Got some files in a CAB I want to install on a number of units. I would "like" to create an installer that I just double-click on desktop & it installs via ActiveSync - simple. But I'm not a programmer - what would be the best way to do this? Prefer not to copy via explorer & click the CAB on the XDA unit & others may be doing this, so trying to keep it simple. Ideas/recommendations?
I brought Natural Installer a few years back and it has been the business. It is very simple to use, all with a windows interface and creates a single exe as you say that you just double click on to install.
Have a look here :-
http://naturalinstaller.com/
The site does not mention 2003, have you had any problems with that?
Can you define install location? SD Card
How does it deal with chaty cabs (those that want input).
I've had no problems with PPC2003, why don't you download the trial version and give it a go. Post a reply on this thread as to how it works.
As for chaty cabs I think you can make your own setup.dll but I don't know how to and have never done that.
All I wanted was a basic setup that could make directorys, copy files and set some default registry keys as needed, I found that Natural Installer did that very well. As for more advanced stuff I don't know - but as written trial it.
Well I downloaded it and played with it.
For me it seems to be a WinCabManager type appliction.
Yes you can copy files, set reg entries, make dirs, add icons.
All of this seems doable.
What I was hoping for was a selfextracting file that installs a few cabs and not the content of them.
With the BlueAngel you can set up a autorun that runs a list of cabs in the config.txt file. However for this you need to hack the reg to set the pointer for the autorun and config.txt.
I was hoping that this would be more down the lines of cabinstaller that allows you to define which cab you want were but alas does not allow you to define a list of what cabs you want in what location.
So problem for me not solved but thanks for the tip.
Hi Dave
Personally I use NSIS (Nullsoft Installer) - it is basically a very customisable installer which can be scripted to look like any other installer in existance, or you can make it look totally unique to you!
Another great thing about it is that you can make it install multiple cab files at the same time (it's just a case of calling ActiveSync with the cab file you want to install).
Best of all... it's free
Pope <><
I'm writing a little tool to restore my settings after a hard reset.
One of the problems I've run into is that I can't "overwrite" the splash screen image in the windows folder.
I'm using visual basic and the "file.copy" command.
Does anyone know how to overwrite this file (and probably also other files in "rom")? Would an api function to copy the file work better?
Total Commander, and MortScript, succeeds in copying another file to \windows\welcomehead.96.png, so there must be a way
B
Let me give you some hints:
1. You must edit ROM to change files.
2. Please go to URL
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=34171
on2003 said:
Let me give you some hints:
1. You must edit ROM to change files.
2. Please go to URL
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=34171
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK. I'll Rephrase my question:
I want to write a program to copy the file:
\storage card\welcomehead.96.png
to:
\windows\welcomehead.96.png
on a WM5 device. I'm not interested in editing the rom.
I know it's possible to write a program that can copy the file, since both total commander for PPC can do it and MortScript can do it.
It does not work when using "file.copy" in visual basic. So i'm asking if anyone knows if there's an API function I can use to do it, or if there is some other way to do it.
"Cooking a new rom" is not an option for me. Because:
I want to be able to use whatever rom i want, and I am making a tool which i can run to do the following after a hard reset (or rom upgrade):
- copy files (typically shortcuts to progs intalled on the storage card, files in my documents etc.) from the storage card to the device
- set registry entries the way I want them
- install the cab files I want "automatically"
I've got it all sorted, except that it bombs when i try to copy the file "welcomehead.96.png" to the windows folder.
B
bredita said:
on2003 said:
Let me give you some hints:
1. You must edit ROM to change files.
2. Please go to URL
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=34171
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK. I'll Rephrase my question:
I want to write a program to copy the file:
\storage card\welcomehead.96.png
to:
\windows\welcomehead.96.png
on a WM5 device. I'm not interested in editing the rom.
I know it's possible to write a program that can copy the file, since both total commander for PPC can do it and MortScript can do it.
