for business and power-users. Unable to bear the sight of his son in pain, Vader turns on his master and throws him into a deep shaft, where he explodes in a fury of dark energies. . Luke writhes in agony under the Emperor's torture, begging his father for help.

Windows XP is also the first consumer version of Windows to use product activation to combat software piracy, and this restriction did not sit well with some users and privacy advocates. Seeing that the young Jedi is a lost cause, the Emperor attacks Luke with Force lightning. Windows XP also overhauled the graphical user interface (GUI), a change Microsoft promoted as user-friendlier than previous versions of Windows. As the Emperor approaches, encouraging Luke to finish Vader and take his place, Luke throws down his lightsaber, refusing to perform the killing blow. It also offers more efficient software management to avoid the "DLL hell" that plagued older consumer versions of Windows. He controls his anger at the last minute, however, as he looks at Vader's cybernetic hand and then at his own; he realizes that he is perilously close to suffering his father's fate. Windows XP greatly improved stability and efficiency from previous Windows consumer editions that used the hybrid 16-bit/32-bit kernel by using a pure 32-bit kernel. Enraged, Luke nearly kills Vader, finally severing his father's mechanical hand.

Two separate versions of Windows XP were released, the Windows XP 64-bit Edition for IA-64 processors and the Windows XP Professional x64 Edition for what Microsoft refers to as the x64 processors. Aboard the Death Star, Luke resists the Emperor's appeals to his anger and fear for his friends, but snaps when Vader telepathically probes his mind, learns of Leia's existence, and threatens to turn her instead. Windows XP Media Center Edition, released one year later, consists of Windows XP Professional with new features allowing users to record and watch TV shows, watch DVDs, listen to music and more. On a mission to the forest moon of Endor, he surrenders to Imperial troops and is brought to Vader. The most common editions of the operating system are Windows XP Home Edition, which is targeted at home users, and Windows XP Professional, which has additional features and is targeted at power users and business clients. By this time, Luke has nearly completed his Jedi training, and has learned from a dying Yoda that Vader is indeed his father and that Leia is his sister. The letters "XP" are said to come from the word experience. He meets with Palpatine onboard the half-constructed station to plan Luke's turn to the dark side.

Codenamed "Whistler" during its development, it was released on October 25, 2001. In the final installment of the series, Vader is charged with overseeing the completion of the second Death Star, with Moff Jerjerrod as his immediate subordinate. As of February 2006, it is the latest general-purpose version of Microsoft's family of operating systems, and is expected to be succeeded by Windows Vista sometime in the second half of 2006. Luke, although shaken by this stunning claim, refuses to join Vader and escapes. Windows XP is a major revision of the Microsoft Windows operating system created for use on desktop and business computer systems. He then reveals his true identity of being Luke's father, trying to persuade Luke to join him so that they can destroy the Emperor and rule the galaxy as father and son. CD-ROM/ CD-RW/ DVD-ROM identification. Vader corners and defeats Luke, cutting off his right hand.

Hard drive volume serial number. The two duel and Luke attempts an escape from Cloud City. Hard drive device. Luke, who by now has been trained by Yoda, arrives and finds his way to the carbonite freezing facility, where Vader is planning to freeze him for transport to the Emperor. Processor serial number (if applicable). Vader uses his influence to make a deal with Lando Calrissian to kidnap Han, Leia, and the droids, creating a trap for Luke at Cloud City. Processor type. [[.

0–64 MB, 64–128 MB, etc.). While on this pursuit, the Emperor contacts Vader via hologram, giving him a new mission to capture Luke Skywalker. RAM amount (as a range, e.g. After hiding in the blind spot of a Star Destroyer, the Falcon sets course to Cloud City, followed by Boba Fett, a bounty hunter hired by Vader. Network adapter MAC address. He leads the imperial troops on a full military assault on the rebel base hidden at the ice world of Hoth, and then pursues the escaping Millennium Falcon through an asteroid field. IDE adapter name. He has already known about Luke Skywalker, and is desperate to find him.

