Installing PLUS! For Windows XP

[DisabledTrucker]

Inref this post: Guide to create Net Framework 1.1 w/SP-1 combined by bitmonster

A. Has anyone used this to do a compressed install of PLUS!?

B. Will it work or am I wasting my time?

C. Will removing the instmsi*.* files cause any problems if I just use the updated msiexec.exe from the slipstreamed i386 folder on the disk? (expanded and renamed of course.)

This is what I have done so far:

(x:\ is referring to the drive I am using for the temp folders, can be any drive.)

1. Copied the entire CD to x:\PLUS\PLUS!

2. Removed instmsi*.* from the x:\PLUS!\PLUS! folder and replaced them with msiexec.exe.

3. I also renamed the .msi installer to PLUS!.msi and made my config text file to include:

;!@Install@!UTF-8!
Title="MICROSOFT PLUS! FOR WINDOWS XP"
RunProgram="MSIEXEC /i PLUS!.MSI /qb!-"
;!@InstallEnd@!

Placing it in my x:\PLUS folder

4. Copied 7zs.sfx (already UPX'd) and 7za.exe to X:\PLUS

5. Then I run the command:

..\7za.exe a "PLUS!.7z" -r -mx=7 -mfb=255 =md=48 *

(this is where I am at now, but I intend to finish up:)

6. Run the command:

COPY /b 7zs.sfx + config.txt + Plus!.7z Plus!.exe

7. Copy the new PLUS!.exe to my $OEM$\$1\Install folder

8. Using RunOnceEx.cmd, call it during unattended using:

cmdow @ /HID
@echo off
set tagfile=\WIN51
for %%i in (c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z) do if exist "%%i:%tagfile%" set CDROM=%%i:
SET OEMPATH=%CDROM%\$OEM$
SET OEMINSTALL=%CDROM%\$OEM$\$1\Install
REG ADD %KEY%\043 /VE /D "PLUS!" /f
REG ADD %KEY%\043 /V 1 /D "7za x -y -aoa %OEMINSTALL%\Plus!.exe -o%systemdrive%\Plus!" /f
REG ADD %KEY%\043 /V 2 /D "%OEMINSTALL%\Plus!.exe" /f

The first key will copy and extract it to my HDD for future needs, the second line will install it from the CD, hopefully, assuming I am doing this correctly.

Can anyone enlighten me if I am?

[RogueSpear]

The ONLY thing that I wanted out of Plus! was the themes (with accompanying screensavers). I made a self-extracting RAR file of all the needed files and then used InstallShield Repackager to make an msi file out of it.

In all honesty, the only other thing I could possibly see anyone wanting out of Plus! would be the games, and they were all fairly lousy at that.

I did notice one little annoyance with my package. When you apply a theme, sometimes (yes, only sometimes), I get a pop-up that says you need to agree to the Plus! EULA. It does not seem to stop you from applying the theme however. As of yet, I still have not bothered to hunt down the reg entry that will alleviate that minor annoyance.

[DisabledTrucker]

Mostly I use it for the WMP features, like the MP3 conversion and the Personal DJ, the tray tool is also nice. My son though likes the games and the themes, so I use it in both systems which is why I want to just go ahead and add it all. And yet your post still has nothing to do with my post above.

[enuffsaid]

I've tried to rip out stuff from Plus! and place it my unattended CD. I've ripped out the Screensavers, the WMP visualizations, Desktop Themes... etc.

BUT!!!!! Everytime I start a screensaver, or one of the Plus WMP visualizations, it tells me I did not accept the EULA. I've been trying to find the right .dll and register it, but so far to no avail. Spent a few threads on it, too, here.

Let me know if you manage.

Regards,

eNuffSaid

[RogueSpear]

And yet your post still has nothing to do with my post above.

OK Mr. Personality,

Why don't you make life a little easier on yourself and pick up a little VBscript. Then you can install msi programs much easier.

Dim ws, fs, objService, objSoftware, strFiles, strTemp, str7Zcmd, strDecompress, errReturn

Set ws = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

Set fs = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

Set objService = GetObject("winmgmts:")

Set objSoftware = objService.Get("Win32_Product")

If fs.FolderExists("D:\EXTRAS") Then strFiles = "D:\EXTRAS\"

If fs.FolderExists("E:\EXTRAS") Then strFiles = "E:\EXTRAS\"

If fs.FolderExists("F:\EXTRAS") Then strFiles = "F:\EXTRAS\"

If fs.FolderExists("C:\Temp") Then strTemp = "C:\Temp"

If fs.FolderExists("D:\Temp") Then strTemp = "D:\Temp"

If fs.FolderExists("E:\Temp") Then strTemp = "E:\Temp"

str7Zcmd = "7za x -o"

strDecompress = str7Zcmd & strTemp & " " & strFiles

ws.Run strDecompress & """MS Plus!.7z""",0, True

errReturn = objSoftware.Install(strTemp & "\Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP.msi","transforms=""Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP.mst""", True)

You can make your own mst file to include or exclude anything you want. Seems a lot easier to me than all this comman line stuff.

[DisabledTrucker]

I would like to pick up some vb in the future, but until I can get past this seizure problem I am having, I have enough trouble just doing what I can. Thanks for the last post though, if I can figure out how to implement it, I may.

@eNuffSaid

That's why I just install the entire thing then remove what I don't want later, it's too much hassle trying to figure out what the key is.