38 replies to this topic

[allanf]

Hi,

It may be pushing the limits of the license for MS Windows PE a little bit. Occasionally one needs to view a document or a spreadsheet, or edit a corporate logo; maybe watch a technet video, or blow the cobwebs out with a number puzzle while waiting for that Windows to deploy.

You need installed, the Windows AIK 1.1 (released for Vista SP1), because the project uses the imagex.exe, peimg.exe and oscdimg.exe tools found in the WAIK. The project is built from the winpe.wim image (WinPE 2.1) located in '...\Windows AIK\Tools\PETools\x86\'.


Using WinPE 3.0 (based on Win7 beta)
You can use the latest version of the winpe.wim found in Windows AIK 2.0 for Win7 Beta, provided that the new winpe.wim image (index:1) has, at the least, the 'Scripting' Package installed using the new dism.exe tool.

The new dism.exe (and WAIK 2.0) are not officially supported under XP. The packages can be found in WAIK 2.0's '...\Windows AIK\Tools\PETools\x86\WinPE_OCs\'. It seems necessary to install the WAIK 2.0, if only to get hold of the new winpe.wim and its packages. Then uninstall it and return to WAIK 1.1 to create a basic bootable WinPE 3.0 from the new winpe.wim. Boot that basic WinPE 3.0 and use its tools to add packages to the new winpe.wim which you have kept on the hard-drive.

The old peimg.exe cannot install packages into the new winpe.wim - it simply skips over the process when the project is being built.

For a look at Win7 with its dazzling start screen and magical 'Aero Snaps', simply replace the old winpe.wim in the WAIK sub-folder with the new packaged-up winpe.wim.

---------------------------------------------------

peimg.exe is able to install drivers into both the new and the old winpe.wim files (and /prep them as well.) If you need drivers for Mass Storage or Network Adaptors, place the extracted driver package in a folder. In Winbuilder's Interface for pePA.com, click the folder icon and navigate to the folder containing the extracted driver package(s). Each extracted driver package must include an .inf file. To install the driver, make sure that, in the Interface, the scrollbox (dropdown) under 'Configuration' is set to 'Individual Settings', because the default is for no driver installation.





Lastly, you must be online while Winbuilder is running pePA.com. You may have noticed that the project files total a mere 60KB. The Windows Tools come locally from the WAIK folders, but the other Apps have got to come from somewhere!

Alternatively, you can manually download each App from the websites listed below, and place the downloaded file inside '...\Winbuilder\Projects\pe2ArchiveDir\'. Perhaps some of these archive or installer files are already thereabouts. If they are in that folder, Winbuilder will not try to download them a second time provided they have the exact same file name as indicated in the following.

UPDATE v.003:
Corrected a Web Download Address in 'script.project'.

UPDATED v.002:

http://www.primitus....ownload/a43.zip

GIMP_Portable_2.6.4.paf.exe

OpenOffice.org_Portable_3.0_en-us.paf.exe

Thunderbird_Portable_2.0.0.19_Rev_2_en-us.paf.exe


v.001:

EmergeDesktop-4.1.3.zip

PortableApps.com_Platform_Setup_1.1.exe which was provided by Filip Hasa to make installtion easier.
The source is here: http://www.boot-land...?...ost&id=5470
Original PortableApps version is: PortableApps.com_Platform_Setup_1.1.exe

alternative far2x32.690.zip

7-Zip_Portable_4.64.paf.exe

AbiWord_Portable_2.6.3.paf.exe

ClamWin_Portable_0.91.2.paf.exe

EDIT: The following two files are ClamWin's Virus Definitions. NB: Clicking on the links may cause your browser to attempt to open the files, and hang.

http://db.local.clamav.net/main.cvd

http://db.local.clamav.net/daily.cvd

Command_Prompt_Portable_1.0.paf.exe

FileZilla_Portable_2.2.32.paf.exe

Firefox_Portable_2.0.0.11_en-us.paf.exe

FirefoxPortable.ini

FreeCommander_Portable_2008.06c.paf.exe

GIMP_Portable_2.2.17.paf.exe

Notepadpp_Portable_4.2.2.paf.exe

OpenOffice_Portable_2.2.1_en-us.paf.exe

OpenOfficePortable.ini

http://internap.dl.s...1.1.7.2.paf.exe

Sumatra_PDF_Portable_0.7.paf.exe

Thunderbird_Portable_2.0.0.9_en-us.paf.exe

ThunderbirdPortable.ini

VLC_Portable_0.8.6c.paf.exe


UPDATE v.002:
FAR Manager's download link went dead. It has been replaced by A43 File Manager.


v.001:
FAR Manager is the only external program that is installed by default. So, even if you choose 'Individual Select' and de-select all of the Apps and Tools, you will always have a File Manager - and a great one at that.


