mazin

I guess Noggin XP needed a hacked uxtheme.dll and found it.

Thanks for the very simple guide. Still, I need answers to my questions.

Thanks! Now, I can't be in doubt. NB: More 10 tests were done and the table refreshed.

You've quoted two pieces of information, not one: Carrier: Batch File. Installation Point: GuiRunOnce. So, your question "Which is the easiest method to do this?" is not now clear! B) What method do you mean: the Carrier or Installation Point?

Now I could, finally, adjust the table. Well! I was also interested since I'm not using all those installation points on the same UACD. Instead of researching, I decided to test it by myself. I always used SVCPACK and HKLM\..\RUN and I never had a problem setting up my PC, and even others. And I always pull my CD out after the copying phase of Windows SETUP finishes and the computer reboots. At the HKLM\..\RUN point, and as the test shows, the Desktop has been loaded. This means that Explorer shell has been loaded and all drivers/services, too.

Among the following eight installation points, which one starts first? Which is last? 1- HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run 2- HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce 3- HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx 4- HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run 5- HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce 6- HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEX 7- "%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup" 8- "%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup" I, first, thought it could be a matter of a few minutes to test the priority the system gives to each installation point. It, actually, took about an hour to do four tests. And the results were the same except for the Startup folder. In the first three tests, %AllUsersProfile%\..\StartUp executed prior to %UserProfile%\..\StartUp. They changed priority on the fourth (final) test, where %UserProfile%\..\StartUp executed prior to %AllUsersProfile%\..\StartUp! However, not only the Startup folder was amazing; but what amazed me is HKCU\..\RunOnce! I never used that key for installation, but I decided to add it for the project to be complete. HKCU\..\RunOnce came LAST!! Well! I used 8 WinRAR-SFX (exe) files for this purpose. Each SFX is 3.69 MB, which contains 12.2 MB representing 12 system files. Each SFX is extracted, by a separate batch file, into a separate destination folder which is deleted by the same batch file. Each one of the 8 batch files was called from a different installation point. Conclusion: The results are summarized in the following table. As you can see, the Desktop hadn't been loaded yet when the first three batch files were run. Also, each one of the first three batch files runs alone; not in company. The results show whether files start/finish alone or in company. :===========:=============:=============:=========:============: :-CMD from--:-Start Time--:-Finish Time-:-Desktop-:-CMD runs---: :===========:=============:=============:=========:============: :-1-LM-ROEX-:-14:16:31.05-:-------------:-NO------:-alone------: :-1-LM-ROEX-:-------------:-14:16:44.19-:-NO------:-alone------: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-2-CU-ROEX-:-14:16:51.32-:-------------:-NO------:-alone------: :-2-CU-ROEX-:-------------:-14:16:58.59-:-NO------:-alone------: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-3-LM-RO---:-14:17:11.01-:-------------:-NO------:-alone------: :-3-LM-RO---:-------------:-14:17:17.81-:-NO------:-alone------: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-4-LM-RUN--:-14:17:43.02-:-------------:-YES-----:-alone------: :-4-LM-RUN--:-------------:-14:18:47.01-:-YES-----:-in company-: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-5-CU-RUN--:-14:17:46.00-:-------------:-YES-----:-in company-: :-5-CU-RUN--:-------------:-14:18:45.97-:-YES-----:-alone------: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-6-STRTP-A-:-14:18:51.49-:-------------:-YES-----:-alone------: :-6-STRTP-A-:-------------:-14:19:41.85-:-YES-----:-in company-: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-7-STRTP-U-:-14:18:52.29-:-------------:-YES-----:-in company-: :-7-STRTP-U-:-------------:-14:19:43.53-:-YES-----:-in company-: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-8-CU-RO---:-14:18:53.07-:-------------:-YES-----:-in company-: :-8-CU-RO---:-------------:-14:19:33.24-:-YES-----:-in company-: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: STRTP-A stands for %AllUsersProfile%\..\StartUp. STRTP-U stands for %UserProfile%\..\StartUp. The rest abbreviations are self explainatory, I hope! I think this could be useful for my next UACD. I hope you share what you think. Or may someone do a similar test and share their results, too? < EDIT > More new 10 tests are done. Table refreshed. < EDIT > Project files attached. proof.rar

The point I'm afraid of is: Does NTUSER.DAT conatin absolute paths? Does it contain any info about other user accounts, machine, HWs, etc...?

Well! Then I suggest you download this version, instead. Also, you may want to read this topic.

I use InstallRite or RegShot to monitor changes before and after something is done. They are both free and easy to use. < EDIT > Links added.

Man, I read many times about this method but I've never used it. I wish I could read a simple guide to that.

The link provided by Ctrl-X should help you correctly. Also, if you search this forum, you should find many topics covering this point. However, and by experiment, adding an Arabic MUI into English Windows XP does not help at all. (I hate it!) Better yet, get Windows XP Arabic, instead. (You'll love it!) However, I like and am familiar with English UIs because I always learned in English. HTH

Pleased!

The LANG folder has already included other langs. Or you mean the GUI?

VTP 5 by Windows X is a good routine, IMO.

My NOKIA 6600 is not supported as the site says. I can't be interested. I'm sorry, bluejazz74us.

This happened to me on a DELL INSPIRON 1300. Resolution was set to 800x600 in WINNT.SIF and in a reg tweak (at T-13), too. I haven't put AutoConfirm=1 in WINNT.SIF nor I edited hivesys.inf, either. After Windows finishes its SETUP (T-9 and beyond) and reboots, the Administrator account gets logged on automatically. Some apps are installed, two user accounts are created, and some tweaks & cleaning are done. The computer reboots again. The computer logs on the first user account automatically. Some apps are installed, and some tweaks & cleaning are done. The computer reboots again. The computer logs on the second user account automatically. Some apps are installed, and some tweaks & cleaning are done. The computer reboots again. NB: HKLM\..\RUN is used to launch a CMD to do all the above for each user account. So, I SAW each user's DESKTOP set to 800x600!! Now, it's time for the logon screen to come up where a user must click his name and type his password in. At the logon screen, resolution is set to 640x480. I couldn't have an overall view of the logon screen. I could hardly click the second user name and type the paasword in. Well! The second user is finally logged on. And, its DESKTOP is also, 640x480!!! I could, manually, change the resolution back to 800x600. (from Display Properties) And 800x600 sticks for all user accounts, afterwards. Looking for a permanent solution, the first thought to come to my mind is to open the Device Manager. Surprisingly, there's no Display Adapter defined under Device Manager! There's an undefined Video Controller (of yellow question mark), instead. What I did was that I installed S/W driver for the Video Controller. I took a shot to collect installed files. I added those files to a new UACD and tested again. And the problem is solved. HTH

Are 6 (even more) 700MB-CDs for US$1 considered expensive, anyway?

@ spacesurfer www.zupload.com is much better.

@ Ctrl-X Strange! I've used the same switches of yours (1st post) to install WMP10 at T-13. I apply the reg tweaks after installing WMP10, not before. It's installed just fine. The only difference in code is that I added /NoPID to the switches. FYI, I'm always using the same routine for WMP9, 10, and 11.

Yes, I understand you. Just try what I said and you'll be good.

Manually: You can just change screen resolution then set it back even without pressing OK. Pressing "Apply" is quite enough. You do that for each user only once! Unattendedly: Look for a utility called reico.exe (19.5 kb) and apply it with the switch -closer Also, you can run it manually.

Well, I'm just curious about what you can do, successfully, at T-9.

It's good you solved your problem. However, you didn't post your WINNT.SIF, so someone could help. Good luck.