MOONLIGHT SONATA

Dear prathapml, Well, your advice about findstr timeout c:\boot.ini works perfectly. I'll give munge.exe a try. Can you help me by providing a sample batch file which executes munge.exe commands specific to the required task? I'm asking you just because i failed in previous effort from [setupParams], although then i executed a .cmd file named editbini.cmd as UserExecute, which had bootcfg /timeout 0 as the desired task. May be my .cmd file had syntax errors. Could you find time? Awaiting your kind response... @MOONLIGHT SONATA

@ Bilou_Gateux & jaclaz, 1. Can this ramdisk be used with Windows XP setup. I'm asking just because XP setup uses both ramdisk.inf and ramdisk.sys during setup. We see "RAM Disk Driver" during text-mode setup being loaded. If these files get overwritten by those of AR RAM Disk, is there any threat to install? 2. Can AR Soft's ramdisk.sys be used being renamed ramdrive.sys during XP install? 3. I want to use ramdisk just for the purpose of using my custom batch files and vb scripts. After install i really don't need the ramdisk. Does mere deletion of "Class" and "Services" registry keys during the penultimate stage of install (e.g. from cleanup.cmd) will remove the ramdisk after restart? 4. I earnestly request both of you to devote time towards your amazing effort in implementing "FILEDISK" ISO mount system as well as password-protected true-crypt container volume implementable thereby. It's a very interesting approach and it will open horizon of options for installation, only if you could find time for its development. I hope you understand my concern. Waiting for your kind response in favour of 1+2+3 & positively 4. @MOONLIGHT SONATA

Dear prathapml, I tried. In the end i'm both amazed and annoyed . At the T-9 minute mark pressed debug key-combo and opened boot.ini in notepad. Successfully changed timeout to 0 and saved and closed notepad. Amazing experience. I'm annoyed just because bootcfg /Timeout 0 when executed from [setupParams] section, couldn't do the job for me. What's the reason? Two interesting things noted during the whole experience: 1. boot.ini is not read-only at that time. I got no warning when i saved it after editing. 2. When i'd gone through the exercise, there was still Windows XP installed in another partition. Even then, when i opened boot.ini, only the ongoing partition was located there. I apprehend the next partition information goes into the file at some later minutes. Can you foresee any workaround in favour of hands-free editing of boot.ini before reboot?

Dear Sonic, i explain little bit to make you understand what i mean... In one partition Windows XP is already installed. Now, if after making the 2nd partition active, unattended install is done, after GUI mode setup finished, we get Multi-boot choice menu with 2 pre-conditioned defaults set. They are : 1> Time-out is set to 30 secs and 2> The Default OS which is highlighted & obviously the Default OS is the Newly installed one, I mean the one I've just installed in the 2nd partition. Now, imagine when the Boot choice Menu waits for user intervention as to boot into which OS, I or anybody can boot into the Windows XP that resides inside the 1st partition. I want to restrict that option. If after/during GUI Mode Setup, the Time-Out could be set to zero, then the newly installed Windows XP in the 2nd partition boots without waiting for any user's choice. bootcfg /Timeout 0 command when executed from [setupParams] section of WINNT.SIF at T-9 stage, it doesn't produce the desired result. Could you reflect upon where i'm doing wrong? ====MOONLIGHT SONATA

@Simply Simon when i wrote about Cancel button, modesty was in my mind and i wished not to hurt your effort, which in line of your name is just simply_superb. It would be great if there's no CANCEL button, as there's no need to cancel anything if your tool works fine. P.S. what is the latest version of COMCTL32.OCX to use? ++++MOONLIGHT SONATA

You can use QSoft RAM Disk from http://www.ramdisk.tk/ Currently no uninstallation option is available for their RAM Disk (to be honest, that's the case with Microsoft RAM Disk also). Hence, the RAM Disk content is gone upon reboot, but not the RAM Drive itself. With co-operation we can move into the direction of uninstalling the RAM Disk, if deleting Registry entries can remove it. wait for your take on the issue...using a RAM Disk during install is a much liked line of use for me also.... @MOONLIGHT SONATA

@sonic, Yeah, for multi-boot environment having an already installed Windows Xp in another partition, that's the case i'm thinking of. That's not the case of corporate environ, yet such may be the case for home computers. What's your idea for such a situation? ===MOONLIGHT SONATA

