Windows MCE clean install new!

Just in case the previous topic will die after closing and nobody will make use from my solution I'm posting it again with some adds.

Because COINTELPRO solution included some 'dark side' stuff Ive tried to do it without.
So this is for those with WinXP Pro MCE installed on their laptops.


Things we are gonna do:
create a Windows MCE installation disk - NO bloatware

Things You need:
CD, CDRW (for the first burn), i386 folder on your HDD where U've got your Windows, if U havn't got SP2 integrated U need to download it from Microsoft, if U have SP2 integrated two files - win51ic.sp2 or/and win51ip.sp2, 30 min of time and Your REAL Windows key.

I found that my key was different than the one on the sticker (I guess it's the multi license key that HP bought for their laptops). To obtain You key just download that program and run it. It will tell U your key. Write it down to put it during the installation. U still might try the one from the sticker but it probably won't work.

Let's go then.

First of all, let's download some bits.
Most inportnant thing from here.
Create directory called 'bcd' on one of your partitions and extract all the files from zip file into that directory.
Download ASPSI driver and copy it to ..\bcd\bin\
Download this and copy it to 'bcd' directory.

Now copy the whole 'i386' folder with all the files and directories inside to ..\bcd\cds\wxppro\files\

if U have SP2 integrated U need to put win51ic.sp2 or/and win51ip.sp2 there as well. [u can either ask me to send U them or download SP2, extract it to a separate folder and find them in root\ip directory there]

if U would like to integrate SP2 into Your MCE apply the pack by using
sp2_file_name.exe -s:c:\bcd\cds\wxppro\files\
[note that this directory is just an example as U might have your files on drive D, so U need to change is accordingly]
U should have *.sp2 files now in ..\files\ directory.

Go Start\Run and type command.
go to your bcd folder (using cd.. and cd directory_name to move around - do U remember what DOS is ?) and type: bcd wxppro

That should run the process of creating an iso image of your cd and then it will burn if u want (use CDRW first to make sure everything is working fine).

Test the CD, if it boots correctly and so on.

This worked for me. I still havent install my windows from that CD as I need to perform some tests on my new laptop and than I will install clear Windows but everything seemed to be fine to the moment U choose the partition where Windows is going to be installed (I just quit the installation process).

The whole solution is based on the Bart's Way of creating bootable CD's. Just made it quicker I think
http://www.nu2.nu/bootcd/wxp/


===
I finally used the CD. Well, it worked but looks like I am missing some bits?
I'm not sure as this is my first MCE Ive got. I only had used Home and Pro before. During the installation process it asked me for the Win XP Pro disk. I clicked to skip those files and everything finished alright.
Windows booted up normally, and as always after a clean install there was loads of stuff without drivers but everything looked fine.
In System tab it says that this is Win XP Pro MCE SP2 so I am happy I will check if adding those files will change anything as Ive got XP Pro CD as well.

Hope it will help somebody

 

Referring to a torrent was partially the problem of my post, but I am guessing the disk you are creating will have a HP VLA (Volume License Agreement) license. You are basically creating a computer manufacturer MCE disks that are not meant to get out. That is why the person lurking around in the post hop all over the torrent (MCE Proper) to prevent people from doing it and to prevent a release from getting out.

Otherwise the torrent would still be up (been up for weeks), it has a 60 day period before you have to activate. Microsoft has blocked it from updating, so they had cared less if it is up on torrent. But, this workaround will get you some unneeded attention. The bloatware industry is big business, even Microsoft is paying big money to have Office preinstalled on your computer.

I joke about being communist but I don't like having what is installed on a computer dictated to me. Uninstalling an antivirus is a pain and as a self-defense against viruses will fight any uninstallation. There is also an article where a computer manufacturer is putting adware on your computer and charging to removing it. Yeah, you can buy the OS but who wants to pay a monopolistic price of $300.

 

I don't care really
It doesn't do anything wrong, You are using all things that were given to You by the manufacturer.
And U can't stop people doing things like this as they are not doing anything illegal.

 

Yes, that would be a VLA (which isn't bad). However, that sticker on the notebook is for a legal copy of the OS that you should be able to use to get a regular, non VLA, version of the OS.

Both of you guys deserve a lot of credit for this, and this thread is here to stay as long as the admins are okay with it. I don't see anything illegal here.

Have you guys tested this out yet, for real? What about trying your laptop's key? What about slipstreaming your drivers and SP2 (COINTELPRO had some steps for that I think)?

This is a great guide. It isn't for the faint hearted, but it should work without too much trouble once you make the CD.

 

I haven't tried the key from the sticker yet. I will do next time. I am currently to busy writing a review of my laptop

If U look thru the guide again U will see that I did (install).
There is also a step for adding SP2 into it.
U can put anything (possibly dirvers) U want on that CD (add folders) until U just run out of space. It should be possible though to do the nLite Windows CD with the one created.

 

Gotcha....I just read up on how to do that without nLite (which we don't exactly like to see on the forums since it can mess with XP in strange ways). I'll post a link later on when I get home.

