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ISOHaven

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Posts posted by ISOHaven

    Win8 autounattend.xml skip product key

    in Unattended Windows 8/Server 2012

    Posted

     

    t0mNight you simply need to insert a key been in the exact same situation if you want to activate using the BIOS key input the key in the xml as XXXXX-XXXX this way you are informing it to use the BIOS key i do this on a daily basis and it works.

     

    You do not need to input all X's.  The problem you guys are having is that you are trying to "skip" it.  That's not possible.  You need to let the product key process run.  When it runs it will pick up the key in the BIOS.  Specifing for it to never run or to show errors will cause it to error out.  Just leave the Key field blank and tell it to ALWAYS show.  If there's a BIOS key to be found you will never see the CD Key window, it will in fact proceed unattended.

     

    <UserData>

        <ProductKey>

            <Key></Key>

            <WillShowUI>Always</WillShowUI>

        </ProductKey>

        <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>

    </UserData>

    Removing ProductKey altogether as the OP has done will also throw out an error.

    0

    Start Is Back - 2.1 release

    in StartIsBack+

    Posted

    lmao.

     

    The idea is that you get SiB into the hands of students who otherwise would be uninterested in it.

     

    I am personally a student, but I also own a SiB license. I've tried other Start menu replacements, but SiB is far far superior. The cost is not prohibitive by any means.

     

     

    The goal would be to get SiB into the hands of corporate IT managers, using new hires from college as the vector. Tihiy could then gain licenses for deploying it across an entire IT infrastructure as it upgrades to Windows 8/8.1/9 inevitably. The current marketing strategy focuses primarily on individual consumers who are unsatisfied with Windows 8's lack of a start menu, and less on corporations who are reluctant to make the switch to Windows 8 despite its advantages. I feel like there's a lot more money available in the corporate market, due to sheer volume.

     

    Unfortunately I highly doubt many "corporations" will go with this.  I tried when we were all Win8 and they just wouldn't bite with 8.1 right around corner which solved most no menu problems.  Then once they saw the new start menu in Win9 that pretty much killed it completely.

    1

    Start Is Back - 2.1 release

    in StartIsBack+

    Posted

    I registered.  Found out they had nothing but NT4.0 classes.  NT4.0 was on it's way out the door then realized my diploma would be something that actually expired.  I wasn't about to pay 40+ grand for that (today around 100k+).  Now I have well over 10 years experience under my belt which is worth way more than a diploma in this field.

    Experience AND a diploma....I would hate those people except they're STILL paying off their student loans.  Poor bastards....oh....now I get it.  Yeah, they need a freebie handout.

    0

    Start Is Back - 2.1 release

    in StartIsBack+

    Posted · Edited by ISOHaven

    Hey everyone!!! Been a long time! I wont bore anyone with the details as to why I disppeared. How you been Tihiy?

    Anywho, came across this error message every time I go to add/remove policy templates:

    Resource '$(string.SUPPORTED_Win8Only)' referenced in attribute displayName could not be found.

    Line 11, column 89

    Looks to be refering to this line:

    <definition name="SUPPORTED_Win8Only" displayName="$(string.SUPPORTED_Win8Only)" />

    EDIT:

    Bleh, never fails! Always find an answer after posting. Somehow the ADML file became corrupt. After fixing it the problem went away.

    0

    Start Is Back - 2.1 release

    in StartIsBack+

    Posted · Edited by ISOHaven

    It doesn't pick up the user pic. Here's my login code for populating the user pic:

    I've added legacy userpic loading (if domain joined only). The rest of Windows 8 does not pick it though; i guess there should be some new tool for setting picture via .accountpicture-ms.

    If there is I've not found it yet. Why the FRACK MS hasn't added domain support to the (temp) local account with domain joins is driving a lot of us in IT absolutely mad. What's weird though is my domain account on all my 2012 servers DO have my admin pic for the login but only when doing RDP....WTF!?!?!?! Get your crap together MS!

    EDIT:

    Duh.... Forgot to mention it works now. Picked up the domain user pick with no problems!

    0

    Start Is Back - 2.1 release

    in StartIsBack+

    Posted

    Good thing you reminded, because i did it not the way Windows 7 does. Please test the prototype on Windows 8 with customized network userpic.

    It doesn't pick up the user pic. Here's my login code for populating the user pic:

    $username=$env:username
    $domain=$env:userdomain
    $temp=$env:temp
    $photo = ([ADSISEARCHER]“samaccountname=$($username)”).findone().properties.thumbnailphoto
    if($photo -eq $null){
    $command = “\\DOMAIN\netlogon\pictures\usertile.exe $domain\$username \\DOMAIN\netlogon\pictures\default.jpg”
    } else {
    $photo | set-content $temp\$domain+$username.jpg -Encoding byte
    $command = “\\DOMAIN\netlogon\pictures\usertile.exe $domain\$username $temp\$domain+$username.jpg”
    }
    cmd /c $command

    And here is the source for usertile.exe:

    using System;
    using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

    namespace TilePicture
    {
        class Program
        {
            [DllImport("shell32.dll", EntryPoint = "#262", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, PreserveSig = false)]
            public static extern void SetUserTile(string username, int whatever, string picpath);

            [STAThread]
            static void Main(string[] args)
            {
                SetUserTile(args[0], 0, args[1]);
            }
        }
    }

    0

    Start Is Back - 2.1 release

    in StartIsBack+

    Posted

    StartIsBack should support Windows 8.1.

