jaclaz

Hey people, it's not "black magic", it is just editing a few bytes. Bootcode goes from offset 0 to 445 (first 446 bytes of the 512 bytes MBR). Partition table goes from offset 446 to 509 (subsequent 64 bytes) "Magic" bytes (OK, I lied ) 55AA hex MUST remain (last 2 bytes) If the system is used under 2K/XP/Server2003 an additional part must be kept, the "disk signature" that is 4 bytes long between offset 440 and 443. The 2 bytes at offset 444÷445 are normally ALREADY 00 (zeroes). So, all you need to do is to write 00's to the first 440 bytes of the MBR (offset 0÷439). This can be easily made with an hex editor. If you need a command line or script : Just get dsfo from the DSFOK package and run: this will backup the MBR of drive 1 to file. this will create a 440 bytes long file filled with 00's. this will extract the last 72 bytes from backup of original MBR this will assemble the two parts in a new 512 bytes file this will copy the new MBR to the drive (change number of drive where appropriate, DO NOT use PHYSICALDRIVE0, it is the BOOT drive) Though the aim of setting to 00 a number of bytes that are never read (if the drive is not the boot one) escapes me. Now, if you would have talked about reusing the other 62 unused (hidden) sectors of first track, that could be another thing, though given the size of current drives the avaibility of some additional 62x512=31,744 bytes still does not look to me as a great deal.... jaclaz

Ludwig, if I may, as a general advice, you could take advantage of approaching problems with a more pragmatic view, rather than start from self-assumed apodictical axioms. You must have a serious problem with your current HD or PC case cooling. Tape storage has been, in my experience, the single worse method to archive data I have ever found, maybe I have just been unlucky, but having been around some 20 years it could interest you that only in rare occasions I was able to retrieve without effort or problems data stored on tape after two or three years. Besides it is sequential and thus inherently VERY slow if you need to access some data instead of an entire set. There are RAMDISK solutions, if cost is not a problem, but read this rather old article: http://www.dansdata.com/gz020.htm and the latest runner: http://www.tfot.info/content/view/100/59/ Here is a basic start for SSD (Solid State Drive) related things: http://www.storagesearch.com/ssd.html jaclaz

Not ALL batteries are alike, recalibration might or might not be useful, depending on the exact type. Here is an interesting site dedicated to batteries with technical info, that may help you decide whether it is advisable or not, hopefully with a reduced margin of error when compared to results of a poll: http://www.batteryuniversity.com/index.htm jaclaz

Ethan, you see, the method you described does work, here we are simply trying to see if ANOTHER method is possible. See the original post: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showto...mp;#entry563654 where I gave numbers to possible options. The one you suggested looks to me like method #1 or #2 (method #1 is fully documented in 10 steps in the given link - at the moment unavailable due to some problems on the 911CD board). GOOGLE cache here: http://209.85.129.104/search?q=cache:FUaFj...owtopic%3D16713 Writing a batch to automatize it should be trivial. With all due respect, I don't think that simply stating taht another way won't work helps, if you can hint anything on WHY it wouldn't work, it would be much appreciated. jaclaz

NO difference whatsoever. A "Disk" cannot be made active or non-active. A Primary Partition on a Disk can. A partition is made active by writing a value of 80hex as first byte in the corresponding partition entry in the MBR (at offset 446 if it is the First partition). Though this can be done through any hex edtor capable of direct disk access, it is advised to use a more suitable app. If you prefer a GUI app, use Beeblebrox: http://students.cs.byu.edu/~codyb/ (you need to write 00 instead of 80 in the "Boot" editbox) Otherwise you can use MBRwiz: http://mbrwizard.tripod.com/ With something like mbrwiz /Disk=1 /Active=1 AFTER you have made sure, with the /List switch you are changing the RIGHT HD and Partition. jaclaz

