jaclaz

Just for the record, there are a number of apps that allow starting apps and processes with the System account, here are a couple: http://grubletrang.com/Software.aspx?app=PowerPrompt http://p-nand-q.com/download/supershell.html now http://p-nand-q.com/gtools/grootshell.html jaclaz

There are a few old threads related to the matter, referenced in my post here: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showto...mp;#entry463153 jaclaz

No it does make sense, unfortunately only partially. You will have to go on a trial one-by-one basis, as some programs are already almost "portable" i.e. they do not need external .dlls or other files but those inside their install drectory and they either do not require Registry entries or they are able to create them, if missing, when the program is run. For all the other ones, you will need to re-install the apps IN THE SAME place they are already installed under Win9x, but from XP (i.e. overwriting the actual files but making the install routine also create the correct dependencies, links and Registry entries on the "other" OS). Even this approach that works 100% if done with two identical or however "similar" OS's ( as an example XP and Win2K) could cause in some rather rare case some problem, if the files needed for Win9x (DOS based) are different from those for XP (NT based). This can be however sometimes resolved by installing the problematic application under one of the OS, making a copy of the folder in which it is installed, re-install it under the other OS and add to this folder the files coming from the previously copied folder that are not already in the newly installed one. Of course this method will not work if the app uses two different files with the same name under the two different OS's. Potentially you could also have some problems with apps that "autoupdate" themselves form the net, because the updated files will be those for the OS that is booted when the update takes place. An (almost completely random, and not backed up by evidence ) estimate would be, as I see it, as follows: 30% of apps, (mostly OpenSource or Freeware) are portable or nearly portable 50% of apps, (mostly COMMERCIAL software) will need the double install in the same place 20% of apps, (again, mostly COMMERCIAL software and expecially antivirii) will need the double install on different places jaclaz

Since you are "new" to the field, and thus have no previous habits/personal preferences, you could have a look at these: http://winner.windowsdream.com/ http://ping.windowsdream.com/ However using GHOST , and the methods used by your predecessor and the one you proposed are both "standard de facto" in the IT world. A good start point for GHOST is here: http://ghost.radified.com/ jaclaz

Best option in my view is to first salvage data, this can easily be made with an adpter cable from 2,5" to 3,5" hd, mounting the drive in any other desktop PC, something like this: http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod...asterid=811539/ or, given the now lowering costs of external USB boxes, something like this: http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_attrib.php/page_id=351 Only once data is safe one can think of satrting repair or reformatting. jaclaz

FYI, the El-Torito Cd-Rom standard is not even used on normal XP setup CD's that use the no-emulation mode. It is perfectly possible, see this thread and links therein: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=81788 the proposed deal is still valid Yes, it has been done, search for posts by Sfiorito in this board and on the MP3CAR one: http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=70 most of the info is there. Also, for your interest it has also been done with normal full XP (NOT BartPE, which is what every other search for XP bootable from USB will give you as results): http://home.graffiti.net/jaclaz:graffiti.n...SB/USBfaqs.html http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...c=14181&hl= jaclaz

