Gurgelmeyer

CatRoot stores all the digitally signed .cat files which contain the MD5/SHA1 checksums of most unsigned files. Here's an example: c:\winnt\system32\ie4uinit.exe does not contain a digital signature - actually very few files in Windows do. The checksum (MD5 or SHA1) of this file is listed inside NT5.CAT. Generally, .cat files are - roughly speaking - nothing more than lists of checksums! The NT5.CAT file is however digitally signed by Microsoft. So: when Windows needs to verify if ie4uinit.exe is authentic, it computes the checksum of ie4uinit.exe, and searches all .cat files for this checksum. If the checksum appears in ANY installed .cat file, AND that .cat file has a valid digital signature from Microsoft, Windows will consider ie4uinit.exe to be authentic ("signed"). That's basically how it works NT5INF.CAT and NT5.CAT are mirrored in the dllcache btw. Another important thing is, that just copying .cat files to the CatRoot will not install them. If you want to really lose the CatRoot you'll have to be very sure that all signature checking in Windows is effectively disabled. Also you should be aware of "exception packages". An exception package is a set of files which includes a .cat file and an .inf file which does the installation. They are called exception packages because they use the device driver installer to install files which are not device drivers at all. Installation will fail if the .cat file cannot be installed. Most hotfixes for 9x and NT4 are exception packages, usually wrapped up as a Type2 hotfix. Generally, most Type2 hotfixes contain exception packages, so those won't install without a CatRoot unless you unpack them and remove all references to .cat's from the .inf files. Gurgelmeyer B)

@-I- - Yep - you should get the MSURP1-v2 + every update you can get your hands on

@-I- That's what is special about the USP 5 - it contains >300 bugfixes which cannot be dl'ed directly. Some are cumulative, so roughly 5-700 bugs are fixed (probably closer to 700 than to 500). It also contains the publicly available fixes of course. @hoak - Thanks Actually this is what I do for fun whenever I find the time to work on it. I find it very rewarding to do work which may benefit so many people B)

USP 5.0 includes the MSURP1 too. I removed three files from MSURP1, which are intended for DRM and has never been part of W2K, because I don't think it's a wise decision from MS to introduce a new kernel mode driver in an OS only 3 days before mainstream support for that OS ends. MSURP1 shows up on WU because MS really wants you to have those DRM-support files - but I won't push them down your throat in USP 5

Yep Sry to keep ya all waiting, BUT I'll hold back SR-1 a few more days because I need to include some more hotfixes. Trust me, those fixes are worth waiting for. Once again, I'm really sorry to keep you all waiting, but I'm a perfectionist - I can't help it I'm afraid Best regards, Gurgelmeyer B)

IE6 is in USP 5.1 - it will be released this month B)

PS @Onlygains - if you still got problems, find your original w2k CD (the one with the hologram ), and integrate USP5 before you integrate anything else. The test-packages are not suitable for slipstreaming. Just install them when w2k is set up. @trickytwista - Yes, USP 5.0 is cumulative and includes SP4. @-I- - what next? You'll have to send me the updates, and I'll build a USP for you - no big deal I think But let me know when you got the ones you want. Gurgelmeyer B)

Hi I'm pleased to announce that USP 5.0 SR-1 will be released within 24 hours - so if anyone are considering to dl the current version with a modem, they should wait, or they should download from RyanVMs place, which is still http://sp5.ryanvm.net I've been VERY busy with 5.0 SR-1 for the past week. USP 5 SR-1 will contain a few more security updates, and many new or rebuilt non-security bugfixes from MS. This might be the last USP 5.0 release for a very long time, because I'll dedicate my time to USP 5.1 for the next few weeks. Best regards, Gurgelmeyer B)

