Paging File Error & Activation after installation of nLite Win XP

[Guest jukingeo]

Hello All,

I am new to nLite and I have a couple questions in regards to a couple issues I am having upon installation of a copy of Windows XP Professional that I have used nLite on.

Ok, for some background info:

This is an experiment to determine the feasibility of using Windows XP Pro in embedded computer applications for the use in computer systems designed for a specific task.

My test computer is Compaq Evo D51S computer. The reason for needing a slimmed down version of Windows XP because I am testing a special hard drive that is made from a 16gig Transcend Compact Flash card in an IDE converter. In a nutshell, I am trying to create a poor mans solid state hard drive. With only 16gigs to play around with, naturally I want to make the OS as small as possible.

Initially it does seem like the Compact Flash with converter DOES work as I am able to boot into Windows XP Pro. However, upon boot up I get an Administrator log in screen and I just click on "OK" without using a password. Following this I get an error message:

"LIMITED VIRTUAL MEMORY

Your system has no paging file, or the paging file is too small."

Following that is directions to go to the Control panel and go to the performance settings section, advanced tab. I did such and made the necessary changes to give Windows XP a paging file. I hit "OK" and then the system says it needs to restart. So I close out of everything and restart. Low and behold, after the administrator's sign on screen I get the SAME error message. I went back in and tried several other combinations of settings and I get the same error message. So I come to the conclusion that I might have removed something on accident using nLite in which Windows XP is NOT accepting the changes I make to the paging file.

Ok, now the next issue is the activation icon. In the bottom right hand corner, I get a little key icon that appears saying that Windows will shut down in 30 days if I don't activate it. I was under the assumption that if you provided nLite with the product key that this is something that no longer needs to be done. At any rate, I can't do this because of getting the paging file error above, Windows didn't search my computer and load up the driver it needs for the on-board LAN device. (Apparently on the full version of Windows XP Pro, before I used nLite, all the drivers I needed were within Windows XP Pro).

I don't recall getting the Administrator's login when I first installed Windows XP Pro on this machine, but at any rate, I would like to have Windows just boot straight in without that login. So any assistance to get rid of that screen would be much appreciated.

Thank You,

Geo

[Ponch]

This is an experiment to determine the feasibility of using Windows XP Pro in embedded computer applications for the use in computer systems designed for a specific task.

First welcome to the forum.

Now... Installing nLite, you agreed it was for non commercial and personal use only. This seems to cross the border. You might want to check other ways to achieve your goal.

[dencorso]

Your disk is being detected as removable. You need to add karyonix's DiskMod v. 0.0.2.2.

[Guest jukingeo]

First welcome to the forum.

Now... Installing nLite, you agreed it was for non commercial and personal use only. This seems to cross the border. You might want to check other ways to achieve your goal.

Uhhhh, I don't recall mentioning this will be for commercial use. To put your mind at ease, it is for various units that will be in use in a personal arcade game room. I.E. A jukebox, video game cabinets, motion simulator. Also I intend to use it for home based media centers and also for a computer that syncs Christmas lights to music.

The idea is to make a small computer that uses a lightweight operating system in which I can use to control items used for specific purposes, as I outlined above.

Your disk is being detected as removable. You need to add karyonix's DiskMod v. 0.0.2.2.

Thank you for the link to that site, but as I was doing some reading, I came across one fellow that posted that you shouldn't use the DiskMod on a Compact Flash device, which is exactly what I am intending to do. As I recalled from past research, it is generally considered "bad" practice to use a Dynamic memory storage area on a Compact Flash device as that could prematurely wear it out.

Ok, now for the next set of questions:

1) Do I really need a pagefile? If the answer is "no" then how can I turn off the error message every time it boots up.

2) Since USB is not active at the time, I would assume that I would have to burn another CD-Rom to load up the drivers for the Compaq Evo, correct?

3) Once again, is there a way to disable the need for Windows XP activation. Since most of my projects are game room related, it is a major inconvenience to have Windows XP wanting to call Mama Microsoft every time I set up a system.

Thank You,

Geo

Edited June 7, 2011 by jukingeo

[dencorso]

3) Once again, is there a way to disable the need for Windows XP activation. Since most of my projects are game room related, it is a major inconvenience to have Windows XP wanting to call Mama Microsoft every time I set up a system.

