PXE booting Windows XP Installation

For pxe server setup you can refer my previous post.

Enabling rpmforge repository
#cd /root
#wget http://packages.sw.be/rpmforge-release/rpmforge-release-0.5.1-1.el5.rf.i386.rpm
#rpm -ivh rpmforge-release-0.5.1-1.el5.rf.i386.rpm
#yum install cabextract -y
#yum install tftp-server tftp samba -y

Mount XP CD image (I am using XP with Service Pack 3) and copy i386 folder to the directory from where you are going to start the installation
#mkdir /mnt/iso
#mount xpsp3.iso /mnt/iso
#mkdir /tftpboot/winxp/i386/ -p
#cd /mnt/iso/i386
#cp -av * /tftpboot/winxp/i386/

Also copy drivers to i386 folder. I have collected some drives you have to download & copy them to i386 folder
#cd /root
#wget http://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/bootfloppy/pxefiles.tar.gz?use_mirror=space
#tar zxvf pxefiles.tar.gz
#cd pxefiles/drivers
#cp * /tftpboot/winxp/i386/
#cd /tftpboot/winxp/i386/
#cabextract driver.cab

Creating file of windows for pxe boot
#cd /tftpboot/winxp
#cabextract /tftpboot/winxp/i386/startrom.n1_
#sed -i -e 's/NTLDR/XPLDR/gi' startrom.n12
#mv startrom.n12 winxp.0

#cabextract /tftpboot/winxp/i386/setupldr.ex_
#sed -i -e 's/winnt\.sif/winxp\.sif/gi' setupldr.exe
#sed -i -e 's/ntdetect\.com/ntdetect\.wxp/gi' setupldr.exe
#mv setupldr.exe xpldr

#cp /tftpboot/winxp/i386/ntdetect.com ntdetect.wxp

Changing the file name case if they are in uppercase
#cd /tftpboot/winxp/i386/
#ls | awk '$0!=tolower($0){printf "mv \"%s\" \"%s\"\n",$0,tolower($0)}' | sh

Creating samba share
Add this to your existing or new /etc/samba/smb.conf
#vi /etc/samba/smb.conf

[Global]
workgroup = WORKGROUP

[ris]
path = /tftpboot
browsable = true
read only = yes
writable = no
guest ok = yes

#chkconfig --level 35 smb on
#service smb restart

Creating Response file
#cd /tftpboot/winxp
#vi winxp.sif

[data]
floppyless = "1"
msdosinitiated = "1"
; Needed for second stage
OriSrc = "\\SAMBA_SERVER_IP\ris\winxp\i386"
OriTyp = "4"
LocalSourceOnCD = 1
DisableAdminAccountOnDomainJoin = 1

[SetupData]
OsLoadOptions = "/fastdetect"
; Needed for first stage
SetupSourceDevice = "\Device\LanmanRedirector\SAMBA_SERVER_IP\ris\winxp"

[UserData]
ComputerName = *

Create or modify PXE boot menu list
#vi /tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/default

LABEL XP
kernel winxp/winxp.0

Creating tftp remap file
#vi /tftpboot/tftpd.remap

ri ^[az]: # Remove “drive letters”
rg \\ / # Convert backslashes to slashes
rg \# @ # Convert hash marks to @ signs
rg /../ /..no../ # Convert /../ to /..no../
rg A a
rg B b
rg C c
rg D d
rg E e
rg F f
rg G g
rg H h
rg I i
rg J j
rg K k
rg L l
rg M m
rg N n
rg O o
rg P p
rg Q q
rg R r
rg S s
rg T t
rg U u
rg V v
rg W w
rg X x
rg Y y
rg Z z
r ^/(.*) \1
r ^xpldr winxp/xpldr
r ^ntdetect.wxp winxp/ntdetect.wxp
r ^winxp.sif winxp/winxp.sif

