[Release] XPtsp v3.0.0.26 - February 27, 2012

[Dougiefresh]

I've created this thread for the discussion of the XP Theme Source Patcher GUI, whether it be bug reports or feature requests. If there is any problem with the GUI, discussion should take place here.

Please keep in mind that the goal of the GUI is to create a GUI for the project, NOT to create or modify resources for it. Both the resources and extras have been seperated from the GUI in order to minimize the download size of the package. Downloading the theme package and extras package will be required in order to use the GUI. If there is any problems with the resources, please report those problems in the appropriate thread, as this isn't the thread to report them in.


Official Changelog: here

GUI To-Do List (in order of preference):
- Language Translation code (involves modification of RES files)
- Integrated online Theme management tools
- WINNT.SIF manipulation tab in Additional Options
- ISO Burning ability
- A request to do additional MUI Patching

Notes about the GUI:
[*] Starting with v2.1.0.0, the patcher requires administrative privileges in order to run. I found out that without administrative privileges, any local copies in the same folder as the GUI SFX won't show up.
[*] All resources are ENGLISH ONLY! Please don't ask for translations for any languages, as this isn't the purpose of this thread.
[*] If the archive is put in the XP source folder, the script will pick up the folder that the archive resides in and use it as the default folder. Otherwise, source folder will be blank.

Poll Results:
GUI Version with Translation Code: posted here

[Dougiefresh]

What's Changed in v3.0.0.12:
- Task Manager res file not duplicated if TASKMGR.EXE.RES is found in resource folder.
- Added additional res patch for Task Manager in order to patch correct color bars.
- New theme uploader code has been added (requires valid FTP credentials)
- Added additional check to file compression code to abort if source file disappears.
Translation Support:
- If dialog file is detected, English dialogs are deleted and dialog file is used instead.

[Dougiefresh]

What's Changed in v3.0.0.14:
- Moved logs cab creation code to during integration/install page.
- Added code to create logs folder for integration purposes.
- Modified File modification method used for translating resources files.
- Corrected reshacker log handling code so that log files get transfered.

The previous several versions deleted the dialogs from the XPSP2RES.DLL file each time that a XPSP2RES file was modified. For some reason, it didn't work properly after the first time doing so. Making a copy of the res file, THEN modifying the copy seems to have solved this particular nasty bug.

All of my recent tests occurred using integrations into a XP Professional edition source. I found that the log files weren't being created for some reason. It turns out that the log files were overwriting the actual resource file used, instead of being placed in the log folder. So correcting that fixes the inability to gather the logs for Integrations. Live Installs were not affected by this bug. In addition, the code that packs the log files down was moved in the code so that the logs cab gets included in the ISO, if it needs to be created.

Furthermore, I have decided that I hate the current GUI. It's just too..... obtuse. I have found that I like the 7tsp interface much better than the XPtsp interface, so I will be redesigning the XPtsp GUI to be more inline with that of 7tsp. I intend on dubbing this new GUI version 3.1.0.0....

[maheep_kathuria]

I would like to congratulate the developers for making such a program. However, I noted that when the dialog patching starts, the Resource Hacker Window pops up. Not seeing it as a bug, however, I still recommend running resource hacker in full background, in case of systems with 3rd party firewalls and such other stuff.

Keep it up!!

[Dougiefresh]

Thanks.... Actually, the Resource Hacker window popping up isn't accidental. When translated, WUAUCPL.MUI.RES doesn't get compiled correctly by the resource translation function. Since I can't recompile that dialog without showing the Resource Hacker window, I am forced to guide" Reshacker through what I have to make it do so that the hyperlinks in Windows Update tab in System control panel applet works properly......

[Dougiefresh]

What's Changed in v3.0.0.15:
- Integration: Fixed the "Copy Source Folder" checkbox from being unclickable.
- Added option for "XPtsp Batch" to Theme Selection's Browse button.
- After browsing, "no picture" is shown for themes without a preview.
- Modified Preview window code so XPtsp GUI is reactivated during closing preview.
- Removed message box with "_Reshacker" title from code.
- Added Language ID of file being patched to XPtsp log file.
- Eliminated a Task Manager reshacker error due to missing file.
- Integration: Added code to remove resource and extras folder upon exit.
Translation Support:
- Excluded EHRES.DLL from resource translation. (1st attempt)
Batch Version Support:
- Changed batch filename detection from checking for "_batch" to ".exe".
- When extracting batch versions, two attempts are now made to close batch window.
- Added code to copy "Version.ini" (ver 1) to Extras folder for batch files.
- Batch exe no longer gets copied to i386 folder (to mimic batch version behavior).
- Modified the code to deal with missing SYSOC section in "Version.ini".
- Modified code so that using CAB/INF combos don't produce errors if they don't exist.

Hopefully, this update fixes every issue, with probably exception of Task Manager and the update functionality.

