jaclaz

NO, you don't. That is NOT a drive image program. ...and it saves some data, very similar, essentially to what a system save does, plus, probably , some of the info we talked about. Let's try to speak the same language (technical jargon in this case): a drive image is EXACTLY as big as the WHOLE size of the source (being it the WHOLE hard disk or a single partition/volume). most programs would allow you to compress this image, with results that depend greatly on the TYPE of contents of the drive and on the AMOUNT on data on it. (an image of hard disk filled up to the brim of .rar, .zip and .7z files won't be greatly compressed ) there is ONLY one place where you CANNOT save a drive image, which is the SOURCE (i.e. NOT on the partition that the image represents or NOT on the same hard disk that the image represents as a whole) jaclaz

I am not going to start a quarrel with you on this trifling point , but rest assured that for ANY OS-level related thing such a "clone" will be indistinguishable. Of course any strictly hardware related info, such as S.M.A.R.T. (BTW IMHO one of the smartest acronym for one of the stoopidest things ever invented by humans), HD firmware or REALLY low-level access to sectors (bypassing the internal HD re-mapping) this does NOT apply. JFYI the above differences will exist - at least partially - ALSO if the "new" HD is EXACTLY the same brand, model and size. jaclaz

Open the .iso file in 7-zip. Can you see a folder named [bOOT]? What are it's contents? jaclaz

You are welcome, and now the nice part : I too have a couple of "problematic" machines that have one of those "stoopid" card readers to which Windows assigns a letter even if there is no media. On these, the "IF EXIST" will throw an error. This: @ECHO OFF SET TAGFILE=\OEM FOR /F "tokens=1 delims=\ " %%? IN ('MOUNTVOL.EXE ^|FIND ":\"') DO ( DIR %%?|FIND "%TAGFILE:\=%">nul&&SET CDDRIVE=%%?& GOTO DPsFound ) GOTO :EOF :DPsFound SET CDDRIVE is a workaround, that loops only through existing drives and does not throw error for "device not ready" or "no disk". jaclaz

I cannot see the "connection" between the "Shieds Up!" report and IIS. This issue is not limited to Windows 7. Read from the original: http://www.grc.com/freepopular.htm More: http://www.grc.com/stm/ShootTheMessenger.htm There are much different opinions on the works of Steve Gibson in the IT/Technical community, some say that he is sometimes a tad too alarmistic and that he is not qualified in security matters. I guess he could have worded the "hide an hidden internet server" more accurately, even grammatically, you don't "hide a hidden something", you either "hide something" or have something hidden". The idea of a server receiving messages reminds me of a client, but it's not my field, so I will shut up. Personally, the only program on which I presume being qualified to give an opinion is "SpinRite", which in my view is a very good program. jaclaz

Then try (temporarily) to connect the Mouse to the front USB port, it will cost you nothing. Then you may try the Y cable, alone or together with a USB power supply. jaclaz

Is it a self powered external drive or one of those 2.5" ones that draw power from the port? If the latter, sometimes disks simply draw too much power. How many USB ports does the PC have? How many internal USB buses? Sometimes there are two (or more) internal USB buses, one connected to USB ports in the back and one connected to the ports in the front of the case. Try connecting the two devices on separate hubs. Or try with a Y USB cable (examples): http://www.bixnet.com/5vps2powercord.html http://www.bixnet.com/usbcawibuba.html http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/adet.to?poid=438342 jaclaz

Are you reading this thread blindfolded? Try reading again (yes, take that blindfold off ) what I posted. Change this: [Boot Loader] Timeout=10 Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS [Operating Systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="2. GUI Mode Setup Windows XP, Continue Setup + Start XP" /FASTDETECT into this: [Boot Loader] Timeout=10 Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS [Operating Systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup from hd 0 part 1" /FASTDETECT multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup from hd 0 part 2" /FASTDETECT multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup from hd 0 part 3" /FASTDETECT multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(4)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup from hd 0 part 4" /FASTDETECT multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup from hd 1 part 1" /FASTDETECT multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup from hd 1 part 2" /FASTDETECT multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup from hd 1 part 3" /FASTDETECT multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(4)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup from hd 1 part 4" /FASTDETECT Try choosing each item until you find one that works. I would try this one first : jaclaz

NO. NO need WHATEVER of being same brand, model or size. The only thing that may (and only for some particular needs, please read as "booting if CHS is used by the BIOS") be needed is the hard disk having the same H/S geometry and of course it MUST be same or bigger size. Different geometry can in any case be fixed, but since 99.99% (please read all) modern hard disks have an H/S geometry of 255/63, this will be a very rare problem. jaclaz