It does not work when using "file.copy" in visual basic. So i'm asking if anyone knows if there's an API function I can use to do it, or if there is some other way to do it.
"Cooking a new rom" is not an option for me. Because:
I want to be able to use whatever rom i want, and I am making a tool which i can run to do the following after a hard reset (or rom upgrade):
- copy files (typically shortcuts to progs intalled on the storage card, files in my documents etc.) from the storage card to the device
- set registry entries the way I want them
- install the cab files I want "automatically"
I've got it all sorted, except that it bombs when i try to copy the file "welcomehead.96.png" to the windows folder.
B
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You just have to overwrite the existing file...
1. Open the file
2. Write data
3. Close
Cheers,
.Fred
You just have to overwrite the existing file...
1. Open the file
2. Write data
3. Close
[/quote]
Thank you very much for your reply. I'll try that
B
Hello All,
Is there a way to strip an installed application from a PPC into an installable .CAB file, if one has lost the installation files/DVD, but still have the application installed on the hand-held.
Thanks in Advance.
Not really.
You can always copy the files out (if you can find them all - some may be in windows folder or places other then the main app folder) but you still would need to know every registry key the app requires.
If you use sktools it tells you all the files installed and registry entries. You could then extract all the files as levenum said and make a cab including the registry entries.
Hi lev
ahh..hhaa !
meschle said:
If you use sktools it tells you all the files installed and registry entries. You could then extract all the files as levenum said and make a cab including the registry entries.
Hi lev
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My experience with SKTools makes me cringe...my ATRE would not stop rebooting until I remove the SD card(where SK Tool was installed and remove it completely.
What software do I need to make a .cab file ?
I will still make all efforts to attempt this anyways....
Ive had no problem with sktools - i always install to main memory. If you manually make your cab then use cabiwiz - or use a commercial app like wince cab manager. Which program are you trying to put together?
cabiwiz enclosed inc example app and tutorials
Funny thing - I was replying to another thread with similar question stating that there would be a problem finding out all the REG keys.
Then jackleung posted about a tool called "ssnap" that supposedly can take an image of the system.
Comparing an image from before and after installation should show all the changes a cab makes.
Since I am not personally familiar with the tool I can't say any more about it.
As for cab creation - while I use cabwiz my self, it is a command line tool and you need to know ho w to write inf files for it.
For a beginner an app like WinCE cab manager will be more comfortable.
It is a shareware, so it will stop working after a while unless you pay but it is very good.
P.S.
Hi Mark
ABOUT
The purpose of this CAB is to reach a sort of UC way but with a very easy & friendly approach
HISTORY
I come from Diamond world, so because this CAB can be adapted for other platform/devices why not preparing a separate sUC.cab to use for enabling ALL the stuff (ramdisk, pimbackup,ram recovery,etc...) included in Dia Duit rom series?
what have I to do with this cab?? simply it will apply these features:
Latest stable MortScript is inscluded & ready to go, so no more needs to install as separate cab
Choose between 3 speed profiles: 1. fast (takes more ram & battery), 2. balanced (not heavy tweaked but not funny) & 3. untouched (default WM6 settings)
GPS profile: TomTom, iGO, Navigator or default WM6
Everyday auto recover RAM feature (at 4.30AM) + automatic sms/contacts/calls backup/fav manila people (trough pre-configured pimbackup app, PimBackup included)
Ramdisk (2Mb) feature (optional)
A new way for a fully automated CAB/REG/EXE/CPY installation/copy after every hard-reset/rom upgrade
UPX executable, compress (fully automated) exe files from fresh installed cabs, this saves space & gives faster app load times
Easy & fast tweaking method without 3rd part software: tweak registry scripts (with comments)
Tips enabled by default to preserve a bit more battery life (for ex 3 secs of led blinking instead 5, increased battery life counter,etc) + increased speaker sound volume + many example for setting automatic alarms, rings, etc...
