mark strelecki

Take it from someone whose done over a thousand clean installs over the last twenty years: Disconnect any and all devices EXCEPT the keyboard, mouse and monitor, before booting up and running setup. No USB stuff, no printers, no external ANYTHING, especially drives! Set BIOS to boot from the HD you want as C FIRST. Be certain it has an ACTIVE partition, preferably occupying the entire drive. Then use whichever key gets you to the one-time boot menu (on my Dells it's F12, on my AMD box it's F11, etc.) to select the CD/DVD drive with the XP setup files. You'll only do this the one time, then let setup reboot to the HD after the initial textmode file copy. That's the way I do it and it's worked consistently, although your particular hardware environment may introduce other variables. After setup is complete, you can reconnect all that external stuff one device at a time and let them configure completely. Best luck to you, with greets from Atlanta, GA. USA.

That looks like a CPU ID to me.....

"QUESTION: On the new computer can I install the slipstreamed Windows Pro I've already made from one of the other boxed non-oem Windows XP Pro disks, then register that with Miscrosft using the COA from the Windows XP Pro OEM version (Dell)?" ANSWER: No. Product keys are specific to each version, so OEM keys will not work with non-OEM media. I learned this years ago while beta testing MS OS products. Do a Google search for details on the innards of a file called SETUPP.INI and see if that might help you a bit. Good to see you're making a grand effort to stay on the right side of the licensing fence. Good luck to you now and in the New Year.

There was a time (long ago, now) that I also removed LOTS of services and stuff when I made an nLite install DVD. But I discovered that it was very difficult to put something back after the fact, so I adopted a new approach. Simply turn OFF the services you think you don't want, and if there's a problem during testing/deployment, simply alter the settings of the service and go on about your business. Because I incorporate Bashrat's way-cool Driver Packs in my installation media, I long ago surpassed what could fit on a "lowly" CD and moved up to bigger and better DVD+R discs. This move made the removal of lotsa stuff from XP unnecessary (there was NO WAY I could get it all on CD-R), so I began merely turning stuff off (I do, however remove all foreign keyboards, 'cuz I'll never use 'em) and I get a working install every time. nLite has revolutionized the way we install and configure Windows 2000, XP, and Server 2003, and has singlehandedly extended the lifespan of this family by many, many years. Thank you, Nuhi. You are a godsend to the slaving masses of IT and techie personnel the world over. Oh yes. Merry Christmas to all, and happy holidays, too. Best wishes from a long-time nLite user in Atlanta, GA. USA.

Here are a few great resources to help you learn how to setup port forwarding on your new router: http://portforward.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_forwarding http://www.practicallynetworked.com/suppor...er_help_pg4.htm It will be of much better help to the rest of us who lurk and help if we knew the specifics of your hardware, make, model, firmware revision, etc. You can get a TON of helpful links by going to this Google search page: http://www.google.com/search?as_q=router+p...s=&safe=off Good luck, and remember to "pay it forward" by helping someone else along the way. Good night from Atlanta, GA. USA

Two things come to mind: The error message says the file has not been copied correctly - this could be a media issue and I have seen many CD/DVD read problems. Perhaps burning the disk at a slower speed will help, also consider cleaning the drive you're reading the disk on. The other part of the error says the file is not valid, meaning WFP (Windows File Protection) is at work preventing the use of your altered logonui. I usually build WinXP CD/DVDs with WFP turned OFF to avoid problems like this one. Logonui is one of the files you REALLY need to have a reason to modify - usually done to avoid authentication issues. Please tell us what your goal is in using a modified logonui file? Thank you and good luck.

Thank you, Steven. Good show, man. It was a piece of cake to give them my name, email address and country of residence (not even an entire mailing address). I used StarOffice V6 and wanted to see what V7 was like, though OpenOffice 3 is coming in 2007..... Best wishes from Atlanta, GA USA. B)

