FAQ / Common Problems & Solutions


Recommended Posts

Concerning the trust issue... TRUST NO ONE :D :laughing my ass off:

Not such a bad idea on slipstreaming AP into XP, but alas there are some copyright and digital rights to be taken into account when considering such ideas. :yes:

What I learned is that it is easy for us to make demands, but if some of those demands violate the digirights acts, it will be these guys, fullfilling our demands, taking the fall. So before, asking them to do it for you, try to do it by yourself first... ;)

uhm, how would that be violating 'digital rights'?

Microsoft have implemented unattended installations into the XP install procedure to allow people to install custom applications during the WinXP install - This is all you'd be doing.

As far as making an unattended install to automatically download and install the latest version of AutoPatcher, the main idea is that you can be fully up to date before you connect to the Internet, because un-patched, you're vulnerable.

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...

Hello to everyone

I recently reinstalled winxp and windows update does not work anymore.

After some investigation I discovered and downloaded Autopatcher.

I don't have an icon on the desktop. When I double click the Autopatcher icon from c/autopatcher... nothing happens :cry:

I don't have an c/autopatcher/tools nor bin folder as suggested in the tips above.

I don't have the comdlg32.ocx in c/windows32 but I have a comdlg32.dll

Can anyone help?

@mercatoros

*re-written*

1) check your autopatcher download isnt corrupt like M2Ys4U suggested.

2) find out the solution to fixing winupdate, i've heard of it before, and im sure theres a solution.

3) even if you dont want to reinstall windows to try and solve issues your your seeing, consider doing it because your new installaiton could already be compromsed, in the time youve spent online downloading autopatcher.

if you go for a reinstall again:

1) backup autopatcher so your not exposed while downloading it

2) if your xp install disk does not have sp2 included, download it from here and back that up along with autopatcher.

3) backup your programs and data

3) re-install windows properly (recreating partitions*), install sp2 if not integrated in you install disk, install and run autopatcher.

* some people end up just reinstalling windows over the previus version rather than wiping the current verison and starting afresh because they dont follow the correct procedure. if you delete and recreate the partitions in the partition table before the formatting and installing stage, you make sure this doesnt happen!

Edited by TheBlazingAngel

In the italian release (full) for an user with original XP SP2 unfortunately is given following runtime error n. 5 (routine calling or argument not valid):

http://www.calio.it/errore5.jpg

The folder of autopatcher is in c:\programmi\autopatcher (default folder).

What is it possible to do?

@Massimiliano2

could you translate that error to english for me?

im really not sure wht it could be. it might be specific to a particular module, you might have to do some experimenting with selections to find it if it is.

  • 4 weeks later...

Hi,

Is it possible to copy the installed veriosn of AP onto a CD or USB stick and run directly from there rather than installing on each machine?

Also can I create a new default selection list that will only include what I want to be installed by default? If so will it ignore updates that I have selected but is already installed on the machine?

I think AP is awesome, saves so much time, reliable and always to hand. It put windows updates to shame, Keep up the excellent work!

Thx!

-Blimey

^ yes, just copy the contents of c:\program files\autopatcher to the cd/dvd or flash drive.

yes, saving lists are detailed here.

if a module is already installed then it will be deselected and not installed i believe. but i cant be 100% certain. you'd have to check for yourself, create a selection file, then run autopatcher with it to see what happens (not in silent mode!!).

  • 1 month later...

OK, here's my question(s) about autopatcher and I'm a newb to this utility but not a newb to computers or haxing.

1) Does autopatcher work "just" like the MS update? I personally don't like the way MS updates my system and stores the $uninstall information as it just eats up hard drive space with no benefit to me.

2) What is the difference between using autopatcher vs something like nlite that merges the information into the install CD for a smaller installation? Please don't reply with the obvious - well, one requires 2 steps and the other requires 1 ;D. I'd like to know what the difference is when the installs are complete in terms of HD space and registry entries. I'm partial to nlite because it removes the obsolete exe and dll files and replaces them with new ones without taking any more HD space.

In other words, I like the way nlite works but this is much easier for the end user if the results are the same but I find it hard to believe that the results would be the same since all the PR claims it to be an easier way to do MS Updates - which isn't the best way to do updates to begin with.

Just to be clear - I think the package is AWESOME but I want to use the best tool for the job and I'm trying to see what the difference is between this and slipstreaming the updates to the ISO as a final result.

Edited by enmane

Basically, Autopatcher contains exactly the same files as you'll download from Windows Update, but just executes them all in order.

It's basically just an offline Windows Update (+ some other handy programs and tweaks).

I'd personally suggest doing it the WU/AP way as it's the way MS wants you to patch up.

