jaclaz

No, the problem I was talking about affects FileSystem, NOT single files. jaclaz

I posted here: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=37572&hl= A couple of complete examples. jaclaz

As Micro$oft NEVER released ANY IN DEPTH details on the NTFS filesystem, the numbering is somewhat hectic. So what happens is this (the following is of course UNOFFICIAL, and just gathered around): Windows NT version 3.5 -> NTFS 1.1 Windows NT version 4.0 -> NTFS 1.2 (commonly called NTFS 4.0 after the OS release) Windows 2000 aka NT version 5.0 -> NTFS 3.0 (commonly called NTFS 5.0 after the OS release) Windows XP aka NT version 5.1 -> NTFS 3.1 (commonly called NTFS 5.1 after the OS release) See here: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...B;EN-US;Q310749 http://www.windowsnetworking.com/kbase/Win...amIrunning.html The "best" move Microsoft made was when it gave away the free 120 days free trial of Windows 2000. LOTS of people which were running NT 4.0 without SP4 tried it, as a double boot option. First time Win2k runs converts all NTFS filesystems it finds from 1.2 to 3.0, WITHOUT ASKING FOR CONFIRMATION. The NT 4.0 drivers could not cope with it. And you could not install SP4 later as the old NTFS.SYS could not access data! Even after having the "right" NTFS.SYS, DEFRAG and CHKDSK won't work: http://www.executive.com/diskeeper/faqs/faqs.asp#rt1 Luckily enough, the good guys at Sysinternals wrote a small app to run CHKDSK on the new filesystem: http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/ntfschk.shtml jaclaz

This http://www.bintow.com/SAA/ Seems like a very good work. Some more suggestions (registry/DLL tools): Findorphans (a PC MAG utility), used to be free download, now you have to subscribe, but it can be found here: http://www.filelibrary.com/Contents/Multi-...orm/105/29.html (it can be run without install, with minor probs) COA2 (same as above) http://htmole.altervista.org/info/coa2.htm OLECLEAN http://www.geocities.com/drdole/ScreenShots/OleClean.html http://members.dialmaine.com/drdole/Apps/Olecleanv1.5.zip SHOWDEP (discontinued, but works) http://www.showdep.com/index.html http://www.showdep.com/download/sd40b1.zip A small but useful simple PDF creating notepad like proggie: http://www.acropad.com/index.htm jaclaz

The one I like the most is Registrar. http://www.resplendence.com/main There are two version, Shareware and Freeware. Even the freeware one, Registrar Lite, has this great feature of searching the registry and LISTING results. http://www.resplendence.com/reglite jaclaz

This devcon trick should do: http://ask-leo.com/is_there_a_way_to_safel...batch_file.html jaclaz

