Discussion of Results: June 27, 2008 I forgot to stop messenger from running at startup The remedy is: Start >Run >regedit>HKCU/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Current Version/Run Delete Messenger For the longest time I had no knowledge of the error message! Just recently, I discovered I can tell Windows not to automatically restart after the blue screen of death (BSOD). Fortunately, I discovered mergeide.zip which prevents stop errors like stop: 0x0000007b (0x80604ba0, 0xc0000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000 I applied this change to the registry If image does not boot. Do repair install. Then reinstall Sygate firewall or try Comodo. Reinstall latest version of Avast antivirus. I modified my XP image by removing Office 2000 and installing Office 2003 June 15, 2008 Problem: Resizing pagefile.sys creates fragmented file. Solution: Restore image of XP (Windows + Data) Boot restored image Create 2 GB block of virtual RAM on C:\, 900 MB on D:\ Turn off PC While HD of restored image is attache dto IDE/SATA 2, boot from Windows on a 2nd HD attached to IDE/SATA 1. Enter command prompt: Drive E:\ is the Windows partition of HD 1 Drive F:\ is the data partition of HD 1 E: attrib -s -h pagefile.sys del pagefile.sys F: attrib -s -h pagefile.sys del pagefile.sys Be careful to image the modified windows and data partion (deleted pagefile.sys). Image windows on 1 DVD or 4 CDs Image data on 1 CD Image Windows and data on HD. ------------------------------------------------ April 08, 2008 I streamlined all images to have OS and programs on 1 image file. The data image file is tiny and easily resizeable. I have given up making CDs. Its much simpler for me to link to the bootit image files. You may resore them onto free space then create images on CDs. or DVDs (necessary for laptops). This image of XP fits best on a minimum of 20 GB HD. For HD less than 20 GB use Windows 98 Full or light version. Firefox wont install Macromedia Authorware Internet Explorer installed shockwave, Flash and authorware successfully This XP image can boot any PC or Laptop. See http://drpcdr.ca/bimage.txt April 04, 2008 Removed 3 Viruses by scheduling Avast Boot-time Scan Fixed corrupted Windows Media Player Fixed Il System Wiper Installed HiDownload Updated Avast Antivirus Macromedia authorware won't install in IE but does in Firefox see http://drpcdr.ca/mistakes.txt Inorder to keep image on 3 CDs, I moved the gaymz to data partition Aug. 20/07 Finally, I have fixed all known flaws on my xp image. Also made the paging file on data partition only 100MB for easier download. The inability of the firewall to connect to FTP still remains unresolved. For downloading from FTP sites you must tell the firewall to allow all. After FTP downloads are completed set firewall back to normal. Same thing applies to uploading via FTP protocol. If you find this FTP flaw unacceptable then replace the firewall with another like zone Alarm. I reccommend an older version of Zone Alarm like 5.5 because the latest version has antivirus and antispyware components that will conflict with existing security software already installed. Aug 19/07 Yet another flaw is discovered! I am in no rush to upload the corrected image because it takes 10 hours. Next time I will reduce the paging file on data partition to perhaps just 100 MB. So my disciples here is your homework: Fix il system wiper to delete files in the windows temp folder specific for each user. By default il system wiper assumes 1 single user and deletes files from c:\windows\temp. Here's the solution: 1. logon to user1 2. Right click on the garbage can on bottom right corner of windows taskbar then select restore window. 3. Click on the Windows tab. 4. Click change directory beside delete temp files 5. Right click start >explore 6. Expand local settings 7. click on temp folder 8. Right click in address window >copy 9. Click on il system wiper task on taskbar 10. backspace to delete c:\windows\temp 11. CTRL + V to paste new path C:\Documents and Settings\User1\Local Settings\Temp 12. Click OK 13. Click start 14. Click exit Repeat steps 1-14 for remaining 4 users. Aug 18/07 I setup ootlook properly. Each user has their own folder on the data partition. I set the firewall to block everything except programs that require access to the Internet. For my FTP to function, I set the firewall to allow all. Then I set it back to normal when I have completed transferring files. The data partition has a paging file of 512 MB. More practical would be a paging file of only 200 MB. This smaller file would facilitate downloads. Sorry for the inconvenience! August 14/07 NIRVANA @ last! However, oulook 9.0 is installed but not setup properly. I will setup outlook properly and upload again! I removed the sqmdata junk from c:\ root directory. Windows Live is responsible. By default, you participate in a data-gathering program. Logon Live Messenger, click on Help, then on Customer Experience Improvement Program, then uncheck you want to participate. I updated the firewall. 3. I created a 512 MB pagefile on data drive D: because I usually neglect to do this. 4. I modified the restore instructions on the XP image itself. The modified images are uploading right now! Cheers! ------------------------------------------------------ July 28/07 I reproduced the experiment. It's so much easier to follow than to develop by research, trial and error. However, I created a Windows XP service pack 2 CD by slipstreaming Windows XP Pro with service pack 2. This required research. This time I avoided much hostility from the Internet by installing software off-line. This time Internet Explorer functions beautifully! 2. The data partition is slightly different. My documents for each user is inside folders, user1, user2, user3, user4 and user5. 3. Those with Ipods will need to set itunes to default mp3. Real Player is set as defalt mp3 player. 4. After restoring this image to free space you can create an image file on a formated partition of equal or greater size than the source partition. When I work with desktop computers, I restore the images from image files created on my HD which I attach as slave. This is much faster and more reliable than restoring from CDz. However, for laptops I almost always restore the image form CDz. If you find any bugs then please write to: cccharlee@inbox.com Thanks! Donations are most welcomed Watch for my new Windows 98 image...coming soon! Chris July 29/07 ------------------------------------------------------------------ A 9GB mage of C:\ drive (3.6 used and 5.4 free) containing Windows XP Pro SP2 with 5 users, security, useful programs + games zipped onto 3 CDs. It is designed to work with a data partition consisting of my documents for each user on 1 almost empty CD. The images are restored using bootit software included in the downloads. Bootit software fits on 1 single floppy diskette or 1 almost empty CD. Beware this is a destructive restoration. Everything on the target partition is erased before the image is restored. Drivers for motherboard devices, chipsets and peripheral equipment must be installed. In other words this is ADVANCED STUFF! NOT FOR NEWBIES! A help file (download the zip version) has instructions for the technician or wanna-be to follow. Download the images from http://drpcdr.ca/xpimage.htm Good luck my disciples! May the force be with you! Chris