  M2Ys4U said:

I'd personally suggest doing it the WU/AP way as it's the way MS wants you to patch up.

uh, isn't that a good reason NOT to do it that way, LOL. If MS stands behind it then it CAN'T be right, LOL.

What about the additional files left on the computer after the installation? This irritates the heck out of me.

It's amazing how linux does this so well (w/apt-get & synaptic) without any troubles nor any wasted space - when is MS going to learn?

  enmane said:

uh, isn't that a good reason NOT to do it that way, LOL. If MS stands behind it then it CAN'T be right, LOL.

What about the additional files left on the computer after the installation? This irritates the heck out of me.

It's amazing how linux does this so well (w/apt-get & synaptic) without any troubles nor any wasted space - when is MS going to learn?

:sleep: Yes, because if MS designs a way to update their own OS is has to be wrong doesn't it?

Those files are there for a reason - if you wish to uninstall the updates!

You do not have to have the uninstall/backup files there if you do not wish, just unckeck the keep backups box -_-

  M2Ys4U said:

:sleep: Yes, because if MS designs a way to update their own OS is has to be wrong doesn't it?

Those files are there for a reason - if you wish to uninstall the updates!

You do not have to have the uninstall/backup files there if you do not wish, just unckeck the keep backups box -_-

That would only be logical but this is MS we're talking about and when you download an update that says "cannot be uninstalled" there is still an $ntuninstall created.

In fact, I have 6 of these on my system right now and going to add/remove programs shows NOTHING with regards to these updates nor a way to uninstall them.

Either MS is wrong in creating an $NTuninstall folder for things that can't be uninstalled, your knowledge of why they are there is incorrect, or I my knowledge about how to uninstall them is wrong.

On another note, why would anyone uninstall an update that is supposed to fix their system/secure their system/patch their system?

If the answer is "because sometimes the MS updates mess things up" then we've already answered the question about the competency of MS and their updates, ;D

Yes, and *nix app upgrades never screw anything up...

I'm a fan of apt-get & portage as much as the next man, but Microsoft has chosen to do what they've done, and having a mechanism to uninstall a hotfix in case of conflicts is a wise choice IMO.

  M2Ys4U said:

Yes, and *nix app upgrades never screw anything up...

I'm a fan of apt-get & portage as much as the next man, but Microsoft has chosen to do what they've done, and having a mechanism to uninstall a hotfix in case of conflicts is a wise choice IMO.

Ok, without getting too sidetracked. I'm not saying that *nix is the best out there but that there is a problem with the argument being made

1) that the $ntuninstall files are there to uninstall

2) that they aren't in add/remove so that they _cannot_ be uninstalled

So, can they or can't they and if not, then why have them at all? Are we on the same page now?

Anyhow, why would they hide the ability to uninstall the updates from the user? By default, hidden files are not visible. My issue with MS is that their intentions may be well placed but their execution is pretty poor. If they are there so that we can uninstall them then list it in the add/remove section of the CP. If you think that they shouldn't be removed because it is needed and is therefore "uninstallable" like the download says then don't put it there and test the crap out of it before you send it to me otherwise make it easy for me to remove.