[Dougiefresh]

What's Changed in v3.0.0.16:
Integration Changes:
- Moved source XPTSPCOM.INF detection code to Source Selection page.
- Added ability to patch "WMP10.CAB" in addition to "WMP11.CAB".
- Modified code so that uncompressed "SVCPACK.INF" is used if found.
- Modified code so that uncompressed "SYSOC.INF" is used if found.
- Modified code so that uncompressed "SMSS.EXE" is used if found.
- Modified code so that uncompressed "WBEMOC.INF" is used if found.
- Modified code so that uncompressed "XPtspCom.INF" is used if found.
Live Install Changes:
- Moved live XPTSPCOM.INF detection code to Installation Path page.
- Fixed issues dealing with wallpaper extraction for CAD2009 customization.
- When using batch with GUI, batch is no longer copied to Archive folder.
- Moved "XPtspCom.INF" from temp folder to INF folder to make Repatcher work.
- x64 Only: Fixed file replacement code to reduce the chances of screwing up the OS.
- Re-Enabled Repatcher to auto-run at Windows startup.
- Fixed issues with wallpaper conversion and replacement.
GUI Changes:
- ComSel code changed to look at "XPtspCom.INF" to see if file has been patched.
Control Panel Changes:
- Re-Enabled Repatcher functionality through Control Panel.

============================================================
A Few Notes:
- I don't know if SMSS.EXE can be compressed on the XP CD, however, the code was modified in the event that it found a compressed version of SMSS.EXE in there. It may not be necessary to check, however, I feel that the small increase in code is worth the effort just to make sure I haven't missed anything.

- Repatcher has been re-enabled for use at Windows startup, as well as through the Control Panel applet. It should behave now.....

- I'm pretty sure that the resources used to patch Windows Media Player 11 will work with Windows Media Player 10, so I've altered the code so that WMP10.CAB is patched using the same resources that WMP11.CAB is patched with.

- "Why tell anyone that XPTSPCOM.INF detection code has been moved?" Well, if the GUI SFX is run on an install that has XPtsp already integrated, it SHOULD enable the GUI to decide with files need updating to the current appearance (assuming that it was patched using an earlier version of the resources). Previously, it was not capable of correctly figuring out if the files were patched or not.

- "Why tell anyone about the reduction of chances screwing up the x64 OS?" Well, this might only occur in the event that another program (aka Windows Update) has requested file movements at next reboot AND somehow the GUI is still able to patch your system. There is a slight chance that the previous paths might be screwed up, because at the end of the patching cycle, the SYSTEM32 references are changed to SYSWOW32 and SYSNATIVE references are changed to SYSTEM32 in order to make sure the files get moved to the proper folders. This was done because the XPtsp GUI is a 32-bit application and can't properly access SYSTEM32 without performing tricks to get around the Windows 64-bit redirection mechanism.

[Dougiefresh]

What's Changed in v3.0.0.17:
- Altered code so that uncompressed files are properly handled.
- Modified code so that uncompressed INF files are compressed after modding.
- Fixed ComSel code to look at correct section in "XPtspCom.INF".
- Removed some code that may have produced incorrect file repatches.
- After CPL makes change to TASKMGR.EXE, CPL GUI is redisplayed.

[Zippie40]

thanks, that helped me a lot!
regards,
chantal

[Dougiefresh]

What's Changed in v3.0.0.18:
- Added support for an "Icon Only" theme package.
- Removed Pre-Processing & translation tasks for "Icon Only" packages.
- Added new value "FullPack" in Version.ini for "Icon Only" packages.

What's Changed in v3.0.0.19:
- Lost changelog.... Pulled from server because of DRIVER.CAB repacking issues....

What's Changed in v3.0.0.20:
- Source refreshed with v3.0.0.18 to remove DRIVER.CAB problems.
- TASKMGR.EXE hex-patching re-enabled and working correctly.
- COMCTL32.DLL hex-patching modified to correctly patch the SYSTEM32 file.
- Removed PEChecksum.exe for smaller SFX size.
- Re-enabled CABLITE.DLL's PE Checksum corrector.
- Changed code so that usernames, like those with ampersands, won't cause problems.
- Altered default state of "Use Pro style" to be unchecked for XP MCE.
- Changed OS detection for Integrations to show Home or Pro and if MCE components available.
Live Install Changes:
- Altered code responsible forcing XP Pro theme to be used to remove both Home folders.
- Altered code to use MCE visual style to be used when installing on MCE.
- Modified kernel should now be enabled in BOOT.INI.
- Added the "Create System Restore" option as it makes sense for Live Installs.
Integration Changes:
- Added code to comment out Royale references in MEDCTROC.INF when setting visual style.
- Modified code to remove temporary cab folder after building each CAB.
- Removed the "Create System Restore" option as it doesn't make sense for Integrations.
- Changed default volume labels for Media Center discs to use original CD volume labels.

NOTE: The change to the OS detection is a result of the fact that I found out that Media Center components can be integrated into a Home Edition source ([url="http://www.wincert.net/forum/index.php?/topic/4652-addon-media-center-2005-english-march-11-2011/"]Source[/url]). Media Center Editions will now show up as "Home Edition" with Media Center components available, despite several differences between an actual original Home Edition and original Media Center installation (such as WMP10).

What's Changed in v3.0.0.21:
- Resolved MCE issue with files not moved prior to Live Install/Integration (see below)