Well, no, I have my software (Win2K) legal, rest assured. I was actually talking about the won't be a problem getting them as referred to "disk" rather than "license". If the "no problem" is instead referred to license, I do however envy you. Everyone has of course his own metods of measurement, for me finding a NT4 License on sale, say $50, plus spending about $160 for a Server 2003 license, plus (probably) $399 for Vista Ultimate, sum up, including package, postage and handling to an estimated $630 problem. jaclaz

I may be wrong, but I think that: 1) NL-Stitch put a lot of work in his project and was so kind as to share the product of his work. 2) You may like or not like it. 3) You are free to download and use it or not. 4) Bashing NL-Stitch or his project for not being "the project" you wish it was or for not being "the project" you expected seems, besides vaguely unpolite, also uncalled for and not really constructive. So, even if most probably I'm not going to download or use it, thanks NL-Stitch for sharing your work . jaclaz

Just out of curiosity, do you also have - or it won't be a problem to get - FULL licenses for all of them (OEM wouldn't be good, otherwise you should already have the hardware)....? jaclaz

Some (not all) answers: The files really needed are these three: * explorer.exe * comdlg32.dll * shell32.dll With some versions, cannot say WHICH ones, my Italian one as an example, NOTEPAD.EXE from win 98 will not work with the above Win95 files. So you need an alternative txt editor, not necessarily NOTEPAD.EXE from Win95, there are hundreds of them, it's a matter of preferences. What I remember using was Edxor: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~nulifetv/fr...eware/edxor.htm which is very compact and has some features I use. You might be interested in this thread: http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=12326 Where some details with needed files are given. jaclaz

Just a quick update, just to say that this has not been abandoned, though I had very few time to look further into the problem. I'm a bit stuck at the moment. On my test virtual drive, with a cluster of 8.192 bytes formatted as FAT12 under 2K, it appears that I can create (beginning from a 00ed drive, just formatted): exactly 127 entries in a directory in root, 128th entry goes out of the cluster. This makes sense, as directories "." and ".." entries take 32 bytes each, while the 127 files (LFN) take 64 bytes each, thus: 2*32+127*64=8.192 Problem is understanding where the 128th entry is made and where this address is referenced.... ...it seems like the entry is simply appended at the end of the 127th file. It seems like findpart finddir is not the right tool to find this address... ...however, I'll take my time over Christmas Holidays to see if I have an idea.... Stay well, see you on the beginning of january, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. jaclaz

It seems like: http://nt4ref.zcm.com.au/usb.htm http://web.archive.org/web/20040701205242/...port/nt4doc.jsp the particular USB stack from Ionetworks (now digi.com) is Win2k compatible!? The site also references this file: http://ftp1.us.dell.com/utility/Intea01i.exe as newer then http://ftp1.us.dell.com/utility/R62200.EXE But I don't think it helps. I have seen some scanners coming with software for NT4.00, but never tested them. What particular make/model of scanner is it? Maybe one could use the twain driver of some other scanner, with some tweaking... jaclaz

Cannot really say, but maybe Letter Assigner can do the trick, don't be fooled by the page, the app includes a command line version too: http://www.v72735.f2s.com/LetAssig/ jaclaz

I just switched from Everest to this. ..and don't forget SIV: http://siv.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/ I use both SIV and SIW .... jaclaz

Well, actually the same method is used in nlite... http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=71256 jaclaz

Sorry, but you are missing a point here, FREE SOFTWARE means "free as in freedom", not necessarily "free of charge". Support for FREE SOFTWARE is normally offered as a "pay for service", as well as the actual software can be charged for the services of compiling and integrating it, companies like RedHat and Mandriva actually "live" with that: http://www.redhat.com/rhel/compare/client/ http://www.mandriva.com/en/linux/2007/discovery http://store.mandriva.com/product_info.php?products_id=336 The fact that the same or a very similar product is provided free of charge and WITHOUT support does not mean that companies cannot get paid for their work. jaclaz

