Oleg_II

Maybe slipstream hotfixes with HFSLIP? It will extract from hotfixes and slipstream all needed files directly to the source before installation (it also reduces the size for unattended CD). It has some limitations (designed mostly for installing from CD) but some gents tried it with networking installations too.

Well, frankly speaking I don't use INF for installing this. I install it just placing in one of the HFSLIP folders and it is CABed and integrated into my distro automatically. I just have to make this shortcut with my install.inf (installs all my regestry tweaks, arrange links and does other things during unattended): [Version] Signature=$CHICAGO$ [DefaultInstall] UpdateInis = Arrange.Link [Arrange.Link] ; Send To setup.ini, progman.groups,, "group11=""%16393%""" setup.ini, group11,, """CAB Tool"",""""""%11%\cabtool.exe"""""",,,,""%11%"",""cabtool.exe""" In this example tool is in system32 because with HFSLIP it is impossible by now to install it in %ProgramFiles%. Change it according to your needs.

Thank you! Download it and it works like a charm here too! It doesn't delete things now. Ok it should be even better. It may be installed with INF that places needed file in needed folder and makes shortcut in SendTo menu Thanks for the great tool!

Oops... Seems to be a problem with my computer - older versions of HFSLIP have the same effect. Experimenting...

Anybody tried on a real computer? It asks for a SP4 CD now... Maybe merging drivers was not a good thing Trying to locate the problem.

Great utility! I'm using old CMD version and it's fantastic! I tried new version but it couldn't cab subfolders. And I can't dowload the fixed version now. Any mirror? And one question: CABTOOL.EXE is only about 12KB but the downloaded file is a bit bigger, does it place some other files in system folders for internal use? Like cabarc or something else?

I found this utility is very useful for experimenting with Windows files too: Add Makecab and Expand to SendTo _http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=27469 (sorry sometimes the buttons for inserting coded doesn't work for me Have to figure out why or learn the coding

saugatak I have this DLL in my system32 (I run IE-free verson for about two weeks alredy And probably (my native language is not Enlish) the message means that IF you have this DLL the program will run on server versions of Windows? Anyway don't think it is important and worth to adding/replacing. This message appears only once when I start Task Manager and then it never disturbs me. I even think that it is a metter of regestry tweak and I'll search for it after I have a lite and stable IE-free system and of corse when I have time (tracking regestry changes takes me some time to be sure). As for openning CABed files, if you like experimenting you may copy the distro (W2k+SP4 not HFSLIPed) in a different location and then look in Unattended section for a script that unCAB all files in a folder and deletes CABed (like .in_) then (one of the versions was suggested by Yzöwl - search for it). That will give you a folder with files that you can sort - .EXE, .INF, .DLL, etc. One note! I'm not sure what will happen if you have DRIVER.CAB in that folder - it's nearly 50MB and contains about 3,5 thousand files I think it's better to delete all CABs from that folder before running script.

dirtwarrior What do you mean - sounds? Aren't they just a few separate WAV files? I personally use two customized sounds: when e-mail comes and when error occures (I replaced the files in distro with mine). If it's not difficult for you and you really want to share, place it somewhere on rapidshare.com , somebody will definitelly try (I like W2k look and feel - simple and effective! but can try it also By the way, you can try it yourself with HFSLIP and report to all: tommyp made special folders for replacement files (FIX and HFEXPERT\APPREPLACEMENT). The process is really simple and automated

fdv All files should be in that multimed.inf. As for IEXPLORE.EXE - probably something else is calling for it when registering components. Maybe place it ater installing things? Say in that Welcome.exe?

fdv You mentioned on the first page "COM, DTC have been removed from this test set to see how things go" but the INFs for them are uncommented in SYSOC.INF. Does it mean they are still installing? Interesting thing is that multimed.inf is not commented but sound volume is not installed

saugatak Forgot about BartPe Agree, it's a good choice Re-creating system in half a day - it's still plenty of work to do then. Make it two hours with all configuring and installing new printers, scanners, cameras, etc So the problem is solved and this is one more step to IE-free system

dirtwarrior Only you can make your choice Why I've chosen FDV's version? It's very easy to try first time: download a small archive and "inject" the files from it into your installation disk - that's it! Easy, ah? And FDV, I'd say, a bit "conservative". His files won't remove anything important, only the bloat. And his set won't just rip Windows - you can remove more things in future but as you have nearly the same CD as before you may go back and restore the functionality you just remove. I'd call it "safe nLiting" Using HFSLIP makes you get "two in one" - you get fully patched (up-to-the date!) system with slipstreamed DX and other usefull and modernized things, and you get automated IE and other bloat removal program that don't need to learn a lot before using. Just place files in right folders and run the script So, only you can make your choice

