Multi-OEM/Retail Project {MRP} - Mk3

Discussion in 'MDL Projects and Applications' started by mxman2k, Oct 15, 2016.

  1. mxman2k

    mxman2k MDL Developer

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    #8341 mxman2k, Jun 22, 2022
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2022
    (OP)
    It is very strange!

    MRP says it run as all that it can detect is a return from the 'call' of the script.

    I did try the START /W /B command but i found it not reliable enough and would run through the script then messed up MRP's logs :(

    The runonce way should run your tweaks etc but you will need to reboot the pc once the desktop appears and all loaded up after setup has completed, it should then run your stuff as soon as the pc has logged back in.

    Important: Just make sure your runonce called scripts are not in the Scripts folder as MRP will auto delete that folder unless you set the option not to, so put your scripts in another location and set the runonce path to the new location.

    Thanks for letting me know as i can keep an eye on it for Win7 users..
     
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  2. mxman2k

    mxman2k MDL Developer

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    Just rechecked MRP's code that runs the usertweaks/wintel scripts, it does use 'start' command :oops:

    I now remember why, because if you use 'CALL' and there is a fatal error in the called script, which then aborts that script, then control is not returned to the originator script and so aborts everything.

    Using the 'Start' command, with the '/Wait /B' parameters, it gives back control to the originator script, even if an error occurs, because it is using a separate cmd process..

    Code:
    Start "UserTweaks Module" /Wait /b cmd /c "%SLoc%\UserTweaks.cmd"
    The SLoc variable is set to the "<SystemDriveLetter:>\Windows\Setup\Scripts" folder location.

    Same type code is used for running the 'Wintel' script.

    I thought it maybe that the Start(ed) process was not running as Admin/System rights, but it technically should be as it works ok for 8.x and above, it shouldn't be any different for Win 7 the reason being that the originator script (MRP's addon manager one) is run with those admin/system rights...

    I guess you could add into your usertweaks/wintel at the top of the code the check for admin rights and then ask for them?

    That way hopefully on win7 it should work as the UAC prompt should show during OOBE's silent part too because the msgbox is a system generated one... It should wait until the user has clicked an answer button.
     
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  3. AsaadSoft

    AsaadSoft MDL Addicted

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    how to remove those things without the slim menu option ??

    VirtualBox_Win10_25_06_2022_00_00_53.png
     
  4. AsaadSoft

    AsaadSoft MDL Addicted

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    I don't know why but when i installed it on virtualbox all the options from MRPconfig worked,
    but when i tried real installation on my laptop using flash drive, nothing happened, MRP didn't get triggered at startup
    I dunno why this happens!!
     
  5. mxman2k

    mxman2k MDL Developer

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    The slim menu option uses a .xml file which tells the win 10 os to use no tiles, or dummy blank ones.

    Win 11 uses xml and .json files but that os not seem to honor what is set.

    At moment i am not near my home pc as preparing for staging an exam so cant post the layout file used in mrp for the slim w10 start menu, but details can be found on the net of a template and where it needs to be placed etc.

    For mrp not working on a laptop could be because a msdm is present, you would need the win10 ei.cfg file from the mrp archive to be copied to the sources folder of the install medium, ie dvd or usb memory stick. That will tell windows set up to ignore the msdm so that you can select the edition for the os being installed.

    Mrp will detect the msdm later and use the key from it only if it matches the installed edition.

    Most consumer laptops have a home/core licence.

    Business ones usually have professional, depending on what environment it is used for, it may have education or higher licences.
     
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  6. mxman2k

    mxman2k MDL Developer

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    #8348 mxman2k, Jun 25, 2022
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2022
    (OP)
    If you are just wanting to get rid of those ugly tiles with the down arrow on , the only ways are as far as i know:

    1 - Use the slim menu option, you then have to pin any tiles/apps you want back manually.
    2 - Manually unpin the tiles you not require after setup has completed.
    3 - Use other tools to 'edit' the image, which i think uses a similar xml method.

    When removing the inbox/system apps via the mrp option(s) for them, it not always remove the tile, (not mrp's fault but how the removal process via Powershell is done), for it in the start menu as most are just place holders that when clicked will download the app.
     
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  7. AsaadSoft

    AsaadSoft MDL Addicted

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    thanks,
    i always use ei.cfg in sources folder to skip the serial request during setup
    that was not the problem, i checked the flash drive and again it's decompile.exe file, it was not there because of eset,
    it worked from the iso in the virtual machine becuz when i was making the iso i turned eset off, but i forgot to do so when i extracted the files onto the flash drive, so that was it.
    and also becuz usually i don't extract the iso contents to the flash drive, I usually copy the iso file as it is to the flash drive and boot from it using easy2boot tool,
    this way i can have multiple iso files in the flash drive like windows 7 or other os and tools,
    why i extracted them this time becuz i got that error during setup which says: A media driver is missing
    later i discovered that i should have used USB 2.0 port instead of USB 3.0 port, or download the intel storage drivers and select them when the error appears.

    as for the start menu i think i will just use the slim menu option, it's better than keeping it messy like that
    thank you again and sorry
     
  8. mxman2k

    mxman2k MDL Developer

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    Ah eset yes i have nod32 damn thing grabs files when im compiling. Have to keep telling it to leave the mrp source folder alone. Its got quite aggressive recently with quarantined files!

