jaclaz

Apart the as always good solution by Yzöwl, a general advice is: Do it in steps. First thing read this: http://www.robvanderwoude.com/ntfortokens.html Then simply run: Then try with something like: SET KEY="HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Version Vector" FOR /F "tokens=1,2,3 delims= " %%A in ('Reg query %KEY%' ) DO ( ECHO %%A ECHO %%B ECHO %%C ) Then try with: FOR /F "tokens=1,2,3 delims= " %%A in ('Reg query %KEY%^|FIND "IE"' ) DO ( ECHO %%C ) ...and then refine it a bit more, adding the check, etc..... (Usually I prefer to use the FIND for the line instead of the skip, but it is just a matter of tastes in this case) jaclaz

All NT based OS are NOT "designed" to be bootable from USB. The MS guys will also tell you that it is impossible. The good news are that the above is NOT true, the bad news are that it is not-so-easy to make it possible. You will have to read these: http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=14181 (look at the tutorials in Dietmar's signature) http://www.ngine.de/article/id/8 http://www.usboot.org/ http://www.usboot.org/tiki-index.php?page=download ALL links are about ways to make a NEW install bootable from USB, you'll have to read "between the lines" to hopefully be able to "convert" your already existing install into a bootable one. jaclaz P.S.: actually Dietmar's tutorial #3, that was based on cloning from a hard disk install, may contain the info you need.

As long as you do not use NTFS, but only FAT16 or FAT32 as filesystem, the durability of the stick, even without the use of EWF or FBWF will be MORE than what you would expect, and USB sticks are everyday cheaper. If I am not mistaken, hybernation is however one of the most difficult thing to have working in such setups, but personally, since I never use this feature, I have no specific experience. If the use is just that of a media center, you should find more ideas/examples and the like on this other forum: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/ jaclaz

For the record #18 on first post. jaclaz

I posted that it may as it depends on the particular license you have (OEM, "FULL", Corporate, etc.) and possibly also on your local Laws. jaclaz

Within limits, it can be done, though there is not a semi-automated procedure/set of batch. Take your time, and check the tutorials linked to in Dietmar's signature: http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=14181 an early version, tutorial 3 if I recall correctly, used an install on HD later transferred to USB device. From a success rate of 100% for a newly installed OS, you will have to consider that probabilities may lessen proportionally to the amount of "complex" (I mean things like Antivirii, Third Party "low level" utilities and drivers, and the like) are already installed to the system. The "plainer" is the system (when talking of anything that may access directly hardware) the highest are the probabilities of success. Some additional hints may come from these seemingly unrelated article: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm You should anyway have a USB modified set of install files to be able to perform, if needed, a Repair Install. AFAIK, you are one of the very few people I have seen attempting to "migrate" an existing XP to USB device, so there is not much reference around. If you have not really good reasons for needing this, my personal advice would be to forget about it, as the number of variables that come into play is huge, but if you are determined to go on, please AFTER making sure to have a FULL, WORKING backup of the original install, prepare yourself to spend some time on it, as it won't probably be a "straight" and easy thing to accomplish. Should you need help, you'd better start a new thread about this topic, it is as I see it an entire new "branch" of XP on USB. jaclaz

Are you hinting that USBmultiboot is not easy? Seriously, besides the fact that you may be infringing the EULA by making more than one copy of the install files, if you have identical USB sticks, you can "clone" one to another, if you have different sticks, as long as you have the "other" sticks already bootable using the HP utility (or any other means) you can just copy the files from one to another. It is advised that boot files (NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM, BOOT.INI, grldr and menu.lst) are copied first, than all the other files/dirs. jaclaz

The suggestion was about the most basic something you could do. Nothing prohibits you from using optocouplers or opto-isolators: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opto-isolator As well, nothing prevents you to operate through a self-powered device using a power adapter converter from mains (not connected to the UPS). And again, nothing prevents you from controlling a simple "robotic arm" that simply pushes the power button, a LEGO one would do, if they make a cd-changer, you should be able to make a lousy button-pusher : http://redfrontdoor.org/cd-changer.html http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/32433 http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=gDZtokFTMss http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-ga...d-changer-robot jaclaz

Hi Fred. Nice things you have here. Unrelated, but not much, ANY "command prompt here" trick needs to select the "parent" item, FYI this DLL does not: http://www.msfn.org/board/util-or-shell-ex...4.html&st=8 I find it MUCH more useful. jaclaz