Edited by enmane
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • How to reduce the annoying Liquid Glass effects on iOS 26 by Aditya Tiwari Apple announced Liquid Glass at WWDC 2025 in all of its glory. It's a new glass-inspired design language from the iPhone-maker making its way to most of its software platforms, including iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, and watchOS 26. Apple markets Liquid Glass as a new translucent material that "behaves like glass in the real world. Its color is informed by surrounding content and intelligently adapts between light and dark environments." The Cupertino giant isn't wrong. The new glass-inspired design does bring a fresh coat of paint and some beautiful visuals to the iPhone and other Apple-made devices. However, as the dust from the mega arrival settles, people are starting to realize the current drawbacks of having too much glass on their device. There have been reports of users, including those at Neowin, experiencing readability issues, background separation issues, and trouble focusing on the content displayed on the screen due to its transparent nature. While these are small nuances on Apple's part that can be fixed without much hassle, it's degrading the initial experience of what the company calls its biggest visual upgrade since iOS 7. That said, there are some workarounds built into iOS 26 that will help you tone down the shortcomings. If you're running the iOS 25 Developer Beta 1 on your supported iPhone model, you can follow these steps to make things a little better: Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap on Accessibility > Display & Text Size. Next, you'll find two toggle options: Reduce Transparency and Increase Contrast. When you enable the Reduce Transparency toggle button, iOS 26 can "improve contrast by reducing transparency and blurs on some backgrounds to increase legibility." The other toggle, Increase Contrast, does what its name suggests. It can "increase color contrast between app foreground and background colors." Enabling each of these toggle buttons individually or simultaneously will have different effects on your iPhone's user interface. Control Center is being criticized for the extra transparency, making the UI look cluttered and difficult to focus. Here, the Reduce Transparency button adds a darker background to make the Control Center UI elements stand out. Liquid Glass transparency issues are also prevalent in the Notification Center and the navigation controls of various apps. In the image above, see how the text of the navigation buttons has become unreadable or hard to focus on with certain backgrounds. It's challenging to determine what can trigger such behavior, as one can have countless color combinations on their device. In the image below, this is how these buttons look when both Reduce Transparency and Increase Contrast are enabled. It's still a hit or miss depending on what colors you are dealing with. Part of the blame also goes to the fact that iOS 26 is still an early beta, and the change doesn't render as intended every time. You can also notice the difference in the look and feel of the Control Center when reduced transparency is turned on. On a side note, you can add the Reduce Transparency and Increase Contrast buttons in the Control Center for quicker access. That said, let's wait to see what changes Apple will implement as it continues to gather feedback through the beta program. Hopefully, the software will become more stable when the first public beta of iOS 26 arrives sometime in July. Interested users can try out the latest iPhone update through the developer beta program, noting that early builds might come with unexpected bugs and issues.
    • Austin residents rally against Tesla's robotaxi launch by Hamid Ganji Tesla's plan to launch its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, has sparked protests in the city. While the EV maker targets June 22 as the launch date, local residents are raising their voices against the plan due to political disagreements and safety concerns. As reported by CNBC, public safety advocates and political protesters are organizing protests against Tesla's robotaxi launch in Austin. Members of the Dawn Project, Tesla Takedown, and Resist Austin have cited safety issues with Tesla's automated driving systems. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's involvement in Donald Trump's administration and his work in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has prompted another group of people to join the Austin protests against Tesla. To show Austin citizens the safety problems of Tesla's self-driving system, The Dawn Project brought a Tesla Model Y to the protest, equipped with the company's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software (version 13.2.9). In the demonstration, the Model Y with FSD software reportedly zoomed past a school bus with a stop sign held out and ran over a child-sized mannequin placed in front of the car. The FSD package includes automatic lane-keeping, steering, and parking. It is unclear to what extent this test was conducted under standard conditions or what Tesla's defense is. However, multiple cases of Tesla FSD software malfunction in the past have resulted in collisions or severe accidents, according to data collected by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Interestingly, The Dawn Project CEO Dan O'Dowd is the CEO of another company that sells embedded safety and security solutions to carmakers like Ford and Toyota. It remains to be seen whether Tesla could launch a robotaxi service in Austin despite the residents' protests. Earlier this week, Elon Musk demonstrated the new version of Tesla's FSD software in a post on X. Musk's decisions on DOGE fuel public backlash against Tesla. While Musk left the Trump administration after a beef with the president, he's still a target of public criticism, which directly imapcts Tesla. As a result, the slow sales have even caused Tesla to sell its Cybertruck with 0 percent APR to boost sales.
    • I'm sure Denmark would stand to lose a lot if US consumers stopped buying Danish products, whether that's Lurpak butter or hi-fi equipment.
    • JD Vance will be the next President. Who've the Democrats got? Harris again? lol....
    • Microsoft Edge gets new password feature and security fixes by Taras Buria Microsoft has released a new update for the Edge browser in the Stable Channel. Version 137.0.3296.83 introduces a new password feature and fixes security vulnerabilities to make your browsing experience safer. Starting with new features, Microsoft Edge 137 now supports Secure Password Deployment. Microsoft recently announced this for IT admins, allowing them to share encrypted passwords with user groups. This service lets users log into websites without seeing their passwords, thus enhancing the organization's security. You can read more about Microsoft Edge Secure Password Deployment in our recent article here. Security updates in Microsoft Edge 137.0.3296.83 include two fixes for Chromium vulnerabilities: CVE-2025-5958: Use after free in Media in Google Chrome prior to 137.0.7151.103 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High) CVE-2025-5959: Type Confusion in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 137.0.7151.103 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High) You can update Microsoft Edge to the latest version by heading to edge://settings/help. The browser can also update itself automatically in the background and apply updates between restarts. In case you missed it, Microsoft released Edge 137 by the end of May. The update deprecated quite a lot of existing features, including Wallet, Image Editor, Image Hover, Mini menu, and Video Super Resolution. It also introduced Web Content Filtering and enhancements for the picture-in-picture player and Find on Page in Microsoft Edge for Business. The next feature update for Microsoft Edge, version 138, is expected on the week of June 26, 2025, as part of the standard four-week release cadence.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      LagFighterZ earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • First Post
      ThatGuyOnline earned a badge
      First Post
    • One Month Later
      5i3zi1 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      5i3zi1 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      julien02 earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      546
    2. 2
      ATLien_0
      229
    3. 3
      +FloatingFatMan
      165
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      119
    5. 5
      +Edouard
      91
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!