Moved MAIL + Attachments folders from main memory (My Device) to external one (Storage Card)
3 / 4 rows configuration
This should work on every WM based rom, also because I added the auto recognition of "Storage" name... so should work without troubles also on NON WWE roms (except for CABi installation)
DOWNLOAD sUC.cab HERE
DOWNLOAD sUC_source.zip HERE
BEFORE INSTALL (mandatory)
create in your "Storage" (the BIG one) a folder called "Backup and Restore", then inside it a folder CAB (inside this another folder called CABi), then at the same level of CAB folder create a folder called CPY, then REG, then EXE
so practically your basic structure should be like:
Code:
Storage Card (or whatever name)
=> Backup and Restore (folder)
=> CAB (folder, put here all the cabs you want install on main memory)
=> CABi (folder inside CAB folder, specific for "must go into Storage", see notes)
=> REG (if present all reg files here will be joined to default WM registry)
=> CPY (if present all files here will be copied under their correspondent folders)
=> EXE (if present all .exe & .mscr files will be launched)
all files in the CAB folder will be installed (automatically) into "device", the ones in the CABi folder will be installed into "Internal Storage" (or whatever you have, always automatically), from REG folder all *.reg/*.rgu files will be loaded on the fly, from CPY all files will be copied (with overwrite) into correspondent folders (for ex useful for copying personal dlls, wav/wma/mp3 files or background, etc...), for finish from EXE folder will be launched your executables (personally never needed, but who knows?) & if present all *.mscr scripts... pay attention to exe files that needs user interaction
INSIDE THE CAB (a deeper explanation)
when your sUC cab is installed it simply creates a registry entry under [HKLM\init\]"Launch69"="2ndboot.exe", this permits the script 2ndboot.mscr (launched by 2ndboot.exe) to be loaded upon system reboot (just one time)
this script, if the structure mentioned above isn't found, it will create automatically all the folder & default reg files needed under your storage card, the name isn't important because it should guess itself its correct name, so don't care if your storage is called something like "MyBigStorageCard"
then it will ask you some questions... such as if you use ActiveSync, which GPS performance adopt, etc... all this info, which at 1st you'll pay high attention, will be stored under your storage card in a file called config.txt ...why?? simple... because next time you will flash or hard-reset your phone you wont have to push a button the script will found that previous stored config file & it will take all the info needed for final rom configuration to skip all annoying questions after every upgrade/HR
note: there is also an hidden option that should be used only by experts, to enable this option simply add by hand to your config.txt file the line: FastInstall=1
this will skip all countdown menu & messages... personally I use this option because flashing a lot this saves much time more
next it will look in the CAB folder for installing your CABs into "device" or main memory
next in the CABi folder for installing CABs into your storage card (you need to do this just 1st time, I'll explain later...)
