Archive for the ‘Windows 7’ Category
Free Keyboard Filter Driver for Windows Embedded Standard 7
I have created a keyboard filter driver for Windows Embedded Standard 7 (32-bit & 64-bit) which allows you to block unwanted keys and key combinations.
The configuration of these key combinations is done via the command line tool kbfmgr. With it you can block any key and key combination by entering the scancodes of the keys.
The tool is free and can be downloaded on the Elbacom website: www.elbacom.com/embedded/products/tools/kbfd
It also works for Desktop versions of Windows 7.
VMLauncher and Virtual PC RTM (Advanced Integration of XP Mode)
Today Windows Virtual PC RTM has been released to MSDN subscribers. I just upgraded my RC version to the RTM and tested VMLauncher.
The Result: VMLauncher will also work with the final version of Windows Virtual PC.
You can download the free tool here and find more information about it here.
BootVHD
Download (v.0.9)
I wrote a command-line tool which allows you to easily add, remove or update your bootmanager configuration to use VHD files.
The tool will only work if you have a system with only VHD boot (no Win7 system installed directly!)
How to use it
The tool uses the following command line arguments:
BootVHD.exe –Install –VHD Win7Emb.vhd
No Argument Displays all installed VHDs
-Install Installs the VHD specified with the -VHD switch.")
-Name Sets the name for the bootentry.")
Works only together with the -Install switch.")
-Delete Deletes the VHD specified with the -VHD switch.")
-VHD Filename of the VHD file.")
Can be located in the working directory of this program.")
Can be located in the root directory of the boot partition."
-Default Sets the specified VHD as the default bootentry.")
VHD can be specified via the -VHD switch or ")
use this switch together with the -Install switch.")
-Replace Replaces the default bootentry with the specified VHD.")
VHD can be specified via the -VHD switch or ")
use this switch together with the -Install switch.")
Easy Deployment
The tool can be used as well for the easy deployment or update of new image versions in Windows Embedded Standard 2011 (Windows 7 Embedded).
For example if you have installed the Embedded OS in a VHD file (as shown in my previous post) you can easily upgrade your application or the whole image and then put the modified VHD file to an USB drive. The installation is then really easy. All you need to do is run a batchfile.
The BootVHD tool will copy the new VHD over to the bootpartition and can update the bootmanager to boot the new image by default.
Batchsample
BootVHD.exe –Install –VHD NewVersion.vhd –Name “Version 2.0” -default
With this call the NewVersion.vhd gets copied to the boot partition and an bootmanager entry with the name “Version 2.0” is being created.
The new entry is also the default boot entry.
This way you can do an easy deployment of a new version and in case something is wrong with it you can go back to the previous version by just selecting it in the bootmenu.
Download (v.0.9)
Advanced Integration of Virtual PC 7 / XP Mode
Free Download: VMlauncher.zip (Version 0.9)
VMLauncher allows you to open any file or folder from your local host system in a specified Virtual Machine.
This improves the integration of Windows Virtual PC.
There is no need anymore to open the Virtual Machine in Desktop Mode to install a new application!
You can open any program, file or folder directly from your Windows 7 Desktop.
Just right click on the application, file or folder and select the “Open in Virtual Machine” and it will open in the selected Virtual Machine but will run directly on your Windows 7 Desktop.
Example: You want to install a new program in XP Mode (Virtual Machine).
Just right click onto the Setup file and select "Open in XP Mode".
The setup will start directly in the XP Mode Virtual Machine but will run on the Windows 7 Desktop.
For example you can create your own Sandbox OS.
Just enable Undo Disk on your XP Mode PC and you can install any software right from the Windows 7 Context Menu.
If you get tired of the software just clear the undo disk.
