Maelstorm

The generator is writen in VBScript. The user interface options in VBScript are limited, which is why I took the approach that I did. Although, I'm an accomplished programmer in the Unix environment, I'm not too familiar with C++ programming in Windows, which is why I picked VBScript. Something nice and easy to start with on this. At this time, I do not plan to write a GUI for this. But, you are welcome to do so if you want to. The generator was written with the intent of being used to generate XML scripts on the fly during an installation. This allows me to use one program to select what to install while using XPlode to actually run the install. This is quite usefull for the end user to select what software that they want to install. 1. WIHU runs and the user selects the software to be installed. 2. WIHU executes the system-mainindex.cmd for each item that was selected. The main index script is called with a index as the parameter. This selects the software to be installed. 3. The system-genxml.cmd is executed to convert the db files into xml files for xplode. 4. XML files are checked to verify that they exist and is registed into RunOnceEX. 5. System Reboot 6. RunOnceEX is executed and calls XPlode which calls the individual application installation scripts.

The reply counts for some of the messages in Application Installs are incorrect. Example: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=50601 The thread page shows 0 replies but there is in fact 1 reply. This was posted when the board was having some issues earlier.

You didn't try very hard. I used icam320 in google and found something off the first link.

Yes, it is possible. I have personally installed Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 Professional silently using this method. On CD 1, goto the setup directory and read adminreadme.htm. Follow the instructions there.

nsb-install-8-0.exe /S The /S is case sensitive. It uses the NullSoft NSIS installer. Later.

You cal also incorporate it into your registry tweaks at the T-12 point of the installation. Any reg tweaks that go there will be incorporated into the default user profile. HTH

If I may interject something here... I would suggest that you use the /log command line option if you want to see what it's doing. xplode.exe /log:"%SYSTEMROOT%\XPlode.log" That would be the way that I would do it. With the log file, you can then study it for as long as you want to, and if any errors happen, they will also be in the log file. (Along with commands executed, status messages, etc...)

Well, well, well.... Now ths is an interesting turn of events. But then considering all the idiots out there who couldn't read the EULA, I guess that I am not suprized. Abuse? More like downright verbal assault in some cases. A software developer who puts out a product for free at a great personal expense of time and effort should not have to take any kind of abuse. People should be greatful, but sadly, in this day and age, we all know that is not the case with the majority of the populace. For the amount of time and effort that Wraith has spent in providing this product, to get some of the responses that he has recieved, I'm suprized that something like this hasn't happened sooner. Quite frankly, as a software developer myself, I have to agree with Wraith's position here. For those of you who have not written a single line of code, it takes many hours of typing and critical thinking to write computer software code. That does not even begin to count how many hours it takes to test, tweak, and debug that code to make sure that there are not any major problems and that it will work more or less as advertised. Especially software for something as convoluted as Windows. Furthermore, this brings up another issue. For my effort of writing a XML code generator for XPlode, the only responses that I have recieved for my effort was the 4 or so when I did the initial released that the 1 after the new version. That's right, since I did the major rewrite, the only response that I recieved was about my choice of compression utility. No good work, no bug reports, nothing. But, when I go to look at the post, I see that it was viewed about 750 times and over 100 downloads was made. Personally, I would like to get SOME feedback, good or bad, but nothing. That kind of makes me wonder if I should or should not continue working on it for the benifit of the community. I will most definately continue development for my benifit though, for as long as it suits me. Granted, I don't frequent this forum too much, but XPlode is a good product and Wraith should be compensated for it. I personally have no problem with paying the $10 for the software. I for one support his decision in this reguard. I noticed your comment about those who contributed to the community. How does one know if they qualify for that status or not? Later.

It's not necessary. My issue was caused by a lack of sleep which impeded my normal thought processes.

What are the command line options that are currently available for WIHU? Is there a published list somewhere? [EDIT] Duh! wihu.exe /? give it to you... 1:00 AM...Need to goto bed...

What I find interesting about this is that really comparing Windows to Linux is like comparing apples to oranges. Windows was originally ment to be run on home computers, not workstations and servers. Linux was originally ment to run on workstations and servers. As an old hat to this argument, there are a few points that I want to make. For ease of use, Windows beats Linux, hands down. But, for power and flexibility Linux beats Windows hands down. I don't use Linux myself because for my server applications, I run the real thing: FreeBSD. Yes, most windows users don't even know what to do at a command line prompt. But for myself, coming from a DOS and Unix environment, the command line prompt is my best friend. We can have this discussion about which operating system is better all day long, but the real question is better at what? They are suited for completely different types of applications. For home users: Windows For power users, corporate desktops, workstations: Linux For servers: FreeBSD That's my opinion at least.

LOL Didn't you know that computers and alcohol don't mix? Something about spelling counts... Later.

I think that's 255, 0, 255. Thanks for the image file though.

Thanks.

I create my ISOs using a series of batch files to copy the files over to a temp directory and have CDIMAGE build the ISO. You can get CDIMAGE.EXE from the CDIMAGE GUI package.

How do you manually start RunOnceEX?

I'm looking for a program that pops up a dialog box with a timer. If the user doesn't pick an option before the timer expires, then the default choice is made. I would use VBS to do this, but it doesn't support the functionality that I need without jumping through alot of hoops by using the shell32/commdlg objects. I have been considering using AutoIt, but I don't know if it supports that type of functionality either. Thanks.

Have you considered the freeware AutoIt? I'm just getting started with it, but so far I can see that it is very powerful with little effort: http://www.hiddensoft.com/autoit3/ <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes, I do know about AutoIt and I have it installed. I'll be using Linasoft's AutoPlay Menu Builder. It does have one glaring ommision though...No script support, no test support, and no ability to enable/disable functions/features based on a script or test. Other than that, I've created a very elaborate menuing system with custom graphics that pops up when you insert the DVD. Very cool.

I personally use Cooktop for my XML editing needs. One of the nice things about it is that it features tag highlighting. http://www.xmlcooktop.com/

True, but I want additional functionality that the original CD autorun program does not provide. This way, I can add my own functions to the autostart menus.

I'm sure it is well worth it, but I'm not going to spend $495 for a peice of software that will only be used occasionally. I like how this one feels. Concise and to the point. I'm looking at it right now so I'll let you know.

What is a good menuing system to use for the autorun function these days? I have seen several, but most are either a pain to setup or are comercial. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

That helps. Thanks.

I think that I may have identified a bug. Consider the following code: selected.0.0=1 description.0.0=Baseball helptext.0.0=This will install the Baseball mouse cursor scheme. command.0.0=CMD.EXE /C %SCRIPTSDIR%\SYSTEM-MAININDEX.CMD %BASEDIR% selected.0.1=1 description.0.1=Basketball helptext.0.1=This will install the Basketball mouse cursor scheme. command.0.1=CMD.EXE /C %SCRIPTSDIR%\SYSTEM-MAININDEX.CMD %BASEDIR% selected.0.2=1 description.0.2=Billards helptext.0.2=This will install the Billards mouse cursor scheme. command.0.2=CMD.EXE /C %SCRIPTSDIR%\SYSTEM-MAININDEX.CMD %BASEDIR% If I remove .0.1 and do not renumber, then when WIHU is ran, .0.2 doesn't show up in the list. This seems to be pretty consistent across the board as far as numbering is concerned.

No, I got the joke. I decided to be hardnosed about it.