 

Yeah you are right night_2000, the license HP and other big computer manufacturers and corporation gets is a VLA license between them and Microsoft that they use on their computers. The serial you pull from the preinstall is a VLA serial number. If they computer manufacturer give you OS disk with your computer, it is a OEM disk with a sticker at the bottom for you to use. The serial number is unique to each computer. The VLA serial number is the same for each preinstall and on the recovery disks.

Small time system builders get OEM licenses and disk that would tranfer down to the user when they sell the computer. They would put their sticker at bottom of the computer which you could use with the disk. Whoever is lurking should come out and explain what we can do.

I am guessing since this information is not freely available. The Windows XP Pro download that was up for years on the filesharing had a VLA serial number and didn't require activation. Microsoft had to work out something to block it from updating. The sticker at the bottom of the computer doesn't work and I don't know why they put it their.

I had an older HP computer before that had a OS disk with it. The sticker at the bottom would work with the disk, but now HP doesn't allow you to buy the OS disk now with a CTO buy (only a Recovery Disk). It might be because Vista is coming out and they are now offering free upgrades to Vista. Giving two operating systems wouldn't make sense and would have to pay for two.

 

HP (and others) load a VLA copy of the OS, but then give you an OEM key (sticker on the bottom) just in case you never need to call MS about XP problems. Easier for them, cheaper for you, and really no trouble at all.

As long as you keep your VLA copy to yourself, I don't see anything wrong with making a VLA CD. But I would recommend getting a CD using your sticker key, since MS might blacklist VLA copies if they even think something is going on behind their backs (filesharing anyone?).

 

Hold on lads.
As far as I know if U take any Windows CD that matches Your version, example: XP PRO SP1 ENG and other XP Pro SP1 ENG, U install it from this other CD and use Your code IT WILL WORK.
But to be honest I don't know how it works with the key - which one is it.

I also remember that one of my friends called Acer bout similar thing and then Microsoft, and they just told him to use the key from the sticker and activate it. And that was fine.

 

quick question: So This guide just gives a step by step in creating the windows xp mce 05 disc right? From here on I should follow cointel's guide. Like disabling Native SATA support in the BIOS, backing up swsetup folder etc. thanks guys!

 

Make sure you make the DVD recovery disks, backup your swsetup folder. The BCD guide is old, so I don't think you need aspi drivers to run the software, I didn't need them. When you install the OS you put Disc 1 in to start, than Disc 2 next, and Disc 1 back in to get the service pack updates in. That is how mine is setup. Wherever you get your copy, it should be MCE with SP2 or 2005. My computer is running stable and fine for the last two weeks. This is definitely a intermediate to advance level guide and not for beginners.

 

U dont need to folow that guide to install from that disk. U can just do like with normal Windows installation.

I will soon write more comprehensive guide for it.

 

hey destiny can u send me those sp2 files?

 

Download SP2 from Microsoft.

 

He just needed those to *.sp2 files that U need to include in the files directory if U have Your windows already integrated with SP2 (I could not find them on my laptop HDD).

 

MS I believe uses automated search engines to "look" for key words... on some boards if you post something you put it in quotes???, or something like that so the search engines don't see it?

 

I'm an OEM System Builder, and I designed VLA system images in the corporate world, so here's my two cents on the licensing issue.
There are different license versions on each flavor of Windows: retail, OEM, and volume license agreement (VLA). Each CD (and each i386 folder) includes code that allows you to use only one type of key. An OEM CD will not accept a VLA key, a retail CD will not accept an OEM key, etc. There are supposedly hacks that will change the type of key a Windows source CD or folder will accept, but I have never seen them actually work.
The reason HP (or Joe's Computers down the street) puts the sticker on the laptop is because they are required to by their OEM license agreement. They are supposed to install an OEM copy of Windows on the machine, and the key on the bottom should work for it. HP may have used a different key to install Windows when they created the Ghost image loaded onto your hard disk, but they should still have used an OEM version.

Don't waste your time with downloaded keys, mainly because you need Windows Updates to keep the spyware away. Microsoft spends a lot of time and money finding cracked keys on the Internet and tweaking their updates to invalidate them. If you have a valid key that works, keep it to yourself: if it ends up on a Latvian warez forum, it will eventually kill YOUR Windows installation(s).
Microsoft spends a lot of time and money suing companies that sell bootleg Windows CDs and/or computers loaded with VLA or hacked copies. They do this for two reasons: they recover more money than it costs, and the OEM system builders DEMAND it. Microsoft needs us because we sell a lot of Windows machines, and -- unlike Dell or HP -- we can just as easily sell Linux machines (or stop selling PCs altogether, which is what I did). We are undercut by competitors selling pirated Windows computers, so we make a lot of noise about it. Every time somebody calls Microsoft about their apparently pirated copy of Windows, they ask "So... who sold you this PC?"

Back on topic: You should be able to use the key on the OEM sticker to reinstall Windows from the CD or from the i386 folder on the restore partition. You could also use the one extracted with the program linked upthread, but you may have a problem activating that one and/or obtaining support for it.

