[Tool] ConvertNT5SKUs - Convert Windows NT 5.x SKUs v3.0.0 (RC1)

Discussion in 'Windows XP / Older OS' started by example12345678912345678, Oct 31, 2021.

  1. example12345678912345678

    example12345678912345678 MDL Senior Member

    Dec 29, 2019
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    #21 example12345678912345678, Nov 13, 2021
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2021
    (OP)
    Update: I've finally solved the reason of "Licensing components error Code 2" for Server to Client conversion.
    But I can say that converting a Server edition to a Client edition makes the target OS completely unstable.
     
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  2. example12345678912345678

    example12345678912345678 MDL Senior Member

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    Actually I can release the batch script for now as a beta version. But there're three things:
    • You can't convert a Client edition to a Server edition.
    • If you convert a Server edition to a Client edition, then the final product will be really unstable.
    • Project doesn't support Windows 2000 completely since Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 have the highest priority.
     
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  3. acer-5100

    acer-5100 MDL Guru

    Dec 8, 2018
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    I'm afraid I don't understand the point of this, given you can switch back and forth from server to client (and viceversa) using tweaknt or ntswitch, with one mouse click
     
  4. example12345678912345678

    example12345678912345678 MDL Senior Member

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    #24 example12345678912345678, Jan 6, 2022
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2022
    (OP)
    Actually TweakNT can change SKUs, but it can't edit ISOs.
    I've never heard about NTSwitch.
    The purpose of this project is to create converted ISOs.
    Sadly, I can't release the batch script right now due to three problems:
    • Windows 2000 gives a BSOD after text-mode setup. 24.01.2022 Update: Fixed this error. But beware that you should not use Windows 2000 Professional as Base ISO.
    • Windows XP (client) converted to Server counterpart gives a setup error "Setup could not initialize licensing components error code 2". Probably this is caused by TXTSETUP.SIF not copying files enough. 29.01.2022 Update: Fixed this error, but for more information you need to look into readme.txt file.
    • Windows Server 2003 converted to Client counterpart gives a BSOD after GUI-mode setup. BSOD code is 0x000007b. 24.01.2022 Update: Fixed this error. But the final product is quite buggy that you can't even enable Luna theme.
    This project supports Windows 2000, but since Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 have the highest priority, I'm working harder on these.
     
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  5. example12345678912345678

    example12345678912345678 MDL Senior Member

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    #25 example12345678912345678, Jan 29, 2022
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2022
    (OP)
    Released the first edition. But there may be some bugs. I'll update and release updated versions soon.
     
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  6. trashe33

    trashe33 MDL Member

    May 8, 2016
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    Maybe because the inf files of a server sku do not specify that the themes service should be automatically launched instead of being disabled?
     
  7. example12345678912345678

    example12345678912345678 MDL Senior Member

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    #27 example12345678912345678, Jan 30, 2022
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2022
    (OP)
    Maybe your idea can make it completely client based on NT 5.2. Thanks for suggestion. Also do you have any information that how K/N/KN editions work? I wanna add support for these editions for next update.
    Edit: I've just realized that this is not possible in Windows NT 4.0 or lower as these files do not exist in Windows NT 4.0:
    Code:
    HISECDC.IN_
    HISECWS.IN_
    HIVECLS.INF
    HIVEDEF.INF
    HIVESFT.INF
    HIVESYS.INF
    HIVEUSD.INF
    So, I've updated the Future Plans list:
    Code:
    Added:
    *Windows XP Starter Edition
    Removed:
    *Windows NT 3.51
    *Windows NT 3.5
    *Windows NT 3.1
    
     
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  8. trashe33

    trashe33 MDL Member

    May 8, 2016
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    Windows XP Starter is essentially Windows XP Home except it is extremely locked down. The restrictions and branding are installed through an "optional component" called "startoc" during the "29-23 minutes left" phase, similar to "K" in Windows XP K Editions, "medctroc" for Windows XP Media Center and "tabletpc" for Windows XP Tablet PC. These optional components write registry keys into HKLM\System\WPA.
     
  9. George King

    George King MDL Expert

    Aug 5, 2009
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    Forget about that. It's easy to "convert" system to Starter by adding 1 in HKLM\SYSTEM\WPA\Starter\Installed. But it activates Starter Edition restrictions somewhere in kernel / hal / winlogon and system ends in Unsupported state (6)... This require some hacking, that will be useless. But if anybody can solve it, it would be great. Thats also reason why XP2ESD cannot correctly capture Starter
     
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  10. example12345678912345678

    example12345678912345678 MDL Senior Member

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    #30 example12345678912345678, Jan 30, 2022
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2022
    (OP)
    What about "KN" and "N" editions?
    I have ideas such as DatacenterKN or WebKN editions.
    Or even maybe Windows XP Professional x64 Edition as N edition?
    Nevermind, I've tried to replace .inf files then disable SFC. But after installation WPA prevents me from logging into Windows. This doesn't happen if I don't replace any files from Windows XP Professional except for setupreg.hiv file.
    It's really risky to edit Windows ISOs with I386 installation. If something is wrong or missing, then Setup may throw us an error quickly (especially in GUI-mode setup.)
    I don't have any info about that. But maybe this error can be fixed by adding this key and value to HIVESYS.INF file manually.
     