    You can check out the prototype of the redone Start Menu, which i was working on hard the past few weeks.

    It's not for Windows 8.1 though. It's for Windows 7. Oh the irony...

    Whoa! That's awesome! Outstanding work!

    User pic will be one of the hardest. If you wind up implementing your own way of adding the pic then it'll break all sorts of network/domain stuff.

    0

    Start Is Back - 2.1 release

    in StartIsBack+

    Posted

    I heard the Start Button will only bring up Metro/Start Screen, not the classic Start Menu, which is a fail move from Microsoft. Why are they so hesitant and stubborn about this, according to them "nobody uses the Start Menu"... epic fail there Microsoft.

    I too would like to know if StartIsBack will continue support Windows 8.1. To me 8.1's reintroduction of Start button is just changing the button left hot corner to a physical button on the taskbar and nothing more. What I need is the Start menu!

    The author has already replied to this topic. Nothing will be done/said or looked at until a REAL supported preview has been released to the general public.

    Just sit tight.

    0

    Start Is Back - 2.1 release

    in StartIsBack+

    Posted

    If I might add, a huge difference to me operationally is that SiB's search field works uses Window's on by default indexing - which is much faster, and Classic Shell uses it's own search mechanism, which is much slower. I'm sure this is a happy side effect of SiB using the remaining Start Menu code and/or re-implemented code which was removed in W8, but I feel that this is worth calling attention to.

    OT: Sorry I've been so vacant from these forums lately, but my fiance and I moved in together a couple months ago and we've both started new jobs. We're also getting married at the end of November so that planning saps some time too, but it's good to be busy and life is good if you know what I mean! :)

    OT: Gongrats!!!!

    0

    Start Is Back - 2.1 release

    in StartIsBack+

    Posted

    Hello to all, hopefully i wont bother you to much with my question, i have been looking for a solution for converting W8, it seems SIB may be the best , but i have also been recommended to use classicshell(.net) and i wonder what the difference is between it and SIB?

    Also, how easily doe SIB uninstall ?

    In reading through most of this thread i noticed that it was suggested that individuals download and install the latest version, i am wondering if there is a way to integrate and auto-update of sorts into the functionality. that said, how often are new versions released?

    Thank you !

    The main difference is...SiB uses the actual Start Menu code that is left in Windows 8. So you are getting a more authentic solution. My suggestion to you (if you want to check them both out) is to install classicshell. Check it out then uninstall it. Then install SiB and check it out as well. When you'll be a first hand informed user on both. I say to install SiB second because I'm 99% sure you wont be uninstalling it to go back to classic shell :)

    At any rate, SiB uninstalls just fine so no worries.

    0

    Start Is Back - 2.1 release

    in StartIsBack+

    Posted

    Hi,

    Is it possible to configure StartIsBack so that program sub-folders are listed before individual program items ?

    I know the thread is pretty long now however that was already discussed. The end result was no, the way it is now is how Win7 handles it and it's how it will remain. But that maybe an option will pop up later.

    0

    Start Is Back - 2.1 release

    in StartIsBack+

    Posted

    Under "C:\Program Files (x86)\StartIsBack\Orbs"....all I see is the square windows orb. Where can we snag the default orb before it's gone forever?

    I'll provide it later since it will be very requested. Please let's not make a gazillion of posts about where to get it.

    Awesome, thanks!!!

    0

    Start Is Back - 2.1 release

    in StartIsBack+

    Posted

    Version 2.1RC1

    http://www.startisback.com/StartIsBack_setupRC.exe

    New:

    - Option to show taskbar on the Start Screen. When enabled, taskbar is available on the Start Screen. It's also recolored to match Metro color.

    Supports auto-hide and secondary taskbars. Hot corners which are overlapped by taskbar on Start Screen behave like configured to behave on desktop.

    - "Pin to Start menu" is available in all programs context menus, not just in File Explorer

    - Excluded shortcuts for system shortcuts available in right pane from MFU (Run, Control Panel, etc)

    - Multiple activations of the same license key is possible on same Windows installation but different hardware (to handle VMWare Fusion / Parallels Desktop)

    If you want to downgrade from this release, please uninstall it first.

    IMPORTANT

    I've received a request from Microsoft to remove start button orbs which contain Windows logo.

    This means Version 2.1 release must have all different orbs. I'm looking for a good designer to create a good-looking replacement start button picture.

    Awesome! Checking it out now.

    Under "C:\Program Files (x86)\StartIsBack\Orbs"....all I see is the square windows orb. Where can we snag the default orb before it's gone forever?

    0


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