 

Thanks for the info. It looks like the serial they are using is a VLA serial. I bought this computer and returned it, I ran this program which gave me the same serial. However, the serial underneath my computer which is an OEM will not work with the disk you build out of your i386 directory. Based on this, it must be a VLA version that is preinstalled.

VLA versions do not require activation (at least mine didn't) and it has passed the WGA check. I have downloaded updates to my computer already. But whatever happen, they went after the bittorents with a vengeance. I just used some other guide that just had the BCD program with all the Windows file put in except the i386. The i386 directory is 90 percent of the windows disk. I had to piece together what BCD.zip program was, the windows mce disk files to put into the directory, and used a unactivated copy to do it. The link to the rapidshare of the bcd.zip files were broken and didn't go into detail on what the files were. I went into detail and suggested using a torrent copy and somebody hop all over the torrent.

I can't see how they could deactivate a VLA copy if thousands of HP computers have the same copy. Your guess is a good as mine. But maybe I should create COINTELPRO release with my disk, I am writing a .nfo file right now (lol).

 

Ok. So do I get that right?
Sticker on the bottom should be an OEM key for my Windows?

And as I said before, installing the same version of Windows U have been given by the manufacturer from a different disk and using Your OEM key and then activating it MUST work??

 

Because of the transition to Vista, the sticker underneath is worthless because HP has stop giving OEM MCE OS disk. They do have a free upgrade offer to Vista so you should be able to get that disk. The serial number you pull off the preinstall OS with jellybelly is a VLA serial. They ghost images of the same VLA OS on all their computers for speed.

 

Will I get the Vista upgrade if I bought the notebook in UK??

 

It only takes 3 DVD to backup or 2 with Dual Layer DVD. You should always back to avoid paying the $19. I am glad it worked out for you. Unfortunately my sticker underneath didn't work or I didn't think I even tried.

 

Ok! I'm trying to read all the stuff on this forum about removing the unuseful staff on my new hp dv2000. I tried following this guide but when i use nlite on the cd i created everything seems to go ok... but then it asks me to copy cmpnents folder from "my second cd" to the hard disk folder (on which nlite is working). That should be something concerned to MCE 2005.
Now I don't have cds (that's the reason of this guide...), do i need this folder?
Where can i get it ?

 

Well, that is currently the only con of this guide. To be exact U can create an Win XP Pro CD with it and if U have access to the 2nd CD that comes with Win MCE U will actually install Win XP Pro MCE.
I am not gonna tell U how to get it as it will be perceived as illegal and my post will be deleted.
But notice that if U create this CD following my guide You will get XP Pro CD where during the installation process U just skip adding files from MCE

Did it help ??

 

Ok. I did everything as this guide said and i also included cmpnents folder !
Then i folowwed the Reinstallation guide with all the other procedures..
At the moment, everything seems to work perfectly!
Is there any guide or faq to understand what are all the folder in SWSetup?

Ok..
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
bye from italy

Karush

 

Sweet

Regarding SWSetup I guess just browse what is there and start installing those things. It mainly contains all the drivers and programs that were pre-installed on your laptop.

 

If you end up starting an installer for bloatware (which will probably be in that SwSetup folder), you should just be able to hit the "cancel" button.

 

Hate to bring an old thread back. When I boot to the CD I also get the nag for the XP disk but I am not able to get out of it. The choices I have are Enter to continue or F3 to exit. Using the F3 only makes the install stop and causes the computer to reboot. I do not have a choice to Skip. Anyone have an idea where I'm maybe going wrong?

Thanks
Randy

 

Anyone know?

 

I dont know about that last thing you mentioned, but I was wondering something else. If the OEM key on the bottom works with even one particular install of MCE, then couldn't you just download an ISO and use that key with it? Or use the one you get when you use your recovery discs to install? It seems like it would cut out a lot of hassle without being violently illegal.

 

I decided to try downloading a version of MCE online and burning to CD to see if that method will work. I managed to find 2 keys within my laptop though, the first, on the bottom where the authentic windows tag is stuck, it has one, but when I did the recovery disc install and ran the keyfinder, I got something different. I'll try both to see what's up with that. Also, I was reading a review on the DV5000t that mentioned that he reinstalled his without the bloatware from a windows cd and that the HP site didn't include all the drivers needed for the laptop. What he said made it sound like you can use a program called nLite to extract drivers and integrate them into your install and burn an ISO. Also, I deduce from the way the nLite site explains its functionality that you can copy out all the files the same way that its mentioned on the first page of this drive, but the rest will be done by the program. Seems like it'd be less likely to fail but also more customizable. Once again I'll post my results for people with laptop trouble like I've had once I finish up my experiments.

 

or you could just use nLite to create a clean Xp disk

 

Did you ever manage to rewrite a more comprehensive guide and also include the files that were missing ?

I want to install MCE fully with all components.

 

Sorry mate Im afraid I didnt. PM me with Your problem and I will try to help You out.