Please let me know of any faulty downloads, as I am not able to repeatedly check... high maintenannce.. Of course, once the programs have been downloaded the first time, everything should be 'smooth sailing' from there after. ... ...

BTW. I couldn't get that video to play properly with VLC - even with VLC installed on my XP. And of course there is still no sound.

Here's a log of my last build.



and scripts in text format;

UPDATE v.003



UPDATE v.002



v.001



This project seems compatible with Winbuilder 075 beta 6. However most of my testing has been done with WB 074.

UPDATE v.003:
Corrected a Web Download Address and include Winbuilder 076 (Hot Fix #1) in the following package:

Winbuilder.zip containing Winbuilder v.076 Hotfix 1


UPDATE v.002:
For an easy start if you do not have Winbuilder.exe already; download one of the following .zip files which contain a complete package ready to run. Extract the contents of the .zip to a path that does not contain any spaces in any folder names - NO '...\Documents and Settings...\Desktop...' or '...\Program Files...'. A recommended path is simply a 'c:\Winbuilder\' folder which contains the Winbuilder.exe and a Projects folder containing the pePA project.

EDIT: Do not use the following. Please see above for UPDATE v.003.

Winbuilder.zip containing Winbuilder v.074

Winbuilder.zip containing Winbuilder v.0075 beta 6


If you already have Winbuilder: In Winbuilder's 'Download Center', add pe2.winbuilder.net to the list of servers (if it not there), and download and PLAY! ... ...


UPDATE:
If something goes wrong and you find that your HardDrive appears to have been hijacked by PortableApps.com^® and you see something like this after rebooting your computer:



Don't panic like I did. (Don't ever use 'System Restore' except as your last-hope option!) If you see the PortableApps.com^® name and icon, then the extraction of the PortableApps Menu file has gone wrong and placed an 'autorun.inf' file in the root of your Drive. Firstly open the autorun.inf with notepad to make sure that it is the PortableApps file, then delete it and reboot.

Regards

[allanf]

A few more screenshots:









The right-hand panel of the PortableApps Menu - Documents, Pictures, etc - relies on having MS explorer.exe on the system, I assume...

Regards

[TheHive]

That technet video is very cool. I didnt know about those commands being used.

[Brito]

Very cool stuff, thanks for posting this new project!

Have you mentioned it on the portable apps forum?

Maybe they like it too.

[allanf]

Hi Nuno,

I'm waiting to hear from Filip Hasa because one of the download files - the most important one - comes from him. Waiting to see if it's OK with him to keep his link, or if he says it's OK to move it to winbuilder.net...

I think it is a good idea to put a note in the PortableApps Forum... I know they have been talking about a shell for PortableApps. Now, with 'pePA.com', they've got one wiith emergDesktop PLUS an entire Operating System to carry around!

Regards

[Brito]

Hi again.

I've added http://pe2.winbuilder.net to the official list of servers on the download center.

Would you also make available a standalone package that includes winbuilder.exe inside?

I mention this because 076 will be released very soon and this way you'd be able to provide a stable version of your project working with 074.

[allanf]

Hmmmm...

Just giving the project a quick run through before packaging it up with Winbuilder. Discovered that I've lost the links to FAR Manager (FAR 2.0 build 690 Alternative) already! ... a few hours ago? ... ... I think it's a quick-moving development site... does anyone speak the language? Russian, is it? I may need to look for a stable link to an official FAR Manager.... Or pull FAR out of the project, which would be a pity! This looked great!

