saugatak

Rhelic is right. Win98 is crap. Why bother spending any time and effort on it. By the time you can legally do so, why would you want it in the first place. If you're going to replace OS components with open-source versions, do it with Win2k. Win 2k came out in 99 so you'll have to wait 1 year longer to do it legally, big whoop. Also, since so many corp. use Win2k, if you get it going you may actually end up with corporate support. WinXP is not that much better than Win2, if at all (some would say WinXP is a step back because it adds so much useless crap to the OS).

Oleg, thanks for the info. @TommyP, if Oleg's info is right and you just use mplayer (replacing windows media player with HFSLIP/APPREPLACEMENT), is there any need to include any of the .ax files on your list? @FDV, how do you put back Windows Media Player so that it can be replaced via HFEXPERT / APPREPLACEMENT? Will this work? 1. SYSSETUP.IN_ [infs.Always] mplayer2.inf,DefaultInstall.NT 2. SYSOC.IN_ [Components] WMPOCM=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,wmpocm.inf,,7 Not sure what to do with the MPLAYER.IN_ file

Gurglemeyer: First, congratulations on performing a monumental task. Second, if you want to slipstream your service pack, you might want to check out the HFSLIP forum (click logo on bottom), contact TommyP. TommyP's HFSLIP program is a phenomenal slipstreamer of hotfixes. If you could get HFSLIP to slipstream your service pack, that would make it even better.

@tommyp, giving this a shot with your new beta script, but I can't find the following 2 file you list: ac3filter.cpl DirectVobSub.cpl Looked in directories, googled them on both desktop and internet. @Oleg, first you say, get "QuickTime.ax" and "RealMediaSplitter.ax". Then you say TommyP included both steps in his edited instructions, but you seem to indicate that you don't need "QuickTime.ax" and "RealMediaSplitter.ax" if you do the 4 steps (only quoted 3). Please clarify. Also, any idea what needs to be done to play Real or QuickTime files in the browser, particularly Firefox?

@TommyP, I'm presuming that step 4 above means: 1) put MSICabExtract.exe into C:\HFSLIP\HFEXPERT\HFTOOLS and 2) delete the folder C:\HFSLIP\MSIEXT Also, the cmdow.exe file you refer to in your original post, you're referring to this right? http://www.commandline.co.uk/cmdow/ Please correct me if I'm wrong. Also, tried downloading HFSLIP last night from FDV's website and it was older version. Let us know if you've included Yzowl's ASPI update to HFSLIP in the latest version also. Every time I think HFSLIP can't get better, it does!

@ratba, good call on asking about the incorporation of ASPI drivers.

Commenting DTS and COM shouldn't have any effect on IEXPLORE.EXE. You just commented out IEXPLORE.EXE in TXTSETUP.SIF? Did you do corresponding changes in LAYOUT? Sounds like there was a conflict between two sets of IEXPLORE.EXE instructions. @FDV, maybe a comment on the separate IEXPLORE.EXE options in relevant files will be helpful as notes. Just a suggestion. Oleg, not following you here. You commented out COM and DTC and you BSOD'd? But you also say you installed IEXPLORE.EXE in the %ProgramFiles%, so it sounds like you did not BSOD. Please clarify. I'm interested because the first time I removed COM & DTC, I also BSOD'd but then I redid the VM and it installed no problem. I think COM might be the problem because I've removed DTC in all previous builds and had no issues.

@TommyP Can you explain a little bit further on how this beta HFSLIP is supposed to be faster? Also, here's a suggestion: unpacking Windows Update Rollup on Win2k takes forever. How about if HFSLIP processed an already unpacked Update Rollup 1 v2?

Fact: According to the latest benchmarks, AMD processors are killing Intel. Intel has pretty much acknowledged that its P4 architecture generates way too much heat for the amount of extra processing power derived. OTOH, Intel is more reliable not necessarily because AMD makes crap, but because Intel provides the C compiler that everyone uses and that compiler is opitmized for Intel's architecture, not AMD's. Also, Intel generally makes real high-quality mobos, and the quality on AMD mobos varies. However, with respect to 64 bit architecture, it's a different story since AMD is setting the standards and the compilers. My guess is that on x64, AMD will be more stable, but we'll have to wait and see. Crash, re Intel's hyperthreading, sounds great in theory but in reality it's not that great. Read TomsHardware or Anadtech. There's an "after you Claude" problem as the processor attempts to deterimine how to divvy up the task, allocate memory to each process, etc. Instead of having hyperthreading make one processor act like 2 processors, it's better to just have 2 processors. With the dual core dies coming out, Intel' hyperthreading just becomes extra unnecessary baggage. Also, I believe that you need XP or Win2k Server for hyperthreading support. If you have Win2k (like I do) you can't even take advantage of it but you can take advantage of dual processors.

