MicroXP_v0.82_For.External.USB.DRIVE

************************************************************************ * * * IMPORTANT : EVEN THOUGH THIS CAN BE INSTALLED TO FLASH DRIVES IT IS * * NOT INTENDED FOR SUCH USE --- THIS IS DESIGNED FOR EXTERNAL/PORTABLE * * HARD DRIVES ONLY --- THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL eXPerience RELEASE BUT * * MODIFIED BY Protocol22 TO ENABLE INSTALLATION TO USB DRIVES. * * * * Thanks To: * * * * eXPerience For Fantastic XP-Release Upon Which This Is Built. * * * ************************************************************************ MICRO XP V0.82 (SP3) BY eXPerience MODIFIED TO INSTALL ONTO AN EXTERNAL USB DRIVE. This version of MicroXP is modified to enable installation onto an external or portable Drive -- It is possible to install onto a USB Key or Pendrive but this is NOT recommended as it seriously diminishes the Life expectancy of your Flash device -- This works great on a USB HDD such as the FreeAgent range of external Hard Drives. Your computer must be able to Boot from a USB device -- Most computers that are relatively New have this capability. If you do use this please make use of the detailed references and notes available at http://www.ngine.de/article/id/8 All Credit to eXPerience for his fine release of MicroXP http://forum.retestrak.nl/index.php _____________________________________________________________________ MicroXP v0.82 by eXPerience _____________________________________________________________________ Thank you for trying this special MicroXP edition of Windows XP. With a WINDOWS folder that is only 199Mb and a CD size of just 99.9Mb, this has to be one of the smallest Windows XP installations out there. Whats more - you can use 99% of the programs you always use and up to now there is not one single report of any game not working in MicroXP. This installation takes only 5 Minutes 30 seconds. This install includes default XP drivers for Ethernet/Sound/SCSI/RAID It has all languages kept, except Chinese/Japanese/Korean. It has all keyboard layout choices kept. It also has Service Pack 3 final slipstreamed into it. LAN Networking is now possible - Use 'Map Network Drive' and just put the computer name of the computer you want to network with. Digital Cameras and Scanners can also now be used. The ISO file size is the same as in the previous release - 99.9Mb _____________________________________________________________________ [Statistics] Installation time, in VMware, from ISO file, from end of formatting .......... 5 Mins 30 Secs RAM Usage On First Installation ........... 39 Mb Handles ................................... 2229 Threads ................................... 157 Processes ................................. 15 Entire Install Size ....................... 205Mb Documents and settings folder size ........ 3.19 Mb Program Files folder size ................. 2.79 Mb WINDOWS folder size ....................... 199 Mb Files In System32 ......................... 815 ISO File Size ............................. 99.9 Mb _____________________________________________________________________ [Services Remaining In Windows] Cryptographic Services DCOM Server Process Launcher DHCP Client Event Log Logical Disk Manager Logical Disk Manager Administrative Service Network Connections Plug and Play Print Spooler Remote Access Auto Connection Manager Remote Access Connection Manager Remote Procedure Call Server TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper Telephony Windows Audio Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) Windows Installer Wireless Zero Configuration Workstation All these services are enabled on installation, so you can start using Windows straight away. _____________________________________________________________________ [eXPerience Desktop Folder Contents] Desktop Icon Layout (Lets you save your desktop icon layout) Driver Install Tool (Easily install all your drivers, see ReadMe) Keyboard Settings (Quick access to Regional and Language options) Networking Guide (Shows how to get connected to your networked PC's) Registry Backup (Make a complete backup of the registry in one click) Services Config (Files to enable and disable functionality) ShrinkXP Scripts (to remove any items you do not want or need) Web Browser (Browzar, to download a full browser of YOUR choice) Windows Media Player 11 (This is just a readme file about WMP11) _____________________________________________________________________ [WHAT YOU CANNOT DO] This is a greatly reduced installation of Windows XP Professional SP3 Please read these notes BEFORE using this edition of Windows: * * * * * * * * * * * * - SINGLE USER ONLY You cannot add any additional users. Do not try to add more users, otherwise your main account that is used by default (Administrator) will become the new account and after logging in, you will not have any