dougiefresh

If you built a version of BartPE and had (let's say) an AutoIT script within the BartPE install prompt for all the information, THEN launched the Windows installer for XP, wouldn't that allow the installer to proceed fully unattended? AutoIT can edit INI files, so that editing a WINNT.SIF shouldn't be problematic.....

Try using AutoIt for this solution. I use it to craft unattended solutions to software that won't install unattendedly, or won't install like I want it to unattendedly. AutoIt might work for this particular problem, but I don't have a wireless card in my hardware collection so I would not be able to craft a script for you.

Go into the registry and navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.BMP and take note of what the association is that the .BMP extension is linked to. In mine, it is linked to Paint.Picture. So I would navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Paint.Picture, and under DefaultIcon key, modify the default value for this registry key to whatever icon you want to represent this extension. Under Shell subkey is where all the commands to call external commands are stored (not sure about special extensions, though). Shell\Open\Command is where the command to start handling the file you double-clicked on is stored. I hope this helps! EDIT: Sorry.... forgot that this is the UNATTENDED section. Make sure you export the registry changes for the section you are editing so that the registry file you created can be imported.

Probably stupid question here...... Why would this be necessary?

Have you looked at NTFS for Windows 98? EDIT: My bad.... Read-only version is downloadable!

Doh! I should have thought of that! (OH-KAY!!! I'm stupid ) Thanks!

Cool! Didn't know that there was going to be a C++ version........

How about the idea, Bashrat the Sneaky? Do you like the idea?

One thing I've done, especially with graphics drivers, is go to the source! I'm using a nVidia GeForce4 MX440 card and get my drivers directly from nVidia Drivers Software page. Microsoft releases another version for use through Windows Update, but performance ALWAYS sucks. Intel drivers are generally on par with Microsoft WU site drivers, but the hardware sucks anyway. Hope this suggestion helps!

Can't say I blame you. Using XP Pro seems easier than trying to make it work, but Dell will only support XP Home on this machine since my machine came with XP Home. Serves me right for not spending the extra money, but (sigh) oh well! Thanks for the link!!! Will look into this idea further. (Sorry, didn't mean to be lazy........ I should be searched myself, but I thought since you brought it up, you might have meant to put the link in originally and had it on hand!)

I finally found my solution: change Address Book file location within registry! I finally searched the registry and found the path that refers to the Address Book file and modified and repatched the registry. Here's the reg file: Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WAB\WAB4\Wab File Name] @="d:\\backup\\Address Book\\owner.wab" (where d:\\backup\\Address Book\\ is the location of the "backup" file.) Copied the Address Book to the backup directory and delete the original after testing. Now I can make sure my Address Book stays up to date! Why I didn't think of this earlier is beyond me...... Thanks everybody! @InTheWayBoy: No, you're not a moron. I completely understand being tired. I appreciate the answer though. Made me think about other solutions to tackle the problem...... Thanks for your contribution! @Takeshi: I wanted something that was completely automated upon shutdown. Won't have to double-click anything and/or keep users from properly logging off the system the normal way, you know. Thank you for the idea. I do appreciate it! Oh, by the way, I didn't see a link to the installation instructions. Perhaps you would post it. It might come in useful in the future. There might be other things utilizing GPEDIT.MSC that I might be interested in....

I hadn't considered a log-in script. It would give me the ability to back up the Address Book on my machine, but if I make changes to it and the system crashes and is not bootable, then what? I need my Address Book to be current and ............... (light bulb popping on above my head) Task Scheduler? I guess I could also create a task that occurs every so often....... Log-out script still would be a great thing. I have Startup Control Panel installed on my machine. Very useful program!!! I am able to create CMD and 4NT batch files, as well as AutoIT v2.64 and v3 scripts. Thank you, InTheWayBoy!!! Unfortunately, this wasn't what I was looking for, but it gave my a few ideas.

I have XP Home Edition and read that running GPEDIT.MSC, you can set up a logout script that will run every time that the user logs out. My purpose is to backup the address book on my computer in the event that the OS partition is screwed up by viruses, spyware, computer crashes, etc, etc, etc. XP Home doesn't have GPEDIT.MSC......... I have a copy of XP Pro, which does have the files. Any ideas on either installation of these files OR the addition of registry entries to run the logout script? Replies with info would be appreciated. (P.S.: I have searched for this information and only found information with GPEDIT.MSC) HHHHEEEELLLLPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then format drive D: just before you begin your application installs in your batch file.

I have very simple requirements. Don't even have another paint program......

Edited posting # 1 to work with v5.08.1. Pre-Edited code worked with v5.07.7 (me thinks). Have verified that the code works when RUN_ME.cmd is edited as specified using cmd-line parameters /U /GUI /DELETE, which is the parameters I required for my unattended integration. Also please note that the parameters can go in any order. /GUI /DELETE /U is as valid as /DELETE /U /GUI and my required usage. However, if you were to specify /DELETE /KEEP, it would keep the drivers, whereas /KEEP /DELETE would delete the drivers. This is because of the ORDER of the parameters that determines what setting is used. Omitting a parameter would result in the corresponding prompt(s).