Crash Burn is right that CrapCleaner isn't a registry cleaner, it's a disk cleaner replacement for the crappy disk cleaner utility that comes with Windows. I don't think it's uselses though. Yeah, you can go into IE and Mozilla and delete temp files and empty garbage, but it's nice to be able to select all the things you want to dump in one utility click clean and presto you're done. My vote's for RegSupreme Pro or JVPower Tools. It's removed a few too many things once or twice but all I had to do was program repair, create an exception and then it isn't removed anymore. Since you can email them the execeptions and they update their list, over time the registry removal process gets better. Re using Nortons, I try to avoid Norton. Norton products have F my system over. Jeremy's suggestion of hitting HKLM/Software reg keys is something I do all the time too. Trimming registry is not something that's critical, but if you don't do it for a long time it'll definitely slow your boot up.

@Oleg, good catch, didn't notice that the sound driver was missing. @FDV, SYSOC.IN_ has the multimedia reference uncommented: MultiM=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,multimed.inf,,7 Since "multimed.inf" is not part of your fileset, I'm presuming that you're using the base Win2k multimed.inf. It's compressed in SOURCESS so I couldn't figure out how to take a look at it. Also, I got the following error message when first opening Process Explorer (renamed TaskManager): "The version of Dbghelp.dll configured does not support the Microsoft Symbol Server. Please download and install the Microsoft Debugging Tools for Windows to get a version that does." I think FDV's fileset removes debugging tools (correct me if I'm wrong FDV). If not, then I probably removed it with nLite taking out Dr. Watson. I downloaded what I think is the latest version of Dbghelp.dll from here. http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?dbghelp When I compared the two files, the downloaded version was 5.1.2600.0 (looks like the XP version of the dll). The dll on the FDV Win2kVM was 5.0.2195.6613 (looks like the Win2kSP4 version of the dll). Wondering about 2 things: 1. Does it matter if the latest version of Dbghelp.dll is not there? ProcessExplorer seems to run fine. 2. Is it possible to put in the latest version of Dbghelp.dll in \HFSLIP\HFEXPERT\APPREPLACEMENT to replace the older version of the dll? I replaced the older Dbghelp.dll with the newer one manually on the Win2kVM and it worked fine, didn't notice any problems with Process Explorer.

@Oleg, I just got a demo copy of Acronis, wondering whether I should buy it or not? At this point, I'm not inclined to buy it. If I need to I can create new HFSLIP of OS and since I've automated program installs, can re-create system in half a day, not bad. Re partitions, yeah it's prolly best way, but I've got smal drives so I just use one partition and shove all data into 1 folder and back it up on USB. As for Acronis boot disk maker, BartPE does same and for free. @dirtwarrior, I'd use HFSLIP to create your CD. As for how you customize your OS, you can choose between FDV Fileset, nLite or both. You can't go wrong either way. FDV fileset advantages: 1. Easy. Stick it into FDV folder on HFSLIP and you're done. 2. FDV includes security enhancements in his fileset. 3. nice balance of removal and leaving in things that are necessary, FDV applies his experience and others feedback to make choices of what's good to remove for bloat and what needs to stay in. 4. FDV does more to make IE removal cleaner. There's a lot of programs that think they "need" IE so removing it can screw up your system. FDV's fileset has lots of tweaks and registry changes to fool programs into thinking that IE is there when it's been removed. IMO, if you really want to remove IE and OE, FDV fileset is better choice. nLite advantages: 1. GUI - easy to see what you're doing 2. more choices on what to remove, but also more choices to screw things up 3. if you don't want to remove IE and OE, but want to remove other things, nLite is probably better choice. They're both good, just depends on what you want to do and what you feel more comfortable with.

OK, confirmed that MSVCP60.dll is installed in Microsoft Office 2003 (and probably in older M$ Office installations). Found this .dll in the M$ Office 2003 install disc. Checked the KB security bulletins for the hotfixes that are in the HF folder. None of them replace MSVCP60.dll. Anyway, sorry for raising a red herring. I guess it's unusual to test Acronis True Image before installing Office. However, it's pretty sloppy of Acronis to ASSUME you already have Office installed. Acronis should include this .dll in their install program because not everyone uses Office. Edit: @FDV I think it's best to leave them alone because if someone wants to put something in, it's a one-step process to remove the ; If these folders are commented out, then it's a 2 step process (and much more confusing for someone not familiar with your .inf files) to get them back in. Also, for my personal use, I'll probably comment out the games folder, but I think I'd like to leave the System Tools folder alone and shove in shortcuts to things like CrapCleaner and O&O defrag and Reg Cleaners so I don't have those icons on desktop or cluttering up the start menu.

