BIG XMAS UPDATE

I know I've neglected a bit my blog so fasten your seatbelts because a massive update is on its way!!
Merry xmas folks

AMD overclocked above 7 GHz

There was a time when Intel was the leading brand of CPU, then AMD came and finally we had a valid alternative, cheaper than Intel but reliable and performing as its competitor.
I'm not into overclocking, for what I need to do a standard performing PC is more than enough, but these crazy guys managed to overclock an AMD cpu, using liquid helium, above 7 GHz!!!
I don't know if this will be the future but definitely it's an interesting approach

Somewhere over the rainbow....TAKE 2

Delphi 7 Lite Full Edition 7.3.3.2 (Build 25-10-2009)

===============================================================
DELPHI 7 LITE FULL EDITION v7.3
[ALL Updates Integrated] [Optional D2007 RTL/VCL] [Green Edition Integrated]
Build:2009-10-25
===============================================================

Welcome to Delphi 7 Lite, a mod of Delphi 7 that is mini enough.

1. WHAT IS DELPHI 7 LITE.
2. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.
3. WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE HELP.
4. WHAT DESIGN TIME PACKAGES ARE INCLUDED IN DELPHI 7 LITE.
5. HOW TO GENERATE GREEN EDITION.
6. RESTRICTIONS AND WARNING.

1. WHAT IS DELPHI 7 LITE
-------------------------

Delphi 7 Lite is a standard installation of Delphi 7 Enterprise in which:

- Applied all the official updates, patched amost of Bug Fix Pack.

- Support for all versions of Windows in use today: Win7, Vista, XP, 2008, 2003, 2000, Me, 98, and NT 4.0,(support Vista+ UAC Elevation).

- All the setup options have been discarded EXCEPT source code.

- Included programming font Consolas (recommended size 10 with ClearType enabled).

- Editor color settings of Delphi 2006.

- Replace the D7 RTL/VCL to D11(Delphi 2007) RTL(FastMM and FastCode Core) (Optional).

- All the setup options have been discarded EXCEPT source code.

- Update 1.1 has been installed (version of the IDE is 7.0.8.1), these patches are applied:
Update ActionBar to 7.01

- Unneeded files have been removed.

- Can import ActiveX Componets

- Supports MIDAS development.

- Supports CLX Design development.

- Supports IntraWeb 5.0 development.

- Supports RaveReport 5 development.

- Installation do not copy of any files to system directory.

- Included VCL Fix Pack 1.3, Add the VCLFixPack.pas unit to your Delphi or C++Builder project manualy.

- Included Midas Speed Fix 1.2, Add the MidasSpeedFix.pas unit to your Delphi or C++Builder project manualy.

- Included the following Expaned unit of Win32 API from www.delphi-jedi.org:
SHELL LITE :: Microsoft Shell Lightweight Utility API, v.1.2/SNMP :: Microsoft headers for Simple Network Management Protocol definitions/WINSOCK 2 :: Winsock 2 API (Windows Sockets).

- Green Edition Integrated,you can copy the entire delphi directory to other place directly ,run file D7LiteReg***.exe to register easily, It also can register other delphi7 edition ,such as DELPHI 7 SECOND EDITION v7.2.

- Dynamic Compile after Installation to generate RTL/VCL and other components .DCU Files,thus minish size of the installation file.

- Setup file support command-line to provide additional features. Support for the installed Delphi7 to repair Menus & Register & MISC, Use command line parameter /? or /help to see more details.

- [Optional] Every Components(Except Standard/Database Components).

- [Optional] install Project Templates(Objrepos).

- [Optional] install IDE Design Pckages(Known IDE Packages).

- [Optional] install the delphi IDE and command-line compiler(dcc32, brcc32, convert, Make, Tasm32)

- [Optional] install the Source files.

- [Optional] install the Help files.

- [Optional] Replace the D7 RTL to D11(Delphi 2007) RTL(FastMM and FastCode Core).

- [Optional] install Want builder tool instead of the Make

- [Optional] install FastMM 4.84 IDE Optimize-Compiled DLL

- [Optional] install the Expert GExperts 1.33.

- [Optional] install the Expert CnWizards 0.9.4.549.

- [Optional] install the Expert DelforExp 2.5.

- [Optional] install the Expert UnitExpert.

- [Optional] install the IDE plugin DelphiSpeedUp 2.78 to speed up IDE.