Okay then - here's the complete unabbreviated list of fixes that I feed to my sp-builder - those are all going to be in the USP5.0 SR-1. The IE/OE fixes (four of them) are for the built-in IE501SP5 / OE55SP2. The urp1 builds 1021, 1028, 1032 are needed. kb180410-v2 kb285369 kb310526 kb318253 kb323074 kb324007 kb324183 kb324446 kb328237 kb328468 kb328504 kb329433 kb812024 kb812419 kb812944 kb813056 kb813130 kb815295 kb815316 kb815473 kb815767 kb816134 kb816255 kb816560 kb816627 kb816813 kb816972 kb817184 kb817298 kb817354 kb817416 kb817429 kb817446 kb817465 kb817472 kb817478 kb817534 kb817771 kb818043 kb818129 kb818173 kb818204 kb818323 kb818349 kb818383 kb818455 kb818523 kb818528 kb818603 kb818635 kb818704 kb818740 kb818801 kb818875 kb819019 kb819111 kb819249 kb819628 kb819629 kb819636 kb819653 kb819716 kb819745 kb819753 kb819876 kb820158 kb820199 kb820227 kb820525 kb820550 kb820604 kb820612 kb820622 kb820765 kb820767 kb820841 kb820888 kb821102 kb821107 kb821151 kb821225 kb821290 kb821308 kb821394 kb821449 kb821739 kb821887 kb822226 kb822255 kb822360 kb822402 kb822428 kb822554 kb822563 kb822618 kb822831 kb822834 kb823146 kb823182 kb823272 kb823314 kb823353 kb823442 kb823447 kb823459 kb823485 kb823537 kb823559 kb823644 kb823658 kb823747 kb823748 kb823754 kb823767 kb824025 kb824105 kb824151 kb824288 kb824301 kb824302 kb824309 kb824375 kb824390 kb824413 kb824428 kb824602 kb824679 kb824832 kb824910 kb825027 kb825119 kb825390 kb825673 kb825760 kb826026 kb826133 kb826232 kb826270 kb826289 kb826322 kb826374 kb826518 kb826820 kb826978 kb827078 kb827181 kb827350 kb827479 kb827507 kb827531 kb827648 kb827660 kb827825 kb827878 kb828035 kb828047 kb828206 kb828294 kb828297 kb828326 kb828346 kb828514 kb828603 kb828741 kb828749 kb828942 kb829116 kb829427 kb829485 kb829558 kb829730 kb830176 kb830268 kb830407 kb830490 kb830515 kb830599 kb830852 kb831375 kb831739 kb831895 kb832145 kb832723 kb832821 kb833155 kb833865 kb834128 kb834423 kb834806 kb834878 kb835312 kb835365 kb835465 kb835730-v2 kb835732 kb836143 kb836163 kb836506 kb836726 kb836740 kb836760 kb837001 kb837020 kb837196 kb837239 kb837384 kb837385 kb837431 kb837439 kb837640 kb837696 kb837731 kb837754 kb837789 kb837841 kb837903 kb838039 kb838417 kb838804 kb838989 kb839037 kb839161 kb839228 kb839406 kb839429 kb839643 kb839645 kb839919 kb840049 kb840136 kb840315 kb840416 kb840629 kb840670 kb840837 kb840883 kb840916 kb840987 kb840999 kb841029 kb841031 kb841054 kb841151 kb841356 kb841382 kb841395 kb841533 kb841872 kb841873 kb841880 kb842222 kb842394 kb842526 kb842933 kb843125 kb843194 kb843249 kb843261-v3 kb867429 kb867567 kb867818 kb871250 kb872765 kb872771 kb872790 kb872799 kb872955 kb873333 kb873339 kb873343-v2 kb873405 kb873407 kb873437 kb883114 kb883528 kb884047 kb884536 kb884562-v2 kb884583 kb884875 kb885250 kb885835 kb885836 kb885863 kb885927 kb886765-v2 kb887797 kb887811 kb888000 kb888113 kb888607 kb889081 kb890046 kb890047 kb890175 kb890188 kb890346 kb890466 kb890579 kb890859 kb890946 kb890953 kb891069 kb891714 kb891781 kb891861-bld1021 kb891861-bld1032 kb891861-bld1038 kb891861-v2 kb892047 kb892137 kb892211 kb892294 kb892494 kb892598 kb892929 kb892944 kb893066 kb893066-v2 kb893086 kb893354 kb893380 kb893605 kb893611 kb893756 kb894083 kb894194 kb894320 kb894391 kb894463 kb894869 kb895177-v2 kb895266 kb895900 kb896358 kb896422 kb896423 kb896712 kb896720 kb896727 kb897697-v2 kb897715 kb898064 kb899587 kb899588 kb899591 kb900623 kb901214 kb904374

PS - Yes - I'll look into localized versions as well. But atm I still haven't got the time. Whould it be cool to localize the USP 5.1 Standard Edition only? Many of the components I plan to include in the Extreme Edition are only available in English anyway.

Hi everyone Thanks for your many kind words - much appreciated Here's the plan: - I compiled USP 5.0 SR-1 (Service Release 1) two days ago, and I'm in the process of testing it. 10-12 brand new or rebuilt hotfixes - plus the msurp1-v2 - have been added. I'll have to cover the upgrade scenario from USP 5.0 as well. It should be ready some time next week. - MS already properly removed the MSJVM from W2K - and I'm not going to add it to any USP. However I intend to wrap up MSJVM 3810 in a separate package, which may be installed or slipstreamed. - I do not intend to include any third party software in USP 5.1 - only possible exception might be the Extreme Edition, but it's not likely. I'll work my way through this whole thread and collect all the suggested components and have a look at them. - When USP 5.0 SR-1 has been released, I'll finish USP 5.1 Basic Edition and publish USP 5.1 RC1 for testing. It should be ready later this month. Hope you guys will do me the honer of testing it Best regards, Gurgelmeyer B)