Crash, thanks for the good work checking up on this. I'd suggest downloading MSVCP60.dll, renaming it MSVCP50.dll, putting it in HFEXPERT\APPREPLACEMENT folder . . . but that probably won't work because then the MSVCP60.dll won't be registered. Edit: I confirmed checking SOURCESS and SP4 slipstreamed Win2k that MSVCP60.dll is not in I386. Therefore, it can't be nLite or FDV's fileset because they can't remove something that's not there. This leaves only 2 possibilities: 1. HFSLIP is not putting in a hotfix from M$ that has MSVCP60.dll (doubtful) OR 2. Other commonly used programs install MSVCP60.dll I think it's 2. Here's why: I checked my really old Win2k laptop (Win2k intalled years ago, has 1.5 gigs of $Uninstall$ in WINNT) which is updated to the latest August 2005 updates. This laptop has MSVCP60.dll. Then I checked the HFSLIP FDV Fileset/nLite Win2k VM on my desktop and to my surprise, MSVCP60.dll was there too! So I'm thinking, WTF? Did I just make an A$$ of myself? Then I check my notes on install order and realize that I installed and tested Acronis True Image FIRST, and then later installed Office 2003. Since Windows practically treats Office like a part of the OS and vice versa, I'm betting that Office 2003 installs MSVCP60.dll if it doesn't find it on the system. Anyway, when FDV and TommyP put out their next updates I'll test it again and report back on whether MSVCP60.dll installs on a virgin Win2k system, or is installed by Office. Ran Acronis again and this time I didn't get the "Missing MSVCP60.dll" error. The "Backup Select Files" still didn't work anyway, but that's because it turns out that certain functionalities of Acronis True Image are dependent upon: a. Outlook Express (which FDV Fileset removes) b. MS Java. Pretty stupid, as pointed out by this guy at Acronis's support forum: http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread....ed=1#post585767 I'll check out KB bulletins to confirm that MSVCP60.dll is not installed in hotfixes.

Interesting. If Oleg is right and "MSVCP60.dll" replaces "MSVCP50.dll", then there are 5 possibilities: 1. M$ update is flawed (this is possible as TommyP has found lots of mistakes in prior updates) 2. HFSLIP is not fully incorporating an update (doubtful) 3. FDV fileset is removing something 4. nLite is removing something 5. combo of FDV and nLite is removing something (most likely) Hopefully TommyP and FDV can shed some light on this.

@Oleg, I had a similar problem when installing FDV's latest fileset. The install asked where I wanted IEXPLORE.EXE and I had to make the C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer directory. Not a big deal, but would it be possible to do it automatically? @TommyP, on latest install, I put the \BIN and \GRE folders in \HFSLIP\HFEXPERT\WIN folder to install helpexplorer, didn't work.

OK folks, just did testing on latest HFSLIP (51017) using FDV's latest fileset. First, a correction. Earlier I posted that the latest fileset would not boot up on my VM. Turns out it was not FDV's fileset, but a faulty VM. After deleting and re-installing the VM, FDV's fileset worked fine. Second, here are the mods I made to FDV's fileset: a. deleted wsh.inf (want windows scripting back for WordPerfect) b. took out COM and DTC c. took out defrag and wordpad d. manually deleted all languages but Korean e. manually deleted the WINNT and WIN9X upgrade and migration folders. After HFSLIP and the above changes, SOURCESS was 225 MB, which includes 10MB of RyanVM's switchless Java update + 10MB for Korean. Since I think everyone would want the latest Java update (but most would not want Korean) I think it's possible to get SOURCESS to 215 MB, which is a pretty small install. Third, FDV, it seems that the "System Tools" and "Entertainment" Start folders are empty now. I'm guessing that you're leaving them around so that if someone wants to put something back in, those folders will be available. Fourth, I nLited SOURCESS, mainly removing drivers, Western European languages (all except English U.S. which can't be removed) and DRWATSON, which got SOURCESS DOWN to 200 MB. Again, removing Korean would get it down to 190 MB. Of course, you'd want to include Firefox, Thunderbird, IrfanView, WinMediaPlayer alternative and Unclean to replace the systems removed, but that adds only about 30 MB for 220 MB complete install, which leaves plenty of space to add tons of other utilities and programs. Attached please find my nLite mods. Here are the programs that installed and ran fine with DTC and COM removed: 1. Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint. No Outlook as FDV fileset removes OE). 2. 7zip 3. AdAware 4. BartPEBuilder 5. WinMedia, RealMedia, Quicktime open-source codecs and open-source Win/Real/Quick Alternative Player 6. CrapCleaner (DiskCleaner substitute and much better) 7. EasyCleaner (free reg cleaner) 8. Firefox & Thunderbird 9. IrfanView 10. Nero 11. nLite 12. nod32 (great anti-virus checker) 13. o&o defrag 14. Send To Toys (gives you lots of options on right-clicking file including command prompt) 15. TotalUninstall (takes a snapshot of hard drive and registry before installing a program, if you don't like the program, it will put hard drive and registry the way it was. Highly recommended before installing any Norton program, which treats the registry like a cat-litter box). 16. UnClean 17. WinFax Acronis TrueImage installed fine, but one functionality, backup select files, did not run. Here's the error message I got: "missing MSVCP60.dll" Not sure whether that dll is installed as part of COM. In any case, it's an easy fix to download that .dll and put it in appropriate folders. Also, one program that generate a series of non-random numbers didn't work. The following programs require IE so I did not bother installing: a. Quickbooks (installed, would not run, IEPatcher did not work) b. Acrobat 7 (did not install, said IE 5.5 needed, IEPatcher did not work) c. PaperPort Pro 9 (did not install, said IE4 needed, IEPatcher did not work). WordPerfect (which is 1000x better than M$ Word btw) which I need did not install. nLite forums say it requires Windows Scripting Host. FDV, I emailed you about this issue. CONCLUSION: I don't think you need DTC unless you run a database program. I think only a few programs need COM. I think it's safe to eliminate both of them. Even if you run into a problem, most likely, all you need to do is download and install a dll or 2 and that will solve it. Last_Session.ini

