[Tutorials] Creating Your Own Updates & Addons

Siginet · Post by **Siginet** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:59 am

OK... I think it is time to have a thread that lists all of the important tutorials that have been created by various members here on the forums and elsewhere on the net.

The links in here will help users learn the process of making their own custom addons or updatepacks.

Useful Threads
Addon Pack Downloads!
Defining Entries.ini

Tutorials
How to unattendedly use RyanVM's Integrator
How to Create a Theme Pack Addon V2.0
Inf Uninstallation Tutorial
Making your files 8.3 compliant
Adding quick launch shortcut to addon pack
Gosh's Tech Guides (Extremely useful if you want to learn how INF files work)
MSDN Library INF Reference Guides (converted to PDF by Mrs Peel)
OSR Online Guides For Making INF Files (converted to PDF by Mrs Peel)
Making Your Own Switchless Font Addon Packs
How to (cleanly) replace a Windows application
Installing & uninstalling with x64

Useful Tools
Reg2Inf Converter (our offical converter)
InstallWatch or InstallRite
INCTRL5
Reg2Inf
JDoe's CabTool & PECheckSum
JCarle's Compression Bin
ZoSTeR's Universal Silent Switch Finder
Nitro322's Universal Extractor
RegShot & UNDOReg

Some other helpful links
Environment Variables Supported by RunOnce Commands
INF AddReg Directive
Creating an INF File

There are also a few reg2inf programs out there to help in converting registry files into inf files... but none of them seem to be perfect. I will add links to some of them when I come across them again.

Also... it helps to look at the contents of other users addons so you get an idea of how it is done. Look for an addon that is of a simular type of program that you would like to create.

If you find any other links that you feel are helpful please let me know and I can add them to this list.

As always... please share the wealth and post your addons on the boards here with everyone.

You can even submit your addon to Ryan to have it hosted at RyanVM.net!

Don't scare yourself... creating addons are not as hard as they first look.

[Links last updated 2007/09/07 by 5eraph]

DisabledTrucker · Post by **DisabledTrucker** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 5:34 am

Thanks Siginet, we definately needed this!

Mrs Peel · Post by **Mrs Peel** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 6:25 am

Good scheme jelly bean!!!

Here's a couple more for the list:

Gosh's Tech Guides:
http://gosh.msfnhosting.com/index.htm

JDoe's CabTool & PECheckSum:
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=27469

JCarle's Compression Bin:
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=25442

ZoSTeR's Universal Silent Switch Finder:
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=17940

Nitro322's Universal Extractor:
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=62418

RegShot & UNDOReg:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download965.html

Download link for InCTRL5:
http://www.devhood.com/tools/tool_detai ... ool_id=432

Siginet · Post by **Siginet** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 1:48 pm

Updated. Thanks Mrs Peel!

I was looking everywhere for a download link for INCTRL5... glad you found one.

Post by **5eraph** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:22 pm

Would anyone be interested in posting a tutorial for MSI hacking/tweaking? I've been looking for what seems like ages, but I can never seem to find anything that sufficiently describes the process for me.

Specifically, I'd like to create customized installations of MSN Messenger to include my own tweaks, and Diskeeper 10 to make fully silent. I'd also like to incorporate updated files in each. Any help would be appreciated.

DisabledTrucker · Post by **DisabledTrucker** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 7:38 am

I think there are several on MSFN.ORG that deal with working with MSI files, but I'm not sure how well they are written or how much information they delve into.

DisabledTrucker · Post by **DisabledTrucker** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:07 am

How about this one, Siginet:

Problem Solving Flowsheet for Broken Addon Packs

DisabledTrucker · Post by **DisabledTrucker** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 10:06 pm

More tutorials for your list there Siginet, [Tutorial] Creating ISO files and burning w/ImgBurn

( [Tutorial]Converting Bashrat's DP's to ADDON's thread is now gone, sorry folks.

)

DisabledTrucker · Post by **DisabledTrucker** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 3:40 pm

I take it my "[Tutorial]Converting Bashrat's DP's to ADDON's" wasn't appropriate?

Kelsenellenelvian · Post by **Kelsenellenelvian** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 3:44 pm

I am sorry but I deleted it. While I may have been brash in doing so but I personally had great concerns about it and was approached by others on the board.