Nuno, you give me a heart attack... ... I try to keep things low key and out of the light, but I thought this project was stable enough to be put forward. I don't like the idea of having broken projects up on the Download Center, and I can see why the other projects tend to attach program files when possible. I know VistaPE has had a few problems with Total Commander when new versions of TC are released and the old links go dead.

There are a few program developers around who reserve a constant and specific download URL link for the program's latest release. But then there is nothing to identify the program's version before downloading. eg. simply wxw.programsite.latestprogram.zip But, what if the latest version doesn't work?

Best of all IMO is the Source Forge where all versions of a program seem to be retained on a constant link.

I wanted to have projects where a user can quickly view and read the code without having to download multi-MBs of attachments (which may include stuff already stored locally). But, I think the WebGet method used extensively in my projects is too risky to justify the words 'stable release'. What can be done? Hmmm....

Just some thoughts... I'll keep pondering... ...

For the moment, I'll delete this project from the Download Center... stay tuned. The .scripts will stay on the first post for anyone keen enough to investigate alternative arrangements.

Regards

[amalux]

A number of those links don't work (not just far), any chance they could be packed and uploaded somewhere?

[allanf]

A number of those links don't work (not just far)...

Sorry to hear that amalux. Have you tried pressing 'PLAY'? ... ...

No. You're right! I went through a few of the SourceForge mirrors looking for OpenOffice and they were all dead-ends, ATM. I'm pretty sure that the posted link worked before. So here's a problem to get around.

...any chance they could be packed and uploaded somewhere?

Nope.

Regards

[Brito]

Hello,

Don't delete the project from your server.

It can work well for both 074 and 076, it's just a matter of testing things up.

The idea of having a solid package is too provide a safe ground in case something goes wrong.

[TheHive]

The idea of having a solid package is too provide a safe ground in case something goes wrong.

It can be hosted on Winbuilder like other full projects.

[allanf]

Thanks Nuno and The Hive (and amalux for reporting the broken links.)

I have update the first post to reflect changes made for v.002. Also provided links to the complete packages - 074 and 075b6.

The project is back on the 'Downloads Center'.

A few old bug-bears appeared.

1. The 'text-replacing-variable-replacing-text' syndrome extensively effecting the project when run under WB074.... I should have seen that coming! Wasn't a problem with 075b6. Fixed with v.002, I hope.

2. Spaces in the path to Winbuilder... now that can cause some worrying issues... things can end up splattered all over the place. In the case of this project, I think I have identified the problem as coming, not from winbuilder, but from my use of WAIK's copype.cmd.... Not fixed, but hopefully in a later version.

Regards

[amalux]

Ok, most everything dl good now but what are these main and daily cvd 'files'? There's nothing to download, they open as a web page that looks like this

and sortof crash my explorer (taskmgr to close then ok). If I attemt to save as, will only save as web archive

[allanf]

You haven't pressed "PLAY" yet, have you? Give it a try... ... go on....! You must have a sandbox somewhere.

Those .cvd files are ClamWin's virus definitions... daily update, and main.
I need to write some script to check for updates while the project is being built. Using MD5s.

Winbuilder's WebGet actually downloads the file rather than trying to open. I was a bit concerned as well, because of what you see, so I tested it a few times.

Clicking on the posted links opens them up. I don't know about crashing explorer.... not IE? My IE7 crashes all the time with large files containing many lines of charaters. Try the daily.cvd - it's much smaller. Or try Opera.

I'll put a note on the first post.

Thanks again

[amalux]

Ok, ok pressing PLAY now!

[allanf]

For everyone who has managed to incorporate the new winpe.wim from WAIK2.0/WinPE3.0...

'dism.exe' requires 'wpeinit' to be run beforehand; otherwise 'Error 5: Access Denied' when using '/wim-mount'.

Regards

[allanf]

...

Have you mentioned it on the portable apps forum?

Maybe they like it too.

Posted http://portableapps....#comment-110656.

[Brito]

Well.. the link is not available. Have they deleted your posting?

Looking on the "external links" button for this topic I can see the same link you refer so it's certainly something that was done on their side.

[allanf]

Sorry Nuno. There was an issue about the logo embedded in the script.

If they want it removed they can come and take it out themselves... ...

There was some other stuff about the Menu installer from Filip Hasa.

I pulled the post off.