B) Here's another piece of general housekeeping advice: Under the WINDOWS folder is a folder called PREFETCH. Delete all entries in that folder and reboot. Prefetch entries are created as the system is used and help determine load order and defragmentation placement. For better general performance, do what I do: Place your TEMP folders and swapfiles on a seperate physical drive from the boot/system drive for best performance. Be certain to use a swapfile/virtual memory, even with 2GB of some kickass-fast DDR2 RAM. Consider setting the swapfile to a Fixed Size (for you I'd use 4096MB, or 4GB). As mentioned, BootVis is a good tool to use when optimizing performance is your priority. Be sure that your mobo BIOS settings are conducive to the kinda speed you're seeking. Memory timing, SMART settings, latency controls and many more will dictate how fast you can go. I'm assuming you're using all the latest drivers for the mobo/chipset, videocard, soundcard, disk controller, etc. The Order you install these things has a LOT to do with how well the system performs. I like to use Nuhi's nLite program to slim down the XP installation, integrate the latest fixes and drivers, and turn off services and apps I will never use. Maybe it's time to rethink the whole idea of another clean install, this time: 1. Make all hardware/BIOS settings first; this can be Very Important! 2. Then install a lean and mean OS (nLited XP Pro SP2 with latest DirectX 9.0c and all updates included; I like to integrate all my drivers in my nLite XP CD, including Bashrat's wonderful Driver Packs)) 3. Install all mobo drivers (chipset, controllers, etc.) 4. Defrag and reboot several times for good measure, cleaning out the PREFETCH folder when complete. 5. NOW begin to add apps and install oldest apps First, newest apps Last, and defrag with DiskKeeper to suit. I know I'm leaving stuff out, but it's late and I gotta hit the rack soon. Best wishes on your quest for best performance - I've been on that path for about twenty years now.... Let us know how it goes!

Hi, Ixon - Isn't new (to you) technology wonderful? The point that your lockup occurs may be due to a video initialization issue or mass storage (drive controller) problem. I suspect video 'cuz if it was the drive interface you'd receive a message like "cannot boot" or "no hard drive found" or similar.... Are you using SATA or SCSI or something other than IDE interfaces for the hard drive(s)? Try making your nLite-d CD with as FEW features removed as possible (like NONE initially) and see if that CD works for you. Let's see if we can't make you the newest fan of Nuhi's great WinLite product. Best wishes from an nLite Love in sunny and warm Atlanta, GA.

Here's a good baseline to follow whenever you're buying hardware: Buy as much hardware as you can afford. There, I said it, simply and to the point. Arguable, yes, but reasonable? Absolutely. And it's what I do, too. Buying in 2008? Wait til 2008 to make your decision. But do keep abreast of tech trends in the meantime. You never know when the opportunity will present itself. If you're knowledgeable about your options, you'll make a better choice, guaranteed. Best wishes to you from a very dark (nighttime!) Atlanta, Georgia.

Ctrl-X and the others are on the money with those suggestions. I would only add that the nature of networking creates something called "collision domains" and the fewer we have of them, the better the LAN will run. Perhaps the systems having the throughput issues are suffering from excessive packet collisions. You say you're using a switch, and that SHOULD minimize this issue. I use ROUTERS on my LANs and get tip-top network speed all the time. (Wireless clients are a different story.) Another thing to try: shut down ALL systems (power off kinda thing) and reboot the switch (power cycle it), then bring up the DCs one at a time, then the clients, one at a time. This could fix traffic patterns that have been cached in the network as well as the switch itself. Are all systems protected by UPS, as well as the switch(es)? Power surges and brownouts confer many operational issues to the equation and are easily controlled with high-grade reliable power for everybody. Please let us know what you find out. Live and learn, and teach somebody else in the process. Best wishes from chilly Atlanta, GA.

Hi, Stead - Your hunch is correct - you'd be doing a "downgrade" and would not work properly, if at all. The clean install approach is ALWAYS best when moving to a new (or upgraded) OS. So, you think Vista is FASTER than XP, eh? You must have a very fast system. B) Best wishes from a beautifully sunny Fall day in Atlanta, GA.

Love that surfing shark photo. As long as alternate apps are not installed, the defaults will be those you want. Or did you already know that? Are you using nLite or similar tool to change default settings for Windows installations? I think you can change this feature in nLite....

retox - First, many thanks for the concern you've shown in bringing this issue to a public forum. I know it can be very stressful to be a whistleblower, but I also know something else: Once a system has been compromised, any number of tests, checks, scans or investigations can go awry due to the nature of rogue processes and invisible services that control the system. You've already told us you found evidence of corruption on your computer. What you haven't put forth (yet) is the methodology and procedure you've used to insure that system has been totally and completely cleaned. Since some infections REQUIRE a hard drive wipe and complete reinstall, I would ask yhou to verify your own research and do whatever it takes (beyond a shadow of a doubt) to verify that your system is now totally free of corruption. Perhaps use the tools we use here (Ad-Aware, Hijack This, MS Defender, etc.) to see what you can find. As experienced and concerned as you are, you owe it to yourself and your constituents to be ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE that when you're blowing that whistle, we can all take it to the bank. Thank you for your dialogue here, and because of you I became interested and involved, as well. That can only be a GOOD thing. Best wishes, always. I look forward to hearing what your extended investigation reveals. Please keep us posted.