- [Optional] install the IDE plugin DDevExtensions 1.61.

- [Optional] install the Tweak DelphiDistiller 1.77, that allows to decide which packages will be loaded
when the IDE starts.

- [Optional] install the spy tools of Microsoft Spy++ v7.1.

- [Optional] install the DLL/EXE dependency analysis tool of Dependency Walker 2.2.

- [Optional] install the DLL list of all exported functions displayed of DLL Export Viewer v1.30.

- [Optional] install Delphi build-in Tool Image Editor(imagedit.exe).

- [Optional] install Delphi build-in Tool Windows and Message Viewer(WinSight)(WS32.EXE).

- [Optional] install Delphi build-in Tool Web App Debugger(webappdbg.exe).

- [Optional] install BDE (Borland Database Engine 5.2), and related tools of BDE Administrator, SQL Explorer, Database Desktop, SQL Monitor, Data Pump, and so on..

- [Optional] install BDE Data Samples (Aliais is DBDEMOS).

- All installed Expert/Tweak/plugin are OpenSource/Freeware.

2. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
----------------------

* Pentium¢ó 500 or higher.
* Windows 98 or higher.
* 256MB of RAM or higher.
* Approximate hard disk space required about: 80MB(a compact install) - 300~MB(a typcial install) - 370 MB(a full install)
* VGA or higher resolution monitor
* Mouse or other pointing device

3. WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE HELP.
-------------------------------

- [Optional] The help system only includes the reference materials. These are:

* Developing Database Applications
* Delphi Object and Component Reference
* Delphi Language Guide
* Delphi Compiler Messages and Warnings
* Delphi Compiler Options and Directives
* Microsoft Win32 Programmer's Reference
* Glossary
* [Optional] DBExpress
* [Optional] Indy 9
* [Optional] InterBase Express Reference
* [Optional] InterBase Controls Help
* [Optional] TeeChart v4 VCL version
* [Optional] Rave report Help

4. WHAT DESIGNTIME PACKAGES ARE INCLUDED IN DELPHI 7 LITE
----------------------------------------------------------

Delphi 7 Lite includes the following designtime packages:

IDE packages
- Borland Module Diagram Editview
- Borland Editor Script Enhancements
- Borland Editor Emacs Enhancements
- Borland SQL Explorer UI Package

IDE Components
IDE\Components\Standard
- Borland Standard Components

IDE\Components\Database
- Borland Database Components

[Following is optional]
IDE\Components\ActionBar
- Borland ActionBar Components

IDE\Components\Database\ADO
- Borland ADO DB Components

IDE\Components\Database\BDE (NOTE: No BDE engine installed!)
- Borland BDE DB Components

IDE\Components\Database\DBX (NOTE: Only DBExpress drivers installed, not relational DB drivers - exclude mysql 4.0.27!)
- Borland dbExpress Components

IDE\Components\Database\InterBase (NOTE: No InterBase installed! Just Components Only!)
- InterBase Data Access Components

IDE\Components\Database\IBEvent
- Borland Interbase Event Alerter Component (NOTE: No InterBase installed! Just Components Only!)

IDE\Components\Database\MyBase
-Borland MyBase DataAccess Components

IDE\Components\Database\MyBase\SimpleDataset
-Borland SimpleDataset Component (DBX)

IDE\Components\Database\MyBase\DataSnap
-Borland DataSnap Connection Components

IDE\Components\Internet
-Borland Internet Components

IDE\Components\Internet\Explorer
-Internet Explorer Components

IDE\Components\Internet\Express
- Borland InternetExpress Components

IDE\Components\FastNet
- NetMasters Fastnet Tools

IDE\Components\SOAP
-Borland SOAP Components

IDE\Components\WebSnap
-Borland WebSnap Components

IDE\Components\Indy
-Internet Direct (Indy) for D7 Property and Component Editors

IDE\Components\TeeChart
-Borland TeeChart Components

IDE\Components\ShellCtrls
- Shell Control Property and Component Editor

IDE\Components\Compatibility31
- Delphi 1.0 Compatibility Components

IDE\Components\ImportX
-Borland Sample Imported ActiveX Controls

IDE\Components\OfficeXP
-Microsoft(R) Office XP Controls Wrapper Components

IDE\Components\IntraWeb
-IntraWeb 5. Design Packages

IDE\Components\QuikReport
-QuickReport Components

IDE\Components\RaveReport
-RaveReport 5 Components

IDE\Components\NewlyExtended
-Newly Delphi Features Extented Components,Transplanted from above of Delphi7's added components, Vista Dialogs etc., Delphi7 also can be develop Vista-style dialog box applications.

