jaclaz

That is aimed towards 2k and XP , interesting suggestion. If I remember correctly, NT 4.00 used unattended.txt rather than winnt.sif: http://www.computing.net/answers/windows-n...m-cd/19543.html Check this: http://web.archive.org/web/20040605031250/...e/wksStudy1.htm (courtesy of The Wayback Machine) And these: http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-...11-5027113.html http://www.microsoft.com/technet/archive/w...t/gdautset.mspx Explanation of allowed values and sample here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/155197/en-us jaclaz

Happy to know the culprit has been found. Some of these apps are deceiving in the sense that they use the "normal" CD icon in Explorer, they should use a "custom" one with a "V" on it, so that you know at first sight it's a Virtual CD. jaclaz

Hmmm, strange. Can you post the exact command line invoking cdimage that you used and that gave you that error? You sure to have cdimage in the same directory as the files? You sure you have the \AIO-DVD folder on root of a drive, and not under some "fancy" path like: "C:\This is a test\of a multi-boot\AIO-DVD" jaclaz

Winimage or cdimage? Does "\AIO-DVD\BOOT\loader.bin" exist? Is it a CD-bootloader exactly 2048 bytes in length? Where did it came from? jaclaz

Which is an OLD "rip-off" of our own "XP install from USB" method and batches, without citing the source, of course : http://www.msfn.org/board/Install-XP-from-USB-f157.html And of course, as specified by the OP, he wants to use a flash card, NOT a flashdisk. @John444 No defined, one-size-fits-all method specific for flash card, however the above referenced method may work, possibly needing some trivial mods. You do have PC's capable of booting from flash card? Or are you meaning to use an adapter of some kind? Try first the "simplified" GUI app here: http://www.msfn.org/board/WinSetupFromUSB-...UI-t120444.html Then, if it does not work, or it does not as you wish, try the "full featured" command line one here: http://www.msfn.org/board/How-to-install-X...SB-t111406.html Read ANYWAY the FAQ's, before anything: http://www.msfn.org/board/FAQs-t116766.html expecially #2 for nlite users. jaclaz

Hmmm, not really documented : Reading the referred article: http://www.ee.oulu.fi/research/ouspg/proto...ng/c10/archive/ It is clear that it is aimed to find vulnerabilitios in parsers of Unix Anti-virus apps when parsing files compressed in common archive formats. There is no evidence of a specific 7-zip vulnerability, as far as I can see, if not a reference to a prior, known one: http://xforce.iss.net/xforce/xfdb/22396 that was however limited to the .arj format. The other cited article: https://www.cert.fi/haavoittuvuudet/joint-a...ve-formats.html does specify a 7-zip vulnerability, if I get it right in the way it handles errors due to a mal-formed archive, so you need a mal-formed archive as well. Thanks for the heads up , but I don't think I will lose my sleep tonight for this. jaclaz

Let us clear this thing: A PROPERLY WORKING PC, PROPERLY COOLED, NOT BLATANTLY OVERCLOCKED, CAN WORK AT 100% CPU LOAD FOR EXTREMELY LONG PERIODS OF TIME WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE TO THE MOTHERBOARD, CPU OR ANYTHING. But of course, Murphy's Law is ALWAYS lurking around trying to prove itself true once again. You should check and double check that fans are working properly, that the CPU is well seated as well as it's cooler, that there is a good heat transmission between the CPU and the cooler (apply/replace thermal paste if needed). But the above you should do ANYWAY. jaclaz

Is it possible that you at any time installed a Virtual CD of some kind? Some do create a "persistent" drive letter (with CD icon in Explorer). Check the Services you are running, there may be a leftover of that kind. To see what I mean, try using this: http://www.elby.ch/en/fun/software/index.html (you can uninstall it allright after) jaclaz

Another approach: It seems like older versions did support Windows 98 Search on google for a number of links state compatilbility with Win98/Me. You may want to write the Author and ask if an older, Win98 compatible version is available. jaclaz

Check these seemingly unrelated posts (How to install Vista on USB and on FAT32): http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...181&st=1707 http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...181&st=1712 they may contain some useful info to work around the 0x0000007b BSOD. jaclaz

Hmmm, you don't have access to Google? http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2007/03/09/us...x-from-windows/ http://www.pendrivelinux.com/2007/04/02/qe...ent-slax-linux/ http://www.pctechtips.org/QemuSlax.htm http://unix-tutorial.blogspot.com/2008/04/...linux-slax.html jaclaz

There is probably some left over in HKLM\SYSTEM\MountedDevices\ See the "WORKAROUND" (NOT the "hotfix") in this seemingly unrelated KB: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/836662/en-us jaclaz

Actually you should get an error similar to this, if MFC42U.DLL is installed properly: As a great number of threads around, this one has not been finalized: http://www.msfn.org/board/MFC42DLL-Unicode...lem-t35158.html So we do not know if the suggested solution may work or not, however, seen also here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/259403/en-us that MFC42.DLL and MFC42U.DLL have the same size, a try worth making is the following: 1) download and install the VCREDIST 2) make a copy of MFC42.DLL, renaming it to MFC42U.DLL 3) try registering it 4) try running the app with your fingers crossed... At worst you will have latest VC components updated and the desired app still not working...., since your mileage may vary, make sure to have backed up the system correctly before attempting the above. jaclaz P.S.: and please report back (hopefully ) success or (unfortunately ) defeat, so other people may find this thread and either use the solution or avoid the hassle

Qemu is also a valid option: http://bellard.org/qemu/ (and allows to be launched via batch) When used with QemuManager is as user friendly as any other VM: http://www.davereyn.co.uk/ jaclaz

