AutoPatcher December Update Wishlist

By FlishFun
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Grand Master

BananaMan

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Flishfun, perhaps I may be of some help in the suggestion about detecting currently installed hotfixes. I know that your Autopatcher doesn't really interface with Windows at all, it just runs batch files pointed to the hotfix with appropiate switches and such - anyway, I'm guessing that AutopatcherXP is done in VB, I'm pretty sure I dig up the appropiate code for an interface between the registry and your VB project (I managed to pull it off once many moons ago), and all you would need to do is check HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Hotfix\<kbnumberhere> to see if the key is present.

I hope you don't mind me infinging in this way, just offering a suggestion just in case it's helpful. :)

Grand Master

nekrosoft13

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also :) why msn plus? or msn at all? then you'll have to add icq, yahoo, etc.. instead how bout trillian ? www.trillian.cc or miranda? the all 4 instant messengers in one programs.. that way you only add 1-2 megs i think .. instead of 4 seperate programs with bloatware..etc..

just thoughts.

trillain .74 is free.

allot of people don't like trillian

Grand Master

FlishFun Veteran

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Okay, time for my answer so far. :)

@junkyinny - I'll look into Startup Control Panel & Startup Control Monitor. Also, the reason I included MSN is because it's a Microsoft Program. :) I personally don't like Trillian, because it has a big security flaw which I don't like. As far as the rest (AIM, ICQ, etc), you'll have to install yourself.

@mipra - Yes, Patchou's Messenger Plus (I e-mailed him and got approval)

@Bant - Starting with the November version, the AP can detect what it has installed.

@BananaMan - Now that we changed the way the program operates, I'll see if I can change the way the batch files are stored (I wanted to do this, but couldn't before). Also, the fade will be removed from the next version. And if you can, maybe you'd like to talk more about the detection in the registry... we'll see what we can do. :)

@QuickReply - I'll look into IrfanView & Media Player Classic

@episode - Not gonna include Virus software (too many different kinds of free ones out there... for example, I like Avast). And BananaMan is right... the uxtheme patcher is included in all builds so far. :)

Okay guys, keep the ideas flowin'! :D

Grand Master

mipra

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Good idea...Media Player Classic (with Real player and Quick Time decoder) and Irfan view will be good one :rofl: . But, flish fun....not to offense...you need the files to be as slim as possible. And, putting those things into your AP will just bloat up your AP. I would suggest not to put in software that we can download ourself. The main problem for me was...I need to search for different patches at different places in addition to the Windows Update. Since you invited the AutoPatcher..everything seems to be condensed in one place. I dont have to go anywhere..I just trust your AP to keep my clients updated.

So, my suggestion is try to keep softwares seperately :D ....just keep the AP updated as far as the Patches and Updates. We really need it to be always updated :). But well...for me who has DSL, having those softwares included in AP will be a very good idea

Grand Master

FlishFun Veteran

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Good idea...Media Player Classic (with Real player and Quick Time decoder) and Irfan view will be good one :rofl: . But, flish fun....not to offense...you need the files to be as slim as possible. And, putting those things into your AP will just bloat up your AP. I would suggest not to put in software that we can download ourself. The main problem for me was...I need to search for different patches at different places in addition to the Windows Update. Since you invited the AutoPatcher..everything seems to be condensed in one place. I dont have to go anywhere..I just trust your AP to keep my clients updated.

So, my suggestion is try to keep softwares seperately :D ....just keep the AP updated as far as the Patches and Updates. We really need it to be always updated :). But well...for me who has DSL, having those softwares included in AP will be a very good idea

Don't worry, I didn't say I'm including anything much yet. I just want your ideas... :D

Grand Master

OptiPlex

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Flishfun, perhaps I may be of some help in the suggestion about detecting currently installed hotfixes. I know that your Autopatcher doesn't really interface with Windows at all, it just runs batch files pointed to the hotfix with appropiate switches and such - anyway, I'm guessing that AutopatcherXP is done in VB, I'm pretty sure I dig up the appropiate code for an interface between the registry and your VB project (I managed to pull it off once many moons ago), and all you would need to do is check HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Hotfix\<kbnumberhere> to see if the key is present.

I hope you don't mind me infinging in this way, just offering a suggestion just in case it's helpful. :)

Yea, he said he'll look into this. :)

Man, this is turning more and more into a restore CD instead of a simple update patcher.

But what the heck, I'll recommend something once I think of it :ninja:

Grand Master

OptiPlex

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I think Flish and Raptop are trying to keep this strictly pre-sp1 updates with a few extras to maximize the operating system's usability (directx 9.0b, java updates, flash player, etc.)

Since everyone's preferences are different when it comes to software like Spybot, and Winamp, they want to let everyone make their own decisions with those (otherwise I would've suggested Winamp5 b2 first :p) I prefer Ad-Aware over Spybot for my anti-spyware jobs, but that's just my personal preference.

If they included every variation like that to keep the public happy, you'd need DVD's to distribute this awesome package.

I dunno...just my 2 cents....maybe Flish has changed his mind...we'll see :)

I absolutely agree ... 300% (Y)

Grand Master

itsnotabigtruck

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Great thread.

One suggestion, make sure the MSN PLUS crappy spyware is not installed.

Totally agree. I'm sure you know this, but just reminding that to do a Messenger Plus! install (2.2 and up I believe), use "msgplus-install-file.exe /SilentInstallNoSponsor" (w/o quotes). Be sure to include the NoSponsor part of that switch.

