Delprat

as a workaroud : Search for and install TClock or TClockEx or maybe LClock(i doesn't remember which one, take the most recent) : it's a taskbar clock replacement. I'm sure one version of one of the 3 allow to display the desktop as a menu when you click on the clock.

i never saw notepad altering files ! maybe you can try another editor than textpad ; or maybe a virus check ????? ++

Okay, here is the version 2.0 bbus.zip This one is really working (there was a stupid error in the use of expand switch "-r" in the previous one) It should be inside presetup.cmd, or in a batch CALL'ed from it. Only thing to customize is the location of the DLLs. There's no more folder/file naming to do : place your DLL (compressed or not) in the folder, named as you want, even in subfolders. Example : %cddrive%\bbu\Cars\Ferrari\Red.dl_ %cddrive%\bbu\Cars\Ferrari\Yellow.dl_ %cddrive%\bbu\Sport\Foot.dll %cddrive%\bbu\Nature\Animals\Frog.dl_ %cddrive%\bbu\Nature\Paysage\Paris.dll %cddrive%\bbu\std.dl_ i named them .DL_ and .DLL, but you can also change the extension. you only need to keep the underscore "_" at the end for compressed files. You can use up to 32768 files. That's lots of billboards ! (*) All the rest is handled by the batch attached : it lists the files inside the defined location and picks randomly one of them ; then expands it or copy it. I kept the "Max number of tries" idea by Djé, but implemented differently, so 1000 tries (the default) should be less than one second even on slow machines (no filecheck each time, so no drive access). ++ (*) : If you have more than 32768 different billboards, please PM me

The best .inf editor is provided by MS : notepad. You can use any other, but you need one with proper unicode support. I know notepad2 has it (along with line numbering IIRC), and i didn't tried any other. about you "blank lines", the matter is that : ; 2. GUID_QOS_STATISTICS_BUFFER HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\WMI\Security","bb2c0980-e900-11d1-b07e-0080c71382bf",0x00030003,\ 01,00,04,80,14,00,00,00,24,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\ 34,00,00,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,05,20,00,00,00,\ 20,02,00,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,05,20,00,00,00,\ 20,02,00,00,02,00,00,02,03,00,00,00,00,00,14,00,\ ff,07,02,00,01,01,00,00,00,00,00,05,12,00,00,00,\ 00,00,18,00,ff,07,02,00,01,02,00,00,00,00,00,05,\ 20,00,00,00,20,02,00,00,00,00,14,00,05,00,02,00,\ 01,01,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\ 35,1d,f9,77,b0,f5,06,00,01,00,00,00,00,00,07,00,\ fc,b5,d5,77,d0,4d,d4,77,ff,ff,ff,ff,00,fa,06,00,\ 00,0f,dc,77,03,00,00,00,0a,bd,db,77,90,f9,06,00,\ 9f,0e,dc,77,00,00,07,00,03,00,00,00,00,00,07,00,\ 05,00,00,00,00,27,07,00,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\ 34,f9,06,00,b0,ff,06,00,fc,f9,06,00,58,81,fb,77,\ a8,66,f8,77,ff,ff,ff,ff,0c,fa,06,00,0a,f8,e9,77,\ 00,00,07,00,c8,46,07,00,00,00,00,00,08,fa,06,00,\ 00,00,00,00,7f,0e,f9,77,00,00,07,00,a8,46,07,00,\ 00,00,00,00,e4,f9,06,00,88,06,07,00,98,fa,06,00,\ 58,81,fb,77,98,0e,f9,77,ff,ff,ff,ff,a8,fa,06,00,\ 9f,99,fc,77,48,07,07,00,b0,46,07,00,e8,fa,06,00,\ 40,fb,06,00,00,00,00,00,78,01,07,00,c8,63,07,00,\ 78,01,07,00,c0,63,07,00,20,fa,06,00,b0,ff,06,00,\ b0,ff,06,00,57,1a,db,77,38,cc,db,77,ff,ff,ff,ff,\ 00,00,07,00,81,00,00,00,01,27,07,00,24,0b,f9,77,\ c8,46,07,00,01,00,00,00,18,00,00,00,f0,f9,06,00,\ 00,00,00,00,b8,fa,06,00,00,00,07,00,04,00,00,00,\ 00,ff,ff,ff,c8,fa,06,00,0a,f8,e9,77,01,00,07,00,\ 00,00,00,00,18,fa,06,00,b0,ff,06,00,b0,ff,06,00,\ 58,81,fb,77,a8,66,f8,77,ff,ff,ff,ff,bc,fa,06,00,\ 7c,21,f9,77,00,00,07,00,00,00,00,00,b0,46,07,00,\ 10,fb,06,00,d1,59,f8,77,b0,46,07,00,be,59,f8,77,\ b6,02,dd,77,e8,fa,06,00,61,29,01,78,28,24,23,00,\ 00,00,00,00,18,b2,03,78,61,29,01,78,b2,24,23,00,\ 00,fb,06,00,9d,29,01,78,b2,24,23,00,f8,15,00,01,\ 54,ff,06,00,70,ff,06,00,6e,29,01,78,b2,24,23,00,\ f8,15,00,01 when you read this copy/pasted code in the original file with notepad, you'll see everything on a single or two lines, but there should be a new line after each "\" (and no spaces at the end of the lines), which is the "line continued" escape character. If you're unsure, you can use a single line (i can't paste it here, it will word-wrap even in a codebox) I urge you to look at the original file to see its layout... that's self-explaining ! ++