desktop theme (not even Classic) and the whole account will be ruined. You'll probably have to install Windows again because if you make a new account it replaces Administrator and tries to log you in with Default User - the problem with this is - there is no Default User anymore. * * * * * * * * * * * * - NO NATIVE SUPPORT FOR FTP SITES There is no built in support for downloading from FTP sites, try using Filezilla or WS_FTP if you need to do that. Even just Opera or Firefox can probably do it. This functionality is gone because the Application Layer Gateway service is gone, along with ALG.EXE that normally runs in Task Manager, taking up about 6Mb RAM for what amounts to no reason. * * * * * * * * * * * * - NO VISITING WINDOWS UPDATE You cannot visit Windows Update with this version of Windows because Internet Explorer is removed. You can manually download updates from Microsoft and you can also use the alternative Windiz Update website through Opera or Firefox. Because so much has been removed from this edition of Windows, you are not likely to be any more safe installing updates for Windows. NOTE: Because this edition of Windows uses a patched winlogon.exe in order to remove the oembios.bin file, you really should not update Windows anyway, in case winlogon.exe gets replaced by an update. There are more details about this in the eXPerience folder on the desktop once MicroXP is installed. * * * * * * * * * * * * - NO FAST USER SWITCHING Apart from you only being able to have the one account anyway (Administrator) the ability to do Fast User Switching is also removed. * * * * * * * * * * * * - NO PASSWORD STORAGE/AUTOCOMPLETE Windows will not save stored passwords, however, this only really applied to Internet Explorer and Outlook Express, which are removed. You will be fine using Firefox or Opera web browsers and Thunderbird email client for emails. Those are self contained programs and take care of storing your passwords by themselves. * * * * * * * * * * * * - NO CD-ROM AUTOPLAY When you insert a CD that would bring up a screen to install the program contained on the CD, this does not happen in this version of Windows, you will have to explore the CD manually and run whatever file it is that runs the program's setup, usually setup.exe on the root of the CD. If the CD has a file called AUTORUN.INF then open that file and look at which .exe file is listed in AUTORUN.INF * * * * * * * * * * * * - NO SMART CARD DETECTION * * * * * * * * * * * * - NO SCHEDULED TASKS You cannot set programs, like AntiVirus or Hard Disk Defrag programs to run in the future IF they need the Scheduled Tasks service in Windows. If you are going to run those types of programs you will have to manually scan or defrag whenever it is convenient. Despite this, one program that will schedule its operations is Perfectdisk defrag, you do not need Task Scheduler for this program to run a scheduled defrag. * * * * * * * * * * * * - NO REMOTE DESKTOP There is no Remote Desktop in this version of Windows because the Terminal Services service is removed. * * * * * * * * * * * * - NO THEMES You cannot have the Luna (Blue/Olive/Silver) desktop theme in this version of Windows, the only theme you can choose is Windows Classic which it is already set to by default. You can however install Windowblinds if you want to and it will work fine, Windowblinds does not rely on the Themes service. You could even make MicroXP look like Vista with the Ironjer AeroGlass The Remix V4. Use v4 not v5 of that if you use it. * * * * * * * * * * * * - NO UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY SERVICE I always thought UPS Service delivered parcels but apparently not, if you have this type of device then it will not work on this version of Windows. A UPS is only used for emergencies like if you have a power cut - thats if you even have such a device. _____________________________________________________________________ [WHAT YOU CAN DO] * * * * * * * * * * * * - PROGRAMS - You can still install and run just about all the programs and games that you can run on a normal installation of XP. There is a text file in the eXPerience folder on the desktop that has a list of programs that work and includes some that don't work (not many). Even Office 2007 installs on this version of Windows * * * * * * * * * * * * - GAMES - Up to now, there has not been one single report of any game not working on MicroXP. Gaming is what this edition of Windows is all about, it gives better benchmarks than any other version of Windows I have ever tested. * * * * * * * * * * * * - LAN NETWORKING - At last - MicroXP now has the ability to browse your local network. All you need to know is the computer name of the computer you want to connect to and thats about it, just right click My Computer and choose Map Network Drive. All computers can see each other even if every computer