SCSI adapter name. Vader is now at the forefront of the continuing attempt to suppress the Rebellion. Display adapter name. His ship is sent hurtling into space, ultimately sparing his life, as the Death Star is destroyed moments later. Shadows under menus (Windows 2000 had shadows under mouse pointers, but not menus). Vader gets a lock on Luke's X-wing, noting that "the Force is strong with this one", but is distracted by Han Solo who is piloting the Millennium Falcon just in time to save Luke. The highlighting of recently added programs on the Start menu. During the Rebel attack on the Death Star, Vader pilots a distinctive TIE/Advanced fighter in pursuit of the Rebel X-Wing starfighters.

The ability to lock the taskbar and other toolbars to prevent accidental changes. By putting a homing beacon on the Millennium Falcon, Vader traces Luke, Han and Leia to the rebel base at Yavin IV. The ability to group the taskbar buttons of the windows of one application into one button. As Obi-Wan sees that if he escapes with Luke and company it would be too late, he sacrifices himself by leaving himself open to Vader's attack and becomes a spirit in the Force in order to guide Luke. Task-based sidebars in Explorer windows. Vader stops Obi-Wan on his way out and engages him in a lightsaber duel. Drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop. An elderly Obi-Wan, along with Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, attempt to rescue Leia during their escape from the Death Star.

A watermark-like graphic on folder icons, indicating the type of information stored in the folder. He boards the Tantive IV, capturing Princess Leia and bringing her to the Death Star. A transparent blue selection rectangle in Explorer. Nineteen years later, Vader is sent on a mission to retrieve the stolen plans of the Death Star and locate the hidden base of the Rebel Alliance. Support for most DSL modems and wireless network connections, as well as networking over Firewire.
. The Remote Desktop functionality, which allows users to connect to a computer running Windows XP from across a network or the Internet and access their applications, files, printers, and devices; and. ^[4] While Lucas justified his replacement of Sebastian Shaw with Christensen in the finale of the 2004 DVD release of Return of the Jedi with an explanation that upon his redemption Anakin reverted to his inner, uncorrupted self, Star Wars seems to also approach the question with the implication that there is no simple answer to it; as Obi-Wan tells Luke during his explanation of Vader's identity, "Many of the truths we cling to depend greatly upon our own point of view.".

The ClearType font rendering mechanism, which is designed to improve text readability on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and similar monitors;. The novelization of Revenge of the Sith, on the other hand, clearly makes the point that Darth Vader is Anakin Skywalker. Fast user switching, which allows a user to save the current state and open applications of their desktop and allow another user to log on without losing that information;. Yoda and Obi-Wan both asserted at various times that Anakin Skywalker was destroyed and consumed by Vader when he turned to the dark side. A new, arguably more user-friendly interface, including the framework for developing themes for the desktop environment;. The armored Dark Lord of the Sith seen at the end of the film is radically different from the Jedi Knight seen at the beginning physically, psychologically, and even spiritually. The ability to discard a newer device driver in favor of the previous one (known as driver rollback), should a driver upgrade not produce desirable results;. The events of Revenge of the Sith also had a significant effect on Anakin's identity.

Faster start-up and hibernation sequences;. Lucas claims that had Vader not been dismembered, he would have been twice as powerful as Palpatine, but that he is only 80% as powerful post-Mustafar. Although Vader remains a formidable warrior (second only to Palpatine in his dark side potential), the grave injuries he sustains during the duel with Obi-Wan greatly reduce his power with the Force; as Vader, he is a mere shadow of his former Jedi self. Overwhelmed with grief by the belief that he has killed his wife (and, presumably, his unborn child), the only thing that remains in his life is his service to his master, the new Emperor of the galaxy. (In fact, Padmé died in childbirth on Polis Massa after delivering healthy twins.) In a state of shock, Vader shakes the room with the Force, breaks his bindings on the operating table and struggles to walk under the sheer weight of his new legs.