Imagine that, M$ changing a hotfix w/o telling anyone so that everyone who got the old "defective" hotfix is still stuck with it.

nLite859, HFSLIP is designed to work with hotfixes following standard naming conventions being in certain folders. Put the hotfixes you want (after making sure that they follow the KB-xxxxxxx naming format) in the HF folder and see if it works. It's an easy enough test. And read the instructions at FDV's site.

FDV I tried your and TommyP's older fileset, not the latest you just posted, and could not boot on VM w/ COM taken out. I'll try new one tomorrow, let you know how it goes.

FDV, I would keep COM for now. I made the same HFSLIP FDV Win2k fileset as last time, only difference is I took out COM. It would not install on my VM machine. I'm wondering if my experience on COM is unique on this. Who else has taken out COM and tried to install? What are your results?

FDV, attached please find the mods I made to your filesets. Hope it can help with your latest and greatest. FDV_Mods.txt

I created an HFSLIP, FDV fileset (i.e., no IE, no OE, etc.) with languages and drivers nLited out. This build also removed DTC. Here's what I was able to install and run: 1. Office 2003 (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) - obviously no Outlook b/c OE is out 2. 7 Zip 3. Acronis True Image 9 4. AdAware 5. Open-source Windows Media, Real and QuickTime alternatives plus codecs 6. CrapCleaner 7. EasyCleaner2 (free and good registry cleaner) 8. Firefox 1.07 9. Thunderbird 1.07 10. IrfanView 11. nLite 12. nod32 anti-virus 13. O&O Defrag 14. Sygate Personal Firewall 15. Unclean 2 16. WinFax 17. Nero 6.6.0.16 18. TimeMatters (practice management software) Here's what I was able to install but not run: 1. QuickBooks 2004 (said I needed IE6 to run but installed fine) - I ran IEPatcher on it, didn't work. Here's what I was not even able to install 1. WordPerfect (supposedly needs Windows Scripting Host) 2. Adobe Acrobat 7 - said I needed IE5.5 or higher 3. PaperPort Pro 9 - said I neede IE4 or higher In conclusion, I don't think you really need DTC for anything unless you're doing databasing work. I'm gonna make an FDV'd fileset that doesn't have either DTC or COM (but will have Windows Scripting Host) to see if COM makes a difference or not. Unfortunately, on my main computer it looks like I'll have to leave IE in there since I need Quickbooks, Acrobat 7 and PaperPort 9. On my old laptop which I take around for travel, I'll install modified FDV Win2k.

Ran Filemon on Acrobat and Acrobat Install. Whew, the filemon log on the install is 23 MB and I cut it off about a 1/3 of the way through the install. Clearly can't post it here.

Yes, sorry if I was unclear, I meant Adobe Acrobat the program, not Adobe Acrobat Reader. [Aside] I hate Adobe products. They're expensive and incredibly bloated, but until NitroPDF came around (which I have not tried), there is no choice but to use them if you need to be able to save fill-inable PDF forms. I will give NitroPDF a shot, but Acrobat 7 integrates to all these other programs that I use. [/Aside] Anyway I have Acrobat 7 in this XP machine so I ran Filemon as suggested. The log is attached. I'm not sure why Acrobat 7 needs Explorer, it was a shock to me. The only thing I can think of is that Acrobat 7 has a pre-fetch routine so that Acrobat 7 loads at startup and therefore appears to load faster. Could this be IE dependent? Edit: I am trying to attach the FILEMON log but it will not attach. I am uninstalling Acrobat on this computer and will re-install it running FILEMON and try to attach a combined zip later.