in the network is running this MicroXP. * * * * * * * * * * * * - CAMERAS AND SCANNERS Now in MicroXP it is possible to use a digital camera (USB only, no Firewire) or a scanner. Tested and working with a Fuji FinePix 6MP camera. The Photo Printing Wizard is not included, neither is the wizard to download photos from the internet, but the rest of the functionality for cameras and scanners is as complete as in full Windows. My favourite saying: whats missing, you're not gonna miss! Print photos with Photoshop or maybe even Irfanview. Ctrl+P to print works in every single program that supports it, so its not like we ever needed the photo printing wizard, which only ever made all images I fed through it A4, even small images, so it actually did not even work, unless I skipped a button but there really are no buttons to skip in that wizard, its useless. * * * * * * * * * * * * - DIAL-UP CONNECTION - You can still use a Dial-Up connection (Broadband or old 56k modem). This is the one major flaw in other stripped out operating systems, a lot of UK users still use a modem with broadband... in this edition, RAS Dial-Up/PPPoE/DSL/ADSL connectivity is OK as well as old 56k modems. Yes, try this install on a Pentium II or even an old 486 might run it! They had 75Mhz processors and 8Mb RAM with 4Mb graphics cards. * * * * * * * * * * * * - WEB BROWSER - This installation already includes a basic web browser called Browzar that uses a few core files left from Internet Explorer. No, Internet Explorer is not included, but select files included in this installation that come from Internet Explorer are vital to running Windows. Its also Internet Explorer related files that allow you to open CHM files, which you can do in this edition of Windows. This Browzar web browser is only here so you can at least get online and download Firefox, Opera, Netscape or whatever browser you want. This not only saves space on this CD, but you get to choose what web browser you want to use and you get the latest version not an old and possibly insecure version. Flash v9.0.124.0 for Firefox and Opera is included, so Google Video and YouTube work straight away in whichever browser you install. * * * * * * * * * * * * - PASSES WGA CHECKS If you go to download for example, Windows Media Player 11 from Microsoft's downloads section, you will need to validate windows by running the GenuineCheck.exe file that Microsoft asks you to download as part of the Windows Genuine Advantage checks. Its fine to do this, don't be scared of your key being blacklisted. * * * * * * * * * * * * - WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER 11 You can install Windows Media Player 11 in this edition of Windows. NOTE: Because the file WMPLOC.DLL is not in system32, Windows Media Player 11 will say that it could not complete setup or words to that effect. IGNORE THIS ERROR! Windows Media Player 11 is fully working after you install it and get that error, Windows Media Video type formats stream in Opera and Firefox still - so you can ignore that installation error. Just make sure if you install Windows Media Player 11 to have the Cryptographic Services service enabled. Windows Media Player 11 needs that service started to install. After installing Windows Media Player 11 you can then disable Cryptographic Services if you wish, like a lot of stuff in Windows, it doesn't really do anything important. * * * * * * * * * * * * - WMV STREAMS - Once you have installed Opera, Firefox, Netscape or the browser of your choice, as long as you install Windows Media Player 11, you can stream Windows Media Videos from websites like the BBC's News website, or anywhere that has WMV streams. This is possible because there are three DLL files added to the Windows Media Player folder in Program Files. Don't worry, theres no Windows Media Player there, it only contains the vital DLL files for streaming compatibility in Firefox and Opera if you install Windows Media Player 11. Note that you do need to install Windows Media Player 11 to view .WMV movies in web pages. * * * * * * * * * * * * - FLASH - If you install Opera or Firefox web browser(s) in this special MicroXP edition of Windows, you can go visit YouTube or Google Video without even having to install Flash Player. You can just watch the videos right away. _____________________________________________________________________ Don't forget to join SnipeR's Redemption Network: http://www.retestrak.nl/Board/ _____________________________________________________________________ Enjoy this fine release from eXPerience Release Date: June 22nd 2008 _____________________________________________________________________ *IMPORTANT* THERE IS AN MD5SUM HASH CHECK IN THE TORRENT INFO TEXT FILE WHICH IS THE MD5SUM OF MICRO_XP_v.082 BEFORE MODIFICATION - PLEASE IGNORE THIS - THE CORRECT MD5SUM IS: 28c7446425915a100d6e646b475b009c