With all due respect, could you actually boot from the stick? The Mojopac installer simply creates on the stick a tree of directories, including a "Program Files" one, a "WINDOWS" one, a "Documents and Settings" one and a "temp" one, then puts on the root of it an executable, called "start.exe" and an autorun.inf with this contents: [autorun] action=Run MojoPac icon=.\progra~1\ringth~1\bin\RingOS.ico open=.\Start.exe label=MojoPac here is a dir /S /B of the structure created: W:\Program Files\Common Files W:\Program Files\INTERNET EXPLORER W:\Program Files\temp.txt W:\Program Files\Windows Media Player W:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared W:\Program Files\Common Files\ODBC W:\Program Files\Common Files\system W:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\DAO W:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\dasetup W:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\DAO\dao360.dll W:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\dasetup\advpack.dll W:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\dasetup\dasetup.exe W:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\dasetup\dasetup.inf W:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\dasetup\dasetup.ini W:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\dasetup\dasetupr.dll W:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\dasetup\rspfiles.inf W:\Program Files\Common Files\ODBC\Data Sources W:\Program Files\Common Files\system\msmapi W:\Program Files\Common Files\system\OLE DB W:\Program Files\INTERNET EXPLORER\MUI W:\Program Files\INTERNET EXPLORER\MUI\0409 W:\Program Files\RingThree\bin W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config W:\Program Files\RingThree\hives W:\Program Files\RingThree\Stage W:\Program Files\RingThree\thirdparties W:\Program Files\RingThree\bin\MojoPac.chm W:\Program Files\RingThree\bin\MojoPac.url W:\Program Files\RingThree\bin\Preconfig.exe W:\Program Files\RingThree\bin\PVM.sys W:\Program Files\RingThree\bin\Reconfig.exe W:\Program Files\RingThree\bin\RingOS.ico W:\Program Files\RingThree\bin\ringthree.ini W:\Program Files\RingThree\bin\RingThreeMainWin32.exe W:\Program Files\RingThree\bin\RingThreeSynchronizer.exe W:\Program Files\RingThree\bin\SafeRestore.exe W:\Program Files\RingThree\bin\SendError.exe W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\FileBlockedTable.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\FileExceptionTable.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\FileExceptionTable_orig.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\FileInclusionTable.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\FileInclusionTable_orig.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\FileUnBlockedTable.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\KernelObjectTable.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\LastKnownGood W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\r3root.bin W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\RegBlockedTable.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\RegExceptionTable.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\RegExceptionTable_orig.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\RegInclusionTable.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\RegInclusionTable_orig.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\LastKnownGood\FileBlockedTable.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\LastKnownGood\FileExceptionTable.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\LastKnownGood\FileExceptionTable_orig.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\LastKnownGood\FileInclusionTable.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\LastKnownGood\FileInclusionTable_orig.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\LastKnownGood\FileUnBlockedTable.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\LastKnownGood\KernelObjectTable.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\LastKnownGood\r3root.bin W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\LastKnownGood\RegBlockedTable.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\LastKnownGood\RegExceptionTable.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\LastKnownGood\RegExceptionTable_orig.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\LastKnownGood\RegInclusionTable.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\Config\LastKnownGood\RegInclusionTable_orig.txt W:\Program Files\RingThree\hives\backups W:\Program Files\RingThree\hives\ringthree.hive W:\Program Files\RingThree\hives\backups\ringthree.hive W:\Program Files\RingThree\Stage\applied W:\WINDOWS\ASSEMBLY W:\WINDOWS\FONTS W:\WINDOWS\INF W:\WINDOWS\Installer W:\WINDOWS\MICROSOFT.NET W:\WINDOWS\ODBC.INI W:\WINDOWS\ODBCINST.INI W:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH W:\WINDOWS\resources W:\WINDOWS\SHELLNEW W:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 W:\WINDOWS\temp W:\WINDOWS\temp.txt W:\WINDOWS\web W:\WINDOWS\WINSXS W:\WINDOWS\ASSEMBLY\GAC W:\WINDOWS\resources\Themes W:\WINDOWS\resources\Themes\Luna W:\WINDOWS\resources\Themes\Luna\Shell W:\WINDOWS\resources\Themes\Luna\Shell\Homestead W:\WINDOWS\resources\Themes\Luna\Shell\Metallic W:\WINDOWS\resources\Themes\Luna\Shell\NormalColor W:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CATROOT W:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CATROOT2 W:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG W:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DIRECTX W:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers W:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\MUI W:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WBEM W:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\etc W:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\etc\hosts W:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\etc\lmhosts.sam W:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\etc\networks W:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\etc\protocol W:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\etc\services W:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\MUI\0409 W:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WBEM\REPOSITORY W:\WINDOWS\web\wallpaper W:\WINDOWS\web\wallpaper\mojopac_wallpaper.jpg W:\WINDOWS\WINSXS\MANIFESTS W:\Documents and Settings\All Users W:\Documents and Settings\temp.txt W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Network W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Connections W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Connections\Pbk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Connections\Pbk\sharedaccess.ini W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr0.dat W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr1.dat W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\guest.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\user.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\airplane.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\astronaut.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\ball.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\beach.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\butterfly.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\car.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\cat.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\chess.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\dirt bike.