It's not that difficult. An image will make you be able to return wherever you were, whatever happens to the "original" disk drive. A backup does usually NOT. Depending on the tools you have at hand, and your personal experience, and the way the backup was made, and what was backed up, and a number of other factors, you may be able to get back as well with a backup, but it is unlikely, no matter how good you are at it, that you will have actually exactly what you started with. There is not only DOS, there are various PE based solutions and even DOS can be used WITHOUT losing long filenames, though. You can even have a copy of Win2K (not "PE", the real thing ) on a USB device and use it as a "recovery environment", but any of these require more time and knowledge and being more complex inevitably are more likely to prove once again the universal validity of Murphy's Laws. There are also "mixed" approaches, in which the "imaging" part is limited to vital data, like MBR, Disk signature, Partitin table, bootsectors and labels/serials and the files are "treated" as a "backup" would do. Only you know which "risks" you want to take, which amount of time you can spend on the issue (both to choose the "right" tool for you and in restoring a dead system should havoc happen ) and of course your personal "likes" and "likes not", it is difficult to give an advice, there are more solutions then stars in the sky, each with it's own limits or difficulties or however peculiarities. jaclaz

In Windows there is the "LABEL" command: http://ss64.com/nt/label.html and the "VOL" one (advised ): http://ss64.com/nt/vol.html it also returns the volume serial. But you have anyway to loop. The vlm.exe inside DSFOK: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~nulifetv/fr...ware/index.html will scan all volumes, but it won't return the drive letter. The MOUNTVOL command will scan all volums, but won't return the label. A possible "cure" is worst than the actual illness : @ECHO OFF SETLOCAL ENABLEEXTENSIONS SETLOCAL ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION Set Label=%1 FOR /F "tokens=1,2 delims=:, " %%A IN ('vlm.exe') DO ( IF NOT Label==%%A SET VOLUME=%%A IF /I %%B==%Label% GOTO :do_mountvol ) GOTO :EOF :do_mountvol SET Volume=%Volume:.=?% SET COUNTER=0 For /F %%? in ('mountvol.exe ^| FIND "\"') DO CALL :do_pairs %%? FOR /F "tokens=2 delims==" %%? IN ('SET Drive ^| FIND "%Volume%"') DO SET %LABEL%=%%? SET %LABEL% GOTO :EOF :do_pairs SET ThisItem=%1 IF "%ThisItem:~0,4%"=="\\?\" SET /A Counter=!Counter!+1 Set Drive%Counter%=%ThisItem%=!Drive%Counter%! GOTO :EOF jaclaz

Yes, it has. Is the adapter functional (loopback test)? Has speed, parity, bits and stop set properly? Is GROUNDING effective? (from the picture it seems like there is NO grounding) Re-check everything against this: http://www.mapleleafmountain.com/seagatebrick.html jaclaz

Well, not really. Just like the known FAT issues, it is still to be proved AT LEAST: a. that the technology is licensable b. that writing a driver for interchange with other systems is infringing any patent, copyright or any other Law, and it is NOT covered by the "fair use" provisions Microsoft licensing (and eventual lawsuits) are NOT aimed to the developers of a driver, but rather on large corporations making use of the filesystem on their hardware devices. AFAIK, Microsoft patents on FAT have been confirmed in the U.S. and rejected in Europe. jaclaz

You should get off the "backup" path and start on the "image" path. Obviously I am personally against the use of GHOST, but the world is so nice because there is (among the others) the freedom to choose non-free apps. . jaclaz

Add 1 to the list. (or maybe 2 ) I have both a machine (JFYI working 24/7 since 2001 without ANY reinstall and with an average of three reboots per year - due to updates/servicing ) AND a VM with it for the same reasons TheReasonIFail explained. jaclaz

I don't get it. The screenshot you posted is about an UNFORMATTED "free space". Is it now formatted? AND re-partitioned? You have (from the screenshot) an a-typical installation, where first partition (intended as partition that occupies the space nearest to the beginning of Disk 1) is a Logical Volume inside a WHOLE Extended partition that spans over the whole Disk. In other words, you are seemingly trying to install to a Logical Volume on a disk that has no Primary partitions. However, let's get this straight: rdisk(1) means 2nd hard disk (since disks are numbered starting from 0) partition(2) means 2nd partition (since partitions are numbered from 1) But the above numbering (of disks) will increase by one when you boot from the USB, i.e. THE SAME above will become, when booted from USB: You can try adding more entries to BOOT.INI, like (the foillowing are numbered in the case that the booted device is the USB stick and it is Disk 0): multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup from hd 0 part 1" /FASTDETECT multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup from hd 0 part 2" /FASTDETECT multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup from hd 0 part 3" /FASTDETECT multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(4)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup from hd 0 part 4" /FASTDETECT multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup from hd 1 part 1" /FASTDETECT multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup from hd 1 part 2" /FASTDETECT multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup from hd 1 part 3" /FASTDETECT multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(4)\WINDOWS="Second part of XP Professional setup from hd 1 part 4" /FASTDETECT But, if you boot "normally" to your windows 7, what can you see in that partition (which files, which drive letter it gets, etc.) after the first part of the install ran? jaclaz

JFYI : http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...=6054&st=44 Happy problem is solved. jaclaz

The "source" for that Wikipedia is this page (that doesn't work in Opera) : http://www.microsoft.com/iplicensing/produ...nsing%20Program compare it with the "known" FAT one: http://www.microsoft.com/iplicensing/produ...20File%20System Try searching for "Any" in category "Filesystem": The good guys at MS have "queer" ways.... I will cite this from the benefits of FAT: Definitely CP/M filesystem appears a bit dated when we see the first two "benefits" :whistling: Remember to take your time reading "Resources" and expecially "FAQ's" .... Isn't it unusual that you have a FAQ section but apparently nowhere to submit a question? jaclaz

