16 replies to this topic

[pscEx]

Actually last days, when trying to help in some WIM based projects, I was attacked by redundancies.

Every WIM based project does it's own (author made, and enhanced by some co-authors) core.

For me that is terrible. Whenever something is new, it has to be implemented in ? projects (or the author decides to remain on an old stage).

IMHO it seems to be easy to create the same core for all according projects.

Let's look at nativeEx projects:

• nativeEx_barebone uses nativeEx_core and has some sample apps
• LiveXP uses nativeEx_core and has a lot of common drivers and apps
• NaughtyPE uses nativeEx_core and has a lot of multimedia concerning drivers and apps
• NativePE ...
• ...

For those who are not familar with the nativeEx idea: All information, including language etc. is taken from the source CD.

Same should be possible in the WIM world (currently Vista and Win7)
The first step to get the OS type (Enterprise etc.) from source CD, I some hours ago partly published in the Win7RescuePE project

I think it does not make much sence, if several high qualified developers work simultaniously with e.g. 'Win7PE' and 'Win7RescuePE' and reinvent multiple core wheels.

Therefore I decided to create a nativeEx similar sample project.

Please, do not worry, if in some (Latin) days you are surprised / confronted with a new WimEx project containing WimEx_barebone and WimEx_core

Every project author may or may not use WimEx_core and add his / her own drivers / apps like known fom nativeEx.

Peter

[TheHive]

SO this base would be for Vista and Windows 7. Or is it also going to include XP.

[pscEx]

SO this base would be for Vista and Windows 7. Or is it also going to include XP.

XP is not a part of the WIM world!

Peter

[Galapo]

XP is not a part of the WIM world!

No, but Nikzzzz has made it possible to be such with WimBoot.

Regards,
Galapo.

[pscEx]

Does that mean that he created a XP install CD having boot.wim and install.wim?

Peter

[maanu]

Does that mean that he created a XP install CD having boot.wim and install.wim?

Peter

he is talking about the PE WORLD

[Galapo]

Does that mean that he created a XP install CD having boot.wim and install.wim?

I'm not entirely sure VistaPE has that either, only the source media not the target.

Regards,
Galapo.

[joakim]

This may or may not be marginally off topic, but how far did development get with native xp wimboot. Did you manage to boot off mounted wim?

Joakim

[Galapo]

Did you manage to boot off mounted wim?

Yes, that's exactly what the WimBoot script does.

XP can be turned into a Vista-like install (well, Longhorn really) having an XP install CD having boot.wim and install.wim with PatherXP: http://pantherxp.net/.

Regards,
Galapo.

[was_JFX]

@psc
Good idea but call it WimEx may really confuse with wimboot winpe 1.x.
What about vista_Ex or Seven_Ex?

@joakim
Currently we missing a NTLDR which can handle a WIM image, there is only a SETUPLDR which can do this.
May it is not wanted cause a wimbooted XP will mostlikly bring the fall of LiveXP and co.

[joakim]

So you're saying that livexp can run entirely in ram with X:\ being boot.wim mounted onto boot.sdi?

Joakim

[joakim]

Currently we missing a NTLDR which can handle a WIM image, there is only a SETUPLDR which can do this.

Is this the last SETUPLDR version of the early longhorn (I thought it was incompatible with newer wim format)?

Joakim

[was_JFX]

It's the the setupldr from 2003 server sp1, nikzzzz has make a great patch for it, to give it possibility to be use with WIM images see WIMBOOT

I really see no reason why this way should not work for a really XP with NTLDR.

[Lancelot]

@joakim

also you can now use wimboot with wimpack (like boot.wim and install.wim) by making some manuel settings. (Galapo will work on it to be more automatic when he is back.)

[was_jaclaz]

Can I make a few questions/considerations?

Are there Freeware/Open Source tools capable of creating a WIM file without ANY Vista or WAIK components under XP and 2003?

Are there Freeware/Open Source tools capable of managing/accessing/mounting a WIM file without ANY Vista or WAIK components under XP and 2003?

Is there a "WIM" capable bootloader? <-yes, WIMBOOT by nikzzz, which however creates the need for Server 2003 SP1, if I am not mistaken.

In other words, exception made for the improperly named BootSDI, XP based projects like Native_Ex/LiveXP can be built and used legally within the scopes of a "common" XP license, without the need to download hundreds of Megabytes of files from MS, which use may also be infringing the EULA.

So if the "change" to the WIM building is possible, and there are freely and easily, besides legally available tools for it, I don't see the problem in making the WIM format a new "mainstream standard", but if any of the above is missing or is not perfectly "kosher" or needs the download of huge packets from MS, I would consider it an option only.



jaclaz

[pscEx]

Are there Freeware/Open Source tools capable of creating a WIM file without ANY Vista or WAIK components under XP and 2003?

Are there Freeware/Open Source tools capable of managing/accessing/mounting a WIM file without ANY Vista or WAIK components under XP and 2003?

I do not know one. There exist some publications using wimgapi.dll.
And the WAIK tools are also just wrappers around this dll.

My XP SP3 contains wimgapi.dll. I do not know whether it is also contained in lower SPs. And in W2000 it is not contained.

But the dll is extractable from the source CD. That's what I thought to do with the new project if necessary.

As said 'Everything from source CD', no WAIK ...

Peter

[pscEx]

Please have a look at the first 'milestone' here: http://www.boot-land...?...ost&p=78312

Peter