Virtual CloneDrive 5.5.2.0

[mooms]

Virtual CloneDrive works and behaves just like a physical CD/DVD drive, however it exists only virtually. Image files generated with CloneDVD or CloneCD can be mounted onto a virtual drive from your hard-disk or from a network drive and used in the same manner as inserting them into a normal CD/DVD drive.

Probably the best virtual drive software, Virtual CloneDrive allows you to enjoy the freedom of a virtual drive and is completely free.

Features

• Supports all common image formats such as ISO, BIN, CCD
• Supports up to 8 virtual drives at the same time
• Easy to use - just double-click an image file to mount as a drive
• Virtual CloneDrive is freeware, you may use it at no cost.

 

SFX features:

- Compatible WinToolkit
- Multilanguage.
- Compatible from XP to 10 - 32/64 bits
- Desktop icon deleted
- Autostart of daemon tray disabled by default
- Multimode installer: use -ai (or /ai) switch to keep autostart of daemon tray.

Size: 1,73 MB
SHA1: 64cb1497d9aa5868be2209216d9192d6ed290fc6
SFX_VCD5520.exe

[RicaNeaga]

Great work! Thanks.

I want to have a custom installer installer as described here, and I've found out the needed .reg entries. My ''question'' is this - do you want me to give you the .reg entries and please make another custom .7z installer, or can you please give me / post here the contents of the config / .bat for your current .7z installer (I see there's also a .cert file in there, probably signing the driver)?

Oh, and BTW - the current (and probably the last version of Virtual CloneDrive - I don't think we'll see updates for it) isn't fully compatible with windows 8 - it doesn't mount image files from network drives. Maybe it would be a good idea to mention this in the first post.

[mooms]

Hi RicaNega. don't you know 7z SFX Archive splitter? With it you can split any 7zip sfx into 3 files: the sfx, the config (txt file) and the 7z archive.

Here is the content of the config file:

;!@Install@!UTF-8!
GUIMode="2"
MiscFlags="4"
RunProgram="hidcon:cmd /c certutil -addstore \"TrustedPublisher\" EB.cer"
RunProgram="VCD5450.exe /S /noreboot"
RunProgram="hidcon:cmd /c del /f /q \"%PUBLIC%\\Desktop\\Virtual CloneDrive.lnk\""
;!@InstallEnd@!

As you can see the desktop icon is deleted and the cert is indeed to sign the driver to avoid popup.

For your other requests:

make sure the unneeded options ''keep history of recently mounted images'' and ''show icon tray'' options aren't selected/pre-ticked by default.

I know for sure that the program tray can be disabled, not only hidden, so i think the only key to add is for deleting the startup entry.

We can use RegShot Unicode (own mirror as the official site is gone) to capture the needed key in a reg and/or inf file, (located in C:\HIVE) this should do the trick:

Inf format:

[Version]
Signature=$Windows NT$
Class=Base

[DefaultInstall.NT]
DelReg=ShotA.new

[ShotA.new]
HKLM,SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run,"VirtualCloneDrive"

REG format:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"VirtualCloneDrive"=-

Can also be done in command line:

reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /v VirtualCloneDrive /f

It's up to you to choose the way to do it!

Edited November 17, 2012 by mooms

[RicaNeaga]

First of all thank you for the reply and sorry for my late feedback. I had very little spare time lately.

About some tools - I don't make a hobby out of making custom installers, so no, I'm unfamiliar probably with many tool that you are. However, I'm familiar with other, that maybe will help in this case. For example RegFromApp, which I think it's superior to RegShot that everyone seems to be using.

In this case, the thing I wanted are done through registry, to be more specific the following one:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Elaborate Bytes\VirtualCloneDrive]

"ShellFileExtensions"=".ccd/.dvd/.img/.iso/.udf/.bin/.nrg"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.img]

"Application"="VCDMount.exe"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.udf]

"Application"="VCDMount.exe"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.bin]

""="elby.VCDMount.1"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.nrg]

"Application"="VCDMount.exe"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Elaborate Bytes\VirtualCloneDrive]

"VirtualSheep"=dword:00000001

"EjectUnmounts"=dword:00000000

"KeepHistory"=dword:00000000

"AutoMount"=dword:00000000

"bufferedIO"=dword:00000000

"ShowTrayIcon"=dword:00000000

"NumberOfDrives"=dword:00000002

When I said...

associate with all supported extensions (.ccd, .dvd, .iso, .img, .udf, .bin, and also .nrg - it's ok with video or data .nrg files, only audio .nrg audio cd's are the problem), and also make sure the unneeded options ''keep history of recently mounted images'' and ''show icon tray'' options aren't selected/pre-ticked by default.

... everything is contained by that registry entries I posted, so the idea of yours to not run the Virtual Clone Drive service may be unfortunate, I think it's more elegant to only disable it from the program's options through the mentioned "ShowTrayIcon"=dword:00000000 reg entry.

But thanks for the idea, I apreciate it, and maybe you could help me in making things easier for me (I only try to make custom .7z installers when there are no other publicly available alternatives) by answering this two questions:

1. I add that .reg entries by making it first an .exe file through Reg2exe, and then running the reg.exe through the .7z config file. Can you think of a more elegant and transparent solutions in this case (with many .reg entries)?