Palpatine then tells Vader that, in his anger, he has killed his own wife. Palpatine revives Vader with extensive cybernetic enhancements, including a respirator and a fearsome breath mask. Miraculously, Vader manages to crawl up the bank away from the lava river and, through sheer will and connection to the Force, lingers on until rescued by Palpatine, who sensed Vader's impending defeat after his own duel with Yoda. As Vader tries to drag himself up the bank and away from the lava river, he suffers immolation: nearly fatal burns and extensive lung damage from inhaling superheated air.

Obi-Wan is prepared, however, and severs Vader's remaining limbs in midair, leaving him for dead on the hot sands. Vader tries to engage his master with a Force jump. Eventually, Obi-Wan jumps onto solid ground, gaining the advantage. The former partners and friends then engage in a ferocious lightsaber duel throughout the mining complex.

Suspecting betrayal, Vader angrily uses the Force to choke Padmé, leaving her unconscious on the landing platform. Obi-Wan, who had hidden himself on Padmé's ship, suddenly emerges and confronts Vader. He refuses, saying that the two of them can overthrow Palpatine and rule the galaxy together. After completing this task, he is met by Padmé, who pleads with him to flee Palpatine's grasp with her.

He is is then sent to Mustafar to assassinate the Separatist leaders. He does this without question, slaughtering venerable Jedi and children alike. Vader's first task as a Sith Lord is to assault the Jedi Temple and to kill everyone inside, even the youngling children. Without hesitation, he pledges himself to the dark side and is renamed Darth Vader.

Realizing the enormity of what he has done, Anakin is stricken with guilt, but he is too emotionally drained to resist Palpatine's offer to teach him the power of the dark side and save Padmé's life. As Windu screams in agony, Palpatine springs to life and hurls another torrent of lightning at the Jedi Master, electrocuting him before throwing him out the window to his apparent death. Anakin then severs Windu's sword hand with his own light saber. Anakin pleads with Windu to spare Palpatine's life; Windu refuses, saying that Palpatine is too dangerous to be kept alive.

Palpatine cowers, begging Anakin to save him. The attack continues unabated until Palpatine suddenly tires, giving Windu a chance to strike a death blow. The Jedi Master deflects the lightning with his lightsaber, scarring and deforming Plapatine's face into a wizened mask of wrinkled skin. Windu declares the Dark Lord under arrest, but Palpatine defiantly unleashes a torrent of Force lightning at Windu.

Anakin arrives to find Windu holding his lightsaber on a disarmed and seemingly helpless Palpatine. As Windu goes to confront Palpatine, Anakin broods over an inescapable thought: without Palpatine, he will lose the chance to save his wife. Anakin realizes that Palpatine is the Sith Lord Darth Sidious that the Council had been hunting for since the beginning of the war, and reports Palpatine's secret to Mace Windu. Ultimately, the Chancellor offers him the chance to learn the dark side of the Force, which he claims holds the power to prevent death.

Angered by the perceived snub and instructions to commit treason, Anakin loses all faith in the Council. The suspicious Council accepts him, but denies him the rank of Jedi Master, and orders him to spy on Palpatine. Palpatine, who continues to be a close friend and mentor, makes Anakin his representative on the Jedi Council. Though initially overjoyed, Anakin is plagued by prophetic visions of her death in childbirth — much like the one he had of his mother just before she died.

Back on Coruscant, Padmé tells him she is pregnant. Palpatine, though, reassures Anakin that Dooku "was too dangerous to be kept alive." After rescuing the Chancellor, Anakin finds that the flagship is in critical condition, and with some help from Obi-Wan, barely manages to safely land it on an airstrip. Anakin complies, but instantly regrets it; to kill a defenseless prisoner is not the Jedi way. Palpatine then commands Anakin to behead the stunned Count.