Grand Master

itsnotabigtruck

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These were mentioned in the main thread and should be included:

HighMAT CD Viewer

HighMAT Extension for the Windows XP CD Writing Wizard

Microsoft Highlighter for Windows (highlights the currently selected textbox)

These should be included:

Replacer (here)

md5sum.exe (here)

I will edit this post as I think of more

Grand Master

BananaMan

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Hope you don't mind post barrage in this thread FlishFun, but here's another idea..

About the batch files, maybe you could do away with them all together. I'm not saying remove support for batch files, that would be bad since it would mean people couldn't customize their copy of AutoPatcherXP, but for the default hotfixes, you could do that within the program with (and I'm working for memory here so I may be off) a command like

Shell (".\ProgFiles\Qwhatever.exe /q:a /R:N")

The only thing about that is I don't think the shell command supports long filenames, so you may need to make it..

Shell (".\progfi~1\Qwhatever.exe /q:a /R:N")

Also, a UI for creating custom entries into the AutoPatcherXP would be cool. You could probably pull it off like this..

First of all, make the UI for it, which is easy. Ask the user for the executable name (not it's location, inform the user through the UI that the file must be in the ProgFiles) and set the executable field input to say... $customfile. Make the UI ask for a alias (with no illegal characters, just alphanumeric), and we'll call that $alias. Once the user clicks OK for the generation of the custom batch..

$alias = $aliasbatch
$aliasbatch = $aliasbatch + ".BAT"

Then..

Open $aliasbatch For Output As #1
Print #1, "\ProgFiles\",$customfile
Close #1

And you could do the same thing for addition to the DAT file. This is a very basic and crude example on how it could be performed, but I thought I'd just say how I mean just in case.

Again, hope I'm not infringing FlishFun, just wanted to offer a suggestion. :)

Explorer

DragonSoull

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Personally I would prefer AutoPatcher to just stick with updating WindowsXP and bundled tools so that would mean no MSPlus! or any other 3? party tool (and don't take me wrong I use MSPlus!). Flash and Java are of course exeptions to that rule.

About new features I would like:

- Better installer descriptions, some of the ones you have now like "this will install xxx" are redundent, it would be better you said what it was and what it's for/solves.

- Registry Tweaks uninstallers, somehow I installed a Switch User tweak and had to go hunting in the AutoPatcher *.reg files to find what the installer did so I could revert it.

- Better file organization,I like to have everything tidy and neet and AutoPatcher looks like mess.

- Other Languages AutoPatcher namelly Portugu?s (Portugal) so I can update all my friends PC's.

- All the windows updates of Decembe:p:p

Edit: ..almost forgoth MORE MIRROR not really up to you but it would be great

And congratulations for the good work, this has really help me and I'm greatfull for it but theres still a long way to go, so get workin;);).

On a side note, being a big fan of NSIS [ http://nsis.sf.net ] (and a part time pimp for it, in a good wa:devil:l:) I was wondering if you ever consider using it for the installer? It is very powerfull and flexible and would allow all that your current installer does and allot more...

Edited by DragonSoull
Grand Master

OrangesOfCourse

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i would like to see just windows updates... i think you should go back to the "bonus" thing... that way people who just want the hotfixes in a GUI format can have it... and people who want the bonus stuff can have it too.. :)

Grand Master

FlishFun Veteran

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@DragonSoull & SpaceGuy - Thanks for your thoughts on this, I will take it into account. :) I'm trying not to bog down the patcher too much, so most programs get counted out right away. But thanks for your input, and we will work more on the patcher. Remember, it hasn't yet even been a month yet since we embarked on this project (and on Oct. 16th it was still just an overglorified batch file). So we still have a lot more to do... but I think we've made very good process so far. :)

Grand Master

OrangesOfCourse

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@DragonSoull & SpaceGuy - Thanks for your thoughts on this, I will take it into account. :) I'm trying not to bog down the patcher too much, so most programs get counted out right away. But thanks for your input, and we will work more on the patcher. Remember, it hasn't yet even been a month yet since we embarked on this project (and on Oct. 16th it was still just an overglorified batch file). So we still have a lot more to do... but I think we've made very good process so far. :)

dont get me wrong.... you guys have done great work! :) i might have to reinstall my os soon so this will help out a great deal! :D :)

Grand Master

FlishFun Veteran

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dont get me wrong.... you guys have done great work! :) i might have to reinstall my os soon so this will help out a great deal! :D :)

No, I know where you're coming from... don't worry. I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your help, and that all I was trying to do is see everyone's thoughts on this. :) I really do appreciate all of your help in this, and I hope you keep givin' me support! :D

Grand Master

OrangesOfCourse

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oh and i really dont think trillian should be included... its not part of windows... thats why... MsgPlus can be because MSN Messenger is part of windows.. not sure if you get what i mean... and lots of people just dont like it... like my self... :)

Grand Master

FlishFun Veteran

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oh and i really dont think trillian should be included... its not part of windows... thats why... MsgPlus can be because MSN Messenger is part of windows.. not sure if you get what i mean... and lots of people just dont like it... like my self... :)

I agree... plus, the fact that I can extract/decode all the passwords from Trillian and it tells me it's just not secure (it's why I don't use it anymore). I don't plan to include any IM client except MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger. :D

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