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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 Hairyfeet on Tuesday October 21 2014, @07:49AM
I thought about mentioning Hiren's but I didn't think it wise to advertise pirate software on a site as young as this, last thing we want is the lawyer brigade.
For those that don't know (and work at places where shit like pirate software could get you the boot) Hiren's has on it a copy of an "XP Live CD" which is IRL a copy of razr1911 Corporate, AKA XP Pirate Edition. Needless to say Hiren has no more right to distribute copies of XP than the guy on the street corner has the right to pass out camrips, so while the other tools on that CD are certainly handy I thought it wise to give it a pass in TFA.
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.
(Score: 2) by Geotti on Tuesday October 21 2014, @08:50AM
If you don't get the full Hiren's Boot CD Restored Edition, the only questionable thing on there is the XP PE environment, which you could have made yourself, with a PE builder from your installation disc.
XP is no longer supported, and there's a few sources around the net claiming that MS "said" the won't prosecute the creators (which they could have a long time ago).
Anyway, with MS offering installation media [howtogeek.com] through Digitalriver, as anubi [soylentnews.org] pointed out, and them even letting you download an XP iso with SP3 directly from themselves, you can you can go ahead and create the PE environment, even if you don't have the installation media yourself using BartPE and other tools. [microsoft.com]
It's a great tool, when you need to repair any windows installation, including legal ones. I don't believe there is an issue with that, no need to spread FUD, hairyfeet.
(Score: 2) by Hairyfeet on Tuesday October 21 2014, @10:04AM
Tell that to legal and see how quick you get a pink slip. And can you give a first party citation from MSFT saying XP is now PD, or that pirate keys are legal? Sure you can download ANY Windows ISO from MSFT but that don't change the fact you need a legitimate key which Hirens does NOT have, nor can I find anything on their site where they say that MSFT has given them the right to distribute XP PEs.
So before you start accusing anyone of FUD you better have the sources to back up your assertion, so lets see the page on Hirens where they have permission to distribute XP Pes or the page where MSFT says keygens for XP are legal because last I checked the XP keyservers are still online and authenticating [zdnet.com] which would indicate the exact opposite of what you are claiming. But if you wanna risk YOUR job on what some random guy says MSFT said? Far be it from me to stop you, pirate away.
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.
(Score: 2) by Geotti on Tuesday October 21 2014, @02:54PM
You don't need a key to do a PE, genius! Stop shouting.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Hairyfeet on Tuesday October 21 2014, @04:36PM
Who is shouting? And stop trying to change the subject, the XP "Live CD" as it was originally called is still using a Razr1911 key. Again show me any place on the Hiren website where they have permission from MSFT to redistribute XP PEs, show me a single page where MSFT says keygen generated keys are cool, in fact show me any proof at all other than "I heard some guy said that MSFT don't give a fuck yo". Saying you COULD make your own means fuck and all, I COULD make a backup of my Win 7 DVD or I could buy a burnt DVD from eBay, that doesn't make the second one legal to sell, laziness AFAIK has never been an affirmative defense for piracy.
Quit trying to justify your pirate software with anecdotes and bullshit. If you wanna be a pirate? be a pirate, I don't give a fuck if you want to risk your job or not. But I provided citations backing up my position with facts, lets see yours.
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.
(Score: 2) by Hairyfeet on Wednesday October 22 2014, @12:53AM
How is it a troll to point out they are promoting pirate software? if you want to pirate shit? Go right ahead, just don't pretend you have the moral high ground here or as the poster claimed they have "permission" from MSFT to pirate.
Please, don't take my word for it, go to the Hiren website and find me ONE citation where MSFT has given them permission to build XP Preinstall Environments, using Razr1911 Corporate no less. again do not take my word for it, burn your own copy of Hiren, look at the serial and put it into Google, its the Razr1911 key.
If Soylent wants to be pro piracy? Hey no problem, lets all start sticking links to TPB and the video sites, groovy man. But don't be hypocrites and pretend that you have permision, that some guy says its cool, stand up and admit you are a fucking pirate okay? Nobody likes a hypocrite.
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, @03:02AM
do not take my word for it, burn your own copy of Hiren, look at the serial and put it into Google, its the Razr1911 key.
Please do so yourself, you'll be surprised.
(Score: 2) by Geotti on Wednesday October 22 2014, @03:09AM
Hint, the ProductId key in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion is missing.
(Score: 2) by Hairyfeet on Wednesday October 22 2014, @10:59PM
Then its changed from 1.4 because in that one its Razr1911...and I'm STILL WAITING, where is the citation? MSFT does NOT let anybody do shit without providing paperwork, waviers, etc, and it says clearly on the MSFT website that they are the ONLY site permitted to distribute Windows.
So lets see that citation because otherwise its pirated, no different than if you bought a burnt disc from eBay.
ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.
(Score: 2) by Geotti on Thursday October 23 2014, @01:14AM
As long as you have a license, or using it to repair a licensed XP/ultimate/other eligible licenses machine, it's perfectly legal. Also, you can find enough scripts to create the image yourself on http://reboot.pro [reboot.pro] and other sites (e.g. ubcd4win), if you're so afraid of legal.
I'm not. I don't give a fuck and they don't give a fuck. I cite from personal experience. YMMV.
otherwise its pirated, no different than if you bought a burnt disc from eBay.
You seem brainwashed. Please continue wasting your time, if you so please.
(Score: 2) by Geotti on Wednesday October 22 2014, @02:59AM
You are.
We're talking about current Hiren's? This is a Windows PE image.
See: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/303891, [microsoft.com] or " rel="url2html-17021">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Automated_Installation_Kit
I COULD make a backup of my Win 7 DVD or I could buy a burnt DVD from eBay
Or you can save the effort and download it from Microsoft directly.
is still using a Razr1911 key
[Citation needed]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 21 2014, @08:52AM
its unfair to call something as useful as hirens bootcd pirate software, as it clearly has non piracy related uses.
Or did you mean that pirates are more likely to use it, cos it contains badly-licensed software?
its just bytes anyway. yarr.
(Score: 2) by Geotti on Tuesday October 21 2014, @09:17AM
yarr.
Arr, matey! This scurvy landrat doesn't know what he be blathering 'bout.