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This may be useful for anyone else using an older than normal Windows PC. Typically after at least a decade's use (my own experience is actually 12 years) the CMOS battery on a desktop PC's motherboard will start to fail. This is characterized by occasional then more frequent PC boots direct into the BIOS settings. Eventually it will fail completely and reset to the original MB BIOS and the default settings. The problem you may have is that even after you replace the battery and reflash the BIOS, so you're using exactly the same version, it still may not boot into Windows. In my case it got to the point the Windows 7 icon starts to appear then freezes. If you try the repair options you'll be offered Windows Diagnostic tools will report all OK but one error that can't be identified or fixed. This is can set you off on a totally unnecessary diagnostic and repair path which will waste your time and probably won't find let alone fix the actual cause. This is a very minor one BUT if you don't know about it you'll quickly be tempted to go through all those hoops. The cause is that with an older MB the 'optimized' default settings actually return the HDD addressing mode to IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) when more modern SATA HDDs and SSDs require AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface). All you need to do is go into BIOS, find that setting. See the screenshot below for the location of this setting with older Gigabyte MBs. Swap it back to AHCI, save and reboot. You might get a Windows Diagnostic repair screen option first time but if you just choose to boot Windows normally - with any luck, it will. Hope this helps someone here avoid the hassle I went through trying to identify the cause of the boot failure after I had to replace the CMOS battery.

If I remove a program from the start list, How do I get it to display again in the list? One my system, if I remove a program from the list, using it again later doesn't make it show up again in Start

Refresh still exists but it only works in specific circumstances. In my previous testing, refresh only can work if the WinRE components are the same exact build as the installed OS, but the installed OS build changes with updates. So Refresh can work in a system that doesn't update but that is not typical in a modern system. I also prefer that option as well, as it reminds me of the repair install you could do with XP. I don't understand the TPM requirement either, especially in regards to the retail market. Probably it was just easier to include an Enterprise feature in all editions and be done with it.

Working where? I don't know where that registration question comes from, whether it is a default in IPS or if Xper wrote it.

I'm not that familiar with the compilation process of Python, but I don't think that's how it works. They are linked to the 'libcrypto*.a' and 'libssl*.a' files and therefore you can't just replace the dll-files and expect them to work. @cmalex has to recompile the whole thing, which he already did. I don't understand why 2 years ago and still today he wants to use the shared OpenSSL dev-files. I could be wrong, but I thought linking the static OpenSSL dev-files is much easier. I personally don't have a need for it. The only reason why I started compiling the shared OpenSSL dll-files is because Xidel needs them to open https-urls on WinXP. But since I'm now on a Win11 laptop that's not needed anymore either. I assume you do have a need for it? I've reuploaded 'openssl-3.5.2-win32-shared-dev-xpmod-sse.7z' and recompiled 'openssl-3.5.2-win32-static-dev-xpmod-sse.7z'. They now include a bin-dir with the 2 dll-files and 'openssl.exe' respectively. Can you test if the exe-file actually works on WinXP?

https://www.tp-link.com/in/support/download/tl-wn8200nd/v2/?app=store has two driver versions for the v2. Which did you try?

Greetings :-) Thanks. Updated Python3.11.4_openssl3.5.2.zip PS. Why don't You include openssl.exe in the set? Best regards

Colour is spelt as colour in all countries, except one. You wrote, this forum is based in Europe, France to be precise, as we all know, and I always read what you write with attention. No one spells "color" in Europe, apart from (maybe, just my guess) some oldish people, like 90 or more, from the period of US/USSR occupation of Europe in 1945. But they can't join the forum, obviously, and any other generations of Europeans had learnt British English at school, like the rest of the World. "I mentioned but MSFN is based in Europe" https://msfn.org/board/topic/184809-alternative-location-for-discussing-msfns-status-if-msfn-is-offline/page/6/#findComment-1280862 Addition, the absence of articles points out to a foreigner working there.

Would you mind making an ips patch? On win7 32bit and would love to try (locked out of streaming currently). Thanks.

