Hi

Here's what I'm currently considering for 5.1 EE:

- Everything from 5.1 Standard Edition
- MS RDP 5.1 Client
- MSCONFIG
- 256 color tray icons
- XP explorer icons
- Icon transparency (if possible)
- 98 Plus! Zip folders
- Common chipset .INF "drivers" (Intel, VIA, nVidia, Sis, ...)
- TweakUI 1.33

Update: these will not be part of the extreme edition for legal and/or technical reasons:

- Me or XP Zip Folders
- XP OS loader
- Me or XP System Restore
- XP Remote Desktop
- IE601SP2, IE7
- WMP10
- XP Themes

I might consider 3rd party software, such as free codec packages - and I'll probably write a tweak manager (a control panel "System Options" applet) myself.

ANYWAY - I'd like to know what YOU want - the above list is based on the input I got on this in the original thread, but I new ideas are welcomed

Thanks in advance,
Gurgelmeyer

If you have the zip folder feature from ME, use the files from the 329048 update. It uses the required files, but in a newer version.

A suggestion would be to try to add the Welcome Screen and Fast User switching.

the_guy

zip-folders
id rather not, (especaily not the ME one, PLEASE), id rather have 7zip pre-configured, and pre-installed, i migh just even be crazy enouth to ask some-one to re-compile to to look (exactly) like expler - the thing is thouh that A: its more stable B: it supports more file-types / extentions C: It is free (and opensourse) D: >>> there are probebly as much as 26 resons why...

Borrowing files from other os's
To go here ist that mutch of a problem, the thing is, I for one just have a dutch version of windows XP pro, while using my rights to downgrade to windows 2K pro, im also switching language to US-English, so if you would want a xp version, id probebly have to download a US- hotfix containing it.
so the moment im doing so, would force me to stredge the eula a real bit (to far??) because im downloading a file thats not ment for MY version of window xp. besides that, id just say, - scew 'm (ive paid loads for 95 / 98SE and XPpro licences)...

but if i want these features (wich id probebly do , lets at least, get a good list together of how to get the file if your localized version (dutch in my case) wont suit the job. id have some serious issues if id have to download 300mb just to get 1 or 2 files from the english version of winxp-sp2-enu.exe

1.) Uphclean integrated as a default 'automatic" service
2.) .NET Framework 1.1/2.0 as an installable option from Add/remove programs or during unattended installs
3.) WU6 with Microsoft Update and WGA (although unecessary for 2k) integrated
4.) Windows Installer 3.1 & BITS 2.0 Update (I think you're already planning for this right)
5.) Root Certificates Update (latest) integrated

That's all I can think of for now...

Well, sense all the bell's and whistles seem to be done for now until Vista, I think Ryan, nuhi, and gurgle should team up and make it so their update packs can be tweaked too with nlite. It's the age of customization eh? That's just my idea, nuhi, ryan, and gurgle can feel free to slap me if they want.

this is a board on software & computers, not on ur kinky sexlife

but realy no nead to team up cuz. ryan vm's updates already are instableble by nLite, and also you can use nLite to tweak a instal source containing his updates.

Same goes for gurgle's sp5. [build 11]

but the thing is, if we actualy want to get tweaks and 3rd party software
or components from other os's,
its probebly a good idea to team up with nLite

maybe to come up with a specialized usp5 tool (based on nlite?)
and only distributed on the sp5.iso (in the tools folder).

Perhaps a better idea (more inclusive?) would be to attempt to build these things
from files used in various system upgrades\hotfixes...that way you could either A)
provide all the files needed and exclude through EULA legal liability to those who
use the files, or B ) be able to set things up in your project in such a way that things
can continue to be automatic\slipstreamable. This is important to me, and I'm sure
that others would agree one of the things that makes your project so remarkable
is the unattended nature of your updates.



If you're open to using third party packages perhaps you could include WMShell in
your project, thus allowing themes for those who REALLY REALLY want it, and giving
that project a well deserved shot in the arm?
[ http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=68899 ]

--iWindoze

Read <THIS> post, about a possible way to get it done.