There are two separate problems: 1) whether the BIOS "sees" or not the drive when booting 2) whether XP can boot from USB According to Microsoft, Windows XP CANNOT be booted from a USB device. Dietmar Stolting found some workarounds for this, see here: http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=14181 There is nothing to do if problem 1) is not solved by a BIOS update. If you don't have the time/don't want to go through the thread to solve problem 2), the only "easy" solution is this one: http://www.usboot.org/tiki-page.php?pageName=Welcome If it doesn't work for you, will need to go through the thread anyway. jaclaz

jaws75, you are perfectly free to expose your ideas and opinions on the matter, EXACTLY like Hasta la Vista and everyone else is. Flaming other members is both unnecessary and unpolite. You might want to re-read rules: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=18408 expecially points 7a and 7b: and comply with them. jaclaz

It sounds more like a badly burned CD... http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=87156 jaclaz

Really? I wouldn't have thought that....see post #2 above, you only need reading the first line... jaclaz

Well, you see how opinions may diverge.... I sincerely hope that after having arrested the robbers, the Police will arrest the spokesman for the bank. I personally find that publicly stating that: should be ranked as a FELONY. A bank that not only has such a poor security system that allows the stealing of 25 (twentifive) PC's from their premises, but also thinks that their customer's data is safe within a non highly encrypted PC's hard disk should have all customers close their accounts. jaclaz

@jeremy @LLXX Hey guys, I know you mean well , but the sheer fact the HawkAgent actually NEEDS to ask the question on a board means that the sooner he switches off the PC and calls for help from someone more knowledgeable the less probabilities of losing all data he has. Just for the record, and before people starts putting hard drives in the fridge just for the fun of it, the "hard drive freezing trick" is: 1) a "last resort" method, try it ONLY after other more conventional means have failed 2) often, while in some cases it works, it can make the drive DEFINITELY not working anymore (NO more chances) 3) do not even THINK of putting the drive in the fridge "as is", it must be wrapped (possibly) in an antistatic bag inside a SEALED ziplock bag, better if together with one of those little dessiccant bags that come with electronic items packaging , otherwise moisture will most probably really finish killing the drive And, just for a laugh, this depicts the way NOT to do it: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1028112728 jaclaz

In some cases it is possible. But as said, this has nothing to do with nlite. You first need to recreate a fairly accurate copy of the original CD from files, and only LATER, if it works normally (full install and "attended") you can try nliting it, and making it "unattended". See here: http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=16381 for a start. jaclaz

Yes it means that it is FAILING. I don't want to scare you but you are exposed to a SERIOUS risk of losing all your data. Shut that computer off NOW! Get another harddisk or another mean to backup your data. If you have no experience in this you might want to bring the PC to a repair shop. jaclaz

If you have a memory that bad, then maybe you should have someone else replace your RAM... :lol: Here is a thread with more links: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=88384 jaclaz

Well, if I get it right you have some problems with .cmd files. A batch file should run if double clicked BOTH if it has .bat or .cmd extension. Once you have fixed the above, you might want to try with this batch (that has no external commands): @ECHO OFF SETLOCAL ENABLEEXTENSIONS ECHO Hallo, I am a batch file, and I am running! ECHO. ECHO I was invoked as %0, but my real name is %~nx0.... ECHO. ECHO ...and, to be picky, my FULL name is %~f0 ECHO- ECHO I live in directory %~dp0 and I'll terminate myself ECHO as soon as you press any key. PAUSE If the above works, and it should, modify your testshut.cmd (or testshut.bat) as follows: @ECHO OFF SETLOCAL ENABLEEXTENSIONS ECHO Hallo, I am a batch file, and I am running! ECHO. ECHO I was invoked as %0, but my real name is %~nx0.... ECHO. ECHO ...and, to be picky, my FULL name is %~f0 ECHO- ECHO I live in directory %~dp0, and I'm going to run %~dp0psshutdown -r ECHO as soon as you press any key. PAUSE %~dp0psshutdown -r If it did not work, try using more "common" paths, like the ones given in the example by MS: http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documen...s.mspx?mfr=true if it works, it is a problem in the PATH given as "\\server\share$\task\" jaclaz