Dooku is continuously pushed back, taken off guard by the force behind each blow, and Anakin neatly sears off both of the Sith apprentice's hands. It is a short duel, and one which Anakin wins relatively easily. In the ensuing battle, Dooku uses the Force to choke and then fling Obi-Wan aside, forcing Anakin to face the Sith Lord alone. After having gone off to fight in the Clone Wars, Anakin and Obi-Wan return to Coruscant and board the Separatist flagship The Invisible Hand on a mission to rescue Palpatine from Count Dooku.

He is fitted with a cybernetic replacement, and then marries Padmé in a secret ceremony, with C-3PO and his counterpart, R2-D2, as witnesses. Escaping the fray with the help of the Jedi and the clone army, Anakin engages Separatist leader (and fallen Jedi) Count Dooku in a lightsaber battle, but is easily defeated by the older, more experienced warrior, who wounds him in battle, severing his lower right arm. Faced with their impending demise in a gladiatorial arena, they profess their love to one another. Anakin and Padmé learn that Obi-Wan has been taken hostage by the Geonosian-engineered Separatist droid forces, and rush to his rescue — where they are also captured.

Padmé is clearly troubled by what he has done, but, being in love with him, she is not truly repulsed, and instead tries to soothe him with sympathy. Yoda and the deceased Qui-Gon feel Anakin's Force presence turn "dark," and fear that this marks the beginning of the end for Obi-Wan's young apprentice. Seized by a blind rage, he slaughters the entire tribe of Tuskens, including the women and children. He finds her in a camp of Tusken Raiders, but is too late; battered beyond recognition, she dies in his arms.

While guarding Padmé, Anakin senses that his mother is in danger. In conversation, he reveals his affection for her, as well as his distrust of the political process and the need he perceives for there to be one strong leader. His childhood fascination with her has now become a powerful infatuation, and the two ultimately fall in love, despite her many reservations. Anakin is assigned to guard Padmé, who is now a senator of her home planet, Naboo.

Frustrated, he turns to another teacher for advice: Palpatine, who feeds the young padawan's fragile ego with assurances that he will one day be the greatest Jedi in the galaxy. His relationship with his master is complicated; although he says Obi-Wan is like a father to him, he chafes against his authority and believes he is holding him back. Because his natural abilities place him leaps and bounds above his peers, he has developed into an arrogant and socially awkward loner in his years of Jedi training. Anakin, now played by Hayden Christensen, is now a young adult and Obi-Wan's apprentice.

Palpatine, newly-elected as the Republic's Supreme Chancellor, befriends the boy, promising to "watch his career with great interest.". Later, a dying Qui-Gon, slain by Darth Maul, urges Obi-Wan to train Anakin, and the Council reluctantly approves. Ultimately, Anakin helps to win the final battle over the Trade Federation in the Battle of Naboo. This request is denied, as the Council thinks that Anakin's future is clouded by the fear and anger he exhibits from his days as a slave and his separation from his mother.

After winning Anakin's freedom, Qui-Gon brings the boy to Coruscant and requests that the Jedi Council allow him to train Anakin. Some of his incredible abilities may be attributed to this unique Force-adeptness; for instance, Qui-Gon attributes Anakin's piloting talent to the Force, which allows Anakin to "see things before they happen." Anakin forms a strong bond with Queen Padmé Amidala, whom Qui-Gon and his padawan apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, are guarding. Anakin is found on Tatooine by Qui-Gon Jinn, who is convinced that he is the Chosen One foretold by prophecy to bring balance to the Force. He is also a remarkable pilot with quick reflexes.

Even at this young age, he can build or repair most things, evidenced by the creation of his own protocol droid, C-3PO, and podracer, each from salvaged parts. A child prodigy, Anakin excels at mathematics and engineering. Anakin Skywalker first appears as a kind, selfless nine-year-old boy (played by Jake Lloyd) and a slave along with his mother. Curiously, Admiral Piett survives Vader's wrath when he loses the Millennium Falcon in an asteroid field; Lucas characterizes this uncharacteristic mercy as a result of Vader's ambivalence about his son, Luke.