For god's sake please don't,
I have downloaded and tested it on: window 2000 sp5 [build 11] and found it to be highly unstable,
for example:
running in in a celleron 1.7ghz with 256mb ddr-ram, with just windows, nod32-antivir, msn-messenger 7.0, open-office v2, and firefox v1.07, It will crash and no window will be visible afster just 5 minutes.
the version nr of WMShell said: 0.7beta but the way I see it, its nowhere near stable:
conclusion: an absolute No Go,

@people. before, we even recommend 3rd-party software, lets at least try it ourselves, to see if its stable for productional use, take in mind that features are there to aid your neads, not to brake down your stability and usability.

@gurglemeyer, I hope you agrea with me that uncluding alfa or beta sofware isn't the best way to go unless its thoroughly tested, right?

Well if yer looking for 3rd party *stable* apps, the things that I install are:
Tclockex
traymenu: (though you might have trouble finding a download link for it)
transparent
allSnap

I'm playing with TransBar (http://www.aksoftware.tk/) and it's pretty cool (though if the author could integrate it into either TaskBar properties or Display Properties it would be perfect).

I've still not found a convincing argument as to why TClockEx is preferable to TClock2. The latter simply does more things better and more efficiently; the only benefit I've found TClockEx to really have is that it plays nice with trays in XP, which is of course irrelevant here.

In any event... third-party apps are probably already straying somewhat from the thread's original intentions, but to stick purely to those that do improve functionality, I heartily recommend RBTray purely for its right-click on minimize function, which I can't live without. I also use PowerMenu, though its great extra functionality is somewhat offset by the fact that it makes the system menu really slow. I'd use WinRoll to replace them both, but I can't get along with the way it's set up and don't know any programming to be able to fix it.

Alright well I was unaware of Tclock2 A lot of apps tend to disappear or become shareware if you don't get them at the right time. Theres quite a few that are excellent, and if they had of been opensourced, memory conflicts/leaks could of been fixed. WatchCat is a good example of such.

Sounds like TrayMenu has some/maybe all of the functionality yer talking about in those other apps.

Wow. TClock2 is amazing. It's only too bad that it hasn't been worked on in a while. I'm tempted to do some work with it to see what I can accomplish.

I did some quick playing and made this start button graphic for anyone to use with it (with permission from the original creator).

Valid point, lets remember that, 3rd party aps should only be default installed if,
they inprove in any way, the usability of the OS, should be intergrated as system resource (example: media codecs or runtime-enviroments), or are a great benifit in tweaking / administering the OS. or (as a last) replace some sort of default windows feature, with a better / more stable alternative.

i think, there are about a bilion smak apps that could bring one or more nifty features to windows 2000,
but i strongly feat it would be better to uses some sort of post-installation script to include those...

@ Gurgelmeyer
Hello, any word about the USP process? How are u doing? Current status?
Regards
Seppl

Count me in!

*SLAP*

Count me in as well

@-I- - I agree - there should be no 3rd party alphas or betas in 5.1 EE. Any third party component must be rock solid.

@Seppl (@everyone actually) - USP 5.1 Basic Edition RC1 might only be three registry entries away... and I might finish it during the weekend. Yesterdays build 14 really looks good! MS URP1 is now popping up on WU (again! I just got rid of it a few weeks ago) - I'll need to look into that.

Best regards,
Gurgelmeyer

*SLAP*

Six years back or so everyone wanted the latest MS OS release only. Today it's different. Maybe because releases are so far apart that we actually have time to get really comfortable with our "old" OS, maybe because newer MS OS'es are considered to be too DRM-friendly, maybe because a lot of people don't like WPA which could make pirated copies more attractive than legit copies to those. Maybe - with two years between service packs - you are really not very "up to date" anyway, even if you do run the latest MS OS. I don't know - but I still love my W2K - I actually got so much value for my money, that I'd hate to abandon it.

I'm working on improving TClock2, and I have good news and bad news....

The bad news is that, no matter how hard I try, I can't get Visual C++ 6 to build it. After a few days of fighting with it I went to what I know, which was to port the C code to Delphi and work with that. So far I have 95% of the DLL ported over and it's working (the only stuff not ported is some Win9x-specific code). I called the new project "TClock3" to avoid any confusion. I haven't ported the executable over and only have a small test app that enables and disables the DLL for now.

