prathapml

What you did is not entirely legal, since you used your OEM CD to install on another machine, which is out of the terms of agreement of the EULA (maybe your friend's machine was also previously using an OEM edition - if so, then it is not such a big difference). But since you later changed the serial to the right key, what you did is no problem. Also, since it got successfully activated, it means that things are proper at his end. As far as MS blocking your key goes, they will not do such a thing, since it was not spread so widely (to thousands of people) as to need some anti-piracy action.

wraith has done the best he can....... Instead of bugging him, we can see workarounds for some requirements. First of all, XPlode (atleast my version v1.00, don't know about later versions) does have an issue with copying files (not directories) *FROM* a CD (i.e., read-only source) on win2k during setup in GUIinstall mode [after setup finishes, it runs fine from GUIrunonce]. I solve this by keeping files in "$1\install\temp\" and thereafter, move operations on the HD run fine. On WinXP, the above issue is not seen, and everything is perfect. @benners I guess you are having the above problems on XPlode 1.12 Why not try using the v1.00 version (which is rock-solid stable for me, touch wood - it is the one component for me which needs no prior testing before being sure that it will work properly everywhere)? Ok, so some tags might not be available on v1, but try using it atleast for testing, to eliminate causes for your error. Just my 2 cents towards this issue, ya know ////////

I seem to be p***ed of (reading the above), but remember since we all are here to get things working - don't be afraid of posting your details. LOL, porting the XML (so-called 'code') would be an hour's job at most (even if you had a really, really long list of processes that XPinstall does) - whereas the time it's taking you to solve issues with XPinstall is clearly longer. Moving to an updated version (XPlode) will solve many of your 'issues'. The issues that remain would be due to the factor of "human error" in the XML. BTW, have you ever thought of reading the documentation (and the sample XML configuration) that comes along with it?

Who told you that XPlode had problems with SP2 (any version)? I haven't even upgraded XPlode to the newest version (I have the later ones, but use v1.00 - logically the older version should have more bugs) and still, I see that it is perfect from every angle on RC1.

Here's what I have: Folder = C:\My Downloads The folder contains a file called "desktop.ini", whose contents are (plain-text): [.ShellClassInfo] ConfirmFileOp=0 IconFile=C:\Program Files\ReGetDx\regetdx.exe IconIndex=-3049 InfoTip=Files downloaded from the Internet HTMLInfoTipFile=comment.htt Note that this is possible manually only if you right-click and do a "Customize this folder" from properties - but even then, the customization is very limited - the best option is to automatically place a few desktop.ini files in the required folders. I hope this is of help to you - do post back on whether it works for you or not.

Yessir..... That sure is something I'm gonna try out when I next sit down to fiddle with XPlode.

"nowait" is a new attribute in XPlode which lets you do tasks in parallel. Now, you do know that XPlode/XPinstall normally start processes (as listed in XML) one-by-one and wait for one process to finish before proceeding to the next one, right? Well, in some cases you don't want to wait for a task to finish before starting the next. In such cases, nowait is nice. Example : nowait is a cool function Anyway, did moving to XPlode solve your problem?

Just came back here to say: nowait is cool in more ways too. The below is the last process to be executed by XPlode (when it runs on first-boot from GUIrunonce) : <execute display='Rebooting...' program='shutdown.exe' arguments='-r -f -t 60 -c "Windows XP will now restart in a minute... This will give enough time for the shortcuts to update and for the shell to fully load before its ready to restart!"' nowait='true' />

No, vmware/vpc2004 shouldn't make a difference, 'coz at this stage they have no role to play.Are you sure you did not eliminate taskkill.exe in any way (or did you use nLite on MSFN forums to slim down your install-CD)? Well then, let's try this instead: instead of running "tasklist" try running "taskmgr". That will (try to) bring up the normal, GUI, familiar Task Manager. IMPORTANT: Is this being tried by you on XP Pro or is it Home edition ?

Well, as a matter of fact there doesn't seem like anything more could possibly be needed. Whatever anyone could ever want is already present. I'm not able to think of any new features that could be added - nor do any bugs seem to exist. Please don't take the above sentences as a negative comment. I actually mean to tell the above in a congratulatory tone

RTM = Release to Manufacturing (i.e., public availability of product). RTM a.k.a. (also known as) : gold, final release, retail, etc. RC = Release Candidate (i.e., it is thought to be stable enough as to need just a few bug-fixes before shipping it - no major modifications will happen between an RC and an RTM). since SP2 is a major change to XP, lots of beta (testing builds) versions were released over the past 1.5 years in this order (which lists only the big-publicity ones): beta 11xx beta 1213 beta 2055 RC 1 (build 2096) RC 2 (build 2149) The line you have in quotes above means (in common terms): Does it set the whole thing straight enough? Anymore clarifications?

