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Working on PCs since the days of The Shat selling VIC 20s with his TJ Hooker hair you learn that its the little things that can make your day sooo much easier. From WSUS Offline allowing you to update any version of Windows via DVD or flashstick (as well as having your own Windows Update on a network drive) to Ninite allowing you to install most of the "must have" third party software without any toolbars and fully unattended by simply checking the boxes, its the little tools that really take out the drudgery. Tools like Driver Booster to get rid of the always "fun" driver hunt for old or weird hardware drivers or Comodo Cleaning Essentials to get rid of bugs take out the work for the Fixit guy or those that end up stuck doing the job for their family.
With this in mind allow me to introduce a tool many here may not have heard of which can be extremely nice to have, WinSetupFromUSB or as I like to call it "Every OS in my pocket". Do not let the name fool you, this tool works with not only Windows but also Linux ISOs and even preinstall environments like BartPE or the Linux based recovery environments used by many disc imagers like Paragon B&R Free. So with this one tool you can install OSes, run different Live CDs, restore backups using recovery CDs, all from a single flashstick, VERY handy.
So I hope these little tools help somebody out there stuck doing the "family IT GUY" role and I hope to learn in return what tools do YOU use to make your life easier? What tricks and little pieces of software do you use to make your day run smoother? I'm sure with as many different walks of life represented here we can make this a most enlightening and informative post!
(Score: 2) by cafebabe on Tuesday October 21 2014, @03:57AM
I've already discussed Comodo with Hairyfeet [soylentnews.org]. In summary, I think they're called Comodo because Commode [thefreedictionary.com] was already taken.
1702845791×2
(Score: 1, Offtopic) by Hairyfeet on Tuesday October 21 2014, @05:46AM
Funny how you consider circular logic [wikipedia.org] as a "discussion". I provided citations you provided anecdotes and bullshit. How many systems do YOU administer again? oh that's right NONE, move along please oh clueless one. Nothing worse than clueless armchair quarterbacks.
As for Hiren's Boot CD? Yeah its good but I didn't think linking to pirate software would be a wise thing to do. just FYI but Hiren's comes with an "XP Live" based on the Razr1911 Corporate edition, AKA "XP Pirate Edition" so its probably best not to bring that disc to anyplace where they care about software legality. Also how EXACTLY is a flash drive in my pocket designed to install and update Operating systems OFFLINE supposed to get a bug? Magic? that's the whole point of having the install and software updates offline, no worries about getting any internet bugs.
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Tuesday October 21 2014, @06:36AM
I took the Harefeet challenge! It lead me to pirate software, which it must have been, since it worked with Linux too. Everyone knows that all linux users are pirates. Unauthorized copies of Microsoft: I am not able to tell which part of this is sarcasm. Hare (foot) Krishna! Hare (foot) Krishna! Oh, the karma that one has to work off when one takes on the Microsoft dharma. The only way out is to not be attached to the fruit of the dharma, the money you make from fixing fundamentally broken systems. So I think, in this case, total fail?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @01:56PM
I don't know why you bother to respond to him. His message sig tells you everything you need to know, namely that his over-inflated opinion of himself isn't worth your time nor attention. I guarantee he is one of those insecure losers who would pitch a major bitch if the phpbb boards he hangs out on ever decide to disable the total message count display next to the avatar because, obviously, the more one posts, the higher their prestige.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 22 2014, @12:37AM
I don't know why you bother to respond to him
Hairyfeet may not take notice of responses to his ramblings, but I read those.
Invariably, the response is more insightful than the original.
-- gewg_
(Score: 2) by cafebabe on Tuesday October 21 2014, @06:48AM
You've definitely got the wrong person.
Anyhow, I'll respond to the remainder when I return to my armchair.
1702845791×2
(Score: 2) by Geotti on Tuesday October 21 2014, @08:53AM
It's a PE environment, Hairyfeet. You can do it yourself, legally, using e.g. BartPE and a copy of the XP installation media from Microsoft themselves [microsoft.com]. Stop spreading FUD.
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Tuesday October 21 2014, @04:23PM
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=25129&751be11f-ede8-5a0c-058c-2ee190a24fa6=True
Which contains the following at the bottom of the page:
"""
The Microsoft Download Center site is your only authorized web source for downloading a licensed copy of Windows XP Service Pack 3. To report a website offering unlicensed copies of Windows XP SP3 for download, please send e-mail to: piracy@microsoft.com or visit http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/ReportingUs.mspx.
"""
You appear to be confusing "Microsoft distributing something for free" with "Microsoft permitting something to be distributed freely".
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 2) by Hairyfeet on Wednesday October 22 2014, @01:06AM
Thanks Phil, but even if they didn't have that written in black and white...dude Hiren is using the Razr1911 key! I mean do you seriously think MSFT would condone the use of one of the most pirated keys in the history of XP instead of merely handing them a volume license key which takes MSFT all of 5 seconds to generate?
Look they can waste modpoints attacking me all they want, I really don't give a fuck. if they want to pirate shit and put the links here? Go right ahead, i don't own the site, post pirate links until this place looks like TPB for all I care...but when they are trying to claim, with a straight face no less, that a site has permission to use pirate software because "hey you could have just pirated it on your own...and I heard some dude say MSFT don't give a fuck yo...and hey MSFT has links to XP on their site yo, that means they WANTS you to take it right?" I'm sorry but I thought this was a website for adults with functional brains, not 15 year old PC gamers trying to justify why they spent $2200 on a gamer rig to pirate BF4.
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.
(Score: 2) by Geotti on Wednesday October 22 2014, @02:40AM
Bohoo, "Hiren is using the Razr1911 key!" Boho-hoo "Hiren is using the Razr1911 key!" [citation needed]
Do you even know what a PE environment is, Mr. "I administer so many systems, I gotta know better"?
I thought this was a website for adults with functional brains
Take your ad hominem, inform yourself, and then shove it up somewhere dark and personal.
K? Thx. Bye.
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Wednesday October 22 2014, @02:16PM
Regarding just redistribution of binaries, I have seen a similar, or should I say *identical*, argument in the past. Someone was packaging and plugging MASM with a few extras (yes, this was about a decade ago), and nothing anyone could say, no links to MS's websites with copyright statements plastered all over them, saying "not to be redistributed in any form", could persuade him that he was violating MS's copyrights. The only argument was "but they give it away for free".
This one appears to have the same comprehension failure. Even when explained in simple terms. Not simple enough, clearly.
[* http://imgur.com/cMIx1UP , probably just about safe for work]
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 2) by Geotti on Wednesday October 22 2014, @02:35AM
Your quote actually supports my argument. Thanks.
It's a licensed copy of Windows XP SP3.
Whether you use it on a system with a real Key or one from an "unsanctioned" keygen is a whole different story.
You can use this link to create a Windows Preinstallation Environment [wikipedia.org], usually referred to as WinPE.
From the aforementioned link:
it is now widely available free of charge via the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK).
Further, it can be used as:
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Wednesday October 22 2014, @01:56PM
And you are yet again confusing the copyright owner distributing something freely, and the copyrighted material being freely distributable.
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 2) by Geotti on Thursday October 23 2014, @01:09AM
Go look for yourself, and find the relevant sources, if you want.
confusing the copyright owner distributing something freely, and the copyrighted material being freely distributable.
Fact remains that you can download both necessary parts and create the same thing absolutely legally. Also, if you do have a license for XP, not even Hiren is breaking a law. 'mkey?