drewp

I've been wrestling with this off and on for a week now.... My solution... ...well first let me explain that I like having all applications installed during RunOnceEx as opposed to integrating the applications with add-ons via nLite and Add-on maker. RunOnceEx gives me a nice little GUI that I can put my employer's name on and I can see exactly what's being installed should something fail... Having said that, after all my apps installed, including IE8RC1, I was getting an error when the desktop started to come up. Apparently on 1st boot of XP there are several tasks to be accomplished just prior to the display of the desktop, including 'browser configuration'. When it got to this point... Either the XP Desktop Config tasks [This is when it's personalizing your profile] or IE8 generated the error below.... RUNDLL Error in C:\Windows\System32\iedkcs32.dll Missing entry: BrandIEActiveSetup [OK] One of the solutions I considered is what meowing suggested above and installing IE8 from the start-up folder of all users. I didn't think this was as elegant as RunOnceEx, tho. So I chose to incorporate an additonal reboot and also to cascade batch files. I created an additional batch file called DsktpBld.cmd and everything that was in RunOnceEx.cmd I put in DsktpBld.cmd which I then called by having RunOnceEx.cmd place a reg line for it in the registry under the RunOnceEx Key. RunOnceEx.cmd is executed right before the last XP installation reboot. On that next boot, DsktpBld.cmd is called prior to the desktop appearing, as designed. DsktpBld.cmd then puts an entry in for all of the applications I want to install into the RunOnceEx key of the registry. So, after one more reboot, the applications, including IE8RC1, install right before the desktop appears for the 2nd time ever and after XP has already performed its Desktop Config tasks. Finally I can either have IE8 force a reboot or have DsktpBld.cmd place another line in the Registry under RunOnceEx that calls a third batch file which can be used to copy files, import registry settings with serials, and delete files/folders that are no longer needed. However a final reboot will be required to get IE8 to work. It's unusable prior to that. I think IE8 updated the file iedkcs32.dll and so when XP makes the call [during the 'browser config' of the pre-desktop tasks] to the dll looking for BrandIEActiveSetup...that function is not there. So by allowing XP to build the desktop first then installing IE8 ... you avoid the error altogether. Maybe subsequent updates of XP will eliminate any future calls by the OS to the function BrandIEActiveSetup in that DLL or any others. I also think this caused problems for Magicdisc silent installations during RunOnceEx and prior to the display of the desktop for the first time. It generated ... MagicISO Virtual CD/DVD Manager Error Reading Trayicon1->Visible Cannot Create System Shell Notification Icon [OK]