Hi Friends, My question is when during install we have the first chance of editing boot.ini? I've unsuccessfully tried [setupParams] UserExecute= a batch file method to try editing it as late as T-9 stage but couldn't quite handle the case. My target is simple: In a multi-boot scenario, after GUI mode setup & reboot thereafter , we get multi-boot menu with 30 secs time-out and default option of the just installed XP. While anybody has the liberty of selecting the other partition and boot that one, i want to forcibly change the time-out to zero, so that default XP boots right after the reboot. I used bootcfg command in the batch file in [setupParams] UserExecute, but failed miserably. Is boot.ini drafted by setup after T-9 stage and during "Saving Settings" ? How could it be possible to change the time-out to 0 before GUI mode setup leads to reboot? I welcome any discussion into this problem. Looking forward to you... @MOONLIGHT SONATA

@simply_simon Well, it's amazingly beautiful...irony is that it deals with RunOnceEx but its sheer beauty compelled me to Run"Infinite"Ex... simply_simon can you please modify it to spare us from clicking any start button to start the list of install? I wish there's only one cancel button for any SOS cancellation of installation.Otherwise, your gem should be intelligent enough to recognize any switch in order to start installation without the need of any manual click. after a long long time you came along with a real GUI to the RunOnceEx. Thanks & please look into the matter.... @MOONLIGHT SONATA

Hey Guys please respond.

bump!

I am interested to run a program in stealth mode; for once at least. This program basically checks for Machine Hardware Configuration of the target machine in order to restrict unauthorized use of installation media. I searched web for such target areas apart from those like cmdlines.txt / RunOnceEx.CMD /or SVCPACK.INF which we regularly use and abuse. One interesting find is that what once upon a time used with much success by SubSeven. And that's HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{GUID} in Registry. If "StubPath=C:\PathToFile\Filename.exe" is inserted there, then Filename.exe is started BEFORE the shell and any other Program normally started over the Run Keys. Each time a NEW user logs in, the HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{GUID} will be compared with the same CurrentUser Entry and the command defined in the StubPath (can be anything) will be executed. Now I describe my dilemma and experience with it: 1. I've included the necessary [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{GUID}] "StubPath=C:\PathToFile\Filename.exe" informations inside HIVESFT.INF in required format and incorporated Filename.exe in both Txtsetup.SIF and DOSNET.INF without any problem. However, as I use RunOnceEx.CMD, to my dismay, Filename.exe is not at all executed before RunOnceEx entries get completed. Further, a .BAT or .CMD is sucessfully executed from stubpath key when I use it without any RunOnceEx usage. But, a .vbs is not executed at all. My question is whether such execution is really feasible during the course of Installation? Again, if Active Setup is really executed even before explorer loads, then what environment is available at that time for proper execution of an instruction set? Does RunOnceEx takes precedence over everything after GUI Mode Setup reboots the machine? I don't know on which dependencies rest the running of any program at such a critical time of installation. What's your opinion about it?

Hi MSFNers!! I wish to include Microsoft Windows User State Migration Tool (USMT) version 2.61 inside UA XP CD-based Installation. 1. I've tried installation silently by using /qb switch with x86usmt.msi. But for me it's disasterous as it silently installs into C:\USMT folder under default conditions. 2. Is there any way to install 2.61 version so that it updates USMT located inside the C:\Windows\system32\usmt directory? Is that possible to achieve the same silently? 3. Alternatively, Can this version 2.61 be slipstreamed into the I386 of Unattended XP SP2 Setup CD? What do you think about it? I eagerly await for your Suggestions. Thanks.

@ Bilou Gatex, I endorse your comment on behalf of all the members of MSFN, barring Yzowl (=our "Man Friday"). @ Yzowl, Uff, awesome...what can i say more, i don't know. Nice, & thank you.

@ Dear YzOwl, you know when i posted my problems i had only you in my mind. Please read "Dear MSNers" as "Dear YzOwl". i knew it can't and shouldn't bypass you. thanks, your posted code works, failure rate of your codes are always at almost( with some modesty) zero level. BTW, what about the first one, sir? please help as i've seen you always rescued everybody in their batch troubles.

@Boardbabe & Gosherm, Nice effort from both of you. however, i still have problems. here's my code: ================================================= Attrib -R -H -S %WinDir%\*.bmp for /F "usebackq tokens=*" %%i in (`dir /b %WinDir%\*.bmp`) do ( if %%i neq "Prairie Wind.bmp" ( if %%i neq "Soap Bubbles.bmp" ( if %%i neq winnt.bmp ( if %%i neq winnt256.bmp ( del /q "%WinDir%\%%i" ) ) ) ) ) ================================================= Result is that, except winnt.bmp and winnt256.bmp, all .bmp(s) are deleted. why it's not saving the other 2 files? what's wrong with my code?

