[gosh]

To add ram drive to winpe/unattended install:

1 - Download pe builder at http://www.nu2.nu/do...builder3018.zip
2 - Copy ramdriv.sys from pebuilder3018\plugin\ramdisk to your i386 folder
3 - Make rmsetup.inf and put it in i386 folder. In this file put this:

rmsetup.inf

Quote

[Version]Signature = "$Windows NT$"
DriverVer=07/01/2001,5.1.2600.1106


[setup]
;create the ram drive
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{FFA1C341-4539-11D3-B88D-00C04FAD5172}","Class",0x00000000,"RamDisk"
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{FFA1C341-4539-11D3-B88D-00C04FAD5172}","",0x00000000,"RAM Disk"
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{FFA1C341-4539-11D3-B88D-00C04FAD5172}\0001","ProviderName",0x00000000,"QSoft"
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{FFA1C341-4539-11D3-B88D-00C04FAD5172}\0001","MatchingDeviceId",0x00000000,"ramdriv"
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{FFA1C341-4539-11D3-B88D-00C04FAD5172}\0001","DriverDesc",0x00000000,"Ramdisk [ QSoft ]"
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Services\Ramdriv","Type",0x00010001,0x00000001
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Services\Ramdriv","Start",0x00010001,0x00000003
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Services\Ramdriv","ErrorControl",0x00010001,0x00000001
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Services\Ramdriv","DisplayName",0x00000000,"Ramdisk [ QSoft ]"
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Services\Ramdriv","ImagePath",0x00000000,"system32\drivers\ramdriv.sys"
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Services\Ramdriv\Parameters","BreakOnEntry",0x00010001,0x00000000
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Services\Ramdriv\Parameters","DebugLevel",0x00010001,0x00000005
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Services\Ramdriv\Parameters","DebugComp",0x00010001,0xffffffff
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Services\Ramdriv\Parameters","DiskSize",0x00010001,"0x02000000"
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Services\Ramdriv\Parameters","DriveLetter",0x00000000,"Q:"
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Services\Ramdriv\Parameters","RootDirEntries",0x00010001,0x00000200
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Services\Ramdriv\Parameters","SectorsPerCluster",0x00010001,0x00000002
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Services\Ramdriv\Enum","0",0x00000000,"Root\UNKNOWN\9999"
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Services\Ramdriv\Enum","Count",0x00010001,0x00000001
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Services\Ramdriv\Enum","NextInstance",0x00010001,0x00000001
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\UNKNOWN\9999","ClassGUID",0x00000000,"{FFA1C341-4539-11D3-B88D-00C04FAD5172}"
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\UNKNOWN\9999","Class",0x00000000,"RamDisk"
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\UNKNOWN\9999","ConfigFlags",0x00010001,0x00000004
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\UNKNOWN\9999","Mfg",0x00000000,"QSoft"
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\UNKNOWN\9999","HardwareID",0x00010000,"ramdriv"
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\UNKNOWN\9999","Service",0x00000000,"Ramdriv"
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\UNKNOWN\9999","DeviceDesc",0x00000000,"Ramdisk [ QSoft ]"
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\UNKNOWN\9999","Capabilities",0x00010001,0x00000000
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\UNKNOWN\9999","Driver",0x00000000,"{FFA1C341-4539-11D3-B88D-00C04FAD5172}\0001"
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\UNKNOWN\9999\Control","DisableCount",0x00010001,0x00000000
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\UNKNOWN\9999\Control","ActiveService",0x00000000,"Ramdriv"
HKLM,"System\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\UNKNOWN\9999\Control","FilteredConfigVector",0x00010000,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
;make ie and shell folders use ramdrive

4 - Edit txtsetup.sif and add this:

rmsetup.inf =1,,,,,,_x,3,,3
ramdriv.sys = 1,,,,,,,4,0,0

under [HiveInfs.Fresh] add this:
AddReg = rmsetup.inf,setup

5 - Edit dosnet.inf and add this:

d1,ramdriv.sys
d1,rmsetup.inf

You now have a 32 meg ramdisk created during setup. It'll have drive Q and be 32 megs. The contents of the ram disk will be deleted when you restart. You do not need to format the drive, it's done during setup. You might see a system restore error in event viewer; ignore it.

