Showing posts with label windows xp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label windows xp. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Playing Star Wars Rogue Squadron 3D in full HD...

Having to use modern OS such as Windows 10 means no classic games. I have an old game installer of Star Wars Rogue Squadron 3D.

Since I love the game so much, the solution:
Windows XP in VMWare.

Unfortunately, the game can be play on 1024x768 resolution max.

Luckily there's a patch for it.
Download it from here.

- Extract the zip file and run uniws.exe.
- Click Find it for me button, or you can search Rogue Squadron.EXE manually.
- Set New Resolution to 1920x1080 then click Patch button.
- Run Rogue Squadron, go to settings -> video and choose the custom resolution that has been patched.
- To revert back the patch, click Undo Patch button.
- Done! Enjoy the game.

UniWS patcher

Rogue Squadron 3D video settings

Game play screen

Note:
Since this is a virtual machine we're talking about, theoretically it should be fine in Ubuntu as host OS. However after installing VMWare Tools especially SVGA driver, Windows XP loads on blank screen with sound. For now, I just have the virtual machine under Windows 10.

Update - 21/09/2019:
I'm able to solve the VMWare Tools installation after run the command below on Ubuntu host OS.
sudo apt install libncursesw5

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Converting XP into kiosk...

Screenshots...


Last week I've been assigned with mini project on how to setup a kiosk machine (well, sort of). Instead of spending money for the right tool (which could save time), the manager kept pushing for the free alternative route. The worst part is, company web portal can only be access via IE7+ (common case for local company) which means no Linux on the list.

The only option that I have in hand was to use Windows XP with IE8. To strip down the OS features it would be easy to use Group Policy (gpedit.msc) however the changes will affect all users. So whether I want it or not, I need to tweak the registry for kiosk user. I've set the machine with two users:

1) administrator - for pc maintenance
2) demo - kiosk user

For now, kiosk user is in admin group. Log into the machine as kiosk user and hide the icon from desktop via right click menu. Then open the registry (run -> regedit). Here's the steps:

1) Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\ and add DWORD values below (leave NoRun = 0 for now, change it to 1 once everything is done)
NoStartMenuMFUprogramsList = 1
NoStartMenuMorePrograms = 1
NoWindowsUpdate = 1
NoStartMenuMyMusic = 1
NoSMMyPictures = 1
NoFavoritesMenu = 1
NoRecentDocsMenu = 1
DisableMyPicturesDirChange = 1
DisableMyMusicDirChange = 1
DisableFavoritesDirChange = 1
NoSMMyDocs = 1
DisablePersonalDirChange = 1
ClearRecentDocsOnExit = 1
NoNetworkConnections = 1
NoStartMenuNetworkPlaces = 1
NoRecentDocsNetHood = 1
NoSMHelp = 1
NoFind = 1
NoResolveSearch = 1
NoResolveTrack = 1
StartMenuLogoff = 1
NoStartMenuEjectPC = 1
NoChangeStartMenu = 1
NoSetTaskbar = 1
NoInstrumentation = 1
NoUserNameInStartMenu = 1
NoToolbarsOnTaskbar = 1
NoViewContextMenu = 1
NoSMConfigurePrograms = 1
NoTrayItemsDisplay = 1
NoTrayContextMenu = 1
Nologoff = 1
NoSetFolders = 1
NoRun = 0

2) In the same location, change value for NoDriveTypeAutoRun to b1

3) Now add two keys (NonEnum and System) under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\. I'll have a structure like below
HKEY_CURRENT_USER
        \Software
            \Microsoft
                \Windows
                    \CurrentVersion
                        \Policies
                            \Explorer
                            \NonEnum
                            \System

4) Remove "My Computer" from Startup Menu, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum\ and add DWORD value below (don't ask me why it's been named with guid)
{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} = 1

5) Disable "Task Bar" and "Lock Workstation", go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System and add DWORD values
DisableTaskMgr = 1
DisableLockWorkstation = 1

6) Disable BalloonTip, hide "Control Panel" and hide "Printers and Faxes", go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\ and add DWORD values
ShowInfoTip = 0
StartButtonBalloonTip = 0
Start_ShowControlPanel = 0
Start_ShowPrinters = 0

7) Disable "System Standby", go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ACPI\Parameters\ and add DWORD value
Attributes = 70

8) Disable "Window Key" and "F1", go to \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout\ and add Binary value below
Scancode Map = 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,50,E0,5B,E0,48,E0,3B,00,00,00,00,00

Reboot the machine and test the changes. Once everything okay, re-open regedit and change the value for NoRun to 1

To strip features from IE (such as SaveAs, Print etc), log into the machine as admin and set it via Group Policy (gpedit.msc). Finally, remove kiosk user (demo) from Administrators and add it into Guests and Remote Desktop Users group. Now I have a so called kiosk machine.

Welcome to my outdated world!!!

Update (18/04/2011)
After putting so much efforts into making this a reality, I've stumbled upon this link on How to Put Windows XP in Kiosk Mode. Though I haven't try it yet, but the solution is damn simple. Argh!!!! I'm pulling off my hair now...