Hello Reino (OT, but I'm really missing your Vista-compatible FFmpeg compiles ) While your OpenSSL binaries (archive "openssl-3.5.2-win32-shared-xpmod-sse.7z") may very well be XP+ compatible , they don't work out-of-the box as CPython dependency by swapping the already existing DLLs (of openssl v3.1.0-dev) inside cmalex's CPython assemblies with them; he's been using the same (quite deprecated and now rather insecure ) v3.1.0-dev DLLs in his 3.8.13, 3.9.13, 3.10.8 and 3.11.4 CPython offerings, but the thing is the libcrypto-3.dll and libssl-3.dll inside CPython work in conjunction with two Python DLLs, files "_ssl.pyd" and (possibly) "_hashlib.pyd"; the existing .pyd files are incompatible with your own openssl DLLs ... BTW, I'm on Vista SP2 32-bit, so I'm using cmalex's Vista-compatible 3.11.4 assembly; with the original v3.1.0-dev DLLs: python Python 3.11.4 (heads/My3.11.4-dirty:1c368b1ab42, Aug 24 2025, 19:29:33) [MSC v.1900 32 bit (Intel)] on win32 Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information. >>> import ssl >>> ssl.OPENSSL_VERSION 'OpenSSL 3.1.0-dev ' >>> ^Z <redacted>\3.11.4\cmalex\Python3114-32_Vista> Overwrite them with your own v3.5.2 DLLs and... python Python 3.11.4 (heads/My3.11.4-dirty:1c368b1ab42, Aug 24 2025, 19:29:33) [MSC v.1900 32 bit (Intel)] on win32 Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information. >>> import ssl Traceback (most recent call last): File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module> File "<redacted>\3.11.4\cmalex\Python3114-32_Vista>\Lib\ssl.py", line 100, in <module> import _ssl # if we can't import it, let the error propagate ^^^^^^^^^^^ ImportError: DLL load failed while importing _ssl: The specified procedure could not be found. >>> ssl.OPENSSL_VERSION Traceback (most recent call last): File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module> NameError: name 'ssl' is not defined >>> ^Z <redacted>\3.11.4\cmalex\Python3114-32_Vista> I guess newer versions of "_ssl.pyd" and "_hashlib.pyd" must be provided for openssl-3.5.2 compatibility ... @nicolaasjan openssl-3.1.0-dev inside cmalex's assemblies (both 3.10.18 and 3.11.4, both XP/Vista variants) can be updated to a slightly more recent version, openssl-3.1.2, by using the OpenSSL-3.1.2 DLLs cmalex had compiled in the past for another of his projects, ProxyMII; link below: https://mega.nz/folder/68dj2YTY#As2w31IO4Smr7gy6p1ciSg/file/Pl9yzapZ Proof: python Python 3.11.4 (heads/My3.11.4-dirty:1c368b1ab42, Aug 24 2025, 19:29:33) [MSC v.1900 32 bit (Intel)] on win32 Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information. >>> import ssl >>> ssl.OPENSSL_VERSION 'OpenSSL 3.1.2 1 Aug 2023' >>> ^Z <redacted>\3.11.4\cmalex\Python3114-32_Vista> NB: When using the Vista variants of py3.10.18/3.11.4 to compile yt-dlp_x86.exe for Vista, none of the wrapper DLLs (kernelxp.dll, ntext.dll, psapi.dll) are needed; because your resultant yt-dlp.exe binaries (for Vista) still contain file "psapi.dll", redundant on Vista ; come to think of it, I don't think file "ws2_xx.dll" is needed on Vista either, but I'm not dead certain; only cmalex can vouch for that ... Many thanks and praise to both cmalex and nicolaasjan for... keeping the torch lit (i.e. yt-dlp accessible on Win<8.1) ...

Well, all this would be ok.. if they would not removed option to refresh system files and keep system setting from boot installer. I experimented a bit more, but through drivers disabling if i dont get this error, i get 2 errors which probably happens before this one: 1) Inaccesible boot device - which is normal and fixable in previous Windows but im not able to fix it there, i have tried all Vmware storage options - IDE / SCSI/ SATA / NVME but its not enough. Fixing bcd files is not enough and Paragon P2V adjust or P2P adjust too. Im not sure if this error is related only to boot storage drivers, or its reported if any system driver is has boot problem, again nothing logged and only way is kernel debugger through serial port and second PC, not thing for standard user, its more for hardware drivers creators. 2) Boot freeze, infinite cog animation and safe mode freeze without cog, maybe again its happening before original error, again no ntbootlog.. I have found that Vmware convertor has nice drivers / service enable and disable option and probably it has some HW registry fix to boot in virtual, unfortunately its failing with my virtual disk image, there again some unhandled situation and Vmware convertor is picky and works only for typical scenarios (im getting typical disk geometry related pseudo errors like Unable to find system volume, or VSS snapshots cannot be stored because is not enough space on source volumes, or they are not NFTS, well of course EFI is FAT32 and there is lots of space.. ). Some as Acronis Trueimage 2021 universal restore, its refuse to recognize by Windows install, even when all other tools like Lazesoft recovery, dart, DISM managers etc, are fine with it. I also tried to run redetection of new HW during boot, as Windows to go are doing for offline installation, through boot dvd and sysprep, but i failed too, its not started, im not sure if could be made for offline installation in theory it could, but did not find right tutorial for it. It seems that only way to debug would be that TPM log parser, but even that is not provided as standard package for advanced users. This seems as typical result of excessive security, same as"National" security parallel virus in USA government. They would claim that make boot process logging as something helping hackers, but i as standard users really value usability over security and like to have options to use security / usability trade offs.. Especially when hackers are always 1 step ahead from security guys and is virus / spyware is "properly" done execute 1 wrong file and use network tool with 1 unfixed security hole with its communication protocol, its enough to get it anyway.