-gosh

[gosh]

If anyone is curious how i made IE and the Shell use the ram drive this is what i did:

add this to the bottom of rmsetup.inf

Quote

HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx",Title,0x00000000,"Setting up Ram Drive"
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx",Flags,0x00010001,0x00000020
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx\ramdsk",,,"Ram Settings"
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx\ramdsk",1,,"rundll32 setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 128 ..\Windows\Inf\rmdisk.inf"

Add this to txtsetup.sif:

rmdisk.inf = 1,,,,,,,20,0,0

Add this to dosnet.inf:

d1,rmdisk.inf

Add the following to rmdisk.inf and save it to the i386 folder:

Quote

[Version]
Signature = "$Windows NT$"
DriverVer=07/01/2001,5.1.2600.1106


[DefaultInstall]
AddReg = RamDiskSetup

[RamDiskSetup]
;change shell folders to use the ram drive
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders","Cache",0x00020000,"%CACHE_DIR%"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders","Cookies",0x00020000,"%RAMDRIVE%\Cookies"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders","History",0x00020000,"%RAMDRIVE%\History"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders","Recent",0x00020000,"%RAMDRIVE%\Recent"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders","Cache",0x00000000,"%CACHE_DIR%"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders","Cookies",0x00000000,"%RAMDRIVE%\Cookies"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders","History",0x00000000,"%RAMDRIVE%\History"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders","Recent",0x00000000,"%RAMDRIVE%\Recent"
;change ie to use the ram drive
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache","FreshnessInterval",0x00000003,80,f4,03,00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache","CleanupFactor",0x00000003,19,00,00,00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache","CleanupTime",0x00000003,00,00,00,00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache","Persistent",0x00000003,01,00,00,00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache","CleanupInterval",0x00000003,80,51,01,00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache","DebugFlag",0x00000003,ff,ff,00,00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths","Paths",0x00000003,04,00,00,00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths","Directory",0x00020002,"%CACHE_DIR%"
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths","Size",0x00000003,24,01,00,00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path1","CacheLimit",0x00010001,00000c00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path1","CachePath",0x00020000,"%CACHE_DIR%\cache1"
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path2","CacheLimit",0x00010001,00000c00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path2","CachePath",0x00020000,"%CACHE_DIR%\cache2"
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path3","CacheLimit",0x00010001,00000c00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path3","CachePath",0x00020000,"%CACHE_DIR%\cache3"
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path4","CacheLimit",0x00010001,00000c00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path4","CachePath",0x00020000,"%CACHE_DIR%\cache4"
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Special Paths\Cookies","Directory",0x00020000,"%RAMDRIVE%\Cookies"
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Special Paths\Cookies","CachePrefix",0x00000002,"Cookie:"
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Special Paths\Cookies","CacheLimit",0x00000003,00,04,00,00



[Strings]

CACHE_DIR      = "Q:\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files"
RAMDRIVE          = "Q:\Local Settings"

Now when you install xp you'll have a ram disk, IE will use that ramdisk to store everything, and your recent documents will be stored there.

There's a lot of good reasons to use a ramdisk. One reason is security. In the XP forum i describe security vuln's that a ramdisk avoids.

-gosh

[un4given1]

Also... IE screams when it holds temp files in a RAMDISK.

[Spooky]

gosh, on Nov 26 2003, 09:42 PM, said:

If anyone is curious how i made IE and the Shell use the ram drive this is what i did:

add this to the bottom of rmsetup.inf

Quote

HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx",Title,0x00000000,"Setting up Ram Drive"
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx",Flags,0x00010001,0x00000020
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx\ramdsk",,,"Ram Settings"
HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx\ramdsk",1,,"rundll32 setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 128 ..\Windows\Inf\rmdisk.inf"

Add this to txtsetup.sif:

rmdisk.inf = 1,,,,,,,20,0,0

Add this to dosnet.inf:

d1,rmdisk.inf

Add the following to rmdisk.inf and save it to the i386 folder:

Quote

[Version]Signature = "$Windows NT$"
DriverVer=07/01/2001,5.1.2600.1106


[DefaultInstall]
AddReg = RamDiskSetup

[RamDiskSetup]
;change shell folders to use the ram drive
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders","Cache",0x00020000,"%CACHE_DIR%"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders","Cookies",0x00020000,"%RAMDRIVE%\Cookies"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders","History",0x00020000,"%RAMDRIVE%\History"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders","Recent",0x00020000,"%RAMDRIVE%\Recent"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders","Cache",0x00000000,"%CACHE_DIR%"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders","Cookies",0x00000000,"%RAMDRIVE%\Cookies"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders","History",0x00000000,"%RAMDRIVE%\History"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders","Recent",0x00000000,"%RAMDRIVE%\Recent"
;change ie to use the ram drive
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache","FreshnessInterval",0x00000003,80,f4,03,00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache","CleanupFactor",0x00000003,19,00,00,00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache","CleanupTime",0x00000003,00,00,00,00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache","Persistent",0x00000003,01,00,00,00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache","CleanupInterval",0x00000003,80,51,01,00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache","DebugFlag",0x00000003,ff,ff,00,00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths","Paths",0x00000003,04,00,00,00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths","Directory",0x00020002,"%CACHE_DIR%"
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths","Size",0x00000003,24,01,00,00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path1","CacheLimit",0x00010001,00000c00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path1","CachePath",0x00020000,"%CACHE_DIR%\cache1"
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path2","CacheLimit",0x00010001,00000c00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path2","CachePath",0x00020000,"%CACHE_DIR%\cache2"
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path3","CacheLimit",0x00010001,00000c00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path3","CachePath",0x00020000,"%CACHE_DIR%\cache3"
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path4","CacheLimit",0x00010001,00000c00
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Paths\path4","CachePath",0x00020000,"%CACHE_DIR%\cache4"
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Special Paths\Cookies","Directory",0x00020000,"%RAMDRIVE%\Cookies"
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Special Paths\Cookies","CachePrefix",0x00000002,"Cookie:"
HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Cache\Special Paths\Cookies","CacheLimit",0x00000003,00,04,00,00



[Strings]

CACHE_DIR         = "Q:\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files"
RAMDRIVE          = "Q:\Local Settings"

Now when you install xp you'll have a ram disk, IE will use that ramdisk to store everything, and your recent documents will be stored there.