If I get right your question, you can start from some of the ideas posted here: http://www.msfn.org/board/Rename-File-With...-Fi-t47812.html Than, once you have a variable %month% defined as 01, 02, 03, etc., you have to replace 01 with JAN, 02 with FEB, etc. Since I donìt think you need to take into account the efficiency of the code, a serie of: IF %month%.==01. SET month=JAN IF %month%.==02. SET month=FEB IF %month%.==03. SET month=MAR should do. jaclaz

I cannot resist as well, sorry. In MY times, we would have used : 486,112 3.5" 1440 K floppies 583,334 5.25" 1200 K floppies 1,944,445 5.25" 360 K floppies or a few zillions roots and stones: http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...21362&st=10 http://www.boot-land.net/forums/?showtopic=1908 http://tinyapps.org/weblog/misc/2007022507..._in_my_day.html jaclaz

You joking right? We have a dedicated sub-forum here: http://www.msfn.org/board/Install-XP-from-USB-f157.html jaclaz

xtremee, please note that I wasn't talking about flashing your current BIOS with an updated one released by the motherboard manufacturer, something, that given that the proper procedure is followed is NOT risky. I was talking about EDITING your BIOS code, basically get from another motherboard manufacturer or from the same manufacturer (for another board), a Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG, for the same MB chipset, with the USB booting enabled, than edit/copy/paste/modify the binary to make it work on your motherboard. This is VERY, VERy, VERY risky. About PLoP, I don't get you. Why the heck are you trying to do "all at once"? It is very possible that your current Linux on USB stick is NOT "compatible" with PLoP, and something needs to be modified within it. You have alredy been very "lucky", and you should thank PLoP Author for this, that the program starts booting! Try using PLoP at first with good ol'DOS, if it works, try with a very "simple" Linux, and if it works, try again with a more "complete" one. jaclaz

Another approach (just to run CHKDSK ), make yourself a Recovery Console CD or bootable stick: http://www.boot-land.net/forums/?showtopic=2254 http://www.boot-land.net/forums/?showtopic=5316 BTW, probably unrelated, but FYI, I just had proof that Acronis installs some "strange" upper/lower filters that may cause "strange" effects to accessing drives, see here: http://www.boot-land.net/forums/?showtopic=5736&st=32 jaclaz

You have to read "between the lines" of the given links. To get what you want you need to change the drive letter assignments of your XP install on the portable. Basically there are several factors: letters are assigned by default in a slightly different manner by different OS drive lettering assigned by a "previous" operating system are generally retained by the "later" operating system, thus the order in which the operating system is installed can matter the way the drive is partitioned does matter the method in which the OS(es) are installed do matter (I mean manually, unattended, through WINNT32, hiding a partition when installing etc.) Probably, but you have to experiment with it, if you re-install XP on the portable after having made a migrate.inf file assigning to the Vista (first Active Primary) partition the letter D:\, you may have what you want. (drive letter C:\ will be "available" and probably XP will assign it to "its own partition). Another experiment could be that of using a migrate.inf that specify BOTH the D:\ letter for the "Vista" partition and the C:\ one for the "other" (XP) one. Be aware that migrate.inf is not "read" with all install methods, if needed you will have to modify setupreg.hiv instead. jaclaz

@jcarle Yep, but of course, designing a very small electronic board with a minimal "intelligence" and able to "loop" checking for the PC being on would be easy. My post was just a basic idea of how this can be made the "poor man's" way, with something that you may find in your backyard "laboratory" in your preferred junkyard, or even in the litter bin. jaclaz

Also, IF I am correct in my guess that the booted XP is NOT on the problematic drive, something that you can try (from a DOS bootdisk or CD) is to wipe the Disk Signature in the MBR, or, if it works in your "peculiar" situation under the booted XP, use MBRFIX: http://www.sysint.no/nedlasting/mbrfix.htm to actually change it. Letters are assigned in \MountedDevices\ subkey in the Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices "linked" to Disk Signature AND partition start/length, by changing disk signature you will render all "previous" drive lettering invalid and maybe will alow you to have drive lettering become "sticky". Be VERY AWARE that if you change the Disk Signature of the BOOT drive, XP won't be able to boot from it. Before EVEN THINKING of doing what above hinted, make sure to have read and FULLY understood these, even if some of the links seem not relevant, they are relevant : http://thestarman.pcministry.com/asm/mbr/Win2kmbr.htm http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=19663 http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=21242 I see (no offence intended ) that you like to play with matches, be very aware that a fire can start from these activities. Even if you managed to get (almost) your data back, you should really consider buying, borrowing, stealing an additional hard drive and backup the data BEFORE going on, it is possible, and I'm afraid probable that by continuing to fiddle with partitions and data (and with Registry, which in your case should be the "culprit"), you may find yourself in a no-way-out condition. jaclaz

