A TFTPD32 server as RIS Server

http://collewijn.info/xpe/page/tftpd_ris.php#99

Introduction

In this short manual I descript a way to use the tftpd32 server option to create a RIS server and PXE (Preboot eXecution Environment) network boot options. I use for this PXE solution a notebook (I’m not always in the some network environment) with a GB network interface card (NIC). I use GB switch for multi cast ghosting.

With this configuration and an ISO of 322MB it’s possible to load/start a Windows XP Preinstalled Environment within 2:15 minutes flat (this include the ISO copy over the network 1:10 minutes). Because everything is running from memory the whole configuration (starting/loading programs) extremely fast

I use the following boot loader configurations;

• MS-DOS loader for a Symantic Ghost Cast server.
• Windows XPE Preinstalled Environment loader.
• Windows XP Unattended installation.
• Windows XP Lite Unattended Installation.
• Windows 2003 Unattended installation.

In this short manual I describe only the “Windows XPE Preinstalled Environment loader” option. I have write for the other option only a Dutch version.

Requirements

• TFTPD32 This is also a DHCP server and you get it for free from tftpd32
• PXELINUX boot loader from SYSLINUX by H. Peter Anvin
• PE-Builder ISO build based on Windows 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1).

I use for this example an ISO file of 322MB. Majority of the hardware that we are using has a memory of 512MB. If I using the following calculation you can determine the amount of your ISO file.

Internal memory – memory required by AutoRamResizer – space for self-extracting (RAR) plugins.

So in my case 512MB – 128MB – 64MB = 320MB

NOTE insurer your self that the configuration file of AutoRamResizer is proper configured with the MB after the amount of memory (see example).

AutoRamResizer.exe -l 64mb -h 128mb -f 32mb

The following programs are included in this ISO;

• BgInfo
• Bios View
• Boson Tools (IP Calc, Cisco Password Descrypter, Super Ping...)
• DirSize
• EasyRecovery (runs from ram as self-extracting (RAR) plugin)
• ERD Commander 2003
• FolderSize
• FreshDiagnose
• HD_Speed
• IP-Tools
• Mass Storage Drivers
• NirSoft - Asterisk Logger v1.00
• Office PE - XPE
• Passware Kit Enterprise 6.1
• Partition Magic v8.01 (runs from ram as self-extracting (RAR) plugin)
• Sysinternals PsTools v2.1
• Registry Editor PE v0.9c
• Sala's Password Renew 1.1 Beta
• XP Support Tools
• Sysinternals Utilities v2.0
• Total Commander (include following totalcmd plugins)
  • Environment Variables
  • Events NT
  • Registry
  • Services
  • Startup Guard
  • TConsole
  • Imagine Image/Animation Viewer for Windows
  • LinkInfo
  • MEDIA Show`
  • NFO View
  • xBaseView Universal Database Viewer (and Editor)

Installation en configuration TFTPD32

Copy the file from the “tftpd32.xxx.zip” file into a directory/folder (in this case i use the C:\Project\TFTP folder) and start the program. Configured the DHCP server and TFTP server as follow.

Installation en configuration PXELINUX

Create in the root the TFTPD32 a new folder with the name “pxelinux.cfg” and create in this new directory a PXELINUX configuration "default" file with the following lines.

default example

DEFAULT      menu.c32
PROMPT       0
NOESCAPE     0
ALLOWOPTIONS 0
TIMEOUT      60


MENU TITLE PXE Boot menu by R.Collewijn


# Windows XPE Loader
LABEL XPE
 MENU       LABEL Windows XP^E Preinstalled Environment
 KERNEL     startrom.0


# MS-DOS Loader for GHOST Cast Server
LABEL GHOST
 MENU       DEFAULT
 MENU       LABEL ^Ghost Cast (Image) server
 KERNEL     ghost/MEMDISK
 APPEND     initrd=ghost/floppy.img vga=1


# Windows XP Lite Loader
LABEL XPE
 MENU       LABEL Windows ^XP Lite Unattended Installation
 KERNEL     MEMDISK


Etc…

Copy the following file from your “syslinux-x.xx.zip” into the root of your TFTPD32 server.