Yup! that could be nice (not referring to wraith's post above). Maybe a merge/integration of XPlode and XPdeploy (core being same, but extra plugins to facilitate it). Then, maybe have some attribute in the XML header of XPlode which tells it to run in one of two modes: 1}. mode=XPlode which will run the entire set of tasks/processes in unattended mode (like it does now) 2}. mode=choose which will give an XPdeploy type of dialog box to tick the individual items you want to install (no selection for sub-processes within items) (possibly, this mode would require the XML to be at a writable/non-readonly location). In either case, the XML would be the same - just change the "run mode" to have it behave the way you want. This would be desirable, since many people would like to have a way to *NOT* install some items from among the pre-determined list. EDIT: maybe this post doesn't belong in this thread - if so, is it possible to move this post to the feature requests thread?

Hey, Don't remind us about exams and such sick things when we're having a cool time, okay?

Do this: 1. Wait for the dialog-box you describe, to appear. 2. Press the key-combination "Shift+F10" to enter debug-mode in setup. 3. At the command prompt that appears, type the command "tasklist". 4. See the names of the programs being run. 5. By now, you would either know which app-installer (file name) is giving you the above-described issue. Otherwise, note down the names of the processes (the output of the command "tasklist") and post it here in this thread - and we'd be able to help you in a more meaningful manner. After the problem is solved, do be sure to post back about how you resolved it (let us all know how to tackle a similar problem in future).

Why have you double-posted ? the twin Would a mod please merge these 2 threads together? WOOOOAW!! Aaron sure is quick in responses (look below for the reason why I say this) vvvvvvvvv

That would be because that directory is "up in use" somewhere. Are you sure you gave enough sleep time for xplode to exit ? (15 seconds ought to be more that enough, but do you have the sleep.exe tool in the first place ?) Or, where are you running the clean.cmd from? Running it from somewhere within "%systemroot%\temp\eXPlode\" is recommended because that folder is sufficiently out of the way that no one will accidentally run that cmd again. Also, running it from that temp folder facilitates the .cmd to self-delete (otherwise not easily possible). Try setting up your cleaning processes in exactly the way I did - and please post back about the results.

Here's what I do: 1. The last task executed by XPlode's xml is to run <execute display='clean home' program='%systemroot%\temp\eXPlode\clean.cmd' nowait='true' /> 2. Here's the contents of my clean.cmd: CLS @echo off cmdow @ /hid TITLE clean temporary folder COLOR fc sleep 15 RD /S /Q %systemdrive%\install sleep 4 RD /S /Q %systemroot%\temp\eXPlode EXIT I hope you understood what is happening in the above processes. If any part seems not-understandable to you, post a question in this thread (after making efforts to make the above work) and I {or another MSFN'er} will be happy to answer it.

You have to apply the above regtweak at cmdlines (T-12) stage. Or from GUIrunonce. If you attempt to apply it when the explorer shell is running, it will get reset at log-off with the settings from desktop.

Make a multi-bootable (optimized) CD which has the original contents - you can have access to the "repair" function from original CD. Search if you don't know how to do the above. Or see this site : http://flyakite.msfnhosting.com/

Note: Before you can get (what MCT describes) it to work, you first need to have a patched (version as per your WXP servicepack) uxtheme.dll Just notifying, maybe MCT forgot to mention this.

This, I suppose is called "power of community sharing". Within less than a day, I see 3 ways of doing something - and whichever you like, use that method. @mmarable That's cool (about the script you made). Hoping you would share more ideas with us.......