5. How to generate Green Edition.
------------------------------------
5.1.Install Delphi 7 lite use Setup-Edition, we recommend select full installation type. here choice content will decide GreenEdition content.
5.2. (Note: this step as an additional, non-required). Backup IDE configuration to facilitate rapid recovery after the GreenEdition configuration. run strart of the Delphi menu -> "IDE Config Backup & Restore Tool" or -> CnWizards-> "IDE Config Backup & Restore Tool"(latter item only to install the CnWizards expert in choice available), backup IDE configuration files to filename.
5.3. (Note: this step as an additional, non-need). Use the ShortCut under targert directory of "Uninstall XXX (Remove Registration Only)" to uninstall the installed registration Information, this way does not delete files and folders. With this method you will get a pure Delphi folders completely.
5.4 copy the entire delphi directory to new folder i.e D:\XXX.
5.5 run D7LiteReg***.exe under folder of you i.e D:\XXX, after run will be create the menu for delphi, you can run the delphi lite now. D7LiteReg***.exe list only detected components.
5.6 (Note: this step as an additional, non-need). Resumes the IDE IDE configuration. run delphi at leaest once, Rerun strart of the Delphi menu -> "IDE Config Backup & Restore Tool" or -> CnWizards-> "IDE Config Backup & Restore Tool"(latter item only to install the CnWizards expert in choice available), chose and resumes the preserved IDE configuration files on step of 5.2

OK, a complete new Delphi development environment already rapid deployment of well, no need to re-run and wait for a lengthy installation process. If you want to achieve the IDE Settings / Components (including third-party Components) such as fast recovery, we must correctly perform these additional step.

6. RESTRICTIONS AND WARNING.
-------------------------------
WARNING:
6.1 Do not re-patch any of third-party BPL file after installed, otherwise it might raise unexpected errors.
6.2 On the replacement for the original RTL D2007 RTL / VCL, although the D2007 uses FastMM RTL memory management, faster and better than the D7 RTL, but carefully chosen to use, if the replacement RTL, all from the base of the VCL began to re-build, and some No source file may be unable to compiled and used, the use of the process of possible instability. Replacement after the installation of third-party Components, please do not use the built-in tools, or use the command line to compile, open and compile to install dpk from the IDE menus. Not all users recommended to replace,Only recommended for the component of the Delphi compile & installed very skilled and all installed component have the sources. If you just want Delphi7 support XP / Vista API and the new properties, select the "Replace Windows's pas(Supports New Vista API & Attribute) only (Maximum compatibility)" Instead of "Replace with Delphi2007's RTL / VCL" to ensure maximum compatibility.

=========================================

TIPS:
delphi32.exe -rYourSavedDesktopName hould your own packages.


RS Download

MU Download

Somewhere over the rainbow....

Hastur Live @ Patchanka 93'

This was our first live performance, I remember that our intro was a christmas tune sung by children and as soon as the song was finished I broke the vinyl....I'd wish I could get a time machine to go back to that time :-(

Broccoli, carrots, cauliflower fish-pie

I prepared last sunday this fish pie and it was sooo good that I had to share the recipe! It certanly require some time but the difficulty is non-existent and really everybody can achieve a good result with a bit of dedication

Ingredients

500-700 gr of mixed fish (I just used white fish and was delicious but the ideal would be to mix haddock,salmon and cod)
500 gr of mixed seafood
1 kg of boiled potatoes
500 ml of fresh cream
500-800 ml of milk
1 kg of mixed frozen vegetables (carrots,broccoli,cauliflower)
1 bag (500 gr) of grated cheddar

Follow the recipe step by step and you will need very little washing up afterwards!

Add our vegetables with salted water into a big pot and bring to boil. As soon as the water is boiling take them off the hob and drain them



Peel the potatoes and boil them, until soft, in salted water, mash them using a bit of butter to soften the mashing



We now need to cook our fish fillets



We will cover the fish with milk and bring to boil, as soon as the first bubbles are forming we need to decrease the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes



Keep an eye on it, we don't want to turn the milk into cream.
Once the fish is cooked take it out from the milk, place it into an oven tin and break it into pieces



Add the seafood mix



I'm not going to cook it since it contains quite delicate fish and it will be cooked by the heat of the oven



add salt and pepper on top

Now you didn't throw away the milk didn't you?
Add the fresh cream some salt and pepper to the milk and start stirring while gradually adding some flour: stir until you reach the desired consistency



add the vegetables on top of the fish and again some salt and pepper



finally add our white sauce and mix



Now add a layer of mashed potatoes



and a layer of grated cheese



Bake for about 45 minutes at 200 degrees..