Changes in tftp deamon to run tftp remap file
#vi /etc/xinetd.d/tftp

server_args = -m /tftpboot/tftpd.remap -s -v -v -v -v /tftpboot

Running binl server so that client machine can take needed network drivers
#cp /root/pxefiles/script/binlsrv.py /tftpboot/winxp/
#cp /root/pxefiles/script/infparser.py /tftpboot/winxp/
#cd /tftpboot/winxp/
#/tftpboot/winxp/infparser.py /tftpboot/winxp/i386
#nohup /tftpboot/winxp/binlsrv.py &

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Installing squid on windows:

Earlier we had installed squid on Linux. Now we are installing squid on windows.

You can download squid binary package from here

Extract the content of zip file in c:\
Now you should have squid directory in c: drive. So now you can see c:\squid directory
Now go to c:\squid\etc via windows explorer and edit squid.conf file

Minimal configuration should be:
visible_hostname hostname
acl myusers src 192.168.1.0/24
http_access allow myusers

Preparing squid

In command prompt
type:
#cd c:\squid\sbin #squid -z

It should create swap directories

Fire your web browser and put proxy setting as 127.0.0.1 and port as 3128

To run squid and launched it automatically run following

#cd c:\squid\sbin #squid -i -n squid -O "-D"

Now run the service
#net start squid

SSH Server on Windows

At my workplace most of the users use windows as their primary operating system. Windows do not have any inbuilt ssh server. Basic idea behind ssh server on windows is I can transfer files from my Linux box to user's windows box without taking much efforts.

For the same I found MobiSSH. MobaSSH allows you to run commands and transfer files on a remote Windows PC from any operating system (GNU/Linux, Unix, HP-UX, AIX, Windows, ...) through a fully secured and encrypted network connection. MobaSSH is 100% compatible with the Linux/Unix/HPUx/AIX SSH clients, but also with Putty or WinSCP on Windows.

It is very easy to install and setup.
Download it from here.

Using System Restore via Recovery Console

1. Boot your pc via WINDOWS XP BOOTABLE media

2. Choose Recovery Console Option

3. Then,

cd \

cd windows\system32\config

ren system system.bak

exit

Your maching should restart

Then again repeat Step 1 & 2

4. After that,

cd \

cd system~1\_resto~1\

You'll see a list of restore point folders with names such as RP1, RP2 and so on. Pick the restore point you wish to use, using the folder date stamps to guide you. Enter the commands:

cd rp360\snapshot

This takes you into the folder containing the restore point snapshot files. Copy the Registry backups so that they overwrite the existing Registry files.

COPY _Registry_machine_system C:\Windows\System32\Config\System

COPY _Registry_machine_software C:\Windows\System32\Config\Software

COPY _Registry_machine_sam C:\Windows\System32\Config\Sam

COPY _Registry_machine_security C:\Windows\System32\Config\Security

COPY _Registry_user_.default C:\Windows\System32\Config\Default

Type the command exit to close the Recovery Console and restart the PC.

Remove Viruses without installing any virus-scanner

Think a situation where your computer is very badly affected with the virus and your virus-scanning software is not doing anything, what you will do in such position?

Engineers format their Windows in such situation. But there is another way also. Just download a superdat file from McAfee website. You have to extract the content of the dat file then run the executable files in command prompt.

Just go to www.nai.com
Then choose Security updates and DATs
Accept the agreement
Click on SuperDATs tab
Download the recent SuperDat file

Direct link
 
Create a new folder in c:
Rename it to scan
Place the SuperDat file into c:\scan folder
Click on Start > Run > cmd
Press enter it will open command prompt
 
Type there following command:
cd c:\scan
sdatXXX.exe /E

wait for a 2 minutes then run the following command

scan /ADL /ALL /SUB /CLEAN /REPORT C:\scan\virus.txt

This command will scan all drives and subdirectories and clean the infected file and also generate the report and save it in virus.txt file.