Dear MSFNers... I'm deeply troubled by two problems for my ignorance of writting advanced Batch files. Here're these: 1>>I have thought out a small scheme of installation where i want to do the following set of actions: A. An executable (say, program.exe) if run from a batch file will generate a report file (named, report.txt) that may have informations like "GenuineIntel", "VIA/S3G Unichrome IGP" etc. B. I'll have a template information file named Template.txt inside some directory in my CD which obviously have the "GenuineIntel", "VIA/S3G Unichrome IGP" etc. type informations pre-written. C. Now, "GenuineIntel" string is to be matched between report.txt and template.txt. If the string is found then a "certain.exe" file will be launched from the cd. If the string is not found in report.txt then some "other.exe" file will be executed from the CD. Now, i am completely new to writting batch files and really can't sort out the method. Can anybody help me by writting some batch routines for the sake of achieving these tasks? 2>>My next problem is in the area of finding "First Unutilized Drive Letter" in a system. My system has a HDD partitioned into 7 Partitions (C D E F G H I) and one CD-ROM (J:) and a CD-RW (K:). Now, somewhere inside the forum i found a batch file which can find "First Available Drive Letter". Problem is that it always finds my CD-ROM (J:) as the first available drive letter, just because there is no CD inside it. While my requirement is that the batch file should always find out "L:" as the next drive letter. Can this be achieved from a batch file? That's the reason for mentioning "First Unutilized Drive Letter" which if searched will find L: even if there's no CD inside either CD-ROM or CD-RW drive. I hope i could make you understand my problems. Please provide some solutions if you noticed this post. Thanks in advance...please help...

@Dear GSM Script has some problem in correctly detecting CD-RW drive. In my machine script just checks my CD-ROM drive and not the CD-RW drive, and then exits. Although if I manually run WMI code (without the Check_For_CDRW.VBS) to get "Caption" feedbacks, it correctly detects Caption for both the drives. @Bezalel Please check http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=49226&st=0 where Martin Zugec described PnP-based Software installation method. He suggests Nero installation on the basis of detecting PnPDeviceId for your CD-RW hardware. His script indeed has section about Nero installation, if i can remember correctly. P.S. "Capabilities" property checking will not help you as correct implementation of it inside a script depends upon the inheritance of this property from CIM_MediaAccessDevice which is still not implementable. That's why you're not getting Value = 4 as you expected. For the time being just check Martin's script and modify as per your need. Post after you finished checking and after you learnt the pros-&-cons of that script. Only then I'll help you into the more attractive realms of WMI-guided world of software installation. I'll be glad if after applying his script you start posting there, in his thread, as only then you'll enter the zone of other software installations apart from this CD-RW drive -based Nero installation. Both Martin and me are interested in taking PnP Device Detection based software installation to a meaningfull stage. I hope you're helped.

Well, Filu, Welcome to MSFN . Here you'll learn a whole new dimension of computing. Everyday. Thanks for your interest in Protection. Rikgale made an excellent guide out of the extract of discussions going on here. You'll be rightfully helped by reading his Guide Page: How to protect your UACD - Ulitimate Guide. Hope, you read it and keep your interest alive.

@'BrandonS_Mil I'm little late in responding. Deliberately. I wanted Fritz to drink your praise to the full. Indeed, you're right. I also love this program like you. Whatever Fritz could develop is deserved to be praised. Thanks. Now, look at the portion of your quote i referred here. Mate, is there really no need to improve? How could we be so certain? Agree or disagree, I feel (and have noticed) that Microsofts' own Windows XP , in its simple form is very powerfull in getting recognition all over the world. Isn't It? Then i ask you a very humble question----then what precisely be the role of MSFN and all these MSFN members in light of this? Do we have to agree that these 65724 members are the only bunch of people in this world who have really no worthfull job assigned for them anywhere, that's why they waste time here for they find no other way to spend time. Give "Need" a chance, friend, we need it badly. Thanks.

@cumminbk & Yzowl, Thanks for the great help and support for my cause. Now, the way you suggested, i've only 1 question to ask, ....What about Windows directory? Is it really immune or is there any workaround? P.S.~ @ Yzowl, From what i've seen in the months after i joined, I can only say on behalf of all the members that you're simply a "Master of Batches". I wonder if anyone will ever disagree with me. Thanks. Period.