Why, everyone knows that cars with Red Connelly Leather interiors do eat a lot of gas.... jaclaz

Check the stickies in that Forum. jaclaz

As already mentioned, Connectix Virtual PC (Microsoft Virtual PC was bought from Connectix) up to version 5.1 ran under win9x Operating Systems, though version 4.0 was said to be the last one really working OK under 9x: http://www.designertoday.com/Reviews/2002....indows.5.1.aspx jaclaz

Noone AFAIK managed to do it, PLOP is the only (although experimental) project that got some actual results. An old attempt (for DOS) was left "unfinished" for lack of interest/resources: http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=18650 You can (if we are talking about XP) using the "XP Kansas City shuffle" or "fake signature" method: http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=21242 You joking right? nlite is a program to reduce XP install source, it has NOTHING to do with "Live XP cd's" (which are actually usually PE based) or with Virtual Machines. For the record, it does exist a "real" Live XP cd, etboot: http://www.boot-land.net/forums/?showtopic=3890 jaclaz

Hmmm, it would seem to me rather difficult it would boot because: 1) any XP based PE uses a \minint\ structure on HD (instead of a \windows\ one) 2) any XP based PE uses SETUPLDR.BIN instead of NTLDR (Yes, Winbuilder LiveXP is a form of PE ) @test1234 Your best option is reading this threads: http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=18031 http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=18045 You do not need to rename grldr to NTLDR (latest releases need modifying to allow that), but you can just add to your existing boot.ini a line like: C:\grldr="grub4dos" and grub4dos will be loaded by NTLDR, and in menu.lst you need only the entry for /minint/setupldr.bin Alternatively, you can change the invoked file in the bootsector: http://www.boot-land.net/forums/?showtopic=2362 You can as well have the PE on the same partition as your XP, but be aware of possible conflicts with other folders, like "Program Files" and the like. jaclaz

Doesn't this get us back to the original suggestion by Yzöwl? There already exist "third party tools" to manage .ini or .inf structured files, like the suggested Inimod, these ones: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd2.html#using http://www.spiderharper.com/software/utilities/inifile.htm http://www.otbsw.com/ http://www.otbsw.com/Files/inimod12.zip http://www.ericphelps.com/setini/index.htm the iniman tool in Server 2003 Resource Kit, and God only knows how many more. and even more "complete" scripts: http://www.robvanderwoude.com/batexamples_r.html#ReadINI http://www.robvanderwoude.com/vbstech_files_ini.html http://www.robvanderwoude.com/wshexamples_i.html#I programmers libraries/classes: http://www.codeproject.com/KB/applications/iniutils.aspx http://www.codeproject.com/KB/files/win32f...ilityclass.aspx jaclaz

@ilko_t Just some of my "semi-random" ideas, mind you, but couldn't this be done "internally"? Can we assume that a given file will be on the internal hard disk (and never on the USB stick) only after completion of the text mode setup? Can we (deftly ) combine the above with the "default FILE" command: And with the "configfile FILE" directive? i.e.: 1) We have the normal "menu.lst" in root, it contains only entries of this type: title Win2k install default /2kdefault find /tagfile && setdefault 1 configfile /Win2k.lst title XP install default /xpdefault find /tagfile && setdefault 1 configfile /xp.lst .... 2) the configfile of each OS have only two entries: title text mode WHATEVER IS NEEDED FOR TEXT MODE boot title GUI mode WHATEVER IS NEEDED FOR GUI MODE boot In other words, each configfile only has two entries, 0 for text mode and 1 for GUI mode. Would something like this work? jaclaz

OEM Original Equipment Manufacturer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OEM http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_equipment_manufacturer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_equi...turer#Computers here it is usually used as in the underlined definitions: In practice OEM operating systems are limited to be used on a given system by the License or EULA, but some may employ techniques to detect specific hardware to enforce respect of the EULA (End User License Agreement). ISO is an institute for standards, usually when talking about PC's and CD/DVD we refer to ISO as .iso (the file extension normally used for data images of CD/DVD's) conforming to the ISO9660 standard: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_9660 Ideally one should have THREE kinds of (optical) media: 1) Operating System install media, something that will install the base operating system (and nothing else) 2) A recovery environment, i.e. something bootable and useful to repair (minor) problems of the installed OS 3) An image of the system pre-configured (what you originally asked for) Of course whilst 1) and 2) above will fit on a single CD or DVD, a complete image of a configured system will be spanned across several CD's/DVD's, though some compression of the data is possible, a very rough estimate would be something more than half the size of the data to be saved, this can be widely variable based on a number of factors, say that if you have an 80 Gb hard disk, (NOT NTFS compressed) and 40 Gb free, the 40 Gb data, once saved will need about 20÷22 Gb of optical media. It must also be taken into account that when working with a "spanned" image or backup, if you lose one of the discs in the set, you won't be able to restore properly. You will need some time and patience to grasp the ideas and experiment with them, the three "topics" I outlined should be taken in exam one at the time, in order not to mix too much one with another, please choose one, and we'll try and help you with that one, once you get the hang of it, we'll go on to another one. jaclaz

It does exist, it is actually called "batch files". Seriously, you might want to have a look at the UXP project for Winbuilder: http://www.msfn.org/board/project-uxp-t113249.html http://www.boot-land.net/forums/?showtopic=3651 Though it currently uses nlite as "source tweaking sub-engine", you can replace it anytime with your custom .scripts. jaclaz

I may have been too laconic: The idea was of a direct answer, lke "None on your list, this other one", rather than an "add this to the list", that one being what in my personal opinion is the best, of course your mileage may vary. jaclaz

sorry, double posted by mistake. jaclaz