I think I'll stop development of this project...

Here's the web-site of the eff'n PortableApps.com 'developer'...

http://chrismorgan.info/

and his logo...


Baaaaaa!

... ...

[Brito]

Don't get demotivated because of their reaction, we'll help you.

It's everyone's loss if you stop developing such useful project, I even recommended it today to another user requesting this sort of features: http://www.911cd.net...showtopic=19734

If they don't like the logo then we can find another just as good or even better!

[allanf]

It's not so much their logo.. I kept thinking it was the recycling bin anyway ..

The whole project hinges on the Menu Installer - slightly modified to allow silent installs to the Target. The GPL looks OK, but it's those damned trademarks inside...

Slightly modified and the whole Menu needs to be 'rebranded' to remove the Trademarked stuff... so I've been told.

There is not much more that can be done with this project other than to add more PortableApps and keep the links up to date.

I think it's a good project. I designed it for my wife who started using AbiWord Portable under pe21 when the hard-drive in her laptop died... and, of course, so that she can Deploy Windows...

I would really like to concentrate on getting pe21 back up and running under the new Winbuilder... and then pe30, unless someone else gets there first!

Thanks

[枯道曦风]

I created an ISO with pePA.com script, when boot, it popup a message window "StartPortableApps.exe" not found! Press any key to continue ...
and I find out that it will put two files Autorun.inf and StartPortableApps.exe on the root folder E:\ when I play this pePA.com project each time, my winbuilder exe is put on one subfolder of E partition, and it also change the icon of E partition.

[allanf]

I created an ISO with pePA.com script, when boot, it popup a message window "StartPortableApps.exe" not found! Press any key to continue ...
and I find out that it will put two files Autorun.inf and StartPortableApps.exe on the root folder E:\ when I play this pePA.com project each time, my winbuilder exe is put on one subfolder of E partition, and it also change the icon of E partition.

Hi.

OK. Do you have time to trubleshoot? I hope so.

First. What is full path to winbuilder.exe please. I am trying to address the issue of having spaces in the path.

Second. I also did have the problem of my c:\ drive being 'hijacked'... changed name and icon. I found it necessary to delete the autorun.inf file from the root and reboot. So far, I only know that this occurs when the path to winbuilder.exe contains spaces. Maybe you have discovered another reason.

Third. Did other shortcuts load OK when you booted pePA.com.iso?

Thanks

[allanf]

... So far, I only know that this occurs when the path to winbuilder.exe contains spaces. Maybe you have discovered another reason.

No! That cannot be the problem. I tried to reproduce your error using spaces in the path to winbuilder.exe... totally different issue.

I have a guess that some download may have changed...?

Give me time to have a look.

Regards

[allanf]

I have a guess that some download may have changed...?

No! I do not think that is the problem either.

The script is wrong! It has the wrong download address!

Let me explain. ... ...

I don't have much download capacity with my ISP plan. In this project, when a file is downloaded the first time, it will not download again provided a file with the exact same name as the download file exists in 'pe2ArchiveDir'. So you can create any blank file, say 'A43.zip', and the project will not attempt to download the genuine 'A43.zip', but will attempt to unzip the fake 'A43.zip'.

In the present case, the file 'PortableApps.com_Platform_Setup_1.1.exe' - the PortableApps Menu setup file - is not the right one. I have the correct one in my 'pe2ArchiveDir', so that every time I do a test, there is no download of the wrong file, and it installs without problem.

Unfortunately for you, the file you have in your 'pe2ArchiveDir' is the wrong one. It does not silently install properly to the Target Directory. (I think you may get a prompt to install? Maybe not! I will test this later.)

In '...Projects\pePA.com\script.project' you will see a line:

Run,"%ProjectDir%\script.project",dload,"http://internap.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/portableapps/PortableApps.com_Platform_Setup_1.1.exe"

The address is totally wrong!

It ought to be:

Run,"%ProjectDir%\script.project",dload,"http://www.postemoderne.net/hasaf/PortableApps/PortableApps.com_Platform_Setup_1.1.exe"

I hope I have got this right this time. So embarrassed!

I'll upload a new version as soon as possible.

And congratulations! You must be the first to try my project! ... ...

Thank you!