There's two 'Audio Player" sections on the first post i think the second one should get another name... "audio tools" maybe. my suggestions : Audio \ Digital Audio Extraction : CDEx - http://cdexos.sourceforge.net/ - like EAC, but still developped, and much more intuitive ! Compression : WinUHA (or google for UHARC) - http://winuha.com/ - globally same compression levels than RAR or 7-Zip, but better on multimedia files (WAV, BMP...) UPX - http://upx.sourceforge.net/ - packer for executables Firewall : Kerio Personal Firewall 2.1.5 - http://www.google.fr/search?q=Kerio+Personal+Firewall+2.1.5 - very lite rule-based firewall for 9x users Graphics \ 3D : Blender - http://www.blender.org/ - (req. Python) - a reference in 3d animated graphics GUI : Vista Transformation Pack 4 - http://www.jcxp.net/forums/index.php?showforum=77 Website \ Software collection : Softpedia - http://win.softpedia.com/ ++

>> Do they even know what Vittel is ? Japanese people do (maybe not all). their island is smaller than America (or even Australia). >> But anyway, if you need proofs, I can make a short video. >> I just have to finish my exans and... ***** le BAC! i would be glad to be allowed to wait for that video. >> Also, take a look at any classic computer such as this one: >> [image stripped] >> As you see you can perfectly put the tape in it. i'm impressed ! due to low quality hardware & noisy fans, i downclock my FSB each summer. if only i were to find silent fans and HD, i would use my old lego to build such a case ! Unfortunately, this will not make my BIOS accept the tape as a boot device. >> ust use the jack-jack wire to transfer data (boot data to be precise). If you need power, just visit cadarache. There should be enough electricity in the air. Or, put lots of Copper in a tunnel so you get a coil and drive through it at least at 83MPH. >> And last solution, use the train. cadarache is certainly not a place i would visit ! i do prefer the music of the waves on the sand at sunset time (hopefully, there is a road on it !) btw, that's eighty-eight miles (explanation of this number is hidden somewhere in the maths you learnt these years )... >> About the jack connecter, that's sad but you have to take your speakers out. Of course, left one is now voiceless, and right one will follow left one in the tomb soon. My question was more about the connectors to connect (sic) to the jack : there are plenty (caution when clicking this link ! i will not be responsible of any damage, including eye injury and not excluding any other injury) >> It depends. Where is the cat ? Inside or outside your microwave oven ? OUTSIDE ! i'm not a cat-eater ! (this way i'm sure he is only alive) ++

the exact same way as Caramel's line : add my code in presetup.cmd, and place winntbbu.dll or winntbbu.dl_ in folders like CD:\bbu\#\winntbbu.dl_ ; where # is 0...9. with my code you can have one DLL and one DL_ in each folder (different of course). Or you can use only compressed versions. If you want, you can have up to 100 (or 200 if using both DL_ and DLL) different billboards : use 2-digit folders (00 ; 01 ; ... 99), and replace this line : set bbn=%random:~-1,1% with : set bbn=%random:~-1,1%%random:~-1,1% ++ Ps: %random:~-1,1% can be replaced by %random:~-1% everywhere