...buon appetito!!

Filled Beef Tomatoes

Ingredients for 12 beef tomatoes

150/200 gr of Soya Mince
300 gr of Rice

Cut the top of each tomato and empty the filling into a pan (Don't throw it away!) helping yourself with a teaspoon



Start cooking the tomatoes with a pinch of sugar and some salt until they are melted



In the meantime boil the rice until it's cooked and prepare the soya mince as explained in this post

Add the rice and soya to the tomato sauce and mix; let it cool down for few minutes



Start filling the tomatoes with our mixture and place them on a oven tin covered with baking paper



Bake them for about 45 minutes at 180 ...



...buon appetito!!

You can make it even quicker if you replace the Soya & Rice with sage and onion stuffing

Windows XP 64 BIT - IE7, WMP11 fully updated till April

I made for myself this copy of XP 64bit a while ago and I thought I should share it with the community.
A couple of notes:

Nothing was removed (I mean NOTHING)
The iso size is 1.12 GB (Hence you will need a DVD)
Integrated IE7, WMP 11 , Windows Updates till April , DirectX 03/2009, .Net 3.5, Visul C++ 2005 Redistributable , MSXML 4.0 SP3, Update agent 3
S/N Integrated
Fully unattended (Only your name and Timezone required)
Can be updated via Windows Update (No cracks or activation required)
Disabled Firewall,Automatic Updates and System Restore




MEGAUPLOAD links

Download Part 1
Download Part 2
Download Part 3
Download Part 4
Download Part 5
Download Part 6
Download Part 7
Download Part 8
Download Part 9
Download Part 10
Download Part 11
Download Part 12

RAPIDSHARE LINKS

Download Part 1
Download Part 2
Download Part 3
Download Part 4
Download Part 5
Download Part 6
Download Part 7
Download Part 8
Download Part 9
Download Part 10
Download Part 11
Download Part 12

Password : darconio

Delphi 7 Lite Full Edition v7.3.3.0 (Build 2009-6-22)

===============================================================
DELPHI 7 LITE FULL EDITION v7.3
[SP1.1 Integrated] [Optional D2007 RTL/VCL] [Green Edition Integrated]
Build:2009-6-22
===============================================================

Welcome to Delphi 7 Lite, a mod of Delphi 7 that is mini enough.

1. WHAT IS DELPHI 7 LITE.
2. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS.
3. WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE HELP.
4. WHAT DESIGN TIME PACKAGES ARE INCLUDED IN DELPHI 7 LITE.
5. HOW TO GENERATE GREEN EDITION.
6. RESTRICTIONS AND WARNING.

1. WHAT IS DELPHI 7 LITE
-------------------------

Delphi 7 Lite is a standard installation of Delphi 7 Enterprise in which:

- Support for all versions of Windows in use today: Win7, Vista, XP, 2008, 2003, 2000, Me, 98, and NT 4.0,(support Vista+ UAC Elevation).

- Applied all the official updates.

- All the setup options have been discarded EXCEPT source code.

- Included programming font Consolas (recommended size 10 with ClearType enabled).

- Editor color settings of Delphi 2006.

- Replace the D7 RTL/VCL to D11(Delphi 2007) RTL(FastMM and FastCode Core) (Optional).

- All the setup options have been discarded EXCEPT source code.

- Update 1.1 has been installed (version of the IDE is 7.0.8.1), these patches are applied:
Update ActionBar to 7.01

- Unneeded files have been removed.

- Can import ActiveX Componets

- Supports MIDAS development.

- Supports CLX Design development.

- Supports IntraWeb 5.0 development.

- Supports RaveReport 5 development.

- Installation do not copy of any files to system directory.

- Included VCL Fix Pack v1.1, Must Adding the unit to your project (Delphi and C++Builder) manualy.