I wish to change folder icons for folders like "Program Files", "Downloaded Program Files", "Offline Web Pages", "Scheduled Tasks", "Fonts" and "Windows". While the 1st few can be managed by hacking respective .dll files, but Program Files, Windows and Fonts can't be done that way. My misery is that Program Files and Windows folders has no "Customize" button in right-click menu, while Fonts do have one. Program Files is successfully managed by me by just dropping a customized desktop.ini inside it. What about Fonts and Windows? One interesting point that i found is that Program Files, Windows and Fonts are not Rename-able; Program Files, Windows has no "Customize" button yet Fonts folder, although not rename-able, has customize button in its right-click menu. Can anybody help me by providing a sample script which when executed at the end of Unattended Installation, successfully changes the preferred folder icons? What's the issue with "Windows" directory? Is it really immune to Icon Changeover even if i have admin rights? Any help is welcome.....

Dear Bashrat, I'm really depressed over its demise. Around 19 jul 2005 I made a PM to Fritz Saxi and thereafter he really debunked this project i think. He neither develops the flash nor communicates about it. enthusiasm he showed when i first posted this idea, i think he lost charm about it. I wish if anybody is interested about the flashcredits to develop further...my original thread may be the place to start afresh... ====MOONLIGHT SONATA

I need help regarding one little tweaking ability of famous TweakUI. That's what it does when "Rebuild Icons" is selected under Repair options. Is there any way to do the same thing command-line or through Reg Tweaks or whatever else? My such need is based upon my use of a huge numbers of DLL / OCX / EXE files (edited for .BMP & .ICO resources). I don't apply those edited files inside i386 folder; instead I re-Apply them after Installation by using MoveEx.Exe which replaces them at next boot. Precisely, may be that's the reason for start menu, Desktop etc. Icons not updating after post-MoveEx boot. I've to manually run TweakUI and select the "Repair Icons" option from there. Is there any workaround for this problem? Waiting for kind suggestions....

@Gee, Thanks for the WINNT.SIF posted by you. It's already devoid of a lot of unnecessary entries. But, probably, i couldn't make you understand my idea of "Unnecessary" entries. Again i try: By unnecessary entries i mean those entries for which setup can take decision on its own. In other words, those entries for which, irrespective of Deployment environment, Setup will never throw any query at you. In your posted WINNT.SIF, I enquire, if the following sections are really deleted, does Setup has any problem doing its job Unattended? *********************************************** [FavoritesEx] Title1=".url" URL1="http://www." Title2=".url" URL2="http://www." Home_Page=http://www. Help_Page=http://www. Search_Page=http://www.google.com [iEPopupBlocker] AllowedSites=www.google.com ****************************************** Tell me, if we delete them, will Setup ever ask for manual intervention? Probably, not, but no doubt, having them here is a better way to place User's choice. Nonetheless, such entries always ties up WINNT.SIF to a particular choice of options. By "Unnecessary" entries I mean as much as I said. For further example, just look what I've in my WINNT.SIF until I faced problems with them: [unattended] ComputerType = "ACPI Uniprocessor PC", Retail *:*=> This entry robbed me off any chance to Install in a Laptop. It really tied the WINNT.SIF for a Desktop-oriented Setup. [Display] BitsPerPel=32 Xresolution=800 YResolution=600 Vrefresh=85 *:*=> Imagine my plight one day with it. One Monitor for which this section is specifically enetred into WINNT.SIF, one day has gone to Service Center; and I searched for my Black-n-White Monitor debunked a long long ago. Guess what happened. Numerous BSOD and reboots confronted me and I couldn't co-habit that Monitor and WINNT.SIF at all. It's thoroughly unnecessary, as Setup is intelligent enough to decide resolution parameters on its own. I repeat, by "Unnecessary" entries I mean as much as I said. Now, I need you and Martin, of course, to carefully look at the following entries and inform me, whether these entries are automatically decided by Setup or not, no matter whatever be the Installation environment. In doing so, I'll be able, in company of people like you, to learn about what I call "Lean-Mean" WINNT.SIF. **************************************** [Networking] InstallDefaultComponents=No Does "NO/YES" here has any direct link with subsequent Sections? [NetAdapters] Adapter1=params.Adapter1 [params.Adapter1] INFID=* [NetClients] MS_MSClient=params.MS_MSClient [NetServices] MS_SERVER=params.MS_SERVER MS_PSched=params.MS_PSched [NetProtocols] MS_TCPIP=params.MS_TCPIP [params.MS_TCPIP] DNS=Yes UseDomainNameDevolution=No EnableLMHosts=Yes AdapterSections=params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter1 [params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter1] SpecificTo=Adapter1 DHCP=Yes WINS=No NetBIOSOptions=0 *********************************************** Before suggesting me, please consider both cases of System having Specific Network Adapter or not having any one. I eagerly await to hear from you....