I am sorry for any offense I may sent towards you...

DisabledTrucker · Post by **DisabledTrucker** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 7:10 pm

No offense taken, jus wondered where it went I wasn't even told anything about it, and went looking for it and couldn't find it.

Post by **RyanVM** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 8:09 pm

DT, the thread was deleted without my consent. As far as I'm concerned, until I hear otherwise from Bashrat on the matter (and I should think you would all realize that I'm in contact with most of the big contributers on MSFN), the thread is fine by me. I don't personally see a problem with simply posting directions for how to modify his work for use in an addon pack so long as users are still directed to Bashrat's site for downloading and people are aware of the fact that creating an addon pack is 100% unsupported and they shouldn't expect any help or sympathy from Bashrat if things go haywire.

DT, if you want to remake the thread, it's fine with me. Bashrat knows how to talk to me if he has a problem with it.

DisabledTrucker · Post by **DisabledTrucker** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:43 pm

Thanks Ryan

But since there apparently was some problems with it that weren't even mentioned to me, I'll just let it be, I don't want to raise a fuss over something so trivial.

~DT~

DisabledTrucker · Post by **DisabledTrucker** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 4:04 am

This excellent 7-zip Tutorial by Keytotime should also be added to the list.

Mrs Peel · Post by **Mrs Peel** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:23 am

Hey siggie wiggie, this post of Xables needed to be in this list too, but it's been un-stickied and I can't seem to find it with the search engine....

Collective list of Txtsetup.sif directory codes

That post was my addon bible, whew just as well I saved a local copy

Xable · Post by **Xable** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:08 am

I removed it because it`s obsolete, the integrator now checks for conflicting txtsetup dir codes.

Mrs Peel · Post by **Mrs Peel** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 5:33 pm

Another for the useful tools section Siggles....

Driver Compressor: Compress drivers to save space on removable media
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=35869

Hat tip to boooggy for sharing the link

DisabledTrucker · Post by **DisabledTrucker** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 5:29 am

Mrs Peel wrote:Hey siggie wiggie, this post of Xables needed to be in this list too, but it's been un-stickied and I can't seem to find it with the search engine....

Collective list of Txtsetup.sif directory codes

That post was my addon bible, whew just as well I saved a local copy

All you have to do is open your txtsetup.sif file prior to modifying it with any addons to get this information. Most of the other entries that were in that list that was up was obsolete anyways.

Kelsenellenelvian · Post by **Kelsenellenelvian** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 6:31 am

It IS nice to have a clean reference though without having to search through you i386 folder.

vier · Post by **vier** » Fri May 12, 2006 7:57 am

I search code for "Documents and Settings" in INf file, like 16422 for "Program Files" ?

ViVa · Post by **ViVa** » Fri May 12, 2006 8:00 am

http://gosh.msfn.org/Files/DirIds.txt ?

vier · Post by **vier** » Fri May 12, 2006 8:03 am

I search in this file and no present, just all dir for %userprofile% and %alluserprofile%, I would like just "Documents and Settings"

vier · Post by **vier** » Fri May 12, 2006 8:09 am

Perhaps %53% : User profile directory ?

Or %53% is the same %16424% = %userprofile%

It's possible to use this ?
"%HomeDrive%\Documents and Settings"

Post by **RyanVM** » Sat May 13, 2006 11:26 am

Try "%16424%\.."

Siginet · Post by **Siginet** » Sat May 13, 2006 1:19 pm

I was thinking something around the same lines... but I wasn't sure if ".." worked in an inf file so I didn't mention it.

thx Ryan!

vier · Post by **vier** » Fri May 19, 2006 7:41 am

I have found a solution for my problem and iontegrate in CréateurAddOn v2.0.0 !

bushhog · Post by **bushhog** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 1:37 pm

This sure isn't for a layperson....I tried this with Nero and Norton and the computer laughed at me!

Siginet · Post by **Siginet** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 1:55 pm

bushhog wrote:This sure isn't for a layperson....I tried this with Nero and Norton and the computer laughed at me!

Try starting with small programs first.

bushhog · Post by **bushhog** » Sun Jun 11, 2006 3:19 pm

Yeah, thanks...that would be the smart thing to do. I know nothing at all about programming, but I'm trying to learn. I'm just trying to add Nero and Norton to my unattended cd and then I can die a happy man...lol

n7Epsilon · Post by **n7Epsilon** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:34 am

Hi Siginet,
Could you please add Reg2Inf converter to the list of useful tools in this thread ?