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\dog.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\drip.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\duck.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\fish.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\frog.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\guitar.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\horses.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\kick.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\lift-off.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\palm tree.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\pink flower.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\red flower.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\skater.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures\snowflake.bmp W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures\Sample Pictures W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures\Sample Pictures\House.JPG W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures\Sample Pictures\Marmot.JPG W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures\Sample Pictures\Mountains.JPG W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures\Sample Pictures\Sunset.JPG W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Set Program Access and Defaults.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Windows Catalog.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Games W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Windows Messenger.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Calculator.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Communications W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Entertainment W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Paint.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System Tools W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\WordPad.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Communications\HyperTerminal.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Entertainment\Sound Recorder.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Entertainment\Volume Control.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System Tools\Character Map.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools\Component Services.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools\Computer Management.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools\Data Sources (ODBC).lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools\Event Viewer.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools\Local Security Policy.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools\Performance.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools\Services.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Games\Freecell.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Games\Hearts.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Games\Internet Backgammon.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Games\Internet Checkers.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Games\Internet Hearts.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Games\Internet Reversi.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Games\Internet Spades.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Games\Minesweeper.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Games\Pinball.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Games\Solitaire.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Games\Spider Solitaire.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Application Data W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Cookies W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Desktop W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\SendTo W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Templates W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Application Data\Microsoft W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\brndlog.txt W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Cookies\index.dat W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Desktop\MojoPac MustRead.txt W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Desktop\MojoPac Release Notes.txt W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Desktop\xfire_installer.exe W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Application Data W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\History W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\mojopac_wallpaper.jpg W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\History\History.IE5 W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\index.dat W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\SendTo\Compressed (zipped) Folder.ZFSendToTarget W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\SendTo\Desktop (create shortcut).DeskLink W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\SendTo\Mail Recipient.MAPIMail W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Remote Assistance.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Startup W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Command Prompt.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Notepad.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Program Compatibility Wizard.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Synchronize.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Tour Windows XP.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Windows Explorer.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility\Magnifier.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility\Narrator.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility\On-Screen Keyboard.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility\Utility Manager.lnk W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Templates\amipro.sam W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Templates\excel.xls W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Templates\excel4.xls W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Templates\lotus.wk4 W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Templates\powerpnt.ppt W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Templates\presenta.shw W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Templates\quattro.wb2 W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Templates\sndrec.wav W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Templates\winword.doc W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Templates\winword2.doc W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Templates\wordpfct.wpd W:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Templates\wordpfct.wpg W:\temp When you insert the stick into an XP computer, the autorun.inf invokes "start.exe" that calls some dependent program (in the RingThree subdir) and opens a full screen window, replicating a windows desktop. There are nice features to copy to the stick files, syncronize contents with desktop, add shortcuts to apps installed, and many more, generally conveying the "feeling" to be working from an Operating System that remains the same when taken to another PC. As said in the linked thread on the 911CD forum the whole bunch is a NICE and CLEVER (in my view) app, that helps a lot non-techies to have a portable system, you may not agree with my definition of "SHELL" or "VIRTUAL DESKTOP", but definitely it is NOT an Operating System. jaclaz

