Hi,

I want to build my self a CMD file that will run before the windows setup starts, i want the CMD to verify if there is a version of windows installed and rename folders like documents and settings, windows, and program files so they are not overwrited by windows installation .

anyway is it possible to insert a CMD files just after "Press and key to boot from CD" ?

Thanks

I don't think this is possible as in my experience and understanding, the first point you can run a batch file is just as the GUI portion of the setup is starting.

You could use some other sort of boot disk which has NTFS support (if needed) and run a batch like that before you go for the main setup.

Going back over your post though, I'm now asking why you want to achieve this.. eg..

--> Documents and Settings

In the past I have took a hard disk from a XP based pc and put it in another XP machine to retrieve data from a users profile, I was hindered by XP's security, because I wasn't the user who's files I was trying to access, the security wouldn't let me in to them. This would probably be the same for you.

--> Windows

Well, if your Windows isn't working you don't need to keep the windows folder as that version doesn't work anyway

--> Program Files

When you install programs, they hold registry settings etc etc which will not be there on a clean install, this means you would have to sit and install those programs again, so there's no point in keeping the installed versions.

Do alittle research into txtsetup.sif in the i386 folder. if i remember correctly the boot.bin ( the boot sector responsible for the message "Press any key to boot from cd" ) points to the txtsetup.sif file first. So my theory is you MAY be able to link to a cmd file from there.

briar

it may be possible to do this with a 3rd party boot loader such as cdshell.

i could see a possible use, and thats if you make folders off your C:\ like C:\Downloads C:\Graphics C:\Backup etc.. then have it copy those folders into a backup harddrive with a similar structure, so when you do your format it will merge the contents of the folders onto the backup folder.

How large are these folders?

You could simply copy those to your Ua source, archive them & have windows copy them into their respective places.

Cheers

MC.

Edited January 14, 200620 yr by MAVERICKS CHOICE

First of all thank you very much for taking the time...

My goal is - I don't want to format the HD when insatlling from my UA cd (I want to keep the data on the HD). I want to delete

or backup (by renaming the folder name) the windows, document and settings and program files - Folders . so when my UA

cd insatlls it doesnt insatll over the previous insatllation, but a fresh installation of windows.

This will prevent me from first boot with a boot cd and do all of the above and then restart the computer and run the UA CD...

This is what I am trying to do, if anyone know a better way, for doing this, please say it so I'll use the optimal way.

Thanks

Edited January 14, 200620 yr by predatorFTP