>> It's true K7 (pronounce 'ka set') rather refers to the processor. Quote from wikipédia : The word "cassette" is French in origin, so it was acceptable to the Académie française. A popular alphanumeric abbreviation comes from the word's pronunciation /ka ˈsɛt/ in French, which is the same as that for K7 in that language. The same holds true for Catalan. And even though the pronunciation is different /ˈka sɛ tɛ/ in Portuguese, the abbreviation K7 works for them as well. In Spanish it is popularly abbreviated by the letters KCT (pronounced /ka ˈsɛ tɛ/). >> And the boot method : put the tape in what is called a CD drive. If it doesn't get in, force but you shouldn't need. Don't try to fool me I have a K7 external drive that plugs on the SoundBlaster 16 MIDI port (aka "joystick port"). But my SB16 is an ISA card and my mainboard don't have any ISA slot (only PCI/AGP). Moreover, my BIOS does allow boot from HD, FD, CD/DVD, LAN, USB only. And, obviouly, "forcing" will not make the old bottle of Vittel fit inside the hole made for the formidable new one. >> Another method is to put it in a car tape player and then use a jack-jack wire to connect your car to your computer. Turn on the computer (first!), power on the car, the faster you will get with your car, the faster your computer will run. As simple as that. My computer is not a laptop but a desktop running on 220V AC, and my car is a very old one and its battery and dynamo are not powerful enough to supply a 12V DC -> 220V AC transformer. Thus, i must install overhead wires above the road (don't know yet where i'll find the money for that, but your project sounds so interesting that i may find some investissors). But should i use them for the 220V AC (loading my comp inside my car), or for the jack-jack connection (leaving my comp at home, and using a cell phone to communicate with a friend of mine from my car) ? Another problem is that my car has a tape drive, but no jack connector On which audio lines i must install one ? btw, i found this extremely nice site talking about installing a computer in a microwave oven. The site talks about a Vibra16 sound card on ISA slot. Should i install my computer in a microwave oven to use your shrinked Vista tape without hacking my car (i need it to go to work in a few hours) ? ++

AFAIK, "repair-install" is available when booting from full-install CD (not upgrade) with no unattended answer file (winnt.sif) ; or when making a local source on HD from this CD (again, with no answer file). I've used it with various CD : SP1, SP1a and SP2 (SP1 can be "repair-installed" over SP2). The function is provided by the setup program, and it checks if the installed OS is the same edition of the CD (Home & Pro), with the same or lower licensing (OEM/Retail/...). so the question is : were your CDs of the same edition/license as the installed OS ?

i'm not sure that english people spells "K7" like french people do... i'm very very very interested by the method used to do that ! (more precisely : what driver did you use to make setup boot from a K7 ???)

booogy & nuhi : you don't want the "nice looking crap" ??? well, seeing the sizes of the beta2 isos, i can understand. but i doubt seriously that vista is more "safer" or have "better multimedia support" than a nlited/tweaked NT 5 (peferably XP or 2003). I'm talking about now (not "nowadays", but "immediately") : ex. there's no graphic board supporting directx10, and so few vista drivers. I see your points, but i still don't think there is a real improvement : on old or actual computers, NT 5 is "known" : there's lots of ressources to make it fits perfectly your needs (fancy graphical effetcs, security, stability, etc.). Vista is new, and should be used on new computers with newest hardware (then making optimizations have little inpact) Did i read "MiniCD" ? Will you publish a shrink mehod soon ? Working on beta2 ? and RC1 ? ++

generally speaking, microsoft fixes things better than any power failure (say that many times very fast) before trying what you think, you may do a chkdsk (with the recovery console) because power failures are very likely to damage the disk. ++

Short answer : Yes, and SP2 will be installed during the "repair-install" (and not uninstallable after) ++

a more robust code snippet : THIS CODE IS NOT WORKING AT ALL SEE MY POST BELOW with this code you can use both compressed and uncompressed files, and you can have less than 10 dirs (it will loop until one is found) this allow a max of 20 different billboards (10 compressed and 10 uncompressed)

Sound a promising project, but i don't understand why someone would remove components from Vista ? running it on an old computer with a small HD ? if so, it's time to buy a new one any other idea ?

