[johnhc]

Well, I built an ISO with nLite with no problem and started the Install under VMware Server (using the ISO file as a virtual CD) and at about t-14, my system crashed. I reset and started up VMware install again and my system crashed when I was selecting the options to format the disk. I did not use VMware for a week because of the crashes I was having. I had moved form 1.0.5 to 1.0.6 to see if that would would help but it seemed to make it worse. Last Saturday, I removed 1.0.6 and installed 1.0.4 (since Kurt said he had no crash problems). I ran Saturday and Sunday with no problems. I opened a discussion on the VMware Server forum (posting my minidumps and VM logs) a couple weeks ago and have received no response. I also opened a Service Request against the Beta version (the install hung) at the same time and have received no response. I am going to have to retreat and think about this for a while. My system has always been very stable and this really surprises and scares me. I DLed the necessary SW to look at the minidumps and so far they all show the process to be vmware-vmx.exe. I should point out that I really don't know what I am looking at or for but I do see the tracks of VMware. I installed these tools on my VM so I have not looked at the last two dumps, so don't know what they show.
Enjoy, John.

[COKEDUDEUSF]

Is there a reason why you don't include sp3? Is sp3 bad or something? I was just wondering since u said it was updated till June.

[johnhc]

COKEDUDEUSF,
Are your sure you're replying to the correct forum topic? This topic is about Win XP x64 Edition and there is no SP3. SP2 is the latest Service Pact at this time and may the last for all time.
Enjoy, John.

[COKEDUDEUSF]

johnhc, on Jun 16 2008, 08:03 PM, said:

COKEDUDEUSF,
Are your sure you're replying to the correct forum topic? This topic is about Win XP x64 Edition and there is no SP3. SP2 is the latest Service Pact at this time and may the last for all time.
Enjoy, John.

Yes I'm sure. Look here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...;displaylang=en
The date published is May 6.

[TranceEnergy]

COKEDUDEUSF, on Jun 17 2008, 06:09 AM, said:

johnhc, on Jun 16 2008, 08:03 PM, said:

COKEDUDEUSF,
Are your sure you're replying to the correct forum topic? This topic is about Win XP x64 Edition and there is no SP3. SP2 is the latest Service Pact at this time and may the last for all time.
Enjoy, John.

Yes I'm sure. Look here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...;displaylang=en
The date published is May 6.

Quote from the link you provide:

" * Supported Operating Systems: Windows XP; Windows XP Home Edition ; Windows XP Home Edition N; Windows XP Media Center Edition; Windows XP Professional Edition ; Windows XP Professional N; Windows XP Service Pack 1; Windows XP Service Pack 2; Windows XP Starter Edition; Windows XP Tablet PC Edition "


Where does it say 64 bit in there?

64bit XP is NOT the same as 32bit xp and never, ever will be.

[Kurt_Aust]

Yo, CokeDude:
Try to think of Windows XP Pro x64 as Windows Server 2003 home edition, that's what it really is (note all the hotfixes are in the form WindowsServer2003.WindowsXP-KB******-x64-ENU.exe). It uses the same code base Windows Server 2003 x64, just with the server extensions stripped out.

Windows XP (Home or Prof) -> NT kernel 5.1 x86
Windows XP Pro x64 edition -> NT kernel 5.2 x64

They are NOT compatible at the hotfix or service pack level.


JohnHC:
Never had problem like that, the only thing that comes to mind is some sort of weird driver conflict.

A few notes on that revised Run1_XP-64.bat file, my initial testing didn't include applications (OS only). As a result of testing with the full app loadout:
1. Increase the shutdown timeout to 240 (that's when my USB HDD settled down, if paranoid try 300).
2. Make sure start precedes it >> Start ShutDown /R /F /T 240
3. You'll have to add /NoRestart to VMware tools installation.

I've reuploaded the file with these changes.