The good news is that it looks like a fully skinned taskbar is possible. I have complete control over the taskbar size, start button position, start button size, and I have a skinned taskbar background and task buttons. I still have to work on repositioning and skinning the quicklaunch buttons, the tray, and the rebar gripper (and add support for vertical taskbars), but I'm making good progress. This is still a long way from being complete, but it's getting there.

Here's a small screenshot. Except for the Start button, I'm using modified images from a WindowBlinds skin, which I can't distribute without permission from the author (so dont' ask ). Developing this on my Win2k laptop, and the icons are from having XPize installed.

screenshot??????
explain: is this actualy on a win 2000 system??????

Yes, it is. It's from my HP laptop, running Win2k SP4 with my hacked-up version of TClock2 (which I'm calling TClock3 to avoid confusion). I'm actually developing it on this laptop, so the screenshot is indicative of what it can do on a Win2k system. If you go to the XPize forum there's a thread on using XPize on Win2k with a screenshot on page 2 I took when I got it working on this laptop (with my IconViewer program), and that one shows the system specs.

could you post a screan-shot with,
'start menu' opened. and 'memory usage panel' opened
(select the tclock3 proces) and try enlarging it to be readeble please...

cuze the screanshots on the xpize forum kinda, disapeared..


// if this gets real, and cute enougth, we might just have to start ourselve a newfeatures-in-a-hotfix.exe to slipstream (as hotfix), after uSP5

Here's another screenshot. I can't open the standard TClock dialog because I haven't ported it yet I've only ported the DLL so far, and the Tclock3test you see on the taskbar is a test .EXE that loads and starts the DLL (much as the TClock2 executable does). Tclock3test will eventually take the place of the TClock2 executable, but first I need to finish the DLL, which will take a while. This screenshot also shows the progress I've made on the system tray, where I made a .BMP for it. I'm currently trying to get the clock to display correctly -- for some reason the standard Windows clock keeps displaying no matter what I do (there's a bug in my DLL somewhere). Once I get that working I plan on adding some more options to control system tray size and painting. Then I need to move on to the QuickLaunch toolbar and toolbar grippers (they are still showing up gray because I'm not painting them yet).

The icons in the screenshot are XPized because I have XPize installed on this laptop, where the icons were "stenciled" by my IconViewer program to make them palatable to Win2k. The "Windows 2000" banner was originally the "Windows xp" banner that came with XPize, which I touched up to my liking The Aero-like skin is from a WindowBlinds skin (lh5203-blah-blah-blah), except for the Start button which is mine.

At this point I don't have transparency working for skin .BMP's, which is something I'll have to tackle soon, but not until I have the DLL properly skinning everything. For the moment it means that my Start button has parts of the taskbar background in the upper right and lower right corners, but once I figure out how to use transparency it won't be necessary anymore. There are a lot of other things that need to be added to the DLL, such as better support for stretching skin bitmaps, which doesn't work very well yet. What you see here is only the prodict of a week's work and it's still very much alpha software.

Edit: Updated the screenshot to show progress made since this post.

Looks interesting, I'll be keeping an eye on it.

I do note (although this may be obselete with what you're doing) that the start menu banner isn't skinned the first time the start menu is opened (this is with TClock2 running as a startup app), and also if you open it the first time using the Win key rather than a mouse click, it is never skinned unless you restart the app. If these aren't already fixed/irrelevant, any chance you could look into them?

Cheers!

Thanks for the tip. I haven't even tried skinning the start menu yet, though I knew that TClock2 was supposedly capable of it. It's definitely on my list. Since my last post I've fixed the clock problem, and I have it appearing properly now, and the system tray is nicely skinned. I also have support for 32-bit .BMP files somewhat working, such that taskbar buttons and the tray skin can now be alpha-blended with the taskbar background (I've learned that it's critical to double-buffer them to achieve proper alpha-blending). Next is to get proper alpha-blending of the Start button, and then move on to skinning the QuickLaunch buttons. In its present state it's certainly usable, though until I flesh out the executable it relies on registry entries that I've entered by hand. Last night I also got mouseover events working for the task buttons, and they highlight nicely when you move the mouse over them. The buttons don't have to have the same height as the default taskbar buttons either...I have logic which controls their width and height, based on number of tasks, taskbar size, and available rows/columns.