• syslinux-3.11.zip\com32\modules\menu.c32
• syslinux-3.11.zip\pxelinux.0

Installation en configuration PE-Builder

Copy the following file from your Windows 2003 SP1 source into the root (C:\Projects\TFTP) of the TFTP server

• Ntdetect.com
• Setupldr.ex_
• Startrom.n1_

Expand the files with the underscore in the extension as follow;

Expand –r Setupldr.ex_
Expand –r Startrom.n1_

After you expand the underscore files you can delete the original ones. Rename also the Setupldr.exe into ntldr (without extension) and Startrom.n12 into Startrom.0. Create also a new file with the name winnt.sif in the root of the TFTP server folder. This new file has the following lines in it

winnt.sif example

[SetupData]
BootDevice = "ramdisk(0)"
BootPath = "\i386\System32\"
OsLoadOptions = "/noguiboot /fastdetect /minint /rdexportascd /rdpath=.iso"

And at least, but the most imported one; copy your PE-Builder ISO file into the root of the FTFP server. Keeps the file name length (ISO) max 11 = 8+3 chars (level 1) a longer ISO filename can cause some problems.

Create Ghost boot floppy image

On many request, I have added a short manual how to “Create a Ghost boot floppy image” that you can also run from the TFTPD/RIS configuration. You can build a base floppy image on almost every version of Ghost, but on this moment I use the following version and settings (very straight forward)

After you have created the two boot floppies, you create an image file with the following modifications.

• Create with WINImage (or other image program, but I preference and use in this short manual WINImage) an empty image file.

• Copy the following Windows System files from a boot floppy (I have used a Windows XP boot floppy) into the root of this empty WINImage file.

COMMAND.COM
EMM386.EXE
HIMEM.SYS
IO.SYS
MSDOS.SYS

• Copy the following Ghost file en folders from the created Ghost Boot Disk Wizard into the WINImage file

GHOST\                Folder inclusive sub folders
NET\                  Folder inclusive sub folders
COMP.DAT
DEVICE.COM
MOUSE.COM
START.BAT 

• Change the following files and copy this files into the WINImage file

AUTOEXEC.BAT

@echo off
Path A:\;A:\Ghost;A:\Net;
Prompt $p$g


Set TZ=GHO-01:00
Set DirCmd=/a/o:gn


call \net\doit.bat
netbind.com
Lh Mouse.Com
Echo Loading...
Ghost.Exe -fni -sure

CONFIG.SYS

Dos=High,Umb,Auto
Device=Himem.Sys /NumHandles=128 /TestMem:Off
Device=Emm386.Exe Noems
buffers=40
files=80


Device=\net\pcidet.dos
Device=\net\protman.dos /I:\net
Device=\net\dis_pkt.dos
LastDrive = Z

• Update the NDIS drivers within the NET folder (A Broadcom NIC is very critical with new hardware).
• If you have changed the NDIS driver you must also update the following rules from the comp.dat file.

COMP.DAT

0003             Number of supported NICs
\net\card0\$
\net\card1\$
\net\card2\$    
0003             Number of devices
14E4 1644 0001 : Broadcom NetXtreme B57XX Chipset                   $
14E4 1645 0001 : Broadcom NetXtreme B57XX Chipset                   $
14E4 1646 0001 : Broadcom NetXtreme B57XX Chipset                   $ 

First segment (14E4) Vendor information
Second segment (1644) Device information
Third segment (0001) Folder where the driver is stored.

See also the following short manual from me textmode drivers

• Ensure your self the the boot sector of the WinImage file has the following properties en save the file.