Actually batch should be enough. Here is a simple batch (.cmd) example for date/time. This will work only on Win2k/XP/2003. European notation: @Echo OFF TITLE mdEU - Make directory with current date/time (EU notation) REM mdEU.CMD REM Make directory with current date/time in a given path REM REM ------------------------------------------------------------- IF %1.==. GoTo USAGE Set CURRDATE=%TEMP%\CURRDATE.TMP Set CURRTIME=%TEMP%\CURRTIME.TMP DATE /T > %CURRDATE% TIME /T > %CURRTIME% Set PARSEARG="eol=; tokens=1,2,3,4* delims=/, " For /F %PARSEARG% %%i in (%CURRDATE%) Do SET YYYY=%%l% For /F %PARSEARG% %%i in (%CURRDATE%) Do SET MM=%%k% For /F %PARSEARG% %%i in (%CURRDATE%) Do SET DD=%%j% Set PARSEARG="eol=; tokens=1,2,3* delims=:, " For /F %PARSEARG% %%i in (%CURRTIME%) Do Set HHMM=%%i%%j%%k Set NOW=%DD%_%MM%_%YYYY%_%HHMM% Echo Make directory %1\%NOW% ? Echo (Press Ctr+C to abort) Pause IF EXIST %1\%NOW% GOTO ERROR IF NOT EXIST %1\%NOW% MD %1\%NOW% CLS IF EXIST %1\%NOW% ECHO Directory %1\%NOW% created successfully! GoTo END :USAGE Echo ...no path specified... aborted! Echo ******************************** Echo Usage: mdEU [PATH] Echo ******************************** Echo Example: mdEU C: or mdEU C:\TEMP Echo ******************************** Echo Makes a directory DD_MM_YYYY_HH.MM (EU notation) Echo Where Echo DD = Day Echo MM = Month (i.e. 01 for january) Echo YYYY = Year (i.e. 2000) Echo HH.MM = Time Pause GoTo END :ERROR ECHO Directory %1\%NOW% already exists! ECHO Execution aborted...try again in a minute! :END REM CLEARING USED VARIABLES AND TEMP FILES IF EXIST %TEMP%\CURRDATE.TMP Del %TEMP%\CURRDATE.TMP IF EXIST %TEMP%\CURRTIME.TMP Del %TEMP%\CURRTIME.TMP SET CURRDATE= SET CURRTIME= SET YYYY= SET PARSEARG= SET MM= SET DD= SET HHMM= SET NOW= REM TITLE Command Prompt US notation: @Echo OFF TITLE mdUS - Make directory with current date/time (US notation) REM mdUS.CMD REM Make directory with current date/time in a given path REM REM ------------------------------------------------------------- IF %1.==. GoTo USAGE Set CURRDATE=%TEMP%\CURRDATE.TMP Set CURRTIME=%TEMP%\CURRTIME.TMP DATE /T > %CURRDATE% TIME /T > %CURRTIME% Set PARSEARG="eol=; tokens=1,2,3,4* delims=/, " For /F %PARSEARG% %%i in (%CURRDATE%) Do SET YYYY=%%l% For /F %PARSEARG% %%i in (%CURRDATE%) Do SET MM=%%k% For /F %PARSEARG% %%i in (%CURRDATE%) Do SET DD=%%j% Set PARSEARG="eol=; tokens=1,2,3* delims=:, " For /F %PARSEARG% %%i in (%CURRTIME%) Do Set HHMM=%%i%%j%%k Set NOW=%YYYY%_%MM%_%DD%_%HHMM% Echo Make directory %1\%NOW% ? Echo (Press Ctr+C to abort) Pause IF EXIST %1\%NOW% GOTO ERROR IF NOT EXIST %1\%NOW% MD %1\%NOW% CLS IF EXIST %1\%NOW% ECHO Directory %1\%NOW% created successfully! GoTo END :USAGE Echo ...no path specified... aborted! Echo ******************************** Echo Usage: mdUS [PATH] Echo ******************************** Echo Example: mdUS C: or mdUS C:\TEMP Echo ******************************** Echo Makes a directory YYYY_MM_DD_HH.MM (US notation) Echo Where Echo YYYY = Year (i.e. 2000) Echo MM = Month (i.e. 01 for january) Echo DD = Day Echo HH.MM = Time Pause GoTo END :ERROR ECHO Directory %1\%NOW% already exists! ECHO Execution aborted...try again in a minute! :END REM CLEARING USED VARIABLES AND TEMP FILES IF EXIST %TEMP%\CURRDATE.TMP Del %TEMP%\CURRDATE.TMP IF EXIST %TEMP%\CURRTIME.TMP Del %TEMP%\CURRTIME.TMP SET CURRDATE= SET CURRTIME= SET YYYY= SET PARSEARG= SET MM= SET DD= SET HHMM= SET NOW= REM TITLE Command Prompt jaclaz

Searching the site is ALWAYS a good idea: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=33806 jaclaz

Just a note, if you want to have the same effect fdisk does, i.e deleting partition entries in the MBR (which is NOT wiping a partition or drive), there are several ways. Search on google for Roger Layton MBRWizard 1.52 You can call it from batch, using the /Wipe=1 or /Wipe=2 options should do it Or you could use the tool you can find here: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=30378&hl= jaclaz

I do not see WHY you should need it UNATTENDED! As I see it your problem is how to get data to your hard disk without using the CD. Theoretically it is possible to take the HD out of the laptop and connect it through an adapter or cable like these (last two items at bottom of page): http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=12 Then you can copy the \i386 folder from XP CD your hard disk, all needed drivers, keep it dual booting with a WIN9x/DOS (you can delete everything but: BOOT.INI NTLOADR NTDETECT.COM IO.SYS MSDOS.SYS COMMAND.COM) (or you could do this through network) Then install XP through 16bit WINNT.EXE. However it is STRONGLY recommended to have an alternate bootable device, i.e. a CD, FLoppy or USB stick. jaclaz

NO. Yes, in a DOS bootdisk. jaclaz

It looks like a nice tool. jaclaz

Please, USE THE SEARCH FUNCTION You would have found this: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=27943 jaclaz

You mean these: http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBB/tip0700/rh0770.htm http://www.robvanderwoude.com/processes.html http://www.teamcti.com/pview/prcview.htm jaclaz

Dave, have a look at this guy, he offfers that service: http://my.execpc.com/~adw/ jaclaz

Yes, on some machines the hidden partition contains custom programs that detect hardware and install files needed on that particular machine only. Just for the record, the WORST is this TIME computers, read here some info: http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/Tips.htm#timerecovery http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/Software.htm#recovery Have a look here (info on recovery hidden partitions): http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-02-06.htm#1 jaclaz