next it will look at a file called upxlist.txt (must filled before), where simply you will specify all the *.exe file you want to compress after every cab installation... for example your upxlist.txt could look like:
Code:
\Program Files\Navigator\TomTom Navigator.exe
\Program Files\9.5 Beta\Opera9.exe
\Internal Storage\Program Files\Binaryfish\All Mobile Mines\All Mobile Mines.exe
note: every line for every EXE file, pay attention that you can compress just EXE files coming from extra CABs, because EXE files present in the rom are read-only
next it will copy a set of basic reg files with many tips/tricks/examples inside, useful for making many customizations
note: of course if you have previously prepared the folder structure & you have copied your REGs files under the REG folder they will be processed together the files above
next it will look in the CPY folder and will replicate the found folder structure (with files too), for example create inside it a folder \windows with some file inside & it will copy all found files under \windows on your device, or create \program files\myapp & it will create that folder structure in your device, of course it works also for Internal Storage even if it has no sense, anyway just a note it doesn't create empty folder, to create an empty folder just use a single .mscr script (something like: MkDir("\mydir") ) & copy it in your EXE folder
next it will look in the EXE folder & will launch all the exe files inside it, if found it will launch also all *.mscr scripts
next if found (you'll understand better upon an HR), it will ask you to restore your backed-up start menu, so you don't have to re-arrange your icons again
next if found, it will ask you to restore your last PIM backup & will reboot
notes:
right now CABi procedure works only on WWE roms (due to translations work to be finished), anyway there is a trick to skip CABi installation, or better make by hand just once (read few lines below)
installing cabs into Storage Card sometimes will fail, this simply because some cabs need confirmation/accept license & so on, so don't expect will work 100%, also many cabs require to be installed into main memory so NOT into Storage Card, for ex I use to install into Storage Card simple cabs such as games
sometimes pim backup restore can fail, try to restore by hand after installation; backup are divided into week days (monday, sunday, etc... "Last" is the last saved backup)
if you put sUC.cab in your CAB folder wont re-processed of course, useful if using sUC together with UC/UC2 installation method (see at bottom)
if you still use the 1st sUC release way your personal scripts still work like before, simply move them under EXE folder, or transport as reg entries directly into your personal reg file & copy it under REG folder, you can find on the same folder some examples (to clean all your old stuff simply empty the REG folder, modded REG files wont be touched on future upgrades)
you don't need to re-install every time your CABi, just install them once, then on next upgrade answer No or simply edit your config.txt & change the correspondent value; after CABi installation on a clean boot go with your explorer under "\windows\start menu" folder & re-organize your start menu structure (cut/past links, create/delete folders, etc...), remember to don't delete "Settings" folder even if empty, then go under sUC menu & backup your StartMenu, on next upgrade sUC will detect start menu backup & it will reinstall automatically... because the content of your storage card isn't erased after a rom upgrade/hard-reset your installed CABs will stay there untouched, so backed-up start menu has inside correct links
is possible to move TomTom, iGO, Navigon, etc... definitively into your storage card, so you don't need to install them every time: copy entire nav software folders from \program files to \internal storage\program folders, re-create icon shortcuts (copy/past as shortcut in your start menu), for iGO you have to edit sys.txt (under iGO folder) & change the path of base installation
in the same way is possible to skip for example FingerKeyboard installation from related cab, simply take a look at this short guide
INSTALLATION
note: to migrate in every new sUC version simply move your reg mods in your Personal.reg file, erase all the rest of reg files because they will be re-generated with the new ones, remember that on upgrades reg files wont be touched so pay attention on what you mod
if the rom is UC compliant simply create a called SDConfig.txt file in the root folder of your Storage Card, for example your SDConfig.txt could look like (pay attention to upper-lower case & no empty lines):
Code:
LOCK:Enabled
CAB :\Internal Storage\Backup and Restore\CAB\sUC.cab
LOCK:Disabled
RST: Reset
in this way at reboot will start standard sUC procedure (remember MortScript is included & also that sUC cab wont be re-processed even if present in CAB folder), instead if the rom isn't UC compliant simply install sUC as any normal cab, then it will ask to restart (or restart manually) & automated procedure will begin on reboot[/b]
bye,
davide
OK, that's all very nice, but WTF is it?
Wouldn't hurt to have an "about" section in the post for ppl who see this thing the first time in their life.
GENIAL !!!!!!
aiiro said:
OK, that's all very nice, but WTF is it?
Wouldn't hurt to have an "about" section in the post for ppl who see this thing the first time in their life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yep... you right sorry, I'll correct soon...
suiller
OMG~ You finally made it available!!! I'm going to test it with my HD and will report back once everything is organised
I didn't mean to sound rude, sorry... Anyway, thanks for the addition, but still - what is UC? User Configuration? Could You post some screenshots too to make it more comprehensible for dumbusers like me?
