Tripredacus

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Is there any way to do a diff on two WIMs? I have two that are slightly different, but I don't know where the difference is. Is there a tool to compare the two, similar to file comparison tools used for programming?

What do your autounattend or sysprep.inf look like?

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Your missing message should be in the outbox, unless you have a rule setup to clean out the outbox, or its disabled. Anyways, while Outlook does support multiple accounts, it sends mail using the settings of the default account. Alternatively, you can change your STMP information to match what is on the default account and it should be able to send mail properly.

RE is disabled in the WAIK.

Sometimes ProcessMonitor gives you an option to close handles, which is what I had used in the past to kill processes that won't die. Recently, however, it seems like I can't find that option anymore.

I can tell you how Adelphia's (now Time Warner) DHCP works (in certain areas) and hopefully it will answer your question. The first time you boot your computer or connect it to the new internet (such as after it gets installed), the computer sends out a request via your cable modem for an IP address. This request is received by the ISP's DHCP server. The DHCP server records the MAC/Hardware address of your NIC, and then checks the active lease table to see if it has an IP address for you. Since this is the first time you ever connected this computer to the service, it doesn't find a record. The DHCP server then checks the pool of available IP addresses, selects one and marks it as "yours" and allows you to have it for a 3 hour period. No matter how many times you release or renew the IP address, you will always get this one. In theory, after your 3 hours are up (the computer records its lease time as well and you can see this in ipconfig) your computer is supposed to send a renewal request to the DHCP server. Now this doesn't always work as planned because Windows remembers the IP address in the ARP table. So initially, your computer will ask the DHCP server to renew using the IP address it is currently using. If that IP address is either available or still assigned to that MAC address, it renews the reservation for that IP address for an additional 3 hours. While you are actually receiving a dynamically assigned IP address, many people will note that their address doesn't change or doesn't change often. This behaviour depends on how many network connections (customers) are on the node/segment you are on in their network, and if you computer was on or off at the time your lease expired. Typically, the computer will be able to renew using the same IP address if the computer is on at the time of expiry. The only case where this doesn't happen is if there is an "offender" (a rogue or malfunctioning computer) on the network or the DHCP server runs out of IP addresses in its pool for the scope. If your computer is off at the time of expiry, the DHCP server may reassign your old IP address to another computer, or perhaps it won't. Like I said before it depends on the amount of customers in that area. There are instances where the computer will use its IP address after the lease expired without permission of the DHCP server, but that's a whole other situation altogether. If anyone has any other questions about how Cable internet works, I could probably answer them.

Ya and don't worry about MX 2004 being installed, it doesn't interfere with anything for a web browser such as the Flash Active-X Control.

Yessir. Oh, I put in a request to get a rack unit to be put in the production area. It will hold 3 servers, the primary, the backup and the legacy with the busted raid. All in all, we will have about 3TB of network storage!

Actually, someone already put out a fix. I don't know how good it is, but it can be a start if it doesn't already work. It turns out I couldn't recreate ANY problems with my testing. In each instance the only noticeable differences were that there was a Program Access and Defaults shortcut in the start menu and the computer booted up twice as fast.

Do they both use the same video controller?

This is because media players set a different power profile and settings which prevents this as well as disables the screensaver. You'd figure that if Media Player could disable the screensaver when it was open that Defrag would be able to do the same thing...

I think you should wait for the next Patch Tuesday and see if the shield comes back.

