@Singularity

I am glad, but let’s not open up the Champagne just yet; I need a favor from you:

On my CD works but for every time I fire keyfinderpe makes a fresh copy of itself on ram drive, and I end up with one new directory for every click it does not overwrite the prior instance.
Try and go to your ram drive and have a look. I end up with keyfinderpeSFX0, keyfinderSFX1, etc. I am wondering if it is a flaw on my system or everybody encounters the same problem. I believe that is a limitation of WinRar, contacted Aleks at Magical Jellybean Software and he feels the same way, I am sure he will be able to suggest a solution if the problem affects everybody.
Please if you have the time try and let me know.
Best regards,

PS.
Original program Keyfinder is at version 1.5 beta 3 with some very interesting new capabilities

@Celta68
Yes, I'm getting the same thing in my ramdrive, multiple instances just like you.

I've been considering making a batch file to clear the ramdrive since I have quite a few apps now that use it. Not sure yet how I will go about it, since I don't want to delete the documents and settings, or my nu2.bmp

I'm thinking :::smoke's rising::

@singularity
[QUOTE]Ramdisk plugin from PEBuilder plugin directory

"To obtain a plug-in with extended ramdisk capabilities such as check, disable, enable, resize to multiple selectable sizes up to 384 megs (via convenient menu options tooled by Rich Schreiner), and resize via command prompt, all during operation; please contact the author Christian Ghijselinck. Website: QSoft Ramdisk"

If you resize the ramdrive on the fly your ramdrive will be wiped out.

Regards

@Celta68
Thanks for the info, I saw that somewhere during my travels and grabbed a copy to play with.

In my above post re: 'batch file' I was thinking more of a script to clear out used files that had been placed in the ramdrive, to gain space after using some of the apps that need the ramdrive, but to keep intact the necessary files/dirs such as Docs, and settings etc.

It would be nice to click on a menu item and clean up the ramdrive.

I have a simple plugin to clear the ram drive it deletes files not directories as
my %ramdrv% or B: contains "\Documents and Settings" & subdirectories

-------------- start ------------
@echo off
rem
rem ClearB.cmd - Script for Clearing RamDrive B: from WinPE
rem Created by M Barnes
rem after idea by Bart Lagerweij.
rem V 1.03 28 Nov 2003
rem

setlocal
if "%temp%" == "" goto _err
goto _run

rem else error
:_err
echo.
echo can't clear non-existant ramdrv
echo.
pause

goto _end

:_run
echo.
echo This will clear All Files in RamDrive B: (but not folders)
echo.
dir %ramdrv%\
echo.
echo are you sure you wish to proceed
echo.
echo press 'Enter' or 'Return' to continue or 'Crtl'-'Break' to cancel
pause
del /q /s b:\*.*

rem del /q /s "%ramdrv%\*.*"
echo.

rem dir b:\
dir %ramdrv%\
echo.
pause

:_end
endlocal

------------------------- end --------------
; clearB.inf
; to clear files off ramdrv B:
; M Barnes v 1.12 30 Nov 2003
[Version]
Signature= "$Windows NT$"

[PEBuilder]
Name="Clear folders in ramdrv (B:)"
Enable=1
Help=""

[WinntDirectories]
a=Programs\clearB,2

[SourceDisksFiles]

clearB.cmd=a,,1

[Append]
nu2menu.xml, clearb_nu2menu.xml
--------------------------- end -------------------------

<!-- Nu2Menu entry for Clear B 1.01 26 Nov 2003 -->
<NU2MENU>
<MENU ID="System">
<MITEM TYPE="ITEM" DISABLED="@Not(@FileExists(@GetProgramDrive()\programs\ClearB\clearB.cmd))" CMD="RUN" FUNC="@GetProgramDrive()\programs\ClearB\clearB.cmd">Clear all Files in RamDrv [B:]</MITEM>
</MENU>
</NU2MENU>
--------------------- end -----------------------

this may save you some time

regards

Mike Barnes

@Singularity

Final solution for keyfinderpe:

The problem was that, the keyfinderpe self extractor rar archive was scripted to drive b:
For starters if a person named their ram drive to a different letter for example R, keyfinderpe will be looking for b:
PEBUILDER by default creates a 32 Mb ram drive b: and a variable %temp% that points to the ram drive. Obviously you better off to use %temp% to avoid problems.

