Takeshi

Yes it is doable. You're talking about two things: programs in the background and services. System services are easy to deal with by reg tweak and therefore are not related to DELL specifically. You don't need nLite to do that. Programs would need further investigation as to what's in the DELL OEM CD. Most programs come on separate CDs so they can just be ignored if you don't want to install those.

That's actually what I had in mind and credit is given to you for working out the details. I just wanted to start from the basics, making sure the reg file is correct first and I suspected it should work when applied when first logged on. The HKCU reg hive maps to HKU\S-1-5-21-SID so you can usually just go directly to HKCU and export the key from there when you're loggon on as that user.

I assume you imported the Favorites subkey which relates to the pinned items in the Start Menu. Have you tried importing the key to a clean Start Menu, to make sure the key is correctly applied? And havc you tried importing it on first logon?

winnt.sif: If you use Arabic version of Windows XP, then it probably comes with complex script built-in, so adding 13 in LanguageGroup may not be needed. Reference: http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev/referen...xp/xp-lcid.mspx

It looks like it's also the method the Run command control userpasswords2 uses at least in Win XP SP2. I tested this method in two machines and DefaultPassword is absent in the registry key. Good piece of work your program!

Just to confirm: I bought that HD enclosure and a SG SATA2 300G HD yesterday and the enclosure connected via USB 2 to my laptop (with no SATA) with no problem.

The Recovery Console's bootcfg /rebuild command should do it for you nicely. I've done this more than once. It's not necessary to delete the existing boot.ini or to modify its attribute. The bootcfg will just take care of it. Just follow the prompts. In situations like this I always favour the least complicated approach and the RC will be the best option. Using WinPE or Linux is just to complicate things unnecessarily for the non-expert user.

Did you name the file svcpack.ini rather than svcpack.inf?

What if you just remove the CD?

laura is correct. Not sure on this one: need to include Turkic support? LanguageGroup = 1, 6

Thanks for your reply!

The Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications application download appeared in SE Asia at the beginning of March and surprised a lot of users there. It does have an entry in Add or Remove Prog but under it (and the EULA) it says you cannot uninstall it.

Is it alright to add an external SATA HD with a SATA HD enclosure via USB 2 to my PC which has no SATA support? This is the one I have in mind: http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/Vantec%20Nexstar%203/ Of course I'll be confined to using USB and not eSATA. And would the SATA enclousre accept SATA2 drives? I suspect it'll work but want to be sure first before buying. Thanks.

Thanks for this very detailed guide. Just to put the comments all in one place: 1. MSICabExtract link needs updating (as in the other thread) 2. WGA: no hacked DLL needed (as in the other thread) 3. Step 5: WindowsMedia9-KB885492 now replaced by KB911565 4. STEP 7: when I tried both commands worked. But note this won't work in WinXP (it won't download), only in Win 2000. 5. STEP 8: CDROM_IS.5 for Server version. 6. STEP 8 and 12: boot.bin and mksiofs I notice the prog now uses boot.img and cdimage also. 7. STEP 8: Create a boot sector file I notice the prog could now do this for you. Two more suggestions: • STEP 9: not sure, but perhaps using Win 2003's ntldr and NTDETECT.COM would even be better than XP's? • Could the guide be made into a doc or pdf?

OK Thanks.

