nanoVIS v1.10 (beta)
mihi started and then seemingly abandoned (what i think is) a cool project to use a tiny file or set of files to run a PE system with explorer shell from a standard vista DVD in under 500kb! The advantage being, everyone who owns a legal copy of Vista will already have the DVD, so if you need to rescue a PC and don't have a ready made PE cd with you, you can use this! Also, this file is freeware (maybe open source in the future, when I tidy the code up!). It contains zero copyrighted files from Microsoft, so is legally redistributable, whereas distribution of a PE build is ILLEGAL!
Since it has been abandoned, I have coded my own much improved version which I have now released and will be actively developed!
nanoVIS is compatible with either the Windows Vista DVD, or the Windows Server 2008 (Trial) DVD (freely, legally, downloadable from Microsoft)
Some "teaser" screenies:
Go from this, to this, then to this!
For information on the original version by mihi, visit:
- mihi's topic at http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=3806
- or his winbuilder page at http://rescup.winbuilder.net/
- or his website at http://rescup.wordpress.com/category/vision/
How to use nanoVIS:
1. Copy the single EXE file nanoVIS.exe to a floppy disc, usb flash drive, CD (if you have 2 drives) etc.
2. Boot to the Vista/Server2008 DVD
3. Pick a language (I can only code for + test English)
4. Click "Install Now" (dont worry, nothing will be installed!)
5. When the "enter serial" box appears, get to a CMD window with the keyboard shortcut [Shift]+[F10]
6. find the drive nanoVIS.exe has been copied to, and run: nanoVIS.exe /init
7. follow the instruction to choose a version on screen, and enjoy!
8. report any bugs, suggestions or comments to me!
9. when done, open Run, and run the command (change drive letter/path yourself): A:\nanoVIS.exe /shutdown
NOTE: for a list of command line switches and a quick summary of the above, just double click the exe in "normal" windows.
Advanced users:
If you want to customize the booting of nanoVIS, you can customize the filelist and regfile. Simply place two files in the same directory, called "filelist.txt" and "regfile.reg" respectively. to see the contents of my included files (already in the exe) you can extract them to the same directory in normal windows with the /regfile and /filelist commands (commands one at a time). the asterisk (*) before each file in filelist represents the user's choice for which version of vista they wish to run (business, basic, home prem, ultimate etc) and **MUST** be present. The program will then automagically detect the presence of these external data files, and use them instead of the built in ones.
Oh, and theres an undocumented, completely useless command line switch to trigger a function I wrote but isnt used for anything yet, well done to anyone who finds it!
Download v1.10: (please visit boot-land for the download, it is the most up-to-date)
:beta: :beta:
NOTE: this is a BETA!!! please report any bugs/suggestions
Changelog:
V1.10
- Fixed the desktop.ini bug
- Added shortcuts in the start menu
- Added calc.exe to the default filelist
- Added a readme.txt to the download
V1.01
- Quick bugfix for a typo in the integrated filelist.txt (oops!)
V1.00
- Initial Release
Known Issues:
* Start->Shutdown doesn't work, user must type "nanovis.exe /shutdown" in Run or CMD
* drag and drop in explorer is broken
* additional fonts (arial, times new roman) dont appear in fonts list