This fear is not unwarranted, as both Admiral Ozzel and Captain Needa die by Vader's hand in The Empire Strikes Back. Throughout the rest of the trilogy, Imperial officers universally react with fear and dread at Vader's presence. The death of Tarkin aboard the Death Star removes any apparent check on Vader's power; after this point, Vader appears to be subordinate only to the Emperor himself. ^[3] In A New Hope, Vader's aggressive instincts are somewhat restrained by orders to serve under Grand Moff Tarkin for that time; when Admiral Motti challenges Vader's "sad devotion" to the Force, Tarkin does not allow Vader to choke Motti to death, only long enough to make his point.

This may echo Vader's own frustration at his injuries. After his fall, Vader is viewed as a cruel and frightening figure: his signature method of imposing terror is using the Force to strangle people. Still, controversy rages over Anakin's origins, and producer Rick McCallum's recent DVD commentary has added fuel to the fire. (According to Palpatine in Revenge of the Sith, the Sith Lord Darth Plagueis learned to provoke midi-chlorians into producing life—some have viewed this as a clue to Anakin's origins.) Lucas has said that all these issues were left deliberately ambiguous, and that it has been left for the audience to decide how Anakin was created.

Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn suggests that Anakin might have been conceived by the midi-chlorians — the implication being that Anakin is a creation of the Force itself. Some viewers have drawn parallels between Anakin's origin and the New Testament stories of Jesus' conception and birth, as well as classic mythological stories. Shmi claims that there was no father and that her pregnancy with Anakin resulted from a virgin conception. Son of Shmi Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker was born in 41 BBY.

. Despite his nearly unmatchable skills as a Jedi, however, Anakin's tragic flaw — fear of loss — ultimately leads him to the dark side of the Force, transforming him into Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, in 19 BBY. He is a legend of the Clone Wars, in which he fights for the Galactic Republic and is instrumental in several important battles. Anakin becomes a highly talented Jedi Knight; a distinguished pilot and swordsman with an unprecedented level of Force power.

He is taken as a young boy in 32 BBY and trained as a Jedi. In the prequel trilogy, Anakin is believed to be the Chosen One of Jedi prophecy, destined to bring balance to the Force by destroying the Sith. Indeed, Star Wars creator George Lucas has explained that he considers Vader a victim of the saga's true villain, Palpatine. However, in Return of the Jedi and the later prequel films, his fall from grace and eventual redemption are explored in greater depth.

In the first two films released in the series, Vader is portrayed as the epitome of pure evil — a mass murderer and war criminal who holds an entire galaxy under the sway of an evil empire. Through his role as the chief protagonist of the prequel movies and chief antagonist of the original three films, Vader has become an iconic villain (more than George Lucas ever intended), and was ranked third on American Film Institute's top 50 villains of all time list.^[2]. He is the husband of Padmé Amidala and the biological father of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa. Darth Vader (41 BBY – 4 ABY), born Anakin Skywalker, is a fictional tragic hero in the Star Wars films, and ultimately the central character of the series.

Skywalker, Anakin, Vader, Darth. Star Wars Databank. Available at TheForce.net. Curtis Saxton, 1995-2005.

Star Wars Technical Commentaries, Dr. Shooting script of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith as available at Internet Movie Script Database. Shooting script of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi as available at Internet Movie Script Database. James Luceno, ISBN 0-756-61128-8.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary, hardcover, 2005. David West Reynolds, ISBN 0-789-48588-5. Dr. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary, hardcover, 2002.

David West Reynolds, ISBN 0-789-43481-4. Dr. Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary, hardcover, 1998. Vader: The Ultimate Guide, 2005.

Wiker, ISBN 0-786-91849-7. D. Bill Slavicsek, J. The Dark Side Sourcebook, Wizards of the Coast, 1st printing, 2001.