Different question, different answer, see this and links therein: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=81788 jaclaz

@LLXX No, if you use the EWF filter, it wont wear out soon. @Ctrl-X That is NOT XP, it's BartPE! @Jeremy FYI, a much LESS interesting "first impression" on Mojopac here: http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=18617 jaclaz

No, it is PERFECTLY possible, and YES, you definitely need EWF if you plan to install on a Flash based device, but once you have it set, there is no problem. Moreover newish Flash memories have better wear leveling techniques, see my posts here for links: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showto...4684&st=17# http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showto...4684&st=25# The other possibility is using INSTEAD of XP a BartPE solution, booting it to RAM, of course size of the boot image has to be as little as possible, depending on the amount of RAM you have. There is a "mixed mode" solution, using a minimal BartPE booted from RAM and either SDI or RAW disk images, search on the 911CD forum for posts by Sanbarrow and by Pavel, that will probably in the future "backported" to Dietmar's "Boot XP from USB" project above referenced: http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=14181 jaclaz

Yes, it is perfectly possible. It all depends on what Operating System(s) do you want to put on it, and if it is to be used with just a single machine (or a number of identical or similar machines) or if it is intended to be a portable one-size-fits-all solution. There are a number of threads here and on the 911 CD forum about this, some are related to USB sticks, but since USB sticks and USB hard disks are BOTH "block devices" the differences in setup are minimal. Personally I use Grub4dos as a bootmanager, as it is compatible with practically ALL Operating Systems but if you do not need this great flexibility, you can use "normal" NTLDR. Start reading from these: http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...c=18045&hl= http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...c=18031&hl= http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=69211&hl= http://home.graffiti.net/jaclaz:graffiti.n...B/USBstick.html and links therein. You might also find my FAQ's interesting: http://home.graffiti.net/jaclaz:graffiti.n...SB/USBfaqs.html and the (everyday more outdated) howto here: http://home.graffiti.net/jaclaz:graffiti.n...B/USBstick.html jaclaz

Interesting point. Would it be possible to rebuild it with only the needed VXDs (and put the other VXDs that normally aren't in it) and decrease bootup time even further? Yes, step-by-step instructions are in the link in my previous post: http://www.helpwithwindows.com/techfiles/vmm32.html Though I cannot say if it will "shave" anything off boot time. jaclaz

There are some common misconceptions about VMM32.VXD, you might want to read this article: http://www.helpwithwindows.com/techfiles/vmm32.html It debunks common "non-sense" issues and tells you how you can (IF needed) re-build VMM32.VXD. jaclaz

First result in google for "watermark micosoft word": http://support.microsoft.com/kb/211324/en-us jaclaz

Yep, sure, but what was the actual question? Even Google calculator knows the answer: http://www.google.com/search?q=the+answer+...+and+everything jaclaz

There is no way to know the lifetime of a battery, different types of battery have different behaviours, a Ni-cd one has an expectancy of 250 to 500 charging cycles, but has a "heavy" memory effect, more recent Ni-Mh and Li-Ion batteries have reduced this to a minimum, and the number of cycles has increased to 400 to 800, but still some small "tricks" can be applied, though there is no actual prove i.e. "scientifical" comparison tests, even because two batteries from the same manufacturer can behave differently. Some links to read: http://hardwarehell.com/battery.htm http://www.batterycanada.com/Battery_Facts.htm More technical: http://www.batteryuniversity.com/index.htm http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-33.htm http://www.batteryuniversity.com/parttwo-34.htm jaclaz P.S.: DIY jobs can be done, though NOT recommended, unless you have good skills: http://www.electronics-lab.com/articles/Li...ruct/index.html expecially with Li-Ion batteries, it can be DANGEROUS

Basically some settings in the Registry must be changed. You can shave off some reboot time by NOT rebooting but rather terminating the shell (exiting to MS-DOS) and restart it with the command line WIN command. Moreover, most of the time you don't really need to re-start/re-boot for each install, you can install a number of things and unless one depends on another one a single re-start/re-boot will be enough to update all chnges in one round. Of course on some install this will not work beacuse in some instances a "real" re-boot is needed. The install programs can rely on various ways to complete install: 1) Autoexec.bat (in this case a re-boot is mandatory) 2) Wininit.ini 3) Winstart.bat 4) Registry keys, in HKLM or HKCU, typically: 4.1) Runonce 4.2) RunServices 4.3) Runex 5) The StartUp group, or All User Startup More details here: http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/startup.htm

See if this works: http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/tools/16306.html jaclaz P.S.: IF it does, you owe me a beer

Back to the "NTFS on flash is BAD" topic, here is an interesting article in which wear-leveling algorithms are explained : http://www.mil-embedded.com/articles/authors/spanjer/ and an "official" article: http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServe...3.mspx?mfr=true Imation: http://www.imation.com/didyouknow/technolo...ke_it_with.html Puts the Write cycles at "between 10,000 and 100,000" which is not really an "exact figure". See also this: http://ask-leo.com/can_a_usb_thumbdrive_wear_out.html As said, it is possible in certain conditions and with certain media to burn the flash memory in a matter of days or weeks, so you should know what you are doing before doing it. jaclaz

You should make a search for "computer lounge chair" on Google, a few examples: http://www.gizmag.com/go/1136/ http://www.gadgetreview.com/2005/12/super-...unge-chair.html http://www.nethrone.com/ http://www.kalkwijk.com/ximage/pid/144/i/26 You should be able, by searching in the various "gizmo" sites, for "chair", more examples and some accessories: http://www.gizmag.com/go/5947/ Cannot say about the prices, though, this one appears nice: http://www.productwiki.com/homedics_antigr...cliner_ag_2101/ jaclaz