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  11. Andalu

    Andalu MDL Novice

    Apr 25, 2020
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    Could you please describe how to prepare Base.iso and Target.iso?
    For instance, I would like to convert W2K3 Server R2 SP2 to XP Pro SP3, which files of the two ISOs should be edited or replaced?
     
  12. example12345678912345678

    example12345678912345678 MDL Senior Member

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    Actually, I'm working on how to make this conversion stable. And for now Server 2003 to XP Pro is quite unstable when you convert it. But, I'll still help you.
    You need to copy the ISO files to the folder where you extracted the files. Then rename your W2K3 ISO to Base.iso and XP Pro SP3 to Target.iso. After that, you can run the script. But you may need to run the script under administrator privileges.
    And make sure your full path does not contain any space in it. It may fail.
     
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  13. Andalu

    Andalu MDL Novice

    Apr 25, 2020
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    Thanks for your reply.
    Even though I followed the instructions provided, the conversion from Win2003 to XP does not generate any ISO. The "Final" folder is empty, while the "Base" and "Goal" folders contain the respective files extracted from the source ISOs. The conversion process, however, ends with the message "Server to client conversion: true!" as in the following image:
    Image A.png
     
  14. example12345678912345678

    example12345678912345678 MDL Senior Member

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    #34 example12345678912345678, Feb 4, 2022
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2022
    (OP)
    Actually, I got this mistake after releasing the script. Sorry about that:
    Just edit this line:
    Code:
    Before:
    xcopy %~dp0Base\ %~dp0Final\ /y /s /e /q
    After
    xcopy %~dp0Base %~dp0Final /y /s /e /q
    It actually worked for me. But I've realized that this line does not work everytime.
    It should work now.
    Also this script uses a tool named "robocopy" and as I know this tool is not included with Windows XP. But you can download it from 3rd-party websites and copy the file to System32 folder.
     
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  15. Andalu

    Andalu MDL Novice

    Apr 25, 2020
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    The "Final" folder remains still empty even with the modified script. Also it doesn't load robocopy.exe even if copied this file in the root of the conversion script, in the root C:\, in windows and windows/system 32 folders. The robocopy version is the 5.1.1.1010 extracted form the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools.
     
  16. example12345678912345678

    example12345678912345678 MDL Senior Member

    Dec 29, 2019
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    Now, I've tried the script with Windows XP. It looks like the script does not support Windows XP hosts. You can try the script on Windows 7 host. This script uses an application named Find and Replace (fnr.exe) that does not support Windows XP.
    Also now I think the xcopy things are fixed now:
    Code:
    Before: 
    xcopy %~dp0Base\ %~dp0Final\ /y /s /e /q
    After:
    xcopy %~dp0Base %~dp0Final /y /s /e /q
     
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  17. Andalu

    Andalu MDL Novice

    Apr 25, 2020
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    Same result as before even in Win7 and with the new change.
    Here the two ISOs I'm using:
    "Windows 2003 Server R2 SP2 Enterprise Edition (x86)" and "en_windows_xp_professional_with_service_pack_3_x86_cd_vl_x14-73974".
     
  18. Andalu

    Andalu MDL Novice

    Apr 25, 2020
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    #38 Andalu, Feb 4, 2022
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2022
    I tried again in Win7 and this time it worked. The first change in the script should be the correct one. With the second change the process stops at 77.44%.
    Here is the screenshot of the process that seems to have completed without any problems even though 99.76% was reached:
    ProcessOK.png

    Please, add a line in the script where it is specified that when the first step of the conversion process is finished you have to press the enter key to continue. Otherwise this misunderstanding may recur, which, I'm afraid, took you quite some time to verify the script. Sorry about that, but I couldn't imagine that additional user interaction was required even if not specified.

    I will now proceed with the installation of the ISO thus prepared.
     
  19. Andalu

    Andalu MDL Novice

    Apr 25, 2020
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    I tried to install the "XP based on W2K3" ISO (adding a modded acpi.sys driver to bypass the A5 bsod) using a flash drive prepared with WinSetupFromUSB on an intel Q87 motherboard in IDE mode to overcome the 7B bsod. Both TXT and GUI mode setup complete smoothly, but on the final reboot before entering the desktop, the system hangs on this screen:
    Image.png

    The standard installation of W2K3 under same modifications and conditions ends without problems.
    Any ideas?
     
  20. example12345678912345678

    example12345678912345678 MDL Senior Member

    Dec 29, 2019
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    Actually, I have an idea to fix the unstability in this conversion. But first I have to do more important things.
     
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