Edit: I can now skin the rebar grippers and rebar arrows (arrows appear when the bar is smaller than required to show all of the items), though I still have to implement mouseover support for the rebar arrows. Nevertheless, it's getting there. Toolbars might be a tough nut to crack, but I've already figured out how to set custom button sizes (MS's documentation appears to be *wrong* on that score), which is half the battle...

Edit: Quicklaunch buttons are now skinned, and it turned out to be pretty easy. All of the major components are now skinned, so now it's time to start optimizing it, fixing visual glitches, cleaning up the code, etc. Then I'll move on to Start Menu skinning...

Edit: Go up a couple of posts to see an updated screnshot...

Edit: I have much of the executable ported now, and it will soon be ready for the brave among you to play with. I've also added another screenshot here. Note the variable alpha...You can specify a transparency value for different parts of the taskbar, and different alphas for different circumstances:

- Clock/tray alpha
- Taskbar alpha
- Task button inactive alpha
- Task button active alpha
- Task button inactive mouseover alpha
- Task button active mouseover alpha
- Quicklaunch button inactive alpha
- Quicklaunch button active alpha
- Quicklaunch button inactive mouseover alpha
- Quicklaunch button active mouseover alpha
- Start button inactive alpha
- Start button mouseover alpha
- Start button active (pressed) alpha
- Taskbar gripper alpha
- Rebar gripper alpha
- Rebar arrows alpha

The taskbar alpha should have the lowest value (in this example, it's 64, and the inactive alphas for all objects is also 64). You should use higher alphas for other states, like mouseover, active (pressed), and active mouseover. Don't expect this to be fast, though I'm getting decent results without using any caching (and this laptop that I'm developing it on has crappy TwisterT shared-memory video). There is still a lot of work to do, as I get visual glitches when I resize the taskbar, but the basic stuff is working at least.

i wonder if this would work with ROS-explorer as well LOL -
could be Way to cewl..

Oh cool using ROS would definatly lower ram usage

or better yet. Ros-explorer with XUL skinning
d*mn that would be briliant....

I must admit this would defenitly be very cool. I will let you guys in on a secret if you promise not to tell.
OK
I dont know how to get the ROS explorer to work,
SHHHH

But if someone did get it to work on install this would definatly bring new life to legecy computers before they go to computer heaven.

have you tried lookin on voreck's site???

I can get ROS to work but not by default. It is a cool, clean shell which I like very much. The best part is it uses much less ram than explorer.exe.

Anybody had much sucess of getting this to install by default?

I've played with the ReactOS shell...it's definitely light on memory, but it also doesn't do all that much It would be good for running Win2k on older hardware, though, where memory and resources are at a premium.

Anyhow, I hope I'm not hijacking this thread by posting this (would a new thread on TClock3 be appropriate? Any thoughts?) but I figured I'd post another screenshot to show my progress. This one uses a slightly different skin (it uses parts of the WB VistaXP skin), and it also shows a shot of my replacement for the TClock executable). I have all of the major parts of the executable finished, and I was able to get it working from a bare install (meaning it makes all of the necessary registry entries itself). There's still a lot of i's to be dotted and t's to be crossed, but it's getting there now. When I release it I want the full skinning portion to use WindowBlinds-format images (in terms of how different frames are placed on the image) so no one will have to go through the pain of modifying skins to use with this.

Note the drop shadows under the text on the taskbar buttons. I will also do this to the clock as well, but haven't yet. The "force smooth text" option renders the taskbar buttons and text at 2x size in the background and then scrunches them down to the real size. The reason is that Windows won't anti-alias text when you're only drawing it at 9pt. It slows things down, but it's there for people with fast PC's to play with. The enable different alpha values setting is for semi-transparent taskbars (see a couple of posts above for a screenie), where you want different transparencies for different things (like having the selected task be opaque, or at least more opaque than the taskbar). It also slows things down (and isn't yet perfect).

There is still a lot of work left (and still quite a few visual glitches to fix), but it's definitely usable now in its present form. I have it running on a second box now where I'll let it run to see if it stays up...