Comodo Firewall has never been silent install friendly, version 2.4 had no silent install capability (someone made a switchless installer, but only by installing, repacking & using 1001 reg entries). With version 3 they said silent install would possible but provided no documentation as to how.

When asked on the forums one of the mods said to try the "-s", which only "worked" with the extracted installer and in reality the installer crashed when fed that switch. Note that a silent install friendly app will accept -S, /s & /S as well as -s, not Comodo, nor does it give any info when fed /?. As I have no way of knowing what is hard coded into the installer, for now what you get is what you get.

[TranceEnergy]

Kurt, while talking about firewalls, is there any alternative that will effectively replace windows firewall and sort of can act is it was it?
I'm trying to add windows firewall back in my preset, but it's been so long since i've used it i have forgotten all its dependencies. I have ALG with it, but Punkbuster silent install still doesnt go silently, so i am missing some
components, I am working on it now tho. Have also contacted EvenBalance who makes punkbuster, so hopefully it can be made truly silent, when - only time will tell.

The other alternative i see is if i had a program which could automatically click OK on the two error boxes, when windows firewall is not operational/missing. But i know of no such program that can do such a task via
command line interface.

[Kurt_Aust]

Yep, sounds like you're looking at AutoIt type solutions. As for firewalls, GeeksToGo are heavily into security (esp. malware removal) topics, I'm sure your answer can be found there.

I chose Comodo Firewall to be supported as it's top rated and free, similarly Avast gets good ratings (& free). I'm limited to only supporting one of each type of security (2 anti-spyware) and other driver level software in order to avoid conflicts, also I've only got so much time for testing.

[johnhc]

Kurt,
I apparently have a hardware problem. This morning I ran two passes of Memtest86 with no errors then brought up XP and ran Prime95 Stress Test. It showed a funny .5 roundoff error, more than the .4 it should have been. This sounds more like an algorithm error than HW. While I was searching for a newer copy of Prime95 (mine is over two years old), I ran a custom Stress Test from Prime95 and my system crashed. I have set it aside and will open it up and look around. The CPU temperature only got up to 52C but the core voltage dropped off to 1.43 from 1.48. I may have to boost the core voltage a little.

CFP: I found a post on the Comodo forum from Buhric saying he had found switches in CFPCONFG.EXE and said 'Theres plenty more sitches.... '. I replied and asked about SafeSurf switches but have received no reply. His post is here.

Is there any way to avoid a timeout? Does my idea of removing the /F have any value?
I have written a little AutoIt for the VMware Tools because of the restart that was coming with it. I will probably go back to your way adding the /NoRestart.
Enjoy, John.

[TranceEnergy]

John, i have to say, i looked at that thread you linked to, my jaw simply dropped to the floor of some of the responses there.
I really don't understand this attitude some people have, when you have a piece of great software, and there is a obvious way to make it even faster and simpler to manage,
and then the seemingly refusal to do so. I mean come on, it would take probably like a good 10 minutes, while sipping coffee, to repackage the program into a installer with msi to have silent switches and more.
I somehow suspect that there are corporate things which someone like me cannot understand, that has hindered the process, on again a level i dont fathom, as it anyways in the end goes against
user requests, and then ultimately making the software reflect poor in some way it shouldnt be. If people are to buy a product (tho it is a free version of it), i think its little to ask that i have
simple silent install possibilities and such.

As to your Prime95 situation, which runs single core, i would recommend Orthos which is a dual core program if that is what you have.
You will need to check affinity's of program if you have more then 2 cpu cores present in system.

One question:

I know there are several directx packages where the commercial goes only 32bit or only 64bit files included.
Being windows xp 64bit, would one not need to have both 32&64bit directx pack? I at least think so and dont quite see the point here.
Because even if you did just update 64bit directx side, you would then be stuck with non-updated 32bit directx.
Or is this just totally wrong?

This post has been edited by TranceEnergy: 17 June 2008 - 06:28 PM

[johnhc]

TranceEnergy,
I agree with you about CFP. People have been asking for switches for some time now (years). I am surprised nothing has happened. I did place a request in the Wish-List topic to see if we can get some action on the next release or so.