There's a lot of good reasons to use a ramdisk. One reason is security. In the XP forum i describe security vuln's that a ramdisk avoids.

-gosh

can you turn it off and revert to using the normal way again?

[gosh]

yes all you do is change your shell folder, you can do that with tweakui. Or use system restore.

-gosh

[un4given1]

or you to into IE Tools/Interenet Options/Settings/Move Folder

No need to use System Restore for such an easy fix.

[Kryxan]

using it for IE and shell stuff is wonderfull, something i will definatilly want in my XP. but how do i change the size? im thinking of making a few .reg files available on my xp cd to up the size to 32mb, 64mb, & 96mb. i know i normally dont restart my computer but once a week, and 32mb internet cache is not enough for a week.

[un4given1]

Well... the Ramdrive files from Microsoft's site does not go over 32MB. I do however have a free RAMDISK program that goes as high as you want. I have not found a way to automate it yet, but I am working on it. It maxes out at 2GB... but I am sure that none of us have that much RAM to devote to a RAMDISK.

http://www.arsoft-on...roduct.php?id=1

[Spooky]

un4given1, on Nov 26 2003, 11:54 PM, said:

Well...  the Ramdrive files from Microsoft's site does not go over 32MB.  I do however have a free RAMDISK program that goes as high as you want.  I have not found a way to automate it yet, but I am working on it.  It maxes out at 2GB...  but I am sure that none of us have that much RAM to devote to a RAMDISK. 

http://www.arsoft-on...roduct.php?id=1

all my machines have 1 GB of ram, i'm gonna give this a try and devote about half of the ram on one machine to it. I wonder if there is a way to direct all file copy, reads and writes, thru it as well?? hmmmmmm

[Numinous]

download ramdisk here .. contains a manual, install .inf and property sheet provider (ramdisk.dll) .. limited to 64mb

or go to the creators website for the extended version
http://www.ramdisk.tk/

[gosh]

All you do is change the hex for the size. Bart's pe builder gives 4 examples.

-gosh

[Kryxan]

I tried to right click on the .inf files to install the ramdrive in my current windows incarnation, an it didn't work. Very dissapointing, tho I do assume it will still work from setup cause setup just does things differently. However I did manage to get the ramdrive working after some difficulty, and WOW! The Interent is so much faster now, at least web pages and such. Definitly gonna put this in my super 1337 fully automated xp install with extras.

TY gosh!

[gosh]

I avoided going into all the advantages of using a ramdrive, but one of them is since the IE cache is made from scratch everytime you reboot you won't have corruption. Even if you clear the IE cache index.dat isn't touched along with a couple other files. So this is very good for troubleshooting browsing issues.

I'm glad you enjoy the ramdrive!

-gosh

[Gism0]

I've added this to my last install - **** cool

I have a question though, in IEs prefs the maximum space to use is higher than 32MB (was 150MB or so), is there a way to change this too?

and what happens if you try to download a file larger than 32MB by clicking "open", those normally go into temp internet files but that wouldn't work..

[gosh]

I probably should have fully explained what a ramdrive means.

My inf configures windows to use 12 megs for the temp files i believe. If you download/view a file over 32 megs it'll get corrupted. The solution is to use a dl manager like getright or massdownloader to download files over 32 mb.

That's been the only limitation ive found. I've also configured Mozilla and Firebird to use a ramdrive, if anyone wants i can post how to do it, it isn't too hard.

-gosh

[un4given1]

gosh: that is only a problem if you use Microsoft's ramdrive.sys file. If you pull the ramdrive.sys file from the program I posted earlier you can overcome that limitation.

[un4given1]

One problem with RAMDRIVEs though... Your cookies go buh-bye too.. which means you will have to relogin to every site every time you reboot.

[gosh]

I know that's a limitation. 32 megs is more than enough room for just the ie cache. It's true the cookies are lost when you restart, but if you have auto complete turned on you just click on the field and the password is inserted. You won't need to retype your password until you restart your pc.

-gosh

[Gism0]

ahh never thought about cookies, damnit!

is there a way to move cookies somewhere else? :/

[un4given1]

Auto Complete is the devil. It prompts people to lose their passwords. Here at work it causes authentication problems (thank goodness we are rolling out a new IEAK package that denies saving passwords!)