Looks awesome

/G

Centering the clock and tray on the taskbar, for example?

It's looking good, though, great to see.

Wow, awesome job!

Anyone know how to get T Clock Lite to display in 12 hour format instead of 24 hour format?

By T Clock Lite do you mean TClock2? If so, it's in the Tclock2 Properties (right click on tray clock) under Format, check 12H.

If not, err, clearly I dunno

I ment TClock Lite:

http://homepage1.nifty.com/kazubon/tclocklight/

There is no GUI. Just the ini file which has your settings. So what I'm asking is if anyone knows what I can add to the ini file to display in 12 hour format instead of 24 hour format.

Thanks anyways though.

Take Care,

Will

browsing the net, i stumbled upon a realy nice looking litle, app, called, desktop architect. - and to runs, quite well, way better than, for example,
windowsblinds (and stuf like that), witch is freeware, - so what im wondering , is if it would be possible, to install this (not as softwere) but as a windows service. - and change som regestry values, so in can completely replace the default (als in <rclick on desktop> and <config panel> (only ting is that we might also need a screenres tool now, or we wont be able to switch... ???

any way, its just a suggestion (in any one knows how this could be done, id love to have these kinds of features aval as, add-ons (for example, (instalable as either hotfix, or other AI.pachage.

Hi (yeah - I'm back!)

There's one thing that we need to consider when providing alternative desktops: will these have a bad influence on Terminal Services clients? Or generally put: should 5.1 EE be a Workstation-only USP?
As far as Window Blinds I love that product - but last time I checked (about 2 yrs ago I think) it wasn't very stable - has it improved?

Best regards,
Gurgelmeyer


PS - almost everything is "possible" btw

yes windows 2000 uSP-5 Xtreme Edition. should be concidered 'destop only'
(even though we may invite users to start a topic on a server project,
I'm thinking maybe we could start thinking of a single hotfix (or SP)
for IIS-related patches, to be slipstreamed after usp5.1)

yes windows blinds has inproved over the last year or so,
but I'm not convinced it should be intergated into the servicepack,
but rather as add-on (unattendedly installed as service)
it still bloated my system (1.7ghz celeron with 256rm ram) at startup.

but this probebly goes for all 3rd party add-one,
I'm voting for creating setup-packages and a configuration-file
(with the most tools and utills we want to have in uSP 5 Xtreme Edition)
and create 2 ways to install,
> A fully automated batchfile,
> And a Setup-selection tool.
and distubete it as a pre-build $oem$ folder.

If you use the stock MSCONFIG and help file from Windows XP on Windows 2000, the help file has a bunch of missing images.

I decompiled the help file, removed the bad image references, and recompiled it.

You can get the full installer here...

http://www.3feetunder.com/files/win2k_msconfig_setup.exe

its apreaciated, - (and i think i can speak on behalf of /G as well),

Thanks..... your TOP GUN

****! u guys are awesome...
I only just happened to stumble on this. Very cool..

My $0.02 worth.
Stick with actual windows componants for the SP with nLite or Win2kLite type options maybe (if that can be done).
Then have the 3rd-party type apps/replacements in the add/remove.

From the little I know, would this not be an easier way to go..?

Cheerz..

yes it could be, BUT, many of the options dicused are (or could be) Operating System Improvement, for example, it could be desides that, the standard archived folder option is outdate and/or to unstable to meet our likings, in that case it would be better and save a lot of space on YOUR system if we'd replace it instead of letting it reside (un-usefully) on your harddrive.

for those kinds of options - it is conciderend to intergrate them into the OS rather than as optional (installable components),

BUT as soon as the 5.5 (extreme edition will be avail) ill concider making a selfextracting $oem$ folder to use with the uSP5.5 source and where you can select wheter you want to isntall about a dozen of aditional inprovements un-attended or be presented with a list to pick options (at windows setup).