Look for "modifype" on the forum... This will make setup happy : modifype.exe winntbbu_modded.dll -c

They are : DisableDirPage = Select Destination Location page (you must set a default dir) DisableFinishedPage = Setup Completed page (immediately close) DisableProgramGroupPage = Select Start Menu Folder page (you must set a default start menu folder ; or have no start menu items) DisableReadyMemo = Ready to Install page (the one which display what will be installed) DisableReadyPage = Ready to Install page (the second one) DisableStartupPrompt = This will install... Do you wish to continue? dialog box Then if you specify no license, no "InfoBefore", no "InfoAfter", no components, no tasks, no languages, you'll get a nearly silent setup. (at least far from "all about a Graphical User Interface") Another solution is... VBS script ! they are silent by default, and i think they can run a INF or a CMD hidden. (with WshShell.Run "your command here", vbHide). Obviously, the end-user will need WScript installed (a drawback absent if you use inno) They are : DisableDirPage = Select Destination Location page (you must set a default dir) DisableFinishedPage = Setup Completed page (immediately close) DisableProgramGroupPage = Select Start Menu Folder page (you must set a default start menu folder ; or have no start menu items) DisableReadyMemo = Ready to Install page (the one which display what will be installed) DisableReadyPage = Ready to Install page (the second one) DisableStartupPrompt = This will install... Do you wish to continue? dialog box Then if you specify no license, no "InfoBefore", no "InfoAfter", no components, no tasks, no languages, you'll get a nearly silent setup. (at least far from "all about a Graphical User Interface") Another solution is... VBS script ! they are silent by default, and i think they can run a INF or a CMD hidden. (with WshShell.Run "your command here", vbHide). Obviously, the end-user will need WScript installed (a drawback absent if you use inno)

>> That's interesting! interesting ? did you said "interesting" ? Now, this discussion is really bizarre... >> What system is that? win2k? Microsoft ® Windows XP édition familliale version 5.1, numéro 2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519 : Service Pack 2 OEM shipped by "le marchand du coin d'la rue" >> Did you test it on Unicode files? Are your registry exports (reg or regedit) in unicode format? I tested on .reg created by REG EXPORT and REGEDIT /E (forgotten switch since ages !!! lol). I beleive they are unicode. If not, why would i check ? >> Do they really have 'V5.00' instead of 'Version 5.00' in the header? :lol: i tested without "V.5.00" and typed that after. >> Can your CMD.EXE read/write unicode without the /U switch? I don't care since REG & regedit are able to import ansi files, even without "REGEDIT4"... >> Oh I see: You like simple things. Your system must be MacOS! Yeaaahhh ! i like "point-n-click". guess what ? Duke nukem 3d is the best game ever made... i have it in a little 320x240 dosbox on my enormous 1280x1024 desktop...

I can't help you, but you didn't tried %16422%. IIUC, you're doing thing in the wrong order. The INF file is used only to manage the start menu. The CMD file does all other things. So why not making the CMD the main script, and call the INF from the CMD ??? Of course, you'll need something to hide the CMD window. And you really should learn to create InnoSetups : it features a professional look and lots of things you never dreamed about... (before you ask : yes, i have stock-options )

i didn't tested the batch itself, but on my system the line i gave you is fully working. No strange characters... This new version is too complicated : i can't allow it to run on my system, even for tests

You must not be reading correctly :

T D, you're wrong : both this winnt.sif line and this whathever.theme line supports the environment variable (for the theme file, that's the way the control panel writes the .theme file) Cobra, i don't know. I use %systemroot% instead of %windir%, but everything else is identical in my setup (without spaces), and it works... i'm sorry for this helpless post

Hey, no, don't make a .CAB adon. To correctly slipstream a transformation pack, you should make an installer that patches the files' ressources (basically, a CMD script that extract the files, then reshack them, then re-cab them should be enough) The .cab addon thing can only replace the files. What about someone using different OS version / different language / different slipstreamed hotfixes than you ??? edit: changed the word in italic : "icon" was not the exact word to use. my bad, i apologize for that mistake. (this is not ironic)

Okay. So you want the complicated way. You'll need to learn "rocket science". It will not be easy. You will get errors. It will not work. You'll have to fix errors and learn again. Then, it will work. Sorry, there's no other way. (there's easy-to-use-with-only-drag-n-drop software, but you don't want it ) Read again, and again, and again your link at neowin, and you'll succeed. Hey, i'm pretty sure you can ask them for some help ++

Thus all this batch-guru-powered-FOR blablabla can be "reduced" : FOR /F "skip=1 tokens=*" %%? IN ('TYPE "%~dp0taskbarTemp.reg" ^|FINDSTR/V "^\"Upgrade\"=dword:"') DO ( CMD /U /C >>"%~dp0%REGFILE%" ECHO %%?)becomes : TYPE "%~dp0taskbarTemp.reg"|FINDSTR/V/I "^\"Upgrade\"=dword:"|FIND /V /I "Windows Registry Editor V5.00">>"%~dp0%REGFILE%" sounds better, isn't it ? ++