Root Access

Ariane

02:00

Since I'd want to leave her a "clean" PC, probably a good idea to remove it if that's what it is... But how can I make sure?

Hennes

Use the build in disk cleaning.

C: right click, properties, [disk cleanup]

Also useful: [My computer] right click [properties] [System restore]. I usually disable it which deletes all restore points, then I re-enable it to create a single point.

Ariane

Disk cleanup is running, but it won't tell me what the weird folder is for

Hennes

WIndows 7 had a special option if it there were old service pack files. I can't remember that from XP

Bob

@Ariane I have a bunch of those - I think they're Visual Studio related

for me, anyway

Ariane

@Bob Can I delete it?

Journeyman Geek

02:06

@ariane: worst thing that can happen is you can't uninstall something

Ariane

Let's go with the deletion then. :p

Journeyman Geek

I'd note I have no idea what you're doing ;p

P2v then clearing a system?

Ariane

Nothing exploded, so it was probably fine. whistles

Journeyman Geek

No boom today, boom tommorrow, ALWAYS boom tommorrow...

What? Someone has to have some perspective around here ;p

Hennes

No more a V2P

Journeyman Geek

02:09

o0

Hennes

Yes ivonnova, we know :)

Ariane

@Hennes How do I create a single restoration point?

Journeyman Geek

XDXD

Hennes

Re-enable the restore points

Ariane

Just that?

Journeyman Geek

02:09

Someone else remembers that? I'm shocked ;p

yeah

Hennes

That will automatically create on point

Ariane

All right.

Hennes

You will listen to Ivonnova. Ivoonova is G-d

Is close to that, I would need to google it for the precise words.

Ariane

Okay!

Computer cleaned; put the folder you uploaded unzipped directly in C:\

What else? Defrag or something, or can I not care and just launch the creation of the ghost?

Journeyman Geek

XD

youtube.com/watch?v=RaSmassvv4w this was her at her most badass

Hennes

02:11

I always put them in c:\sysprep becuase it keeps c:\ cleaner, but directly in C: will probably work to.

Ariane

I said folder.

Meaning it's C:\SysprepSP3

Hennes

Oh, the mars thing? Looking

Ariane

Would you please tell me my next step beforehand?

Journeyman Geek

the black omega thing ;p

Hennes

one sec.

Right. Stepo by step.

1) RUn sysprep.exe, that will pop up a window

It has a few options where you can tick a box

Ariane

02:14

Inside Windows Xp?

Hennes

Aye

It should look like this

Ariane

You can just tell me what to check and click instead of making a screenshot :p

Hennes

Tick generalise

And set the option to shutdown

I am trying to remember the choices in the first bar. I never changed it, but I do not recall their options

Ariane

It does not look at this at all.

like this*

Bob

@Ariane no idea

Ariane

02:19

Hennes

Yes, changes between versions :(

Lower option to "shutdown" (default), tick "use mini setup' and reseal

Ariane

Do I check "Detect non-plug and play devices"?

Hennes

no, I never needed that option.

And We do not need 'don't regenerate security identifiers' either.

Ariane

Okay, done.

So, I... reboot?

ah wait

took a while but it's doing something with a hourglass now :p

Hennes

The computer will shutdown when it is finished

Ariane

02:25

Ah. It shut down.

What now?

Hennes

Create a ghost and done (on your site)

Ariane

Okay,

Hennes

Put the image on your USB stick, take it to the destination computer. Boot ghost, restore image (local, disk, from image). and it should boot XP

Ariane

Say, is there a way to set ghost to press OK by itself? Because I'd like to let it run overnight, but I can't really do that if it keeps asking me to "insert the next device and press Enter"

Hennes

no, (or not that I know)

Ghost has a lot of options, I never used most of them

Ariane

02:29

Okay

And uhm.

Journeyman Geek

hmm

Ariane

Once at my aunt's, how do I:
1. Create the restore partition with everything for her computer (drivers, etc.)
2. Eventually restore from that partition
..?

Journeyman Geek

windows 7 32 bit keys should work on 64 right?

assuming all else is the same?

Hennes

Yes.

Same key for store bought windows 32 and 64 bit versions

Not true for all OEM versions

Journeyman Geek

Its dreamspark premium ;p

At worst, I spend another 40 minutes downloading again

Hennes

02:32

@ariane two options.

1) Boot (e.g. from CD, DVD or USB), start ghost, restore whole disk from image (with the image on the USB drive)

2) In case the ghost does not recognise the USB drive: Boot from CD/VD/USB, partition the drive (most of drive as NTFS, one 9GB FAT32 partition. Format FAT32 partition, copy ghost file to it. Restore partition from file (select the XP parition in the ghost, it will have one extra menu)

Ariane

@Hennes Can I create another tiny partition for booting with Ghost?

Or do I necessarily need Ghost externally?

Hennes

Start ghost from the UBS drive or from the CD. Then the real HDD will not be in use.

Journeyman Geek

*USB

;p

Ariane

Okay. And is there a way to save drivers once I've installed them correctly onto her computer?

Hennes

I am never sure with USB, which motherboard supports what, and which one does not.

If you downloaded them: save the download files.

If they come via windows update: not really

Ariane

02:39

I guess there isn't a Drivers folder I can backup and then just replace, eh? Would be too easy

Because I anticipate it to be a little bit of a pain to install them, mainly because wi-fi doesn't work "as is". :p

Hennes

There is a drivers folder from windows, but unless you really know what you are doing: no

Journeyman Geek

there's a way to backup and restore drivers automatically I think

Hennes

There is a tool for it, but I never tried it

Journeyman Geek

Its been eons, but sourceforge.net/projects/drvback has worked for me on XP in most cases

Hennes

Anyway. 0-3:42 AM local time

I need sleep.

Disadvantage of internaltional time differences

Ariane

02:43

Ouch.

All right. Thanks a ton for sticking with me. You have awesome patience.

Good night!

Hennes

I just want this to work. :)

waves

Ariane

Weeell theeeen.

Time for me to start that painfully long procedure.

Journeyman Geek

good luck!

Ariane

I don't need luck. More like patience. And/or a slave to press Enter while I shower and sleep. XD

With how much I've deleted, the size reduced. With luck the compressed version might fit on a DVD

@JourneymanGeek Help

I made a mistake, and I'm not sure whether, or how much, I've ruined things.

In Ghost, I saw weird files lying around on the "Ghost" virtual drive that is to be used to put the image on. So I thought "geez, I must've forgotten something", and proceeded to boot to Windows Xp, forgetting I had sysprepped it and I shouldn't boot it anymore. And I was alt-tabbed, and saw the "Windows is preparing to boot" screen disappear as I came back to the VM. Then I panicked and resetted. But now if I start to Windows Xp, it seems to launch normally.

Did I ruin the sysprep? Is it okay to run it again?

Don't tell me you went to sleep too, @Journey D:

Journeyman Geek

03:19

sysprep is supposed to do that methinks ;p

I've not used it myself
FIRM believer in bespoke installs here

Ariane

@Journeyman I know, but I think I messed it up. Should I run it over?

Journeyman Geek

wouldn't hurt to other than time ;p

confirmed that the HORRIBLE noise coming out my old desktop is the fan

Ariane