- Included the following Expaned unit of Win32 API from www.delphi-jedi.org:
SHELL LITE :: Microsoft Shell Lightweight Utility API, v.1.2/SNMP :: Microsoft headers for Simple Network Management Protocol definitions/WINSOCK 2 :: Winsock 2 API (Windows Sockets).

- Green Edition Integrated,you can copy the entire delphi directory to other place directly ,run file D7LiteReg***.exe to register easily, It also can register other delphi7 edition ,such as DELPHI 7 SECOND EDITION v7.2.

- Dynamic Compile after Installation to generate RTL/VCL and other components .DCU Files,thus minish size of the installation file.

- Setup file support command-line to provide additional features. Support for the installed Delphi7 to repair registry and menu, Use command line parameter /? or /help to see more details.

- [Optional] Every Components(Except Standard/Database Components).

- [Optional] install Project Templates(Objrepos).

- [Optional] install IDE Design Pckages(Known IDE Packages).

- [Optional] install the delphi IDE and command-line compiler(dcc32, brcc32, convert, Make, Tasm32)

- [Optional] install the Source files.

- [Optional] install the Help files.

- [Optional] Replace the D7 RTL to D11(Delphi 2007) RTL(FastMM and FastCode Core).

- [Optional] install Want builder tool instead of the Make

- [Optional] install FastMM 4.84 IDE Optimize-Compiled DLL

- [Optional] install the Expert GExperts 1.33.

- [Optional] install the Expert CnWizards 0.9.2.519.

- [Optional] install the Expert DelforExp 2.5.

- [Optional] install the Expert UnitExpert.

- [Optional] install the IDE plugin DelphiSpeedUp 2.78 to speed up IDE.

- [Optional] install the IDE plugin DDevExtensions 1.6.

- [Optional] install the Tweak DelphiDistiller 1.73, that allows to decide which packages will be loaded
when the IDE starts.

- [Optional] install the spy tools of Microsoft Spy++ v7.1.

- [Optional] install the DLL/EXE dependency analysis tool of Dependency Walker 2.2.

- [Optional] install the DLL list of all exported functions displayed of DLL Export Viewer v1.30.

- [Optional] install Delphi build-in Tool Image Editor(imagedit.exe).

- [Optional] install Delphi build-in Tool Windows and Message Viewer(WinSight)(WS32.EXE).

- [Optional] install Delphi build-in Tool Web App Debugger(webappdbg.exe).

- [Optional] install BDE (Borland Database Engine 5.2), and related tools of BDE Administrator, SQL Explorer, Database Desktop, SQL Monitor, Data Pump, and so on..

- [Optional] install BDE Data Samples (Aliais is DBDEMOS).

- All installed Expert/Tweak/plugin are OpenSource/Freeware.

2. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
----------------------

* Pentium¢ó 500 or higher.
* Windows 98 or higher.
* 256MB of RAM or higher.
* Approximate hard disk space required about: 80MB(a compact install) - 300~MB(a typcial install) - 370 MB(a full install)
* VGA or higher resolution monitor
* Mouse or other pointing device

3. WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE HELP.
-------------------------------

- [Optional] The help system only includes the reference materials. These are:

* Developing Database Applications
* Delphi Object and Component Reference
* Delphi Language Guide
* Delphi Compiler Messages and Warnings
* Delphi Compiler Options and Directives
* Microsoft Win32 Programmer's Reference
* Glossary
* [Optional] DBExpress
* [Optional] Indy 9
* [Optional] InterBase Express Reference
* [Optional] InterBase Controls Help
* [Optional] TeeChart v4 VCL version
* [Optional] Rave report Help

4. WHAT DESIGNTIME PACKAGES ARE INCLUDED IN DELPHI 7 LITE
----------------------------------------------------------

Delphi 7 Lite includes the following designtime packages:

IDE packages
- Borland Module Diagram Editview
- Borland Editor Script Enhancements
- Borland Editor Emacs Enhancements
- Borland SQL Explorer UI Package

IDE Components
IDE\Components\Standard
- Borland Standard Components

IDE\Components\Database
- Borland Database Components

[Following is optional]
IDE\Components\ActionBar
- Borland ActionBar Components

IDE\Components\Database\ADO
- Borland ADO DB Components

IDE\Components\Database\BDE (NOTE: No BDE engine installed!)
- Borland BDE DB Components

IDE\Components\Database\DBX (NOTE: Only DBExpress drivers installed, not relational DB drivers - exclude mysql 4.0.27!)
- Borland dbExpress Components

IDE\Components\Database\InterBase (NOTE: No InterBase installed! Just Components Only!)
- InterBase Data Access Components

IDE\Components\Database\IBEvent
- Borland Interbase Event Alerter Component (NOTE: No InterBase installed! Just Components Only!)