I'd boot that system with a CD (Hiren's, MiniPE XT, Norton Antivirus even) and run the cleaning programs on it. When you boot from an infected hard drive, all the nasty buggers are running and in control before you can take any action against them. That's one reason they keep showing up, even AFTER you think they've been deleted.... I cleaned a system recently that had over a hundred viruses, trojans and other malware. It took several hours to get it all cleaned up. And even then, I'm certain it wasn't REALLY clean. Your best bet now is to save all your data and stuff, then repartition and reformat that drive and reinstall your OS cleanly along with just the apps you'll use. And be sure to disconnect everything from the computer except mouse, keyboard and monitor (no web connection especially) before you re-do everything. I empathize with you, but here are the facts: 1. Default installations of Windows are VERY vulnerable and will be compromised/infected within MINUTES of being connected to an unprotected network (like the Internet). 2. IE as a web browser is a frakkin' invitation to the nasties. USE FIREFOX and lock it down with available extensions like NOSCRIPT, ADBLOCK PLUS, and others. Get these extensions where you get Firefox. 3. Install a firewall like ZoneAlarm (free) and anti-virus like AVG (free) BEFORE YOU CONNECT THE COMPUTER TO ANY NETWORK - THIS INCLUDES THE INTERNET. The very first thing you'll do when you finally connect back to the web is download updates for your AVG. This combination will protect you from just about everything (except things you deliberately install - be certain of what you install!!!). 4. Use a tool like nLite or Ryan VM's fine Integrator to create a slimmed-down Windows install CD that will have fewer attack points coming out of the gate. nLite, in combination with the clean install outlined here, will harden your computer tremendously and make it almost impervious to nasty malware and the type of crap you're (unfortunately) dealing with now.... I've done hundreds of clean installs over the years (maybe over a thousand), and the more you protect your system before going online, the better it will be for you. ALSO limit the programs you install to ONLY WHAT YOU REALLY USE. Find a junker PC to test crap out on - you'll be able to sleep better at night. My heart goes out to you. But we all learn best from situations like this. Hey - I had to learn stuff the hard way ---- MANY TIMES. But after about thirty years I got religion about backups, clean installs, computer and network security and all the nastyware that floats around constantly on the web. Best wishes from Atlanta, GA. USA. Get Well Soon!

That would be Windows File Protection at work. You should disable it when using nLite to build your installation media. That's what I'd do....

Check out Look@LAN for a great (FREE!) app that inventories networks.

Take it from an old dog when it comes to OS installs: Install Windows Server 2003 on a freshly formatted partition. Disconnect everything except monitor mouse and keyboard while running setup. Disconnect the network cable especially. Install all updates, patches and security fixes (including Server 2003 R2). Install and configure Antivirus and firewall and reboot several times for good measure. B) THEN connect the system to the Internet and see if it gives you problems. The system MUST be locked down, secured, patched and innoculated before ANY network connection is made, otherwise you should count on catching something nasty from the Internet. That's how I do it, and it always works for me. Oh yeah - are you using nLite to make a customized install CD? Nuhi Rocks. Best wishes on your server installation. And yes, your shutdown issues sound a LOT like Blaster, so get that system locked down BEFORE connecting to the web.

Could they be COMPRESSED files????

Look for TOTAL RECORDER. Shareware that will do Exactly what you want to do. I bought my copy years ago and it just works!

Thanks for that freebie heads up! Free always rocks.

It was easier in the 9X days - a GHOST cloned image would work on very different hardware, after a couple reboots and hardware re-detects. XP uses a hardware abstraction layer (called HAL) that's configured at install time, and is far less tolerant of widely changing hardware profiles. But, hey. TRY IT YOURSELF AND SEE. That's what I'd do..... Best of luck from The Laboratory just outside Atlanta, GA USA.

Leave that battery out for a LONG while - say, at LEAST one hour. Laptops have at least as much capacitance in their circuitry as do desktops, and I've had to leave batteries out for several hours to make them work! Or, you can leave it out overnight, and wakeup to a perfectly usable laptop. Best wishes from Atlanta, GA. USA. http://www.strelecki.com

Make sure that floppy diskette with the driver is STILL in the drive. Setup will need to copy it at the beginning of the file copy phase. When the Setup is finished, you'll be prompted to remove the diskette. Can't see any other reason you'd get that error, and I've installed a few Highpoint and Promise controllers. Just a few.... Best of luck from Atlanta, GA USA. MARK STRELECKI WWW.STRELECKI.COM/LINKS.HTML

That, or you encrypted those partitions. Was the system compromised in any way (Trojans, viruses, malware)?