Page History

Datum	Change
Sep 23, 2005	Initial version.
Jul 9, 2006	On many request, I have added “Create Ghost boot floppy image”

Hiren's BootCD From USB Flash Drive (USB Pen Drive)

http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd-on-usb-disk


Hiren's BootCD From USB Flash Drive (USB Pen Drive)

Step 1
Put the BootCD 8 or newer in CD Drive

OR
If you want to extract boot files from iso then Download extract-boot-files.zip
Extract and open readme for more instruction. and skip to step 4

Step 2
Start Mini Windows 98

Step 3
Copy Files From A:\ (Floppy Drive) using Explorer to C:\USB and Restart Computer to normal Windows

OR
Note: if you can not see your hard drive from mini windows 98 then you will need a blank floppy disk.
click Start > Turn Off > Exit to Dos and type COPY A:\*.* B:\
Now remove floppy and Restart Computer to your normal Windows and insert your floppy disk
and copy all files from floppy disk to C:\USB

Step 4
Download USB Disk Storage Format (34KB)

Note: USB Disk Storage Format works on xp, for windows 98 Go to My computer and
Right click on the USB Drive and click on format. You will need a USB Flash Drive 128MB or more

Step 5
Copy All Files From C:\USB to Your USB Flash Drive
Please note: Do not overwrite IO.SYS when it prompts
Delete JO.SYS from USB Drive (NOT IO.SYS)

Step 6
Copy \BOOTCD folder to Your USB Drive

Step 7
Test Your USB Drive

Accelerate Windows by Tweaking Virtual Memory

If you poke around tip sites, you'll find a lot of myths and harebrained theories about optimizing virtual memory (the hard-disk space Windows uses to supplement your RAM)--a few of them even perpetuated by me. This time I went to the horse's mouth for the Microsoft-approved ways to set Windows' memory management to full steam ahead.

If you have only one hard drive, just leave well enough alone. But if you have two or more internal or external hard drives (not just disk partitions), your PC will be peppier if you keep the default paging file (what Microsoft calls the virtual memory disk space) on your boot drive (the one that holds Windows) and add a paging file to the second drive.

Robert Cardin

To do so, log in to Windows as an administrator and verify that you have more than one hard drive in your computer: Click Start, Run (just Start in Vista), type diskmgmt.msc, and press to open the Disk Management utility (click Continue in the User Account Control, if necessary). The bottom pane shows each disk on your system and the drive letter that corresponds with each partition. To have only one new paging file, choose the fastest drive you have. Remember that an internal drive will be faster than an external drive in most cases. Note the drive letter(s) you'll use.

Now right-click My Computer (Windows 2000 and XP) or Computer (Vista) and choose Properties. In Windows 2000 and XP, select the Advanced tab; in Vista, pick Advanced system settings in the task pane on the left.

Bonus tip: In Vista, you can open the System Properties dialog box directly to the Advanced tab by clicking Start, typing systempropertiesadvanced, and pressing . As with the preceding method, you may have to click Continue in the User Account Control dialog box.

In the Performance section, click Settings (Performance Options in Windows 2000) and then the Advanced tab (in XP and Vista). Under Virtual Memory, click Change. In Vista, uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives. You'll see a paging file size already listed on your Windows drive; leave it alone, or Windows won't be able to create a memory dump file with debugging info in the event of a particular type of system error.

Robert Cardin

Next, in the drive list select a partition on a different drive where you want to add another paging file. Select Custom size if you want to set the size yourself and type in the initial and maximum size (Microsoft says making them the same amount is most efficient); Microsoft's rule of thumb is to make the file 1.5 times the amount of RAM in your system. Or select System managed size to let Windows determine the size (XP and Vista only). Click Set, then OK.

If the partition you selected contains another installation of Windows, you'll receive an error message warning that the file pagefile.sys already exists there. As long as the two operating systems are not running at the same time using virtualization software, it's safe for you to overwrite or delete pagefile.sys, since Windows will re-create the file automatically the next time you boot that partition's Windows installation.

