Suterusu

If you want a Task Manager replacement, just get ProcessXP... it's a Microsoft tool out of the SysInternals suite. Actually, if someone could get the entire suite, could they tell me how to add it to my install? BTW, the SysInternals suite is FREE... and there are tons of replacements you can use to optimize WinXP... I use Explorer2 (the 2 is supposed to mean squared), Notepad++ (would use notepad2 but Notepad++ has more features), and Console 2. I have each of them set to over ride the default programs. When I run notepad, through the run dialog as well, it opens Notepad++, when I open a folder, it opens in Explorer2. The only one I haven't figured how to do yet is replace CMD with Console 2.

I really want an answer and hate to bump but I want to know so I can progress. I have read the entire guide 2 or 3 times to see if I understood most of it (and its a habit for me to read a problem before starting to solve it) but seeing as it is slightly outdated and lacked specifics or I had some questions that weren't covered, I decided to ask.

Well, my base CD is a Dell OEM... I know when I would install with it, it would automatically activate Windows with its built in key without internet connection to contact Microsoft... I am not using the CD on the computer that I got it with so it acts like a normal install disc without auto-activating. I have gotten my hands on that key by looking through some files (can't remember which), and was wondering if I could integrate that key into Windows and have it activate the way it does on the computer it came with. I don't remember when it happened but the OEM keys no longer work when activating the normal way with an internet connection so I can't use the key to activate unless it does the auto-activation and I really do not want to buy a copy of Windows as it is EXTREMELY difficult to find a new WinXP copy. EDIT: Oops... I posted in the wrong section. I meant to put this in the Unattended WinXP section... please move to the proper section. If you can't, please still answer it as if it was in the WinXP section.

Well thank you. With the Firefox one, I see someone posted a tool that lets you customize the install of Firefox with add-ons, themes, and settings and such. Do you by chance know how effective that tool is? And what is the silent for CCleaner?

Well, in the guide tells you how to add the critical updates to the unattended install. I have a question. Are you only able to do the critical updates or can you do all of the updates? I really do not want to get the updates later unless I have to.

Well, I would like to know how to do a silent install of Mozilla Firefox, VLC Media Player, Digsby, OpenOffice 3.0.0, 7-zip, avast! Anti-virus Home Edition (and a way for it to automatically put in the key --I have one just tell me how-- after the install), ClamWin Anti-Virus, CCleaner, and Spybot Search-and-Destroy. If the silent install or tools to make the silent install are already listed, please link me to each one.

My question is this: How do you make an unattended SP3 install? Do you just follow the same instructions for making an SP2 disc with all the updates but also update it with the SP3 update download and the deployment tools? I am using a SP2 disk as my base so I need to apply all the SP2 hotfixes then do the SP3 update download and use the SP3 deployment tools when it says to, right?

Well, on the tutorial it shows this as an example: [General] Manufacturer=MSFN Unattended XP CD Model= [OEMSpecific] SubModel= SerialNo= OEM1= OEM2= [Support Information] Line1=Support Contact: johndoe@domain.com It then says to edit accordingly. I was wondering, what does the submodel, serialno, OEM1 and OEM2 fields do? I assume one of the fields is for a custom CD Key... if so, which one and can we put any CD Key in or should we use the one from our actual disk? If we can put a custom key in, will that mean Windows is automatically activated and if so, does it mean that when downloading/installing Microsoft products, it will be seen as a "valid" copy of Windows?