NO, I mean yes. I have NO particular concerns about slowing/security, but I consider it a BLOAT. A more complete take on the matter, JFYI: http://www.msfn.org/board/accidentally-rem...ll-t129520.html AFAIK nlite needed only much smaller .NET "runtimes": http://www.nliteos.com/files/runtimes.txt but if I remember correctly this happened a long time ago, right now on the dowload page: http://www.nliteos.com/download.html X86: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...;DisplayLang=en X64: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...;displaylang=en there are links to the "full" 2.0, instead of the "redistributable" that is here (x86): http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...;displaylang=en Cannot say whether current nlite runs on them or in later 3.0: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...;displaylang=en Some of the members which are more experienced with nlite may give more updated info. jaclaz

Workaround . Rename React Os xcopy.exe to ROSXCOPY.EXE Create a batch file that "translates the syntax", something along the lines of (just a simple example):. IF %1.==/DE. ROSXCOPY.EXE /D /E "Compile" it with this: http://www.f2ko.de/English/b2e/index.php as XCOPY.EXE Would it work? Cannot say, but it should. jaclaz

You will need a contiguous source file for direct mapping. Using Firadisk you are not anymore limited to the "mythical" but actually effective 500/512 Mb size limit of RAMDISK.SYS (and OK, the limit is somewhere else, AND it can be overcome now ): http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...ic=9474&hl= But still it takes TIME to load an image to RAM, expecially if source is a slow device, besides requiring LOTS of RAM. Once the image is loaded in RAM, it's speed isn't that great, Karyonix is working to speed up things: http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...8804&st=186 If and when either Karyonix or Sha0 (Firadisk and WinVblock developers respectively) or some other developer will take seriously this idea: http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...=8168&st=11 things may change. I even found a couple of possible candidates (existing drivers) but it seems that noone is interested in the minimalistic approach, as well as in this one: http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...ic=3717&hl= I am always looking around for volunteers, do you happen to have a "lab rat attitude"? jaclaz

SET PartialIP=%TargetIP:~0,7% IF "%PartialIP%"=="10.10.6" ECHO Bad, BAD boy!&PAUSE jaclaz

Since the pinged machine address is also in square brackets [], the snippet will work allright. Let's go on, let's call it checkping.cmd: @ECHO OFF SETLOCAL ENABLEEXTENSIONS SETLOCAL ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION ::Usage: checkping.cmd machine-name SET Target=%1 IF %Target%.==. ECHO Missing target!&PAUSE&GOTO :EOF FOR /F "tokens=2 delims=[]" %%A in ('PING %Target% -n 1 ^| FIND "["') DO ( SET TargetIP=%%A ) IF NOT DEFINED TargetIP ECHO NO IP found!&PAUSE&GOTO :EOF SET TargetIP :Compare jaclaz

For whatever may be of use (I think None ), on the referenced page on bbs.mydigit.com there is only the .pdf of the schematics, which can be found here also: http://www.go-gddq.com/upload/2009_10/09100815016151.pdf Specs here: http://www.ite.com.tw/EN/products_more.asp...=4&ID=14,52 A driver can be found: http://www.mtwchina.com/download.asp http://www.mtwchina.com/download/setup_UT3...USBest_0110.rar Here you can find: http://www.hjreggel.net/cardspeed/index.html http://www.hjreggel.net/cardspeed/info-readers.html http://www.hjreggel.net/cardspeed/speed-by-readers.html that a card reader with: Vid=1307 Pid=0330 is manufactured by Digisol, models 00047200 and 00047201, for which drivers are available: http://www.digisol-online.com/epages/61690...20x/4720x_win98 dated 19/07/2009 they do seem newer than anything else, but really cannot say if it would make a difference. ..and yes, HP printer software DOES suck! jaclaz

There is casually a full fledged NT FOR tokens and delimiters tutorial here: http://www.robvanderwoude.com/ntfortokens.php using, among the other things, PING. A simple example with IPCONFIG is here: http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=5881 Do an actual PING and an actual NSLOOKUP, and post the results, the parsing may be different in different language OS. As an example, here is an actual output of PING on my machine, pinging for a machine named "hall": C:\>ping Hall -n 1 Esecuzione di Ping Hall [10.2.7.2] con 32 byte di dati: Risposta da 10.2.7.2: byte=32 durata<1ms TTL=128 Statistiche Ping per 10.2.7.2: Pacchetti: Trasmessi = 1, Ricevuti = 1, Persi = 0 (0% persi), Tempo approssimativo percorsi andata/ritorno in millisecondi: Minimo = 0ms, Massimo = 0ms, Medio = 0ms Which can be parsed with a simple batch cleverly named parsehallip.cmd : @ECHO OFF FOR /F "tokens=2 delims=[]" %%A in ('PING hall -n 1 ^| FIND "["') DO ( SET hall=%%A SET hall ) Which, when executed results in: C:\>parsehallip.cmd hall=10.2.7.2 jaclaz