Daniel Wallace, Michael Sutfin, ISBN 0-345-44900-2. The New Essential Guide to Characters, 1st edition, 2002. Matthew Woodring Stover, George Lucas, ISBN 0-7126-8427-1. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Novelization, 1st edition hardcover, 2005.

Salvatore, ISBN 0-345-42882-X. A. R. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones Novelization, 2003.

Terry Brooks, George Lucas, ISBN 0-345-43411-0. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Novelization, 1st edition paperback, 1999. It’s ridiculous to preserve the myth that it’s all done by one man." [15]. Bob worked so hard that he deserves some recognition.

It was always supposed to be a secret, but I finally told George I didn’t think it was fair any more. ^  Mark Hamill (who portrayed Luke in the original trilogy) noted in a 1983 interview in Starlog #72: "Bob Anderson was the man who actually did Vader’s fighting. (This page discusses the comon belief that the text that apears on Darth Vader's chestplate may be hebrew) [14]. ^  "Lord Vader's Chestplate", Star Wars Technical Commentaries.

[13]. ^  "Lord Vader's Injuries", Star Wars Technical Commentaries. ^ The Visual Dictionary of Star Wars, Episode III (ISBN 0756611288). Anderson, Luke specifically states that his father's body had disappeared in the same way as Yoda's and Obi Wan's.

It should also be noted that in the Jedi Academy trilogy Dark Apprentice by Kevin J. The Special Edition script refers to it as empty armor, while the original script refers to it as his father's body. The Special Edition script reference that supposedly establishes the disappearance of his body is in text of the scene where Luke cremates his father's armor. ^  According to Steve Sansweet of Lucasfilm, the Star Wars Databank entry for Vader [12], and the script for Return of the Jedi Special Edition, Anakin's body disappears at death in the same way as Obi-Wan's and Yoda's had, though some argue that the movie would have shown his disappearance explicitly if that were the case.

Only you." —Stover, Revenge of the Sith novelization. Is you. That it was all you. Only Anakin Skywalker.

That there was only you. That there was no Vader. ^  "This is how it feels to be Anakin Skywalker, forever…You remember the dragon that you brought Vader forth from your heart to slay…And there is one blazing moment in which you finally understand that there was no dragon. ^  In its appraisal of Vader's injuries, the Star Wars Technical Commentaries states: "Was the physically oppressive nature of Vader's breathing difficulties great enough to affect his disposition or add to his aggression? Perhaps it is significant that he used telekinetic strangulation more often then [sic] any other method of intimidating or killing those who frustrated him." [11].

^ "AFI's 100 Years…100 Heroes and Villains", American Film Institute, last accessed October 20, 2005. Lucas was apparently pleased with the performance by Christensen. On the other hand, Lucas has justified the change, explaining that Anakin died psychologically when he was a young man, and with him, his physical image died. They claim this would create a continuity issue, rather than solve one.

Further fan criticism includes issues some have with the general performance and appearance of Christensen in the scene, with some holding the claim that Luke would not have recognized his father as a young man. Some fans were upset by the change and criticized it for being disrespectful to Sebastian Shaw, even undermining the film's cinematic historical value. This version is considered the canonical version by Lucasfilm. ^ ^a Hayden Christensen only appears in the 2004 DVD release of Return of the Jedi, in which he replaces actor Sebastian Shaw in the final scene of the movie.

Star Wars creator George Lucas has admitted that the European political figure Cardinal Richelieu was the inspiration for the styling of Darth Vader. James Earl Jones - Ages 22, 41, 44, 45 (voice) (Revenge of the Sith, A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi). David Prowse - Ages 41, 44, 45 (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi). Hayden Christensen - Age 22 (Revenge of the Sith).

Sebastian Shaw - Age 45 (Return of the Jedi). Hayden Christensen - Ages 19, 22 (Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith). Jake Lloyd - Age 9 (The Phantom Menace).