Server Core, TS Gateway, TS App Publishing, Hyper-V Clustering, Read-Only domain controllers, ADFS/ADCFS, WDS in multicast, NAP for clients to start (all of which I use heavily). The WDS in multicast is the #1 reason why we're moving to 2008. I am sure that all those other things are going to be really awesome too! The following roles will be assigned: -Primary Domain Controller -WDS -Fileserver -PXE Boot Server This is just a test server to start. Our target for production (which is 2008 certified) is currently in use so I can't stop production just to play around on it. Because of this, it is also not a huge concern that I will have to fight with the drivers or settings to get it all working, as this will be a learning experience and allow the actual migration to go smoother. Also, because this machine is kinda bulky to be used only as a test server (mainly the 1.45TB of storage it has) I will be planning on changing the roles to match the following: -backup domain controller -dhcp server -backup file server -backup (ie technician PC) WDS While the current production server will handle PXE Boot, WDS (Primary) and image and file storage. Currently our test environment (which actually does have production value in certain instances) runs in the following configuration: Current Config 1. Server 2003 Standard x32 (low end) Domain Controller with WDS, SQL Server, IIS, DNS, PXE 2. Server 2003 Standard x32 (high end but broken) running DHCP The main problems faced with Server1 is that it is not spec'd for running the OS, and can only image 4 computers at once. The main problems with server2 is that it is supposed to have 1TB of space, but one of the drives fell off the array. It was retired (and destined for the recycling center but I saved it because it has drive images for legacy systems that our repair department can use. We also had tried getting those images off of the drive onto an external or network drive but the server would either BSOD, reboot or lock-up. Since it still kinda works, I use it for DHCP only and joined it to the domain. This test server will replace server1 in testing, and after testing is completed, will replace server2 and enter the production environment.

I did also run into a problem with the capture ability. Truthfully, this won't be a big issue for our uses of it, however. We may end up removing some of the options when we switch to using WDS altogether because the regular software techs won't need to use the capture or any other advanced commands. Special projects or image creation would be handled by myself or management only, a task we wouldn't delegate to the the regular software people. So in other words, I always use the command prompt to capture images.

After getting approval for a new test server after my 2003 server became inadequate towards our goals, I have been given a new server in which to use Server 2008! I don't have it all put together yet, but I am sure I will have some questions once I start using it. I am creating this thread as a starting point, and perhaps some of you will be interested in seeing the development of this project as well. In this thread you can comment on the ideas we have or the hardware we are going to be using, or ask the usual questions I get such as "why would you do such a thing"... Anyways, here is the hardware we have lined up: OS: Server 2008 64bit MB: Intel SE7520BD23 CPU: 2x Xeon 2.80GHz dualies RAM: 2x 2GB (4GB) Crucial C35DR260 Intel Pro/1000 MT DUAL PORT nic RAID: 3Ware 9550SXU-4LP + 2x WD 80GB SATA for mirrored system volume. RAID5: 3Ware 9550DX-8LP + 6x WD 400GB SATA for storage We'll see how this server board turns out. Our big problem might be that Intel has no plans to qualify this hardware for 2008. Let me know what you think of this setup, or possible issues I may run into, besides the obvious motherboard drivers problem.

I am currently downloading SP3 from Windows Update on a test computer. Hopefully I can re-create this issue, determine the fix and include the fix in our images. We are not currently installing SP3 because of the issues reported with it. We also do not use Windows Update, but our customers will use it.

OK thanks if I didn't say it before. I was able to faithfully recreate the recovery partition properly using imagex and diskpart. Now my situation is that I need to be able to boot into the recovery partition. It involves using a program called "MBRInst" by a company called XSS. I looked on the recovery program system builder CD that we are given but it does not have this program. It appears that the company is using a library that they interface from their application to write the bootcode into the MBR. I've already talked to our rep and he basically said that the developers won't help anyone unless the corporate contract is over $1mil/year, which means we're not one of them.... And they would be the ones I could get this program from. But it also seems that this mbrinst.exe program is also used by HP and should be in their drive image. Is there a way someone could send me that program? PM me if interested or lock this thread if inappropriate. Thanks.

Greetings, I have simply used a batch file instead. Here is the path and params that I use in my install of the regular version: start /wait SetupX.exe /qb! /l*v "c:\windows\NeroSetupLog.txt" NSC_OPT="FALSE" NSC_DEFAULT_OFF="TRUE" Switched used are creating an install log file, and disable all nero scout options but allow user to re-enable them if they choose. This method of not providing the serial number places the icon on the desktop that the end-user can then type in the serial from the back of their CD that comes with their computer.