udp://tracker.openbittorrent.com:80
udp://open.demonii.com:1337
udp://tracker.coppersurfer.tk:6969
udp://exodus.desync.com:6969

Protocol22 (2008-08-24)

TO Install Micro XP from the CD

Shut down your computer. Disconnect ANY internal and external hard drives (so Windows cannot find them during installation and mess up their Master Boot Records hehe). Some computers will have trouble to boot without an internal HDD attached, check in your BIOS and, if possible, remove the HDD from the boot sequence and set the USB Harddisk as the first boot device, and the CDROM as second.
Also, now connect your USB Harddrive directly to the computer, without any Hubs in between.


Windows should install just fine, with the exceptions noted below.
Issue you will encounter during installation:

* Upon completion of the install, the system will complain once on the first bootup that the pagefile does not exist.
TO RESOLVE THIS: START MENU>
CONTROL PANEL>
SYSTEM>
ADVANCED>
PERFORMANCE SETTINGS>
ADVANCED>
VIRTUAL MEMORY>
CHANGE> AND ENTER A MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM SIZE FOR YOUR PAGING FILE -- MINIMUM SIZE SHOULD BE ABOUT 150% OF YOUR RAM -- SO IF YOU HAVE 1GB RAM ENTER 1536 MB FOR MINIMUM AND 2500 MB FOR MAXIMUM PAGING FILE SIZE.

Once everything is up and running , shut down and reconnect all your drives.

If you have troubles, please visit the forum dedicated to this tutorial.
have a lot of fun!
http://www.ngine.de

Protocol22 (2008-08-25)

*IMPORTANT* THERE IS AN MD5SUM HASH CHECK IN THE TORRENT INFO TEXT FILE
WHICH IS THE MD5SUM OF MICRO_XP_v.082 BEFORE MODIFICATION - PLEASE IGNORE THIS - THE CORRECT MD5SUM IS: 28c7446425915a100d6e646b475b009c

oralmud (2008-09-09)

does the modifications done to make it external usb friendly make it unuseable for internal hd install? I'm thinking of using this for a seperate dedicated windows gaming partition on my rig. thanks

neoteo (2008-09-09)

this looks like a good option for my asus eee too

asdasd123123 (2008-09-25)

Can't install:
Windows Live Messenger
Logitech Setpoint for G9
The Windows installer service has been too heavily tweaked away I guess.

Omakayd (2008-10-02)

before downloading, make sure you have a working license key... it asks for key
mqmmq-dq3pv-rjb6r-f8w8b-9gprt
works fine.

Omakayd (2008-10-02)

Hmm... doesn't seem to work with Parallels for Mac.
installs fine but upon booting into xp you'll get an error:
"A problem is preventing Windows from accurately checking the license for this computer. Error Code: 0x80070002."
probably has something to do with the way parallels implements networking with xp...
oh well.

ololizoz (2009-01-01)

Seed please :D

ololizoz (2009-01-02)

sorry for being so n00by, but please can any1 give a step-for-step manual howto install this ÜBER(!!)verision on an 8 gb usb flash memory please :D (PS. i shall have it on an Asus EEE pc 900 Linux and i am tired of linux :P) Thanks!! // Oli

toja92 (2009-01-04)

ololizoz: Insert usb drive. Reboot computer with cd inserted. Choose to format your usb drive, wait for the installer to finish then you are done. This is of course on a "normal" computer, havent tried on EEE.

jgwhitaker (2009-01-11)

Burned to CD, then rebooted with USB in. It installed XP to the USB, but then added the boot to boot.ini on C:. WTF? Deleted the option in boot.ini but it now comes up as "Windows (default)", so an extra boot sector has been added to C:??
Why can't this just .exe from the HD anyway instead of from the CD?

CyberGRIM (2009-05-27)

Hi, Protocol22!
Does this version only work with an External USB HD? or does it work with mini sticks too?
I need help installing it on a 1gb Kingston Flash Disk. I can see the disk on the Setup menu but when i press 'Enter=Install' it gives tells me:

'Your computer's startup program cannot gain access to the disk containing the partition or free space you chose.'
Anyone? I'd appreciate the help. Thank you.
-C.

CyberGRIM (2009-05-27)

Hi,
Can any1 upload a .TIB (Acronis File) image of this newly created XP on USB Flash drive instead? I dont have a blank CD atm so i'm just mounting the ISO and USB together over vbox and it doesn't work.
I am guessing that's the one causing the problem. -->
'Your computer's startup program cannot gain access to the disk containing the partition or free space you chose...yada-yada'
Thanks,
-C

CyberGRIM (2009-05-29)

i am getting a 7b BSOD. :(

CrispLite (2009-08-01)

@ CyberGRIM
1, you may want to try another flash drive
2,Try changing your AHCI setting in the bios enable/disable ... just toggle whatever it is currently set to.

guest_unknown (2012-11-16)

please help, can't get it work on an usb drive