jackkkkk said:
suiller
OMG~ You finally made it available!!! I'm going to test it with my HD and will report back once everything is organised
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh FRIEND! I found you
yep, I'm looking here around to see if my mad projects can be useful
the cab isn't still perfect but should work, of course I haven't a different device from diamond so all you will be a sort of beta tester
I've removed all specific diamond stuff, so it should work
Of course this is just a starting point, I'm dedicating much time to develop this small piece of "software", thx also to many other friends
You know as it works, so you should feel a bit like at home
aiiro said:
I didn't mean to sound rude, sorry... Anyway, thanks for the addition, but still - what is UC? User Configuration? Could You post some screenshots too to make it more comprehensible for dumbusers like me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yep you are right... UserConfiguration, the only difference is that you don't need to write any config file, at least not as "normal" user, it's enough to copy under correct folders the CAB plus other stuff you want installed/loaded after every flash/hard-reset
I'll porvide soon a video-guide, so it will be for sure more clear
OK, OK, nuff with making fun of me Or were You seriuous with video guide?
Cos I just had a brilliant idea - I'll install the damn thing and look for myself
I think I should have done that in the first place. But still, I believe screenshots would save some time understanding what's it really about.
Yeah Screwed Up Click for life
no no I'm serious friend... but I'll suggest to wait a couple of days because I'm working on a new version where is possible to cut-off all the specific HTC/manila stuff & above all I'm re-commenting all the registry entries that interact with OS
no no I'm serious friend... but I'll suggest to wait a couple of days because I'm working on a new version where is possible to cut-off all the specific HTC/manila stuff & above all I'm re-commenting all the registry entries that interact with OS
Hi,
really don't want to be rude or offence, but ... isn't this something like SASHIMI????
If so ... where are sUC's pros?
kind regards
fwt
almost... but it's very very simple... I'm testing an heavy modified version able to run on almost every WM6.x base device
OK the CAB is ready for testing purposes... please re-read 1st post because I'm making a better, I hope easier, description of features... thx
bye,
davide
Mate, this piece of software is plain GENIUS!
So much easier than the UC thing, with all the boring scripting. This way you just place in folders, and you are (mostly) done! Amazing stuff!
I have some questions/requests for you though...
Is there a way to repeat the procedure (restore at 1/2 start up), at a later time? This could be useful, for example, if some files get corrupted, or you just want to revert back to default cabs/settings, etc. So I guess what is needed is a way to manually activate the procedure.
Second thing is regarding mail settings. Is there a way to back this up? My hotmail settings get destroyed after every HR.
Cheers.
Forgot to mention, a manual activation of this procedure would also help if (for example) you want to make multiple program installations. This way you could just use the folder CAB, without wasting time on every single program you are installing/testing...
Cheers
krale said:
Forgot to mention, a manual activation of this procedure would also help if (for example) you want to make multiple program installations. This way you could just use the folder CAB, without wasting time on every single program you are installing/testing...
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hmm... it could be a good idea... even if some phases can't be reverted, or better it's very complicated to "go back"... such as for ramdisk
anyway many phases are yet accessible as indipendant scripts just take a look under "\Backup and Restore\scripts" folder, of course other script could be extrapolated but I'll do probably on next version... let's say this is a testing purpose version because I have to "think" that this app must work on many (almost all I hope) wm6.x based devices
As one of the end (l)users who first saw this in Suiller's Dia Duit rom series, I can attest to this resolving one of the major grievances of Windows Mobile rom-upgrades. With some "smart" planning ahead, getting everything back can now be mostly scripted by simply placing the install file in the correct directory. Same with restoring data from your pimbackup, or adding registry settings. Once again we have a case where the xda-developers have surpassed the "offficial" roms in user friendliness.
I have since moved on to WM6.5 (still on my Diamond), but I sorely miss sUC from my later roms.
//Svein
updated sUC, corrected some small issues
I corrected some default/samples reg files, so I suggest to erase all default *.reg files under REG folder to update correctly
move your personalization to something like "MyRegPers.reg"
please reports here bugs/issues/suggestions or whatever... thx