Partial Quote of e-mail to Aleks

[Changes to the keyfinderpe self extractor script as follows:

Path=%temp%\keyfinderpe
Silent=1
Overwrite=1

Just for your info (no \ after =) the variable %temp% is your ram drive

With changes tested with success on 2 different systems running Win2k Pro SP4 and 2 different systems running XPPro SP1.
As far as I am concerned the plugin is working and deserves to be transferred to the plugin repository.
Plugin’s have three files sometimes four: inf file, menu file, help file and if necessary cmd file; the help file (html format) has a description, a how to and link or links to download the programs needed. If you wish post keyfinderpe on your site with keyfinder and people can be directed to your site via link on plugin help file. Please let me know your wishes.]

Personally I am very grateful to Aleks he answered two of my emails very fast and allowed me try different things with his program to try to find a solution. I will wait for his answer and after that I suggest somebody gathers Bart’s keyfinderpe.inf, keyfinderpe_nu2menu.xml and prepares a help file on compliance with Aleks wishes with respect to links to his site with kudos to Michaelw he started the topic. Please test with changes and if works out to Plugin Repository.

My best regards to all

Hi

Celta68


Where do we have to put this code

Path=%temp%\keyfinderpe (no \ after =)
Silent=1
Overwrite=1


thanks.

@none

I hope that Aleks gives permission to link to his web site at Magical Jelly Bean and you will be able to download the working files. Perhaps late today.

I have a set of files ready to post with all the information; I am just waiting for permission.

To answer your question:
You need WinRar to edit the script; WinRar is commercial software that you must purchase. If you have WinRar right click on keyfinderpe.exe and pick the option open with WinRar, after opening the file go to SFX and you will be able to see and edit the script replace according to my instructions and exit WinRar.
Do not type (no \ after =) is just to tell you It is not necessary

Celta68
Just dropping in to let you know I'm working on it. along with some other changes in PE build.
I'll have a link for download soon too, as long as permission is granted to 'anyone'

Are you asking for universal permission for 'anyone' to host it?
Isn't this keyfinderpe freeware?

@Singularity

Waiting to see if Aleks is willing to post Keyfinderpe.exe at his page along with the original Keyfinder. Easy to get both files at the same place. Those that don’t have WinRar can’t make the changes.

Both programs are free

Regards

@Celta68
Hmmm, I editted the sfx file, (actually recreated the whole thing with the 'good' files')
Made the ISO, burned the cd, rebooted into cd, and when I click on the keyfinderpe in the menu it comes up alright, loads the hive but "error loading key" again.

But if run from the ramdrive manually (keyfinderpe\keyfinderpe.exe), no problem at all finding the key. Back to the drawing board lol
Maybe I'll leave this one to you, and work on something else.

Update

Keyfinderpe is working. No more problems at all. No more multiple dirs in the ramdrive created if it is rerun either.
No need for a cmd file.

I had mispelled a filename, oooooops

@mbarnes

Sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you mbarnes, got busy and forgot.

Thanks for the batch file.
I need to clear my ramdrive more on my own pc while testing stuff, as I do put a lot of stuff in it as I test sometimes. Since it's on my own pc, and not out in the field, I'll just copy the stuff I want on it to C:\testdir then format the ramdrive, and put the stuff on C:\testdir back. That will be an easy script.

I did appreciate your assistance in trying to help me though. I had a frustrating day fixing up a glitch and forgot all about getting back to you.

If the system won't allow me to format it, I'll use xxcopy /clone to clone an empty dir to it.

@Celta68

Hi

I editted the sfx file, but I still get error when try to load the key.


thanks.

@none
Check for messages and also check for e-mail

@Celta68.

Thank you very much it's worked first time and no problem at all.

thanks again.



none.

Complete plug-in for Keyfinderpe.