P.S. The SuperDat file generated on each day, so please download it on the day of virus scanning. 
For better result do this procedure in Windows safe mode.

Password Protecting USB Pen Drive.

One of my user needs to create a password protected folder in its pen drive. This is very simple but one more special requirement he asked for, if he insert that pen drive in any another pc he can able to see that folder over there without any software installation. This is quite tricky requirement. I found a tool for it i.e. Rohos Mini Drive. It's a freeware with some limitations.

Rohos Mini Drive creates hidden and encrypted partition on the USB flash drive memory. You work with the files on the hidden partition without opening a special program. Those who have megabytes of sensitive files on the USB drive and seriously concerned with a data security, cannot imagine their USB stick without the hidden volume that is created using this tool.

Download the program from here. Install it and run it.

After installation the Rohos Mini Drive, insert your USB pen drive to the computer and run the Rohos Mini Drive application. Click on Setup USB Key

Insert a password.

It will create a partition namely K: with 297mb space. You can customize the partition size by clicking Change button.

Just you have to add file in this newly created partition, when you done just eject that partion as well as the pen drive.

For testing purpose you can insert this pen drive to any another PC. There it will show you one roho_mini_pendrive icon. Double click it and insert your password that's it now you can access your password protected partition on that computer.

Source

Windows 7's Jump List feature

Take a closer look at Windows 7's Jump List feature

Jump Lists are a new feature in Microsoft Windows 7 that are designed to make it easier to find what you want and perform common operations associated with an application. Jump Lists appear on the Start menu as well as on the Taskbar when you right-click on an icon. As I’ve been working with Windows 7, I’ve learned to take advantage of Jump Lists and really love the boost in computing efficiency.

Recently, I was extolling the benefits of the Jump List to a couple of friends, and one of them blasted my newfound penchant, saying that the Jump List feature was nothing more than a glorified My Recent Documents menu. (Obviously, he is still using Windows XP.) I responded that he was actually right, but he was also wrong.

It’s true that the Jump List feature is an enhancement that can very easily trace its origins to the Recent Documents feature, which by the way first made its appearance on Windows 95’s Start menu as the Documents menu. However, delivering a listing of recently opened documents is but a small piece of what the Jump List provides.

In this edition of the Windows Vista and Windows 7 Report, I’ll introduce you to Windows 7’s Jump List feature. As I do, I’ll show you the Jump Lists for several applications and describe the features in more detail.

Note: Keep in mind that this is a prerelease version and that the look and features of Windows 7 that I will discuss here may very well change between now and the time the operating system is actually released.

Jump List feature in a nutshell

The Jump List feature is designed to provide you with quick access to the documents and tasks associated with your applications. You can think of Jump Lists like little application-specific Start menus. Jump Lists can be found on the application icons that appear on the Taskbar when an application is running or on the Start menu in the recently opened programs section. Jump Lists can also be found on the icons of applications that have been specifically pinned to the Taskbar or the Start menu.

Jump Lists on the Start menu will appear a little different than Jump Lists on the Taskbar. However, they will provide the same functionality.

By default, the Jump List can contain the application’s shortcut, the ability to toggle pinning, the ability to close one or all windows, access to specific tasks associated with the application, and once you begin using the application, a list of recent documents or destinations depending on the application.

Now that you have a general idea of how Jump Lists work, let’s take a look at the Jump Lists for several applications.

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OCS Inventory NG agent for Windows

In my previous tutorial, you learn how to setup OCS Inventory Server on CentOS

Operating System:
Windows XP

OCS Inventory NG Agent:
OCSNG_WINDOWS_AGENT_1.02RC3.zip (internal version 4.0.5.0)

In this tutorial we will learn how to setup OCS inventory client on Windows XP.

Download OCS Inventory NG agent
OCSNG_WINDOWS_AGENT

Extract the zip file and double click on OCSAgent setup:









After clicking finish button you will get inventory on your server.