OK I tried to change how this works so that it does not install the serial number as outlined in the Nero 8 installer docs. The install worked properly but there is a problem. It didn't say it was done and most importantly, did not create desktop or start menu shortcuts. The only modification to the AU3 I made was removing the var for the $SN in the command string on line 182: $param = " /q" & $qsw & " /norestart RebootYesNo=No SERIALNUM_USERVAL=" & $transforms & " AgreeToLicense=Yes EULA_AGREEMENT=1 " & $D & $I & ' /log "' & @WindowsDir & '\Nero Setup.log"' ADD: Now that I am more familiar with the process of how the Nero installer works, I am finding that the command line parameters passed by the AU3 wrapper are largely being ignored. This may be because I am actually using the SetupX.exe from the full version and not the demo installer that this program was designed to work with. The reason why I am missing icons and shortcuts, and the program is not installing properly is because almost all of the command line parameters in the code above are being ignored by the installer. If you are interested in making an update or another version to handle the full version (or OEM CD versions that come with drives like Lite-On, etc) then these parameters may be of use to you. As it stands right now, I will write my own wrapper to handle this install since this isn't working out for me either. Command line for running the Nero Installer: SetupXFullPath [/x] /qb! /l*v <LOGFULLPATH> ADDLOCAL="<FEATURE>[,<FEATURE>]*" REMOVE="<FEATURE>[,<FEATURE>]*" {ADDLOCAL="ALL"} INCLANGUAGES="<LANGUAGE>[,<LANGUAGE>]*" EXCLANGUAGES="<LANGUAGE>[,<LANGUAGE>]*" SERIALNUMBER="<SERIALNUM>" REGISTERED_COMPANYNAME="<COMPANYNAME>" REGISTERED_USERNAME="<USERNAME>" TARGETPATH="<DESTINATIONPATH>" NO_FILEASSOC="<FEATURE>[,<FEATURE>]*" QUICKSTART="<QUICKSTARTVAL>" DESKTOP_SHORTCUT="<DESKTOPVAL>" AUTOPLAY="<AUTOPLAYVAL>" REBOOT="<REBOOTVAL>" ALLUSERS="<ALLUSERS>" |W2K ALLUSERS="1"| REBOOTPROMPT="<REBOOTPROMPTVAL>" VERBOSELOG="<VERBOSELOGVAL>" EULAACCEPTED="<EULAACCEPTEDVAL>" NSC_OPT="<NEROSCOUTVAL>" NSC_OFF="<NSCDISABLEVAL>" NSC_DEFAULT_OFF="<NSCDEFAULTVAL>" WMA_IGNORE_SR="<WMAIGNORESRVAL>" NST_SB_OFF="<NSTSBOFFVAL>" MAKECABS="<MAKECABSVAL>"

If using the 7zip method, I am only looking at a 30MB savings in file size, so I am not going to worry about that. Also I have found the information on how to accomplish a demo install.

I got the ThreadOP's method to work. I am still disappointed by the size of the install (we are not installing the demo) and will need to do additional testing to determine how to effectively deploy it over a network. We won't be using this method to deploy demo Nero, but licensed Nero with demo keys. Can anyone post me the demo key? I hope this is not a no-no. The demo key is the "serial number" that the demo uses to install, since all Nero versions require a key. The Demo Key is also the same on ALL installations of the limited software. Typically, if the software is installed with the Demo Key, when you open it, it will ask you to register with a REAL key. We will set up our installations to use the demo key instead of the licensed key so we don't have to type in keys for every machine we sell with Nero.

Well we already know that imagex reports a percentage of the drive being completed when you do a capture or apply. You hide the cmd and show a progress bar instead. Either there is some way to get that info being reported by imagex or allow the cmdbox to appear but not as the active (ie open behind the HTA) window. If your script can read the %, you could apply the correct graphics for the progress bar. Just a thought. Haven't a clue on how to implement but maybe it gives you an idea.

@rajesh.kumar: People seem to not have a problem using the 7zip method, although I do not even get to the install phase. After package rebuild and first-run on a clean XP, I get the message: BTW, if you have an install CD for Nero, you don't need to start the install before you copy the files. Just copy the installation folder and its contents off the CD. It's still a really big install, however. I will try out the OP's method, but honestly a reboot is not an option for me.