    No worries, was not sure if you used the ei.cfg method.

    Sadly not much i can do about those ugly arrow tiles. One reason i created the slim menu option as removal of the apps is not a 'clean' process in regards to tidying the start menu after app removals.
     
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  9. AsaadSoft

    AsaadSoft MDL Addicted

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    i have another issue regarding microsoft solitaire collection game, it doesn't work when i have xbox packs and apps removed from the os,
    is there anyway to make it work without keeping all those xbox things in the os..?
    when i open it i get that popup saying look for an app in the store
     
  10. mxman2k

    mxman2k MDL Developer

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    One thing with a slim menu you can add what you want on a clean slate. Any apps untouched will still show on the slim menu but no big tiles until you add any.

    Win 11 start menu and taskbar is a different beast as ms have changed it a few times in how to customize it. A total pain and im still trying to get a balance as you must have at least 5 or 7 apps/tiles present or the os ignores your layout and puts what ms wants you to have there!
     
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  11. mxman2k

    mxman2k MDL Developer

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    Will look into the solitaire game it used to be ok as long as store not removed or the game app. It may now be part of another app, ms seems to be consolidating apps to others.

    Wont be today until at least 6 hours as just about to set up exam.
     
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  12. AsaadSoft

    AsaadSoft MDL Addicted

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    ok good luck with the exam my friend,
    damn this windows 10 virtual machine is so slow, even on ssd, i remember long time ago when i tried windows 10 on virtualbox and i had only hdd that time and it was not slow like that
    for windows 11 i will give it another try when 22h2 officially released becuz i tried 21h2 and file explorer was very slow and the whole system was not smooth as windows 10,
    maybe because i have unsupported processor on the laptop, but for the start menu i think what is important is stopping unwanted apps from getting installed automatically,
    other things can be tolerated, also ads, i heard they are putting ads in file explorer now, but they can be removed using some tools like winaero tweaker.

    for solitaire that is the error it gives :

    VirtualBox_Win10_2.jpg

    i had to uninstall it then install it again from the store than it will stay loading for a moment before i turned connection to metered and disable windows update then it loaded:

    Capture.JPG

    but it worked i just canceled the error and clicked accept & continue, so it can work offline it seems,
    on previous versions of windows 10 i always remove all xbox apps and packs from the os and the game was working from the start normally
    now i think i will just remove it altogether with xbox and other apps that i remove from the installation media, and install it from the store manually when the system boots
     
  13. mxman2k

    mxman2k MDL Developer

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    #8355 mxman2k, Jun 25, 2022
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2022
    (OP)
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  14. mxman2k

    mxman2k MDL Developer

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    #8356 mxman2k, Jun 25, 2022
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2022
    (OP)
    Install will be slower if you are removing a lot or all selectable app options, powershell is the culprit as that is slow and is felt worse on vm's.

    I did try dism method to remove apps but that was just as bad speedwise, if not slower, and it was so easy to make an error which would cause mrp to fatal abort.

    P/Shell method is slow, but if any error occurs it continues after displaying a lot of red letters.
     
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  15. mxman2k

    mxman2k MDL Developer

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    #8357 mxman2k, Jun 25, 2022
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2022
    (OP)
    Capture.JPG
    Seems that the xbox app has the 'ms solitaire' linked to it now, from looking at your screen capture, who would want to play that on a xbox using the controller?

    Think it would be a bit awkward!
     
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  16. AsaadSoft

    AsaadSoft MDL Addicted

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    thanks for the links, it's nice to get games from previous os's into new ones, i remember there was something similar as xp games for windows 7 and 8,
    that 3D solitaire seems not bad but compared to the ms solitaire app, it's another level, just the graphics are way ahead, i'm not a fan of the ms store either i know it's a hassle for the system considering how much resources it takes and needing updates all the time for the apps and requiring windows update and related services to be on which slows down the internet connection etc.
    but for using some apps from time to time it's not bad, or playing some games offline.

    regarding apps removal, yes it's an annoying process, i would prefer if microsoft give users the option to choose which apps they want during setup and not load all that s**t into the os, but that exists on android phones too as well for example, we have to deal with bloatware manually,
    for people who don't modify the installation media, the mrpconfig is the best way to do it as it automates the process after boot without the need to search for external tools to do it later, for me i remove all the apps from install.wim except for the calc and few things, i use mrp for tweaks and activation, and i do additional tweaks after boot with other tools too
     
  17. mxman2k

    mxman2k MDL Developer

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    I agree that we should be able to select what is installed app wise instead of it being shoveled onto our systems.

    The mrp config creator and the ini it creates for use with mrp was designed to help with tweaking the os prior to setup being completed so the os is somewhat tamed to be a bit more useful plus an easy way for non techy users, that not know how to edit the install.wim, to have some control of the install.

    I know it not perfect but it does help a lot as i have seen by reports posted, the majority of options are used.

    Most of the tweaks are from my personal collection i have found over the years. Others by poking about in the registry.
     
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  18. Mr.X

    Mr.X MDL Guru

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    Got an oem lappy with Windows 10

    Using QT:
    1. How to know whether Windows is original OEM preinstalled from factory or a Windows installed from a M$ iso