@yusmol please READ THE RULES http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=18408 and COMPLY TO THEM @abudahood have a look at this thread about how HD are arranged phisically and logically: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=34575&hl= Sometimes a certain sector has a defective magnetic media, and thus CANNOT be read/written reliably, thus it is marked bad. Sometimes by writing to it several times different values the media is somewhat "refreshed", and starts working again.(not unlike Ni-Cd batteries that, up to a certain extent can be rejuvenated by cycles of charging/discharging) However a drive that starts developing bad sectors, even if they are "recovered" by the technique above described is to be considerd UNRELIABLE and should be either substituted as soon as possible or used in systems where NO important data is involved. jaclaz

Yes, it is possible. You will need to install a Bootmanager like XOSL or Bootit NG to hide/unhide the partition (as far as I know HP does it from BIOS). And you might need some thinking about the Hard Disk partitioning to find a way to KEEP the same drive lettering both when the disk is booted from the (normally hidden) recovery partition and when it is booted from the "normal" one. jaclaz

If you search : 1) Selecting "All Forums" 2) Selecting "Any date" 3) for "Convert CMD" (without quotes) You will find (apart from this very thread): http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=32728 http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=13827 Reason to try and NOT open multiple threads on the same subject is that answers, solutions, suggestions, bug reports, etc. are kept together, the same thread grows in size, contains more related keywords, thus it is easier to be found by searching; This allows for less multiple threads, thus creating a "virtuous circle", that makes you find faster the solution, .....etc. jaclaz

Yes, ...how true! jaclaz

Yes, again, in my opinion the sentence: is "almost" right, apart from the (normaly 63 sectors), which is not "normal" , I would have written it as follows: In each platter surface, corresponding to a side or head, of the disk there are a certain number of circular concentric tracks, the length of the track is divided into a number of sectors, each 512 bytes in size; addressing the sectors is made through the onboard controller of the disk. As above, it is practically the same as the (revised) sentence from the book "Operating System concept" by Silberschatz Fifth Edition seen above. What I was trying to explain as an overall concept was the following: 1) On the surface(s) of the disk platter(s) there is a total amount of magnetic storage capacity. 2) This total amount of capacity is determined by: a) SIZE OF SURFACES (i.e.area of surface(s) by number of platter(s)); b) MAGNETIC DENSITY (i.e. how many bytes can be stored per surface unit). 3) A part of this capacity is reserved by the manufacturer of the disk and is not accessible by "usual" means. 4) Phisically each surface is divided in a number of concentric circular tracks. 5) Each track length is sub-divided in minimum addressable units, sized 512 bytes, called sectors. 6) Number of sectors in each track is not fixed and is not known, being determined by the manufacturer. 7) The onboard controller provides an address translation service to the Operating System, so that each sector in the non-reserved part of the magnetic surface can be uniquely addressed. 8) This unique address is a progressive number that identifies a certain sector 9) To mantain compatibility with elder Operating System, this addressing system can be "logically" represented as a CHS (Cylinder Head Sector) value; 10) This logical representation infers a geometrical model that can be (and normally is) COMPLETELY UNRELATED to the phisycal (real) arrangement of the sectors. 11) Addressing sectors by means of this logical representation can simplify calculations in most cases, and allows to mantain the above mentioned compatibility with elder OS's. jaclaz

I think it is "almost" right, personally I would have written it as follows: The surface of platter is divided into circular tracks, subdivided into sectors, which represent the minimum (512 byte) addressable unit, logically addressed by the onboard controller. jaclaz

Yes, that is what I meant! If each computer, apart from different hardware (that can be dealed with by slipstreaming drivers, running scripts, etc.), also has different softwares, each unattended install script will have to be different, unless you make a "mega" disk with all softwares then install selected software to a certain machine, but then it won't be unattended anymore. On the other hand theoretically it is possible to write a separate script for each different machine, and probably even find a way to make the selection automatic by "identifying" a particular machine (for example by the MAC address of the NIC or by the HD serial number), but unless you have to re-install every few days, I think the time spent on building and testing the scripts is not worth it. jaclaz

Disk imaging once setup is the fastest way, because: and I may add have different configurations, logins, passwords, IP address and so on. The only advantage going "unattended" you'll have is saving some space on the server, but you'll spend MUCH more time preparing the setups, scripts, etc. jaclaz

Well, no, inthe (absolutely hypothetical example above) 10 cm is diameter, central space diameter is 2 cm, track groove width is 1, but it must be compared with radius (i.e. diameter/2):ASCII CROSS SECTION : |1cm|1cm|1cm|1cm|1cm |*|1cm |1cm|1cm|1cm|1cm| =10cm |Tr0|Tr1|Tr2|Tr3|half spacer|*|half spacer|Tr3|Tr2|Tr1|Tr0| Here is the actual center |*| of the platter (axis) Yes, correct, but personally I never found ANY "non zone bit recorded" hard disks. Maybe VERY early models had constant sectors per track. See here also: http://www.storagereview.com/map/lm.cgi/zone jaclaz