That $OEM$ folder will at least contain,

• TCPIP.sys
  --> simutainious conection hack
• SFPC.dll (is that correct???)
  --> fileprotection disabled
• dmadmin.exe / dmboot.sys / dmconfig.dll
  --> enable software raid in windows.2000 profesional
  (requires: 2+ harddisks for raid 0 and 1 or 3+ for raid 5)
• ntoskrnl.exe
  --> modified bootscreen hack
• and perhaps some other hacked win2k filess
• sbe.dll / sbeio.dll / wmvcore2.dll (Windows XP SP1)
  --> required filed to turn windows 2000 into a mediacenter-enabled OS
• ntdetect.com (from windows xp (or 2k3))
  --> fixing slow windows bootup on many systems.
• and perhaps 1 or 2 other hacked files.

NOTE: (meaning of the colors)
> Files comming from the original windows 2000 OS, but a hacked, or modyfied for beter performance of adding cosmetics to your system,
"hacking windows files is concidered illigal in most countries"
> Files taken from other, operating systems, Like windows XP or Server 2003, You should have a valid licence for the newest OS you have taken a file from, and could use downgrade rights for the rest...

Hacking an OS is Allways illigal, but if you have a licence for all the files used (windows licence for the OS from wich the files are taken, -
And if you do not use it commercialy, MircoSoft may let you off the hook,
but do note it is still always at your own risk and should mind that you will in all cases lose support, or anny warrenties...

my two bits: (1 and 0)

Tweakui / msconfig / 256 color tray / mobo INF's most def (ed: Reg entry to allow rt click for registering dll/ocx/ax files)Click to view attachment
ASPI Layer, GRC ASPI ID tool http://www.grc.com/tip/id.htm
MS RDP / Icon transparency / XP icons nice bonus (ed: M$ has a free wNTipcfg thats nice)
98 zip folders BLECH!

I used to use IconLock, great and stable, but doesn't do multiscreen/multimonitor setups (DRAT!)
ed> Found that M$ has one! Imagine that. A dll and a reg file, don't remeber where I found it, but can't find it via search of M$. http://users.rcn.com/taylotr/icon_restore.html
And found a transparent text for desk-icon that is rather nice DeskColor v3.0...

Addons are good - total replacements are bad. Some of us like the shell and don't give a flying rats a** about skins. Those things are best left to post-install or user-integrated builds.

Like all the note-pad replacements - most of us (not all) prefer a different 'pad' but everyone has their own
favorite (EditPad !!!).

you rigth but like zip support (should just be ripped, and since winzip and winrar (are NOT free or gpl -ware) that just leave 7z as legaly posebility...

must of the rest should probebly be intregrated from $OEM$ folder,

there is this great utill called wait that doesn't nead VB runtime, i think i also has a default option to add to reg RunonceExec (would be real nice for those who use partial-unattended (for example leve blank pc name / user name / serial nr. ) who could now also select software to install)

in that case it could work as a kind of component selection

probebly could be a supproject for the EE edition,
like the 2k version of driver packs (witch gurgle hopes for)....

The reason for this post is because -I- indicated that he/she might hack some files to turn windows 2000 into a mediacenter-enabled OS.

I've been following this project for quite some time now. Great job in your efforts to preserve W2K. I have been using Meedio on my HTPC which is running W2K Pro. Several versions ago Meedio, LLC decided to use M$ .dvr-ms format for recorded TV which made my HTPC worthless. I've spent several months with trial and error trying to make W2K a mediacenter-enabled OS. I think I've found the solution. It is a rather long explaination so I'll just give a link to the original post I made over at Meedio forum.

I've tested this in Meedio v1.38, WMP v9, Power DVD 5 and Nero Showtime.

Hope this helps someone out.

Play dvr-ms with sound in W2K

Is ICEOWS not a possibility? It doesn't do .7z files, but it manages all the other major players.

will look into both of your posts...

Click to view attachment
The version of the EXE in your installer is 5.1.2600.0, the ver from my CD is 5.1.2600.2180
The only image missing (in fact the only 'image' I see used anywhere) when I open the chm on a w2k box, is
the "Microsoft Windows Graphic". Further, your CHM is missing a whole topic; "Using the Help Viewer".
Though it would really need to be the W2k version., anyway
Minor dif's - but the file sizes are within a few bytes of being equal. So what is gained?

'Ripping' your idea - here is a win2k version which includes the correct ref to W2k help and a W2k logo*.

*Has an XP logo with Windows 2000 pro name.