Bashrat the Sneaky: I was wondering if you would make the ability for unattended integration for your DriverPacks. I looked at your last version (v5.08.1) of the integrator and replaced the start of the batch (RUN_ME.cmd in method 2) with: @ECHO OFF SET UNATTENDED=N SET OPT_KtD= SET OPT_GUI= :OPTION IF "%1"=="" GOTO BEGIN IF /I "%1"=="/U" GOTO UNATTEND IF /I "%1"=="/KEEP" GOTO KtD_N IF /I "%1"=="/DELETE" GOTO KtD_Y IF /I "%1"=="/GUI" GOTO GUI_Y IF /I "%1"=="/RUNONCE" GOTO GUI_N ECHO ERROR: Invalid Syntax. Parameters /U, /KEEP, /DELETE, /GUI and /RUNONCE supported only. GOTO FINISH :UNATTEND SET UNATTENDED=Y SHIFT GOTO OPTION :KtD_N SET OPT_KtD=N SHIFT GOTO OPTION :KtD_Y SET OPT_KtD=Y SHIFT GOTO OPTION :GUI_N SET OPT_GUI=N SHIFT GOTO OPTION :GUI_Y SET OPT_GUI=Y SHIFT GOTO OPTION :BEGIN TITLE Bashrat the Sneaky's DriverPacks Slipstreamer - STEP 3 and then replaced all instances of PAUSE with IF "%UNATTENDED%"=="N" PAUSE and at label SETTING_1, change the code to read: :Setting_1 IF "%OPT_GUI%"=="Y" GOTO CPLs_GUIRunOnce IF "%OPT_GUI%"=="N" GOTO CPLs_RunOnceEx and at label SETTING2, change the code to read: :Setting2 IF "%OPT_KTD%"=="Y" GOTO KTD_Enable IF "%OPT_KTD%"=="N" GOTO KTD_Disable and at the end of the batch file, add :FINISH Unfortunately, I am having difficulty with the IF (or maybe FOR?) command syntax in order to seperate a number from a switch, like /ID=937. Maybe someone can figure out how to code this..... or suggest something? EDIT: Note: (takes place after label CPLs_RunOnceEx) This way the integration will proceed unattended when the parameters are given on the command-line. I hope this idea is useable. (Edited post for clarity)

Have you tried updating the BIOS? That might help... The only other thing I can think of is a defective board.... I encountered a similar situation when I installed a Adaptec SATA card into my dad's computer. Computer never did boot into the hard drive attached to the BIOS. I think because the card didn't support it. Maybe that's the situation with your mobo. Hope this helps!

Cool........ (moping around) But I want it now! (stopped moping) Ok, I'll continue to look into this issue and see if either I or anyone else comes up with a solution! If I come up with anything, I'll post it! Thanks Bâshrat the Sneaky! EDIT: Looked at DEVCON real closely. Removed my inactive onboard video controller and ran "DEVCON RESCAN" on the computer. It re-detected the video controller. Maybe this is part of the solution? EDIT2: I'm attaching the DEVCON program to this message. Hopefully, it'll help....... devcon.rar

Well, that would work....... Here's my problem, though: My DriverPack CD is 603mb COMPRESSED! I've got a single driver pack for HP printers that weighs in at 196mb by itself! To decompress the driver packs would require more than 1 CD in order to do this, and would require CD exchanges in order to get all drivers installed. What I am hoping for is a way to decompress the DriverPacks onto the hard drive and then install the drivers. I realize that installing them off the CD would be easiest, but how do I figure out which devices (if any) need new (or any) drivers? I realize that I could delete the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum. The last time I tried that solution was during a motherboard swap in a computer running Win9x/ME. It screwed up more than it fixed within the operating system. I REALLY don't want to deal with a f#$ked-up registry in addition to attempting to install any driver packs. Any ideas? EDIT: My current method of using this DriverPack CD would be in a dual CD-based system. My multi-boot DVD has these packs as well and will not have this problem! But, short of re-installing Windows XP, I don't know of any way to install them! EDIT2: Did I mention that this should be completely unattended?

Is there any way to install the DriverPacks into a pre-existing Windows XP installation without re-installing Windows XP? I've got a program called DEVCON.EXE, but I'm not sure if this program will even do what needs to be done. I guess I could write an AutoIT script, but.............. Any ideas?

I had WinME come with my computer and had a #$@#-load of problems with it. I installed it on another computer (different cd and key) and had #$@#-load of problems with it. Windows ME sucks! Go to XP!

EDIT: Thought better of my comment.................

The thing is that some CD/DVD writers like some media and not others. So, whatever brand the first CD-R you used was, your CD-R writer obviously didn't like it. Your old HP CD-RW may not have liked the Kodak CD-Rs either. I personally use Imation CD-Rs. Verbatim is also a good brand for me, too! My recommendation would be to try a completely different brand, such as Imation. I wish you much luck!

128mb is ok unless you run Norton Systemworks. Sysworks is a memory hog. 256mb is my recommended minimum. Of couse, anything greater is always better. EDIT: 500Mhz machines suck, but will do if the need arises.