You'll see a reminder that the changes will take effect the next time you restart your system. Windows will most often use the paging file on the least-busy drive, which means your new paging file will do most of the work.

Migrating to a Mac from Windows

http://tech.yahoo.com/gd/migrating-to-a-mac-from-windows/200390

If you own one of the newer Intel-based Macs, you can run OS X and Windows XP on one machine. In the spring of 2006, Apple's Boot Camp beta software shook up the computing public upon its arrival. Apple announced that Boot Camp will be featured in the next major release of OS X (dubbed Leopard), which is expected early in 2007. In the meantime, you can download a version of the software at Apple.com. It includes Boot Camp Assistant software, stored in the Utilities folder under Applications.

Boot Camp itself is free, but you have to supply your own single-disc, full-install version of the Windows XP CD with Service Pack 2. An XP upgrade disc won't cut it.

Other requirements are as follows:

• An Intel Mac with OS X version 10.4.6 or later. If necessary, run Software Update.

• At least 10GB of free space on the startup disk.

• A blank recordable CD or DVD.

If you don't run into snags, the entire installation (including Windows) should take about an hour.

Because snags are possible, back up all your important information on the Mac's startup disk. Remember too that when you transform your Mac, it becomes as vulnerable to viruses and spyware as any other Windows PC.

Getting basic training

Follow these steps to get through Boot Camp:

1. Run Boot Camp Assistant (in the Utilities folder under Applications) to make sure that you have the latest firmware on your computer.

You can find updates at Apple.com. Follow any on-screen instructions if you are updating the firmware.

2. Click Burn a Macintosh CD, and insert a blank recordable CD or DVD.

Boot Camp Assistant guides you through burning a Macintosh Drivers CD. You need these software drivers later on to instruct Windows.

3. Create a partition for Windows XP.

You are essentially carving out an area of your hard drive for the XP operating system. This partition must be at least 5GB and can swell as large as the total free disk space on hand minus 5GB. Drag the divider to set the partitions for both OS X and XP.

4. Insert the Windows XP CD, and click Start Installation.

5. When asked to select a Windows partition, select only partition C.

Failure to do so could wipe out your entire Mac OS X startup disk.

6. Format the partition in either NTFS or FAT.

FAT provides better compatibility between the two operating systems; NTFS is more reliable and secure.

7. After Windows is installed, use the Mac Drivers CD you created in Step 2 so that AirPort, Bluetooth, the Eject key on the Mac keyboard, networking, audio, and graphics are recognized by the XP operating system.

A Startup Disk control panel for Windows is also added. You have to eject the Windows XP CD to install the Mac Drivers CD. To eject the CD, go to My Computer, select drive D, and click Eject This Disk in the System Tasks list.

8. When you see the message indicating that the software "has not passed Windows Logo testing," click Continue Anyway.

Don't cancel any driver installers. The computer will restart.

9. Follow any Found New Hardware instructions.

As with any new Windows computer, Microsoft requires that you activate your XP software with 30 days.

Not everything in Windows may run smoothly (or at all) off the bat. For instance, many PC manufacturers include DVD decoders that help your machine recognize and play discs. But a DVD decoder is not included with a retail copy of XP. You'll have to separately add a DVD decoder for XP or merely watch those movies in Tiger.

Switching operating systems

You can go back and forth between Tiger and XP, but you can't run both simultaneously under Boot Camp. Instead, you have to boot one operating system or the other; thus the name Boot Camp.

Here's how: Restart your machine and hold down the Option key until icons for each operating system appear on the screen. Highlight Windows or Macintosh HD and click the arrow to launch the operating system you want for this particular session.

If you want OS X or Windows to boot every time, choose Mac menu --> System Preferences and click Startup Disk. Choose the OS you want to launch by default.