IDE\Components\Database\MyBase
-Borland MyBase DataAccess Components

IDE\Components\Database\MyBase\SimpleDataset
-Borland SimpleDataset Component (DBX)

IDE\Components\Database\MyBase\DataSnap
-Borland DataSnap Connection Components

IDE\Components\Internet
-Borland Internet Components

IDE\Components\Internet\Explorer
-Internet Explorer Components

IDE\Components\Internet\Express
- Borland InternetExpress Components

IDE\Components\FastNet
- NetMasters Fastnet Tools

IDE\Components\SOAP
-Borland SOAP Components

IDE\Components\WebSnap
-Borland WebSnap Components

IDE\Components\Indy
-Internet Direct (Indy) for D7 Property and Component Editors

IDE\Components\TeeChart
-Borland TeeChart Components

IDE\Components\ShellCtrls
- Shell Control Property and Component Editor

IDE\Components\Compatibility31
- Delphi 1.0 Compatibility Components

IDE\Components\ImportX
-Borland Sample Imported ActiveX Controls

IDE\Components\OfficeXP
-Microsoft(R) Office XP Controls Wrapper Components

IDE\Components\IntraWeb
-IntraWeb 5. Design Packages

IDE\Components\QuikReport
-QuickReport Components

IDE\Components\RaveReport
-RaveReport 5 Components

5. How to generate Green Edition.
------------------------------------
5.1.Install Delphi 7 lite use Setup-Edition,the proposed installation of full install.If you want to restore instlled componets register,you need to install Third-Party Expert CnWizards.
5.2 Run start menu Delphi lite ->CnWizards->IDE Config Backup->Restore Tool,backup IDE settings to a file.
5.3 copy the entire delphi directory to new folder i.e D:\XXX.
5.4 run D7LiteReg***.exe under folder of you i.e D:\XXX,after run will be create the menu for delphi,you can run the delphi lite now. D7LiteReg***.exe only list Setup-Edition installed components automatic.
5.5 Run start menu Delphi lite ->CnWizards->IDE Config Backup->Restore Tool,restore IDE settings from you saved file.
OK,a Delphi development is available now,reset IDE Environment Options or reinstall BPL unnecessary,Just as well as previously installed.If you want to restore installed BPL components register,remembr to checked Third-Party Expert CnWizards. Before step 5.5,remembr to run delphi onece time first.

6. RESTRICTIONS AND WARNING.
-------------------------------
WARNING:
6.1 Do not re-patch any of third-party BPL file after installed, otherwise it might raise unexpected errors.
6.2 On the replacement for the original RTL D2007 RTL / VCL, although the D2007 uses FastMM RTL memory management, faster and better than the D7 RTL, but carefully chosen to use, if the replacement RTL, all from the base of the VCL began to re-build, and some No source file may be unable to compiled and used, the use of the process of possible instability. Replacement after the installation of third-party Components, please do not use the built-in tools, or use the command line to compile, open and compile to install dpk from the IDE menus. Not all users recommended to replace,Only recommended for the component of the Delphi compile & installed very skilled and all installed component have the sources. If you just want Delphi7 support XP / Vista API and the new properties, select the "Replace Windows's pas(Supports New Vista API & Attribute) only (Maximum compatibility)" Instead of "Replace with Delphi2007's RTL / VCL" to ensure maximum compatibility.

=========================================

TIPS:
delphi32.exe -rYourSavedDesktopName hould your own packages.

Download

SETTING UP A GHOST SERVER USING PXE AND AN ACTIVE DIRECTORY PDC

I was able to setup a ghost server in a workgroup in the past but I never tried to do it within a domain and actually using the PDC as ghost server.
I’ve been playing around for the last week with VMWare and I finally resolved a couple of issues I encountered: hopefully this guide will help many users to shed some light on a couple of points.

So you have installed your win 2k3 Sp2 Enterprise edition and you are ready to create your “MyDomain” domain: piece of cake, just don’t forget to assign a static IP address to your “MyServer” (In case you forgot it will eventually complain that it is missing).
In my case I assigned the address 192.168.0.1 but it is totally up to you.