I have an AMD FX-57, fairly fast but single core. I am doing the nLite and VMware Server work to get ready for an upgrade to a quad core Phenom if AMD will just get busy. I will keep Orthos in mind - thanks.

Sorry, I can't answer your DirectX question - hopefully Kurt can help.

Enjoy, John.

[Kurt_Aust]

JohnHC:
If you think it's causing you problems, you can drop the ShutDown command, you'll just have to reboot manually. It's really just the equivalent of choosing Restart from the start menu without closing all your applications first. Properly written applications should have no problem with it.

I took a look at that post on the Comodo forums, it looks like a similar method to that used on v2.4. However, I have no intention of getting into repackaging switchless installers for this guide, partly because I don't want to have to say "Trust me".


TranceEnergy:
As I understand it you don't need the x86 aspects of DirectX on Win XP x64. DirectX is an API that interfaces to the x64 graphics & sound drivers, so as x64 systems don't have (and cannot use) x86 drivers, nuff said.

[TranceEnergy]

Kurt:

As you say Win XP X64 doesnt need the x86 side of directx, yet it is shipped with it is it not?
But that x64 cant use x86 drivers i know of course. I am just merely curious at this. I am sure that the people releasing these packs know what they are doing, but i would just like to see it confirmed somehow that it is indeed correct.

[johnhc]

Kurt,
It was not my intention to suggest you or anyone use the process Buhric identified to create a CFP installer. I was hoping to hear back about the 'plenty' of switches he said were in CFPCONFG.EXE. I ran the switch finder against it and it found no switches. I guess I was also hoping that you had methods to extract switches when you knew the correct module.
Enjoy, John.

[Kurt_Aust]

TranceEnergy:
DirectX update will install the x86 SDKs on XP x64, but of course only developers would ever use them. Similarly it installs the DirectX 10 SDKs (does the same on Windows 2000), you don't need them, but they do no harm either.

JohnHC:
Sorry to shatter your illusions, but I have no such tricks up my selves. If it's not documented, then all I can do is use trial & error with common switches.

[johnhc]

Kurt,
Should the DirectX_9c entry still have EXTRACT on it?
Enjoy, John.

[Kurt_Aust]

JohnHC:
Yes, as the main post has not been changed as yet. The alteration will occur with next month's updates.

[ricktendo]

FYI over @ RyanVM there is a updatepack for XP x64 http://www.ryanvm.ne...opic.php?t=6400

[TranceEnergy]

ricktendo64, on Jun 20 2008, 12:02 AM, said:

FYI over @ RyanVM there is a updatepack for XP x64 http://www.ryanvm.ne...opic.php?t=6400

I think we know about it.
Slight problems with it tho, it approaches updating only updates, not also IE to 7 (or newest). Whether we like it or not, IE is integral part of windows.
Currently Nlite does a kick a** job of integrating updates individually, so it's more suited to one's system.

If the maker of the update pack would either delete IE6 updates, or start using IE7 updates, it might be the better alternative. As it is now, it aint, imho.

[johnhc]

I sent a PM to Buhric on the Comodo forum asking about the 'Plenty more switches' and he responded:

Quote

Here's the switches i was able to find out:
-a --> performs a scan
-c --> not sure exactly what it does see -x
-d --> performs an installationg diagnostic
-i --> installs the software
-k --> starts the config wizard
-m --> see -x (I think its to import your settings from a file)
-o --> Show the "Offer" page
-r --> Reboots your pc
-s --> silent switch, when used with -i performs a silent install
-u --> uninstall comodo
-x --> when used without any argument gives out the following error
"Invalid Argument" Please use -c switch to specify valid filename

My guess is that -x is used to export the firewall setting to a file specified by -c, and -m is to import a file specified by -c

Unfortunately, still not very useful. We can only hope the CFP development team will do something.
Enjoy, John.