@slippykillsticks - Thanks Wonder if the MSURP1 will be reissued today

Try with a \ rather than a / [SetupHotfixesToRun] java\javainstall.exe

Yep - navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer in regedit, and change the first digit in "Version" and "W2kVersion" to 6. Install MSN Messenger, and change it back to 5. Gurgelmeyer

@dirtwarrior - I posted my initial conserns in your thread. Actually, I'll encourage anyone who knows about this to lend a hand to dirtwarrior, because he's doing a very special project Here is the thread: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=55494 @slippykillsticks - Yep - that's why I moved all the "XP-ish" stuff to USP 5.1 Extreme Edition (EE). It will be fun to make EE when the time comes, but I don't wanna include too much XP stuff, because Microsoft will definately not like that. I respect Microsofts intellectual property, copyright, and stuff like that very much. But don't worry - there's plenty of cool stuff for the EE. Status on Basic edition: - Large IDE available from text mode setup - some folks have been doing some tests for me, and the "EnableBigLBA" setting makes it behave exactly like XP does, so it doesn't seem to have caveats. - IE6/OE6/WAB/SE56 are fully integrated (haven't done the update.inf yet, so it only slipstreams atm - but I'll do that later on). Moving on to - MDAC 2.8 SP1 / XML2,3,4 etc. (hope MSSQL runs on MDAC 2.8 SP1) - MSI 3.1, BITS 2.0, WUv6 active X Best regards Gurgelmeyer B)

DOWNLOAD MIRROR IS AVAILABLE http://sp5.ryanvm.net/ Thanks, Ryan

@-I- - Yep - but I think dirtwarrior is working on a special project Anyway, it would be cool to do a driver pack for 2k.

AFAIK the HAL is used by all device drivers to access all hardware. Actually I think it would be easier to start out with the 2k drivers, and then move or update the drivers you want group by group, including all necessary inf's for that device group, and update dosnet, txtsetup, drvindex, and maybe even syssetup and layout. One device class you don't want to move is the Base class, but you might want all the drivers from the Display class, the Multimedia class etc. I've never seen a display driver for xp that didn't work in 2k. Gurgelmeyer B) PS - yes - this is complicated - very complicated

Yes - this is a feature, so you can print on your local printers from the ts session. It can be switched off somewhere - I think it's a group policy setting. Gurgelmeyer B)

@dirtwarrior - I guess you'd end up with something very messy. You'd have to at least include the HAL's and the KERNEL32.DLL and the likes. Anyone ever tried to switch the NT kernel? @Electrician - thanks - that's how I read the article too. I've decided not to add >127GB IDE to USP 5.0 (the unbloated USP), but endeed to add it to USP 5.1. Btw USP 5.1 is coming along nicely B)

Seeing as large HD support was added in SP3 and this is a cumulative SP5 then it will be yes <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Should I add it to USP 5.0 then? It's not complicated at all - it's just not enabled by default in SP3/4/5

@dirtwarrior - Large IDE will be in 5.1 (all editions), and any GUI enhancements will (probably) be in 5.1 "extreme edition" only. Hope to figure out how the W2k built-in application patcher works, in which case explorer.exe etc. can be patched in-memory - that would be sweet, wouldn't it @-I- - Don't think a txtsetup mod is quite enough to enable quick formatting - it seems not to be implemented in the w2k version of usetup.exe (aka system32\smss.exe - they are identical.) You can replace those with the xp ones, but that's not enough Btw, I'll add a proper version and build number at the bottom of the AUTORUN.HTM file Stay cool B)

That's quite a few dl's There might be some good news about a mirror site soon Also, I'm now up to date with all August hotfixes (not just the WU ones) - a big thank you to you-know-who-yor-are - only waiting for MS the reissue the URP1 before I build USP 5.0 SR-1

Hi @canuckerfan - Yes. USP5 is cumulative and includes all previous service packs, 300 bugfixes (all known issues are in fact fixed), MS URP1, and several security updates. You may install it on w2k Gold/SP1/SP2/SP3/SP4 or update a Gold/SP1/SP2/SP3/SP4 image. @alexanrs - No digital signatures are broken in USP 5.0. This means that no hacked files or reg tweaks are installed. Only authentic Microsoft files and the .cat's to vouch for them. So you need to apply the sweet little >256 fix yourself @x243 - It is also possible to wrap up WMP9 with IExpess and install if from svcpack.inf

Sure - Copy your W2K CD to a folder - C:\W2K - Expand the USP5 .zip file into a folder - C:\USP5 - Run the following command: C:\USP5\W2ksp5.exe /integrate:C:\W2K - Delete the old C:\W2K\SUPPORT folder - Copy the C:\USP5\SUPPORT to C:\W2K\SUPPORT (if you want to - they are updated) Write it all back on a new CD - remember to make it bootable The current USP is 5.0 - it "only" contains ~300 hotfixes (some of which are cumulative too, so the actual number is problably closer to 500). Best regards Gurgelmeyer