Hey, Do understand the meaning of the word "extensive" before using it next time. A 10 second search would have thrown this up. Anyway, the below is a registry tweak for what you want (copy and paste it into your existing RegistryTweaks.reg file) - and it will work on WinXP SP1 machines and above. If you don't have SP1 installed, you need a different set of tweaks (than what is provided below). ;enable quick-launch bar near start-menu [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Desktop] "Default Taskbar"=hex:0c,00,00,00,08,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,b0,e2,2b,\ d8,64,57,d0,11,a9,6e,00,c0,4f,d7,05,a2,22,00,1c,00,0a,01,00,00,1a,00,00,00,\ 01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,4c,00,00,00,01,14,02,00,00,\ 00,00,00,c0,00,00,00,00,00,00,46,83,00,00,00,10,00,00,00,a0,b0,48,5e,89,8d,\ bd,01,00,d8,9e,e4,2a,8d,bd,01,00,45,fe,5e,89,8d,bd,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\ 00,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,13,01,14,00,1f,0f,e0,4f,\ d0,20,ea,3a,69,10,a2,d8,08,00,2b,30,30,9d,19,00,23,44,3a,5c,00,00,00,00,00,\ 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,cd,97,15,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,af,24,5c,\ b9,10,80,57,69,6e,6e,74,00,00,20,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,af,24,a3,b9,10,00,50,\ 72,6f,66,69,6c,65,73,00,50,52,4f,46,49,4c,45,53,00,19,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,\ c1,24,08,92,10,00,69,65,35,30,30,2e,30,30,30,00,00,28,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,\ c1,24,08,92,10,00,41,70,70,6c,69,63,61,74,69,6f,6e,20,44,61,74,61,00,41,50,\ 50,4c,49,43,7e,31,00,21,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,c5,22,9d,91,10,00,4d,69,63,72,\ 6f,73,6f,66,74,00,4d,49,43,52,4f,53,7e,31,00,29,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,d3,22,\ 32,a6,10,00,49,6e,74,65,72,6e,65,74,20,45,78,70,6c,6f,72,65,72,00,49,4e,54,\ 45,52,4e,7e,31,00,24,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,db,22,76,ba,10,00,51,75,69,63,6b,\ 20,4c,61,75,6e,63,68,00,51,55,49,43,4b,4c,7e,31,00,00,00,8d,00,00,00,1c,00,\ 00,00,01,00,00,00,1c,00,00,00,36,00,00,00,0d,f0,ad,ba,8c,00,00,00,1a,00,00,\ 00,03,00,00,00,e7,18,2d,23,10,00,00,00,49,45,35,30,30,5f,58,31,43,00,43,3a,\ 5c,57,49,4e,4e,54,5c,50,72,6f,66,69,6c,65,73,5c,49,45,35,30,30,2e,30,30,30,\ 5c,41,70,70,6c,69,63,61,74,69,6f,6e,20,44,61,74,61,5c,4d,69,63,72,6f,73,6f,\ 66,74,5c,49,6e,74,65,72,6e,65,74,20,45,78,70,6c,6f,72,65,72,5c,51,75,69,63,\ 6b,20,4c,61,75,6e,63,68,00,00,10,00,00,00,05,00,00,a0,1a,00,00,00,a3,00,00,\ 00,00,00,00,00,08,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,cc,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,\ 4a,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,40,00,32,00,e6,01,00,00,c4,24,15,9f,20,00,4c,61,75,\ 6e,63,68,20,49,6e,74,65,72,6e,65,74,20,45,78,70,6c,6f,72,65,72,20,42,72,6f,\ 77,73,65,72,2e,6c,6e,6b,00,4c,41,55,4e,43,48,7e,32,2e,4c,4e,4b,00,00,00,40,\ 00,00,00,02,00,00,00,36,00,32,00,48,02,00,00,c4,24,15,9f,20,00,4c,61,75,6e,\ 63,68,20,4f,75,74,6c,6f,6f,6b,20,45,78,70,72,65,73,73,2e,6c,6e,6b,00,4c,41,\ 55,4e,43,48,7e,31,2e,4c,4e,4b,00,00,00,36,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,2c,00,32,00,\ 51,00,00,00,ec,22,46,39,20,00,53,68,6f,77,20,44,65,73,6b,74,6f,70,2e,73,63,\ 66,00,53,48,4f,57,44,45,7e,31,2e,53,43,46,00,00,00,52,00,00,00,e0,00,00,00,\ 00,00,00,00,16,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,16,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,01,\ 00,00,00,01,00,00,00,aa,4f,28,68,48,6a,d0,11,8c,78,00,c0,4f,d9,18,b4,37,02,\ 00,00,e0,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,16,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,16,00,00,\ 00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00 "TaskbarWinXP"=hex:0c,00,00,00,08,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,b0,e2,2b,\ d8,64,57,d0,11,a9,6e,00,c0,4f,d7,05,a2,22,00,1c,00,0a,01,00,00,1a,00,00,00,\ 01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,4c,00,00,00,01,14,02,00,00,\ 00,00,00,c0,00,00,00,00,00,00,46,83,00,00,00,10,00,00,00,a0,b0,48,5e,89,8d,\ bd,01,00,d8,9e,e4,2a,8d,bd,01,00,45,fe,5e,89,8d,bd,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\ 00,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,13,01,14,00,1f,0f,e0,4f,\ d0,20,ea,3a,69,10,a2,d8,08,00,2b,30,30,9d,19,00,23,44,3a,5c,00,00,00,00,00,\ 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,cd,97,15,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,af,24,5c,\ b9,10,80,57,69,6e,6e,74,00,00,20,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,af,24,a3,b9,10,00,50,\ 72,6f,66,69,6c,65,73,00,50,52,4f,46,49,4c,45,53,00,19,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,\ c1,24,08,92,10,00,69,65,35,30,30,2e,30,30,30,00,00,28,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,\ c1,24,08,92,10,00,41,70,70,6c,69,63,61,74,69,6f,6e,20,44,61,74,61,00,41,50,\ 50,4c,49,43,7e,31,00,21,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,c5,22,9d,91,10,00,4d,69,63,72,\ 6f,73,6f,66,74,00,4d,49,43,52,4f,53,7e,31,00,29,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,d3,22,\ 32,a6,10,00,49,6e,74,65,72,6e,65,74,20,45,78,70,6c,6f,72,65,72,00,49,4e,54,\ 45,52,4e,7e,31,00,24,00,31,00,00,00,00,00,db,22,76,ba,10,00,51,75,69,63,6b,\ 20,4c,61,75,6e,63,68,00,51,55,49,43,4b,4c,7e,31,00,00,00,8d,00,00,00,1c,00,\ 00,00,01,00,00,00,1c,00,00,00,36,00,00,00,0d,f0,ad,ba,8c,00,00,00,1a,00,00,\ 00,03,00,00,00,e7,18,2d,23,10,00,00,00,49,45,35,30,30,5f,58,31,43,00,43,3a,\ 5c,57,49,4e,4e,54,5c,50,72,6f,66,69,6c,65,73,5c,49,45,35,30,30,2e,30,30,30,\ 5c,41,70,70,6c,69,63,61,74,69,6f,6e,20,44,61,74,61,5c,4d,69,63,72,6f,73,6f,\ 66,74,5c,49,6e,74,65,72,6e,65,74,20,45,78,70,6c,6f,72,65,72,5c,51,75,69,63,\ 6b,20,4c,61,75,6e,63,68,00,00,10,00,00,00,05,00,00,a0,1a,00,00,00,a3,00,00,\ 00,00,00,00,00,08,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,cc,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,\ 4a,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,40,00,32,00,e6,01,00,00,c4,24,15,9f,20,00,4c,61,75,\ 6e,63,68,20,49,6e,74,65,72,6e,65,74,20,45,78,70,6c,6f,72,65,72,20,42,72,6f,\ 77,73,65,72,2e,6c,6e,6b,00,4c,41,55,4e,43,48,7e,32,2e,4c,4e,4b,00,00,00,40,\ 00,00,00,02,00,00,00,36,00,32,00,48,02,00,00,c4,24,15,9f,20,00,4c,61,75,6e,\ 63,68,20,4f,75,74,6c,6f,6f,6b,20,45,78,70,72,65,73,73,2e,6c,6e,6b,00,4c,41,\ 55,4e,43,48,7e,31,2e,4c,4e,4b,00,00,00,36,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,2c,00,32,00,\ 51,00,00,00,ec,22,46,39,20,00,53,68,6f,77,20,44,65,73,6b,74,6f,70,2e,73,63,\ 66,00,53,48,4f,57,44,45,7e,31,2e,53,43,46,00,00,00,52,00,00,00,e0,00,00,00,\ 00,00,00,00,16,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,16,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,01,\ 00,00,00,01,00,00,00,aa,4f,28,68,48,6a,d0,11,8c,78,00,c0,4f,d9,18,b4,37,02,\ 00,00,e0,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,16,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,16,00,00,\ 00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00 ;=========================================

Hey, first from your "Run" dialog box, execute gpedit.msc (on WinXP pro, this tool is available directly - no 3rd party apps required). If what you want is listed in the options of "gpedit", then it is possible to go ahead; otherwise I don't think it is possible. Have a *GOOD* look into gpedit, and if your desired option is listed there, post back on this thread - and we can make progress on this matter.

Yup! all of what you say is possible, though it takes some ugly lots of time to carry out.

If it is just the constant alerts that is bothering you, see this reg key: ; Disable irritating Security Center notifications [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center] "AntiVirusDisableNotify"=dword:00000001 "UpdatesDisableNotify"=dword:00000001