I don't get it, do you expect to find something written by the good Microsoft guys (who invented NTFS as a better filesystem than FAT16/32) saying that NTFS is worse? Maybe there is, but you can go and search for it yourself, just remember that those guys are the same ones that said: 1) That Internet Explorer is part of Windows and CANNOT be taken off. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Microsoft 2) That XP was NOT bootable from a USB Mass Storage device. http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/usb-boot.mspx and some "users" proved them wrong: 1) After all IE CAN be taken off... http://www.litepc.com/ http://www.vorck.com/remove-ie.html http://www.nliteos.com/ 2) And XP CAN boot from USB.... http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=14181 So, maybe, the problem with information is not WHERE it comes from, but rather IF it is accurate, an the only real judge is the single user for it's specific purposes. jaclaz

However, it is quite easy to see what is which.... [bEGIN SARCASM] Open up your home stereo loudspeaker, it should consist of two or three speakers. Identify the woofer (the biggest one). Now, try sticking your drive to the back of the woofer. If it stays attached, it is a magnetic disk, and you will have probably lost all your data, besides the mess you have made with the loudspeaker. If it does not, it is a Flash based one. [END SARCASM] Maybe you will be interested in these: http://deadline.3x.ro/adsense/ntfs_vs_fat32.html http://www.comp.ro/QWFAT32_NTFS.htm http://www.spcug.org/reviews/bl0401.htm There is no "good" or "bad", as much as there is no "one-size-fits-all" solution. On certain setups and for certain scopes, FAT is better than NTFS, on some other ones, NTFS is better. It's up to the user choose which one to use. jaclaz

Hmmm, it shouldn't be difficult: [bEGIN SARCASM] Just use this batch file: @ECHO OFF ECHO ECHO Pull off the PC mains plug NOW! PAUSE CLS ECHO If you see this message, it means that: ECHO 1) You (wisely) did not do what you were told. ECHO 2) This computer is a desktop and it is connected to an UPS. ECHO 3) This computer is a laptop and has a working battery. ECHO Please consider the above three alternatives and judge yourself which one is the ECHO MOST probable one. [/END SARCASM] Now, seriously, you can check for the laptop PCMCIA, as already suggested, here is some code: http://techsupt.winbatch.com/webcgi/webbat...ct~a~Laptop.txt jaclaz

I think you are getting this wrong, nlite should be run with "standard" XP CD, it is possible that your particular CD is not a "standard" OEM one, but rather a "modified" OEM one. Knowing make / model of your laptop might help, however you should look here: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=75761 It is possible that your disc is not really an XP install disc, but rather a "Recovery CD", in that case you need to rebuild a CD, in this thread on the 911CD forum there are some related useful links: http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=16381 jaclaz

@Tarun I second LLXX on this. Formatting and using a USB stick as NTFS will DEFINITELY shorten it's lifetime. Though manufacturer's are not saying it too loud , flash memory has a FINITE number of write cycles, at the moment that is estimated around 100,000 cycles. This means that the drive will normally last "forever" in normal use, but NTFS is a semi-journaled filesystem that EVERY TIME it reads a file actually WRITES something to the disk (access date and time, etc.). Though most (but not all) controller chip manufacturers do adopt a technique called "wear-leveling" that in simple words is a method to re-map the drive so that on average all sectors are written the same number of time, the number of write cycles in a NTFS filesystem is so high that a stick can be "burned" in a matter of days or weeks of intensive use. This has already happened, check the "winodws booting from XP" thread on the 911CD board: http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=14181 http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?sho...5533;entry97519 The ONLY "safe" way to use NTFS on ANY flash based device under XP is to use EWF, a component from Windows Embedded that limits to the minimum the number of write cycles. There is a nice EWF tutorial by Sfiorito, who is also a member of MSFN, here: http://osf1.gmu.edu/~sfiorito/eXPinstall.htm Additionally, you may want to disable timestamping, though this is a Registry Tweak that applies to ALL NTFS volumes, not only to the stick. Of course, as long as it "YOUR" stick, you are perfectly free to "fry" it in the shortest time you can, but to actually suggest formatting a USB stick as NTFS, without a BIG WARNING about the side effect on it's lifetime is IMHO at least inappropriate. jaclaz P.S.: NTFS is undoubtedly a BETTER and SAFER filesystem, but, as said, not necessarily faster, see this comparison table: http://www.ntfs.com/ntfs_vs_fat.htm