You can perform the same function in XP by choosing Start --> Control Panel and then choosing (under Category View) Performance and Maintenance. Next, click the Startup Disk control panel and click either the Macintosh HD or Windows icon, depending on your startup preference.

Backup and Restore Your PC: Enable and Disable System Restore

System Restore automatically stores a new backup of critical Windows files every 24 hours and keeps it as long as there is free disk space. When there's no free disk space, the oldest backup is erased. The more free disk space you give to System Restore, the more restore points you have to fall back on. To set the amount of disk space that Windows XP allots for backups:

To access the System Restore settings, you must be logged on to Windows XP with Administrator privileges. If you can't find the System Restore settings, check your logon status.

1. Go to Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | System Restore to bring up the screen in Figure 1. Click the System Restore Settings link on the left side of the screen.

   

   Figure 1: Start the backup process by configuring the System Restore settings.

2. Next, the System Properties screen will appear. Select the hard drive on which you would like to store the backup file, and then click the Settings button. This brings up the Settings screen shown in Figure 2. Set the desired amount of disk space with the slider. (The maximum is 12 percent of available space.)

   

   Figure 2: Set the amount of free hard disk space to be used by System Restore.

3. If you have more than one hard drive, you can disable System Restore on a particular disk—and give a small boost to your computer's performance—by checking the Turn Off System Restore On This Drive box. (The option isn't available for the hard drive that holds Windows XP.)

   

   You need a minimum of 200MB of free hard disk space for System Restore to start. If the amount of free disk space on any single disk partition falls below 50MB, System Restore will stop running and delete all its backups. It will resume running when the available free disk space exceeds 200MB.

   

   Checking the Turn Off System Restore box on your primary hard drive—the one with Windows

PC Wireless Networking: Secure Your Wireless Network

1. Turn off file sharing. Turning off file sharing in Windows XP is one of the most effective ways to keep hackers out of your computer.

2. Change your router's password. Leaving the router's default password unchanged is an invitation for trouble (see Figure 1).

   

   Figure 1: Change your router's password.

3. Hide the SSID. Many routers broadcast the SSID identifier assigned to your network (see Figure 2). Most router setup programs have an option that allows you to disable this feature.

   

   Figure 2: Disable SSID broadcasting in the setup program.

   

   If your router won't let you disable SSID broadcasting, change the name of the SSID; the manufacturer's default name just gives hackers one more piece of useful information.

4. Enable the MAC filter. Keep hackers out of your network by telling the router which computers can access your network. Go to the security section of the router setup program and enable MAC filtering (see Figure 3). Enter the MAC address for each computer that has access to your network. To find a particular computer's MAC address, go to Start | Run, type cmd in the text box, and click OK. Type ipconfig/all at the prompt. The computer's MAC address is the string of numbers labeled Physical Address.

   

   Figure 3: Enable MAC filtering to restrict access to your network.

5. Enable WPA or WEP encryption. WPA and WEP are encryption technologies that scramble data broadcast over the network so that it's unintelligible to digital eavesdroppers. WPA is the most secure; WEP is older and can be easily broken by a determined hacker. The router and each computer must be set up with a key phrase that's used to scramble data. Before setting up WEP or WPA, carefully read the instructions that came with your router.
6. Enable the firewall. Most wireless routers have a built-in firewall that keeps hackers from invading your network and your computers. Make sure the firewall is enabled in the router's setup program.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Headaches: I don't want the Security Center in my Notification Area

Cause By default, the Security Center shows up in your Notification Area. If that gets on your nerves, you have to make sure it disappears. This doesn't change anything concerning the Security Center; it just removes it from the Notification Area.

The Pain Killer Follow these steps:

1. Right-click the Taskbar and click Properties.
2. On the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box, click the Taskbar tab and click the Customize button under the Notification Area heading.

3. In Current Items, select Windows Security Alerts and click the drop-down menu shown here. You can choose the Always hide or Hide When Inactive options.

   

4. Make a selection and click OK and OK again.