Second : install the DNS server role. Actually when installing the active directory you will be prompted to setup the server as DNS server as well, so will need very little configuration.

Third install the DHCP server and assign a new scope. (Example 192.168.0.10--192.168.0.100)

If you are into system administration you will know this already, otherwise here is the first issue I encountered:

I setup the scope correctly

But the clients were not getting an IP address. After quite a lot of troubleshooting I realized that the DHCP server need to be authorized in AD even if it is the same PC.

Right click and select Authorize




Very important don’t forget to setup the following scope options:

006 DNS Servers 192.168.0.1
013 Image Size 0x28
066 Boot Server host Name 192.168.0.1
067 Bootfile name: Pxelinux.0



We now need to create a user that will authenticate our boot disk: for our purpose I created a user “TSBOOTDISK” with password “Tsghost12” member only of the group “Domain Users”
The next step is to create a share where we can store our ghost executable and obviously our images; also add full control to the user TSBOOTDISK


We can create more than 1 share to separate the backups, or the original Images but the procedure will still be the same.

Now is time to setup our TFTP server to inject the boot image via PXE: I will use the freeware Tftpd32 but you are free to use any software that emulates a TFTP server.

Here my settings:


In our directory C:\TFTP-Root we will need the following files:
Floppy.img (Use WinImage to create it from Bart network boot disk)
Pxelinux.0
Memdisk
Pxelinux.cfg folder containing the default settings file

You can find the whole directory HERE

A bit of configuration will be required to create our floppy.img and tailor it to our virtual network.
First we need to add the dos drivers for the VM network adapter: you can find them on the Bart website, the model is AMD PCNet Family Ethernet Adapter NDIS v2.0.1 MAC Driver v3.12 link here

So open our floppy.img with winimage and add in the directory lib\ndis the file pcntnd.cab


Second we need to modify the autoexec.net file, from the etc folder, to automatically map the network share: I will add the following lines

net use Z: \\MyServer\SVR_Share
Z:\

In the etc\PROFILE add a test.pro file containing the following:

set P_PROT=mstcp
set P_IP=0.0.0.0
set P_SUBNET=0.0.0.0
set P_GWAY=0.0.0.0
set P_WINS=0.0.0.0
set P_DNS=0.0.0.0
set P_DHCP=1
set P_PKT=1
set P_USER=TSBOOTDISK
set P_MNAME=PC-102192
set P_WRKGRP=workgroup
set P_DOMAIN=MyDomain
set P_TIMEOUT=0
set P_NICMODE=2
set P_TCPWIN=1
set P_IDWIN=1
set W_PASSWD=Tsghost12

I noticed that the bart disk has some trouble to run ghost: when the process start it usually freeze immediately.
I instead found that the Universal TCP/IP Network Bootdisk works very well: you obviously need a bit of configuration in it as well or you can download the whole TFTP-Root directory with the universal disk from HERE


We should now be ready so let’s give it a go:







As we can see we were logged on as TSBOOTDISK so why are we prompted for a password? And the worst thing is that even if we type the correct password “Tsghost12” we get an ERROR 5 : access has been denied



The NET VIEW command will return an

ERROR 6118 : The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available



I literally tried everything to resolve this issue from changing the password for TSBOOTDISK to modifying the test profile but nothing seemed to work.
Until I found on the net that a couple of Domain Security Policies needed to be disabled:

Domain member: Digitally encrypt or sign secure channel data (always) - Disabled
Microsoft network client: Digitally sign communications (always) - Disabled
Microsoft network server: Digitally sign communications (always) - Disabled
Network security: LAN Manager authentication level - Send LM & NTLM responses

But still I was prompted for a password and I was getting access denied.
After several attempts I finally succeeded by disabling the following policies:

Domain member: Digitally encrypt or sign secure channel data (always) Disabled
Domain member: Digitally encrypt secure channel data (when possible) Disabled
Domain member: Digitally sign secure channel data (when possible) Disabled

Microsoft network client: Digitally sign communications (always) Disabled
Microsoft network client: Digitally sign communications (if server agrees) Disabled

Microsoft network server: Digitally sign communications (always) Disabled
Microsoft network server: Digitally sign communications (if client agrees) Disabled

Network security: LAN Manager authentication level - Send LM & NTLM responses



Do the same for the Domain Controller Security Policy



And finally we will be able to access our share and start GHOST.exe





HERE you can download this guide in word format