AFAIK there is NOT an "easy" solution (read maybe a VERY, VERY difficult, NOT recommended one) to fix drive letters AFTER install. On the other hand it is relatively easy if you plan adequately the install (in the case of a new install) Some related threads, to get you more insight in the problem: http://www.msfn.org/board/Change-Boot-Driv...art-t90495.html http://www.msfn.org/board/Drive-Letter-a**...ent-t90946.html http://www.msfn.org/board/Drive-letter-pro...ll-t118149.html I "don't do" Vista , but if any new, relevant info has come out, it is likely that it can be found here: http://www.multibooters.co.uk/ jaclaz

Remember that I am much more on the "electromechanical" side than on the "electronics" one when it comes to technical knowledge, but most probably what I am suggesting is also the simplest workaround, possibly an smallish electronic circuit based on the same idea could be easily made. Get two wires out of the PC connected parallel to the on/off switch button, let's call them "switch" wires. Get two wires out of the PC connected to 0 and +12V (as an example from a floppy or HD connector), let's call them "power" wires. Have TWO relays, first with 240 V AC coil and second with 12 V DC coil. Connect the two "switch" wires out of the PC to the normally open contact of first relay. Connect the coil of first relay to mains (outside of the UPS) through a normally closed contact of second relay. Connect the coil of second relay to the "power" wires. I hope the above is clear enough, if you need I can draw a small schematics for it. The principle is the following: 1. mains go out 2. mains returns, the coil of first relay is attracted, "virtually" pressing the power button 3.the ATX power gives +12 V, thus attracting the coil of second relay, which makes first relay go back to "open" 4. when mains goes out again (loop to 1. above) the 12V go out, closing the circuit to the coil of first relay, thus making it ready to send a "pulse" to the power switch when mains will come back You will have the (very little) power consumption at the +12 V level when the PC is switched off as a side effect. A capacitor may be needed to allow for some "wait" and avoid possible "bumps" due to mains going out and back in a very short time. jaclaz

I have NO experience with "saving" as XML. But, I know a bit about Excel way to handle numbers. It seems to me, that you are in a case when it is easy to fall in errors due to - let's call them confusion - between "precision" as opposed to "rounding" and "display" as opposed to "value". If the 2.8524999999999998 value is coming from a formula like a division or a Square Root, say, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE: =0.33/13 change it to: =round(0.33/13,6) or, alternatively, check in options, somewhere there should be a setting like "set precision as displayed" or something to that effect, before saving the spreadsheet as .xml. jaclaz

A question: How do you get the PC "out of sleep" or "turn it again on" manually? I mean, by pressing "any key", by "left or right clicking" the mouse, by pressing the "on/off" button of the case (I am assuming the PC has an ATX supply), or how? jaclaz

Happy to hear a report of success. Now that we know the reason, it is possible that the problem can be resolved by editing the TXTSETUP.SIF, check this seemingly completely unrelated post: http://www.boot-land.net/forums/?showtopic=5316&st=55 Of course your mileage may vary. jaclaz

If I may go off a little off topic : Why the heck do you remove and insert mice (in different USB ports) instead of working? Seriously, I mean I have inserted the mouse on my desktops some two or three years ago and never felt the urge to disconnect and reconnect them, and however, not on a different port. On Laptops, I never had this problem, but anyway I always use the same port. jaclaz

xtremee, sorry, I had misunderstood your original question. You have ONLY two choices available (apart a new motherboard): 1) Edit your BIOS, VERY, VERY, and I mean VERY risky, NOT recommended 2) Try using PLoP boot manager: http://www.plop.at/ http://www.plop.at/en/bootmngrusblog.html Try #2) above, if it does not work we can try to find an app for "flipping the bit" of the stick, though before this you should be sure that your BIOS actually boots from "fixed" USB device (another already "flipped" stick or USB Hard Disk). jaclaz

Sure , I am not pretending to be the one and only truth around , you asked something, and I gave you my personal opinion on the matter, as clearly stated. Since you asked for it, besides corrupting by hexediting, I proposed a "corrupting complex formulas" approach, that may (or may not) suit your needs. jaclaz