Requirements – Host System
- Windows 7
- Windows Virtual PC 7 RC
- .NET Framework 3.5 SP1
Requirements – Guest System
- Integration Features installed
- Integration Features activated
- Visual Basic 6.0 Runtime
- MSXML 3.0
Installation – Host System
- Extract the files to any folder with write permission on your pc
- Run the VMLauncher.exe
Installation – Guest System
- Copy the VMLauncher.exe from the Client folder to any folder in the Virtual Machine
- Run the VMLauncher.exe in the Virtual Machine
- Answer the appearing messagebox with yes to install the software
How to use
- Open the VMLauncher.exe on the host system
- Check the Virtual Machines in the list on the left side which should appear in the context menu
- Click Apply to update the context menu
Now you can right click on any file in Windows Explorer and select "Open in xxxxxx" and the file will open in the selected Virtual Machine.
Function description
Refresh
This will refresh the list of available Virtual Machines. All VMs with VMLauncher.exe from the Client folder installed will appear in this list.
Create Launchfile
This allows you to create a custom launch file. With the custom launch file you can start any application in a specific Virtual Machine.
To create a launch file
– select the Virtual Machine in which the program should from the list above
– enter the full application path into the input dialog (e.g. C:Program FilesInternet Exploreriexplore.exe)
– save the launch file where you can easily access it (e.g. your Desktop or Startmenu)
To run the program in the VM just double click the Launchfile.
Keep Launchfiles
This will keep all the launchfiles created through “Open in xxxxx” in the application folder.
Normally a launchfile gets deleted after it has been executed.
This function is indended for debug reasons only.
Custom created launchfiles (created with the Create Launchfile button) will never be deleted!
Show VMs in folder context menus
This will add the "Open in xxxxxx" context menu entries for the selected VMs also in the context menus of folders.
With this function enabled you can right click any folder and select "Open in xxxx" to open it with the VM’s Windows Explorer.
Always Mount Network Drive
If this option is enabled VMLauncher will always connect a network drive to the host system and open the file through the mounted path. You should use this function if some setup applications do not work (see Mount Network Drive for these filetypes)
Mount Network Drive for these filetypes
VMLauncher will mount a network drive to the host if one of the specified filetypes should be opened in a VM.
For example .msi files will create an error if they are launched through a RDP share (e.g. \tsclientCsetup.msi).
If you add .msi to the list of filetypes the msi file will be launched from the mounted drive and run normally without any error (e.g. R:setup.msi)
Discard & Close
Closes the configuration window without saving the changes
Apply
This will apply the changes and leave the window open
An UAC window will appear – you need to allow it to make the changes
Save & Close
This will apply the changes and close the configuration window
An UAC window will appear – you need to allow it to make the changes
Uninstall – Host System
- Run VMLauncher.exe
- Uncheck all VMs from the list and click Save & Close
- Delete the program
Uninstall – Guest System
- Run the VMLauncher.exe with the argument UNINSTALL
VMLauncher.exe UNINSTALL
- Click Yes
- Delete VMLauncher.exe
Free Download: VMlauncher.zip (Version 0.9)
Creating an encrypted file container using VHD files and BitLocker To Go
With Windows 7 you can create encrypted container files without using any third-party tools.
For example you can create a file named importantdata.vhd which contains sensitive data which can only be opened with the correct password or with your smartcard.
These are the steps to create an encrypted container file:
- Open Disk Management MMC (Start – diskmgmt.msc – Return)
- Click Action – Create VHD
- Enter a filename for the VHD file and specify a size
- Right click on the newly created Disk in the list below and click “Initialize Disk”
- Click OK
- Right click on the unallocated space and select “New Simple Volume…”
- Follow and finish the wizard to format the volume
- Open BitLocker Drive Encyption Control Panel (Start – Bitlocker – Return)
- Click “Turn On BitLocker” right next to the newly created volume on the VHD file in the BitLocker To Go section
- Select “Use a password to unlock the drive” and specifiy a password. Alternatively you can also use a smartcard here.