Your question 3 cannot be answered by anyone at MSFN. In fact, it shouldn't even be posed. For your reference:

1.a This is not a warez site! Links/Requests to warez and/or illegal material (e.g., cracks, serials, etc.) will not be tolerated. Discussion of circumventing WGA/activation/timebombs/license restrictions, use of keygens, or any other illegal activity, including, but not limited to, requests for help where pirated software is being used or being discussed, will also not be tolerated. Offenders may be banned on first violation.

[allen2]

The question 3 could be answered easily and within the forum rules: you need to buy from Microsoft XP volume licenses.

For question 1, no you don't need pagefile if you have enough memory but some applications might need it but you might also find a way around this using a ramdrive. By the way how much memory does the complaining machine have?

For question 2, yes but you should have removed usb support with nlite (i don't even know if nlite can do it).

Also using a CF card as system isn't a good idea because you'll need a fast one (if you want correct perfs) that 'll cost almost the same price than a small ssd.

[Guest jukingeo]

Your question 3 cannot be answered by anyone at MSFN. In fact, it shouldn't even be posed. For your reference:

1.a This is not a warez site! Links/Requests to warez and/or illegal material (e.g., cracks, serials, etc.) will not be tolerated. Discussion of circumventing WGA/activation/timebombs/license restrictions, use of keygens, or any other illegal activity, including, but not limited to, requests for help where pirated software is being used or being discussed, will also not be tolerated. Offenders may be banned on first violation.

I don't consider this illegal because I have a legal copy of Windows XP Professional WITH a valid Key (I can prove it too). So apparently our (yours and my) views on this point differ.

The question 3 could be answered easily and within the forum rules: you need to buy from Microsoft XP volume licenses.

Ok, you have my attention, but is it something that is ridiculously expensive?

For question 1, no you don't need pagefile if you have enough memory but some applications might need it but you might also find a way around this using a ramdrive. By the way how much memory does the complaining machine have?

It is an older Compaq Evo 1.8ghz with 248MB of Ram. It looks like it is using standard DDR(2) memory so I am sure this could be increased, but by how much I don't know. As it is this is only a test machine. One of the project machines (not assembled as of yet), is a 1.8ghz dual processor with 2gig of ram.

For question 2, yes but you should have removed usb support with nlite (i don't even know if nlite can do it).

Well, I DO want USB support, of course, but I do recall that when I installed the same OS on this computer with it's original hard drive, Windows XP did have all the necessary drivers. I could have inadvertently told nLite to remove ALL drivers. So since USB isn't functional, more then likely have to go the alternative route and load up the EVO's drivers via the CD-ROM.

Also using a CF card as system isn't a good idea because you'll need a fast one (if you want correct perfs) that 'll cost almost the same price than a small ssd.

Define fast. What I am currently testing out is a Transcend 16gig 133x Compact Flash. I saw that Kingston made a 266x at 16gig...Should I have bought that one instead?

I think at this point I should be more specific in what I am attempting to do:

First off, I am NOT doing anything that is multi-tasking. I am going to run one main program at a time. So for the machine that is going to run classic video games, that one will be set up with MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator). For the machine that is residing in the custom jukebox, that one will be running DW Jukebox.

The only thing that (I can think of ) may run more than one program at the same time would be the motion simulator. This would require one program to run the audio/video, and another to run the actuators. However, I am still finding a way to do this with one program.

Even in the case of a Media Center, I would be using VLC to handle most of the 'dirty work'. Again one program.

I initially had thought of using Windows 2000 rather than Windows XP since nLite supports it AND it doesn't have the WPA to call home to Mama Microsoft. But the issue that I ran into was that board that I mentioned above, the 1.8ghz dual core with 2gig of ram? Well, the drivers are not supported by Windows 2000.

So as you see overall, I don't need much of the operating system.

Thanx,

Geo

[Kelsenellenelvian]

I don't consider this illegal because I have a legal copy of Windows XP Professional WITH a valid Key (I can prove it too). So apparently our (yours and my) views on this point differ.

It IS illegal and un-ethical! Not only that but by using any of the cracks\activators out there you further the spread and use of them.

"But officer I only bought that bottle of oxycotin because I didn't want to use my own prescription (That would wear it out)"

or

"I only drove HIS car because mine has this NASTY habit of running out of gas when I drive it"

Also you speak of owning A copy of windows not 6 or however many installations you intend to use.

It is NOT a matter of VIEWS, It is a FACT of the legal system and HIGHLY punishable by law.

P.S. A technet subscription (Which would allow for SEVERAL activations on MANY of MS's products) is only $199, which is the same as buying a full clean XP pro.

Edited June 8, 2011 by Kelsenellenelvian