About Internet Explorer 11, I believe Microsoft did not properly communicate about it back in 2022. Because support for IE11 only ended for some OSs ! IE11 is actually still supported on OSs with ESU, on Windows 10 LTSB/LTSC editions and on Windows Server 2022 it's all the way until until Oct 14, 2031 ! Here is an up-to-date list : https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/faq/internet-explorer-microsoft-edge

I hope openssl-3.1.0-win32-dev-xpmod-sse.7z would suffice. And FFmpeg: ffmpeg-6.1-588-4006c71-win32-dev-xpmod-sse.7z. @cmalex Believe it or not, only just now I suddenly realized why you needed that dev-archive. Have a look at https://rwijnsma.home.xs4all.nl/files/openssl/?C=M;O=A. I've just uploaded v3.5.2. Though I'm on Win11 nowadays, I believe it should work on WinXP.

Thank you nicolaasjan.

Here is my current folder with dependencies already included: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/2b36ypa7wjhdaitwzi9ij/Python311_XP-folder.7z?rlkey=v9gmygvodp942f05537fv26w0 Don't upgrade PyInstaller 5.13.2; you'll run into errors...

Thank you cmalex.

Greetings Python3.11.4.zip in https://mega.nz/folder/jst2WJ5B#sknEpEBamwPomx8UULWuMA Please any questions about it at https://msfn.org/board/topic/183741-python-3813-for-windows-xp-sp3/ Best regards

... Initial post deleted; apologies, but I misunderstood ; I later realised what was asked for was the CPython (3.11.4) assembly itself used to compile the yt-dlp.exe binary linked in nicolaasjan's forum signature...

I'm not necessarily sure about the error code that you had received, but there have been some instances where I have encountered a seemingly unsolveable boot error on Windows 10/11 like this without being able to fix it. My last resort solution is to image the OS partition and redeploy the entire system. It is time consuming but so far that ends up working.

Color is spelled correctly, at least in US English it is that way. The sentence has a grammar error but that's probably even better to deter bots, idk. Something is supposed to appear next to Security Check and it doesn't, not even for me. I suppose it could appear if you modify your browser settings to allow such content to appear but that shouldn't be a requirement, the forum's registration should work on stock (and "secure") browser settings.

Hello, I'd like to suggest a cool idea from OpenShell - customize start button actions: That way we can trigger multiple start menus or even other files, which opens a ton of cool possibilities.

Easiest would be that if you unlocked/deleted a FOLDER by the name of FOLDER, then *before* you reboot you would create a FILE *without any dot-extension* by the name of FOLDER. ie, replace the FOLDER with a FILE of the same exact name.

Could you share this working Python (3.11.4)(bin)?

Can anyone suggest a solution to the problem of orphan folders left behind when using the addons to remove Windows Components. I have empty folders in my system including Outlook Express, netmeeting, msagent, and usmt. These folders are locked by either Winlogon.exe or Explorer, or both, and if you use a utility like Unlocker to remove the handle to them and delete them they are recreated during boot time. Ideally one would be able to hack a Windows DLL that maps the paths to these protected folders, but I am not expert enough to do this. The only other solution I can think of is to execute an unlocking utility using the registry Run key so that the folders are deleted at each boot time. I know of three of these utilities that support commandline usage. Iobit Unlocker deletes files and folders fully, but shows a dialogue box saying "The operation completed successfully", because it does not have a silent switch. Unlocker moves deleted files to the Recycle Bin which rapidly fills up with empty folders. Lockhunter will delete files and folders fully, but it will not execute from the HKLM or HKCU Run key for some reason.

Tripredacus, the user could be from a troublesome location, Nigeria, Russia, Uganda, whatever. I tried to make an account, they simply asked me for a word. I didn't even have to solve captchas. Though, there is an error in the word colour, a misspelling.