All necessary files for this plug-in on one post
Thanks to Aleks Ozolins for his help, understanding and his two great programs, to Michaelw for getting things started, to Michael Williams and Bart Lagerweij for keyfinderpe.inf , to Bart Lagerweij for keyfinderpe_nu2menu.xml, to none and Singularity for trying my patch and the feedback on my patch to the self-extrator.

keyfinderpe.inf




keyfinderpe_nu2menu.xml




keyfinderpe.htm



Regards

Good work Celta68, and thanks for going out of your way re: Fixing keyfinderpe plugin.

When I get some time, I'm going to make up a webpage for all the plugins I've made up, (I have made quite a few) and put up some info regarding PE Builder, like tips for the newcomers to make life a little easier for them. Since I've received so much help around here, it's the least I can do..

So far I've aquired the webspace only. It's a busy season (X-MAS)

I guess I'll find out just how strict my bandwidth limits are enfored soon
I'm allowed 5gb down a month and 3 gb up, and that includes my emails, FTP tranfers, webspace downloads etc (currently running 2 other tiny sites). I know my neighbors son downs more than 5 gb a day and gets away with it, so maybe I will too.

I do not have access to my WinXP installation CD currently so I'm not able to rebuild my image for testing.

But regarding keyfinderpe, I went into the SFX file with WinRAR and got the following info:

Setup=keyfinderpe.exe
TempMode
Silent=1
Overwrite=1

Do I just add this line "Path=%temp%\keyfinderpe" to the above, or do you actually replace the the first two lines with it? In a previous post, the modified SFX listed by Celta68 only contains:

Path=%temp%\keyfinderpe
Silent=1
Overwrite=1


Do you need the Setup=keyfinder.exe and TempMode? Thanks.
Oh and I notice that this plugin includes keyfinderpe.exe as well as keyfinder.exe. Does keyfinder.exe actually work from the PE environment and are you able to retrieve Office keys? I had thought keyfinder.exe could only be run from a full Windows installation.

@solara
If you are using WinRar:
Open archive
Tab SFX Options > Advanced Options
Tab General
Path to extract = %temp%\keyfinderpe
Setup program=Keyfinderpe.exe
Tab Modes
Hide all
Overwrite all
*Check spelling; sometimes I don’t know why, WinRar adds .\ to path to extract, remove the leading .\

•Keyfinder.exe will work only on a running system
•Keyfinderpe.exe will run only after boot from CD
After compiling your new CD you will notice that with the system on kyefinderpe is disable and keyfinder is active, reverse if you boot from CD. Have a close look at the menu file.

Regards

Magical Jelly Bean web site has a new version 1.5B3 of keyfinder.exe. Works very well for me.
The options menu has 3 new entries:
1 Find remote Windows Key
2 Change Windows Key
3 Change Windows Reg Info. (You can change the Company name and User name)
Nothing illegal about using the added functions of keyfinder.exe. In case of doubt check this link Knowledge Base Article 328874

Regards,

Hi,

As a resume may anybody explain me what is keyfinder.exe useful for inside the live-cd?
if keyfinderpe.exe is the working tool for the CD , why to have keyfinder.exe too?


Thanks

@Oscar
If you insert the CD while running windows, the menu comes up as well.
From there you will notice that keyfinder runs, but not keyfinderpe.

Basically as an autorun cd you can get the key from windows.
As a live cd you can get the key using keyfinderpe.

@Oscar
Because if you use your CD on a working system kefinderpe will not give you any good. Keyfinder if you use version 1.5B3 can be useful to find the key, change the key; find the registration information (Company Name, Registered Name) and changing that information on a running system. Personally I take advantages of those functions many times.

Regards,

OK. I understand know.

Ok Celta68


Thanks

I know it's been a while since you posted this problem, but I'm having the same issue. Read all the way through the thread and even tried the script that's posted. I'm using my own script where everything works ok, but it doesn't retreive the key. Just like you say, if I go in and manually run the program it works fine.

Any thoughts?


Thanks

A problem which occurs with some programs is that the command file, or nu2menu entry needs to be in the same folder as the executable file before starting it

eg
%ramdrv%
cd \plugin
plugin.exe

works

while %ramdrv%\plugin\plugin.exe does not work

this can be done by the batch file which copies files to the ramdrive

keyfinderpe only finds Windows key
while keyfinder does Windowsa & MS Office keys

regards
Mike Barnes