Force software to run at T12 using regtweaks

[Acheron]

Some software, like Microsoft .NET 2.0, Windows Messenger 5.1 and Hex Workshop 5 won't install properly during Windows Setup. Although updates and hacks might be applied to each individual setup file, I have come up with a simpler method.

By setting SystemSetupInProgress to 0 any installer will run just like if you were logged on. You can also clear the Error Reporting key which circumvents some MSI installers issues.

I provide you the inf I use at T12. After the RunOnceEx section is processed I revert the SystemSetupInProgress value.

Do not use this method on first logon, modifying the SystemSetupInProgress key while logged on will mess up your system!

cmdlines.txt

[COMMANDS]
  "rundll32.exe advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection .\systemsetup.inf,DisableSystemSetup"
  "rundll32.exe advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection .\runonceex.inf"
  "rundll32.exe advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection .\systemsetup.inf,EnableSystemSetup"

systemsetup.inf

[Version]
 Signature="$Windows NT$"

 [DisableSystemSetup]
 RunPreSetupCommands = BackupSystemState:1
 AddReg			  = DisableSystemSetup.AddReg
 DelReg			  = DisableSystemSetup.DelReg

 [BackupSystemState]
;Backup SystemSetupProgress
 "cmd /c for /f ""tokens=3 skip=4"" %%i in ('reg query HKLM\SYSTEM\Setup /v SystemSetupInProgress')" \ "
	 do reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\Setup /v SystemSetupInProgressBak /t REG_DWORD /d %%i /f"

 [DisableSystemSetup.AddReg]
 HKLM,"SYSTEM\Setup","SystemSetupInProgress",0x10001,0x0

 [DisableSystemSetup.DelReg]
 HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PCHealth\ErrorReporting\DW"

 [EnableSystemSetup]
 RunPreSetupCommands = RestoreSystemState:1
 DelReg			  = EnableSystemSetup.DelReg

 [RestoreSystemState]
;Restore SystemSetupProgress
 "cmd /c for /f ""tokens=3 skip=4"" %%i in ('reg query HKLM\SYSTEM\Setup /v SystemSetupInProgressBak')" \ "
	 do reg add HKLM\SYSTEM\Setup /v SystemSetupInProgress /t REG_DWORD /d %%i /f"

 [EnableSystemSetup.DelReg]
 HKLM,"SYSTEM\Setup","SystemSetupInProgressBak"

Note: I have tried implementing the undocumented BackupReg feature. Although this method does work, I not only had to lower Internet Explorer security settings to write to the HKLM key, while testing it appeared DWORD values were saved as BINARY and messed up the registry on restore.

Edited July 4, 2008 by Acheron

[Martin H]

Very nice contribution, mate