I've gone through part of your Feb 3 2006 file. Further modifications are necessary. My comments are preceded by ==>. ==> the hex values differ among machines (perhaps they store the value of your available RAM) so it won't be useful to import this without checking. ;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ;Disable Hibernate [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Power] "Heuristics"=hex:05,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,3f,42,0f,00 ==> these two entries are duplicated because of name change in SP2 ;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ;Internet Connection - Firewall (ICF) / Sharing (ICS) Service (Manual) ;----------------------------------------------------------------------- ;Set this service to the same setting used for Application Layer Gateway Service. ;Renamed Windows Firewall/ICS in XP SP2 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess] "Start"=dword:00000004 ;----------------------------------------------------------- ;Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) ;-------------------------------------------------- ;Provides network address translation, addressing, name resolution and/or intrusion ;prevention services for a home or small office network. ;XP SP2 only (previously Internet Connection Firewall (ICS)/Sharing (ICS) [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess] "Start"=dword:00000002 ;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ==> doubtful benefit, should be omitted altogether ;Increase IoPageLockLimit (disk cache) ; Note- Use the following settings depending on your system RAM: ;00020000 = 131072 KB (if RAM > 512 MB) ;00010000 = 65536 KB (if RAM > 256 MB) ;00008000 = 32768 KB (if RAM > 128 MB) ;00004000 = 16384 KB (if RAM > 64 MB) ;00002000 = 8192 KB (if RAM > 32 MB) ;00001000 = 4096 KB (if RAM < 32 MB) [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management] "IoPageLockLimit"=dword:00020000 ;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ;Disable kernel paging; Optimize Core System Performance ==> according to a recent thread, you'd need >>1GB (or 2GB) RAM to make good use of this [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management] "DisablePagingExecutive"=dword:00000001 ;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ;Adds Recycle Bin to MY Computer ==> Recycle Bin is present by default so only needed if deleted and you wish to restore it [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}] ;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ;set the power management settings ==> The hex values might differ even for the same power policy [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\PowerCfg] "CurrentPowerPolicy"="0" [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\PowerCfg\GlobalPowerPolicy] "Policies"=hex:01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,10,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,03,\ 00,00,00,10,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,03,00,\ 00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,01,00,00,\ 00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,04,00,00,c0,01,00,00,00,\ 04,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,0a,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,01,00,01,00,01,\ 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,\ 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,00,\ 00,12,00,00,00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\PowerCfg\PowerPolicies\0] "Name"="Home/Office Desk" "Description"="This scheme is suited to most home or desktop computers that are left plugged in all the time." "Policies"=hex:01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,00,\ 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,2c,01,00,00,32,32,00,03,04,00,00,00,04,00,\ 00,00,00,00,3d,77,2e,f2,07,00,b0,04,00,00,2c,01,00,00,8c,0a,00,00,58,02,00,\ 00,00,00,64,64,64,64,91,7c ;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ;Disable Windows Tour [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Tour] "RunCount"=dword:00000000 ==> this key is absent and therefore unnecessary [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Tour] "RunCount"=dword:00000000 ;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ;Disable Windows File Protection (Can also be done with Nlite or Using patched files) ==>modification of reg alone without NLite or patched file is insufficient [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon] "SFCSetting"=dword:ffffff9d "SFCDisable"=dword:ffffff9d ;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ;Make the Windows XP registration with Microsoft unnecessary ; ==> This is unnecessary as registration is never mandatory and has nothing to do with product activation [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion] "RegDone"="1" ;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ;Enable ClearType ==>(FontSmoothing: 0=do not use any method; 2=use standard or ClearType; ==> FontSmoothingType: 1=standard; 2=ClearType) [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop] "FontSmoothing"="2" "FontSmoothingType"=dword:00000002 ==> not necessary [HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop "FontSmoothing"="2" "FontSmoothingType"=dword:00000002 ;-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ;Show Hidden Files and Folders (1= Do not Show) [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced] "Hidden"=dword:00000001 ==> default: 2=do not show; 1=Show. so the above is incorrect EDIT: changed to codebox - tain

Thanks you're welcome. Do you mean: You have to run... Would you mind explaining the purpose of SET LNG? I can't find any more reference to this env variable outside the GET LANG section.

Fine. In reply to your pm query about prodspec.ini, the relevant entries are Windows 2000 Simplified Chinese version: Windows XP (Taiwanese version and Hong Kong version, both Traditional Chinese):

Under GET LANG section in HFSLIP_60220.cmd: According to the expanded folder of windowsupdateagent20-x86.exe, shouldn't Chinese(PRC) be SET LG=zhcn and Chinese(Taiwan) be SET LG=zhtw? The EULA in those folders are correct for the respective languages. And what's the purpose of SET LNG?

Many thanks for your clarification. (The same revision would also apply to the WinXP/2003 article.)

I'm not clear: with the latest HFSLIP and WGA (no GWFSPIDGen.dll included), do I still need the "hacked DLL in the FIX folder", as outlined in the guide http://www.vorck.com/2ksp5.html ? The DLL link on this forum no longer exists. What DLL is that? Please clarify, thanks!

Are you referring to ownership of folders after you created a new owner (having seen the access denied error)? That is not necessarily the same as being an admin. Non-admin can also own folders. If so then go to the folder's security tab (in Safe Mode) and add the new owner's name to the ACE. This new owner should have the permission (Full Control/Read/Write) as you desire. But for file sharing, in XP HE, you can only use SFS.

You can connect the HD to another PC as slave and backup your folder.

I've done something similar but slightly differently. │---C (XP, NTFS)---│---C (WinME, FAT32)---│ I use Partition Magic loaded from DOS (or multi-boot CD) to hide/unhide the XP or WinME partition (both primary). The WinME is only temporary and I don't want any boot manager.

1. Is the Administrator account still called Administrator? 2. What does it have under this key? HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion RegisteredOwner