saugatak Just curious: for what purposes are you using Acronis True Image? I'm not very familiar with this program but I as far as I know the main functionality is in creating and restoring images of phisical or logical disks, right? And if I'm not mistaken Acronis True Image should give you the oppotunity to creat a boot disk with it. I'm using the similar software - Power Quest Drive Image (it's a bit older and I heard it was bought by Norton a year or two ago). I never installed this software on my working system because I usually ran it for restoring my system partition from boot disk (it creats two floppy boot disks that can be merged in one or a boot CD). It's important to understand that there should be at least two partitions on your hard disk: one for the system (where Windows installs its files) and programs; the second partion for your files (documents, video, music, etc). You'd better to install all programs on first logical disk but point all their store folders (where useful information is stored) to the second disk. When you install Windows, all needed programs and configure them the way you like, then boot from Acronis True Image boot disk, make an image of entire first patition and save it in two locations: on the second partion and on a CD-ROM disk. This way if something with your computer goes wrong and it's usually Windows system problems (virus, corrupted installation, etc.) you just reboot with your boot disk and restore the entire first logical disk from the image on your CD or on the second partition. Windows system restored and your documents and other files are not effected! Of course backups are important anyway but you may do a backup with you WinRar or Winzip (even automatic and according to the time with a small sheduling program!). Or just copy the folder with you documents directly on CD-ROM, zip or tape manually. It's not a big deal. PS PQ Drive Image had a very handy functionality before version 7, I guess earlier versions of Norton Ghost may have this functionality also - there is a small utility in distro that without installation gives you the ability to reboot directly in DOS enviroment where full restoring is made.

It seems to me MSVCP60.DLL is not a part of Windows 2000. There is only MSVCP50.DLL in the source. And if I'm not mistaken fdv recommends placing it ins system32 on his site (small utilities). There is probably some more DLL that may be usefull. Frankly speaking before HFSLIP I only took one DLL from DirectX9 and one from Windows Media 10 for my player. In fact I don't need the rest. And it's like .Net for nLite - there is a small version that places needed files somewhere and let the program run. I remember I was messing with M$ Office 97 (making it run without installation and it was really easy). I tried make it as small as possible and was watching which DLL it needs and which can be deleted. If your program is not running on No IE system it is possibly can be run with some files placed alone.

saugatak You just save my life Or my quiet night B) I'm going to make another last try with the other HFSLIP version and if it doesn't work I just give up FDV what could be the problem? 1. I have not altered files except for winnt.sif - I used mine but last time I even change something to be more compatible with your version of winnt.sif (changed my path according to yours). 2. I have not installed ANY program twice. Not helpfull. 3. I reduced my tweaks during unattended. 4. I have not used ANY reducing. 5. I tried new test-set with official HFSLIP release and the latest one. Just don't know where I could do wrong

I'm still having this strange bug - can't find IEXPLORE.EXE and offer me finding it in C:\WINNT\inf\I386 (?!). And IEXPLORE is in its folder - "%ProgramFiles%\Internet Explorer" It happens not when copying files but when registering components. ERROR_REPORT.zip

Well, it seems not to be possible The only choice I have is to convert in other codepage with the command like this: chcp 1251 type c:\file1.aaa > c:\file2.aaa

Interesting thing that fdv not changing it and I'm either

Thanx! I found this one but unfortunatelly it doesn't help - the codingpage of the new file is still UTF-16 LE

No, I had 4 installation without reducing. But with my regestry tricks The files are on CD but they are not installed (sound volume).

Anybody knows how to convert a text file with UTF-16 LE codepage to 65001 (UTF-8) codepage with a batch command? It can be done with a text editors but I need to do it with CMD or BAT file Oh, yea, it seems to be OT but I need it for some removal work on the SOURCESS folder

I have a small issue that maybe the result of my own tweaking actually: IEXPLORE.EXE can't be found during installation. The popping window is trying to find it in my W2k\inf\i386 (?!). And I checked - by this point it's already in "%Program Files%\Internet Explorer" folder. Something else calling for it at this strange path? Anybody elso who tried has this issue? And on my installation Volume Control seems to be missing. As for COM+ I'm also interested because it takes some time for installing and configuring (at least there is shown during installation). But in general the flight is going good :

fdv He says no nLite and there is SP4.CAB in his folder so he didn't merged files. I thought maybe the disk was full and just didn't copy all the files? Let's see what he gets after the second try.

Hmm... Strange But something prevented creating needed DRIVER.CAB? Please open this file from SOURCESS folder - DRVINDEX.INF with Notebook and make search for missing files in the list - are these names in the list? (the names of files you were missing during setup) One more question: could you tell me the size of free space on a disk where your HFSLIP folder resides? Ok, I see there are people that can really help here