Windows 8 RP Unattended

[AnimaliX]

Windows 8 RP as Primary OS? a few tips, tweaks and notes

I decided that Windows 8 RP set as the primary OS, so I can adapt well to the arrival of RTM.

And because everything like are set by through the "one-click style" commandline, here are a few things in which we W8 differ from W7.

note: My UAC is disabled by default from Autounattend.xml

some tips and notes:

0\ BOOT DIRECTLY INTO DESKTOP - this is perhaps the easiest way to boot directly to desktop (note: I don't like utility tweakers)

http://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-bypass-the-metro-start-screen-directly-log-on-to-desktop-in-windows-8-consumer-preview

works with all editions W8 and probably with RTM also

create file something.scf

[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=Explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop

You can put this into "Run" section in registry or simple to "startup" folder

1\ The first thing that struck me is an instant delete without confirmation (can be set manually, but I do not know whether it is simply through the registry) - really unpleasant thing and it is good to remember to set right after installation

2\ File associations are due to Metro solved differently than in W7 and the same path in the registry not associated defaults programs and when you first run the file must manually select the program from the list.

If I understand properly associations are now in section HKEY_USERS\SID and therefore can not be set directly from the registry, because SID is every system install different (I think)

for example this way not working properly for me any longer

"Open with" list of programs exists, but MPC must be selected manualy at first start file

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Applications\mpc-hc.exe\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\\Media Player Classic - Home Cinema\\mpc-hc.exe\" \"%1\""
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Applications\MediaInfo.exe\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\\MediaInfo\\MediaInfo.exe\" \"%1\""

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.avi\OpenWithList]
"a"="mpc-hc.exe"
"b"="MediaInfo.exe"
"MRUList"="ab"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.avi\UserChoice]
"Progid"="Applications\\mpc-hc.exe"

I also tried put association directly into HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT or HKCU\Software\Classes with no result

note: I do not know it is only Release Preview thing, but in a much larger portion of the registry is to avoid the possibility of modification (can be solved by setting the rights or automatically through SetACL)

So if you also advises the automated installation and configuration through registers is good at first set Permissions.

it is possible that I'm wrong in something, and can be solved more easily

these are the observations of week use

SERVICES

regarding the configuration of the services I have found only>

http://www.blackviper.com/service-configurations/black-vipers-windows-8-service-configurations/

Here I copied only the changed services from Black Viper list

:Application Management (manual)
sc config AppMgmt start= disabled
:Bluetooth Support Service (manual)
sc config bthserv start= disabled
:BranchCache (manual)
sc config PeerDistSvc start= disabled
:Certificate Propagation (manual)
sc config CertPropSvc start= disabled
:Distributed Link Tracking Client (auto)
sc config TrkWks start= disabled
:Hyper-V Data Exchange Service (auto)
sc config vmickvpexchange start= disabled
:IP Helper (auto)
sc config iphlpsvc start= disabled
:Microsoft iSCSI Initiator Service (manual)
sc config MSiSCSI start= disabled
:Netlogon (manual)
sc config Netlogon start= disabled
:Network Access Protection Agent (manual)
sc config napagent start= disabled
:Offline Files (auto)
sc config CscService start= disabled
:Parental Controls (manual)
sc config WPCSvc start= disabled
:Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator (manual)
sc config RpcLocator start= disabled
:Remote Registry (manual)
sc config RemoteRegistry start= disabled
:Smart Card Removal Policy (manual)
sc config SCPolicySvc start= disabled
:SNMP Trap (manual)
sc config SNMPTRAP start= disabled
:Storage Service (manual)
sc config StorSvc start= disabled
:Windows Biometric Service (manual)
sc config WbioSrvc start= disabled
:Windows Connect Now - Config Registrar (manual)
sc config wcncsvc start= disabled
:Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service (manual)
sc config WMPNetworkSvc start= disabled
:Windows Search (auto)
sc config WSearch start= disabled

and here is part of my Autounattend.xml

created in WSIM 6.2.8400

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <servicing>
        <package action="configure">
            <assemblyIdentity name="Microsoft-Windows-Foundation-Package" version="6.2.8400.0" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="" />
            <selection name="Internet-Explorer-Optional-amd64" state="false" />
            <selection name="MediaPlayback" state="false" />
            <selection name="Microsoft-Windows-MobilePC-LocationProvider-INF" state="false" />
            <selection name="MicrosoftWindowsPowerShellV2Root" state="false" />
            <selection name="MSRDC-Infrastructure" state="false" />
            <selection name="Printing-XPSServices-Features" state="false" />
            <selection name="SearchEngine-Client-Package" state="false" />
            <selection name="WindowsGadgetPlatform" state="false" />
            <selection name="Xps-Foundation-Xps-Viewer" state="false" />
            <selection name="Windows-Defender-Default-Definitions" state="false" />
        </package>
        <package action="configure">
            <assemblyIdentity name="Microsoft-Windows-ProfessionalEdition" version="6.2.8400.0" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="" />
            <selection name="Microsoft-Hyper-V-ClientEdition-Package" state="false" />
            <selection name="Microsoft-Hyper-V-Common-Drivers-Package" state="false" />
            <selection name="Microsoft-Hyper-V-Guest-Integration-Drivers-Package" state="false" />
            <selection name="Microsoft-Hyper-V-Server-Drivers-Package" state="false" />
            <selection name="Microsoft-Windows-Anytime-Upgrade-Package" state="false" />
            <selection name="Microsoft-Windows-Printing-XPSServices-Package" state="false" />
        </package>
    </servicing>

notes:

A. if you not set TimeZone default is Pacific time

excuse my crazy English

Edited July 6, 2012 by AnimaliX

[chlje]

good post I tested the services portion it is safe for me home user, tks

[AnimaliX]

i found this "Skip Metro Suite"

works with W8RTM and its based on service.. but if you unpack installator and use only ToggleDesktop.exe in startup, you no need any running services

http://winaero.com/comment.php?comment.news.103

Edited November 1, 2012 by AnimaliX