- Save or print and store your password key to a secure space
- Click “Start Encrypting”
- BitLocker is now encrypting the VHD file
You have now created an encrypted VHD container file which you can attach to your pc or another Win7 pc via the Disk Management console.
Detach the encrypted VHD file
- Open Disk Management MMC (Start – diskmgmt.msc – Return)
- Right click onto the VHD Disk and select “Detach VHD”
- Click OK
Attach the encrypted VHD file
- Open Disk Management MMC (Start – diskmgmt.msc – Return)
- Click Action – “Attach VHD”
- Select the VHD file and click OK
- The BitLocker window will now open to prompt you for the password
Enter the password and click “Unlock”
Easier and more convenient way to attach and detach the VHD
An easier way to attach and detach the VHD is to create a batch file which you can run by just double clicking it.
You will need to create 4 files for it.
Attach VHD
Attach_diskpart.txt
select vdisk file="c:importantdata.vhd"
attach vdisk
Attach.bat
diskpart /s "<fullpath to>Attach_diskpart.txt"
Now you can create a shortcut to the Attach.bat file in the Startmenu which you can just click to attach the file.
Detach VHD
Detach_diskpart.txt
select vdisk file="c:importantdata.vhd"
detach vdisk
Detach.bat
diskpart /s "<fullpath to>Detach_diskpart.txt"
Now you can create a shortcut to the Detach.bat file in the Startmenu which you can just click to detach the file.
Windows 7 – XP Mode on Acer Aspire 7720G
Yesterday I was installing Windows 7 on my Acer Aspire 7720G which is my primary working machine – even though I had Windows 7 RC and Beta running at my home pc since the versions were available.
One big set back was when I installed the current Virtual PC RC onto my notebook – I wasn’t able to create a machine because Acer disabled the Intel VT in the bios and there is no way to change this in the BIOS.
After some research in the web I found a great blog entry on marcan’s blog – special thanks to him for this great tutorial! – on how to enable Intel VT in the BIOS by dumping, modifying and reflashing it.
I also found the modified script file to enable VT for my notebook from MaxL in the comments of the blog – also many thanks for this great script which made it work also for me!
DISCLAIMER / WARNING:
This howto only applies to the Acer Aspire 7720G – your BIOS might be different and you can break your notebook by following these instructions!!
In any case I do not take any responsibility if your notebook does no longer work!!
Follow the howto at your own risk!!
These are the steps how to modify your BIOS:
- download and install Python for Windows (http://www.python.org/)
- download the newest BIOS version 1.45 from the Acer website
- download the vtenable.py file from MaxL
- update the BIOS to the newest version 1.45
- extract the BIOS flash tool executable
- open platform.ini in the flash tool folder
- in the FDFile section enter a filename for the BackupName e.g. dump.fd
[FDFile]
FileName=
BackupName=dump.fd
- save the platform.ini file
- run the InsydeFlash tool and cancel it when it asks to update the BIOS
- the tool has now created a dump of your BIOS named dump.fd
- open a command prompt and run
C:pythonpython.exe C:BIOSdump.fd C:BIOSpatched.fd
This will enable VT in the BIOS settings. The BIOS itself will not be touched only the BIOS settings are updated.
Note: You should not revert the BIOS to the default settings later on as it will disable VT again!
Now it is time to flash back the patched BIOS:
- Undo the changed in the platform.ini of the extracted flash tool (remove the dump.fd filename) and save it again
- copy the filename of the original BIOS version into the clipboard (should be CL50145A.fd)
- delete the original BIOS file (CL50145A.fd)
- delete the dump.fd file
- rename patched.fd to filename in the clipboard (e.g. CL50145A.fd)
- Run InsydeFlash
After that you should be able to run XP Mode and other virtual machines on your notebook.
If you are searching for other Acer models please have a look directly on marcan’s blog – there are several very helpful posts over there.
Special thanks again to marcan and MaxL!
Windows Embedded Blog 