The link is in my signature

, Thanks a lot.

MrNxDmX · Post by **MrNxDmX** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 9:35 pm

DisabledTrucker wrote:This excellent 7-zip Tutorial by Keytotime should also be added to the list.

agreed. under tutorials. maybe you've forgotten this.

ENU_user · Post by **ENU_user** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:53 pm

http://gosh.msfnhosting.com/txtsetup.htm
http://gosh.msfn.org/index.htm

these links dont work for me anyone (can confirm ) know of a mirror

MrNxDmX · Post by **MrNxDmX** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 6:22 pm

http://gosh.msfnhosting.com/txtsetup.htm
this one is online now,
but http://gosh.msfn.org/ is not reachable, thats interesting...

T D · Post by **T D** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 9:37 am

How about my Replace Windows programs with 3rd party ones tutorial?
If anyone can make the title shorter, pls do so!

bushhog · Post by **bushhog** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 8:20 pm

How can I test my newly made add-ons before I intergrate them to my XPCD

ricktendo64 · Post by **ricktendo64** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 8:28 pm

Use this method in the video to test your Switches http://files.filefront.com/making_an_ad ... einfo.html

If you use nlaom to make your addons just decompress it and run the installer in the svpack folder and see if the switch works (nlaom makes silent switch installers)
nLite Addon Maker

marzsyndrome · Post by **marzsyndrome** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 6:51 pm

Is there a good guide at all on how to make Control Panel extensions, or CPLs/CPIs? A search of the board didn't come up with anything.

zakum · Post by **zakum** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 6:55 pm

[quote="ricktendo64"]Use this method in the video to test your Switches
How to Make Addons , VIDEO

I tried the link video but its dead

ricktendo64 · Post by **ricktendo64** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 7:14 pm

Search here on this page
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?sho ... 6&hl=video

Video http://files.filefront.com/making_an_ad ... einfo.html

zakum · Post by **zakum** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 7:17 pm

Cheers mate

ENU_user · Post by **ENU_user** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 1:39 pm

anyone know why gosh's site went down ? :strange:

Post by **RyanVM** » Sat Sep 30, 2006 2:27 pm

According to xper, it's gone for good

. I wanted to mirror it here, but he won't send me the files w/o gosh's permission, which isn't going to happen.

I do still have a local copy of DirIDs.txt, so if anybody wants it, feel free to PM me.

n7Epsilon · Post by **n7Epsilon** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 2:21 am

Here's a google cache for the part of gosh's website which explains adding custom INFs (like HIVESYS.INF and HIVESFT.INF)

Google's cached page
Thread @ MSFN.org by raskren about TXTSETUP.SIF files syntax

I will keep looking around and puttings links when I find any info.

Post by **5eraph** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 2:55 am

The Wayback Machine has an archive of gosh's site, but it has to be accessed page by page.

Post by **RyanVM** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 8:04 am

I may end up mirroring gosh's site yet, though it's not set in stone ATM.

ricktendo64 · Post by **ricktendo64** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 12:15 am

FYI Guys Gosh is back up http://gosh.msfn.org/

The link at the top works also

EDIT: Somebody save and mirror the entire thing plz

Post by **5eraph** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 12:19 am

Thanks for the headsup. ricktendo64.

MrNxDmX · Post by **MrNxDmX** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:08 pm

FGCBA should be added under Useful Tools

and i second that:

DisabledTrucker wrote:This excellent 7-zip Tutorial by Keytotime should also be added to the list.

ENU_user · Post by **ENU_user** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:31 am

anyone know whats a directive in txtsetup.sif for adding a file to %systemdrive%

ricktendo64 · Post by **ricktendo64** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:00 pm

ENU_user wrote:anyone know whats a directive in txtsetup.sif for adding a file to %systemdrive%

I don't think there is one, the closest you can get it 1 = "" but thats the WINDOWS folder (I don't think you can create a custom one either)

BTW Siginet here is another nice INF Tutorial with a bunch of new tricks such as:
INF Uninstall Prompt
Run Post and Pre Setup Commands plus allot more

Download INF_DOC