2. Do you know why SFXMaker isn't compatible with for example the following .7z installer .config file? I'm forced to use 7z SFX Builder, that is compatible with it...

;!@Install@!UTF-8!

InstallPath="%SYSTEMDRIVE%"

RunProgram="%SYSTEMDRIVE%\\copy.bat"

RunProgram="%SYSTEMDRIVE%\\vlc-2.0.4-win32.exe /L=1033 /S"

Delete="%SYSTEMDRIVE%\\vlc-2.0.4-win32.exe"

Delete="%SYSTEMDRIVE%\\copy.bat"

Delete="%SYSTEMDRIVE%\\vlc"

;!@InstallEnd@!

I though that maybe I was using smth wrong in that entries, although, once again, it's fully compatible with 7z SFX Builder. Do you have a better solution, other than 7z SFX Builder and SFXMaker?

[mooms]

Hi RicaNeaga,

I'm not really a silent installer specialist, it's just a hobby, but i will try to answer you:

Beside SFX Maker that you already know, you will maybe like to try 7-Zip SFX Maker.

i do know RegFromApp, in fact i have used it before discovering RegShot, it is also in my utilities AddOn that i share here: [AddOn] Utilitaires.

I'm curious of the reasons you think it is better than RegShot, in my opinion RehShot is more powerful, as it can see the whole registry, not only one app, and it also can export in inf format, something that RegFromApp can't do.

However I don't know Reg2exe, thanks to mentioning it, have to try it some day !

I rarely use SFX (or AddOn) makers, i have tested a few and they generate sub optimal config files in my opinion so I prefer to populate the config file myself, it's a good practice !

About registry entries, there is many ways to add them with a sfx:

The most simple way i'm aware:

regedit /s RegFile.reg

Can be run directly from the sfx, or by a batch/cmd file called by the sfx

There is also the possibility to add the registry entries directly from the cmd, or even directly from the sfx config file because

RunProgram="hidcon:cmd /c

Will run a hidden CMD shell, and as you can see in my config file, you can directly enter some command lines in the config file (But with some subtle differences in the syntax, so it may be more simple to do all the command in a .bat/cmd file run by the sfx)

RunProgram="hidcon:cmd /c del /f /q \"%PUBLIC%\\Desktop\\Virtual CloneDrive.lnk\""

is equivalent to

del /f /q "%PUBLIC%\Desktop\Virtual CloneDrive.lnk"

in a batch file. (you can see the syntax is slightly different )

I think your config file parameters is wrong, if your installer (VLC in this case) is in the sfx archive, you can run it this way:

RunProgram="vlc-2.0.4-win32.exe /L=1033 /S"

No need to add variables, the sfx will run it from a temporary folder and it will be deleted after execution so no need for deletion command neither in this case.

7 ZIP SFX is very powerfull especially if you use the modified module. (syntax is explained and some examples on this site)

I also often open the sfx made by others (with 7zip split) and i try to understand what each command will do, it's the best way to learn.

[RicaNeaga]

Thank you very much for all the info. Much appreciated!

About RegFromApp, I don't know when you've used it last time, I find it to be more ''precise'' when it comes to registry - all I wanted was the reg entries modified by a certain app. To make a comparison, I think that for my goal, RegFromApp is much like some tweezers, while RegShot is like a shovel.

I'll be back with the finished custom installer, hope you won't mind I'll post it in this thread - maybe I'll need some further advice.

[mooms]

No, go ahead.

 

 

edit: hum, maybe my response was misunderstood, (not always easy to be understood in english)

 

I meant, no problem, you can post it !

[mooms]

I have found why the autostart entrie have not been removed in my tests:

 

the correct snytax for sfx module is

RunProgram="\"regedit\" /S delreg.reg"

Already updated the XP AddOn with this, will do this one later.

[Methanoid]

Could this be updated please to 5.4.6.0 (current version)? Thanks.

[mooms]

Updated to 5.4.6.0

- Autostart of daemon tray is now disabled by default
- Multimode installer: use -ai (or /ai) switch to keep autostart of daemon tray.
- Instead of RunProgram="hidcon:cmd /c del /f /q \"%PUBLIC%\\Desktop\\Virtual CloneDrive.lnk\"" the sfx now runs Delete="%CommonDesktop%\\Virtual CloneDrive.lnk" that makes the sfx fully compatible with XP

[Thiersee]

VirtualCloneDrive 5.4.7.0 is actual. http://www.slysoft.com/en/download.html

 

Please Update.

 

TNX, Thiersee

[mooms]

Updated to 5.4.7.0

[Thiersee]

Danke!

Merci!

Thank you!

[oguz]

 

The last time i tested your VirtualColneDrive, it asked for user approval (check box) for setup "xxx.driver" to the system during installation. It necessitated manual "ok". So, the instant process was not silent. I did not prefer because of this. Is the situation the same?

 

Is it possible to make driver setup approval auto or silent?

This should not be the case.

The SFX of Virtual Clone Drive silently import the cert of Slysoft precisely to avoid the "Driver approval" pop-up.

Please test again and report the results (with useful infos like OS used)  in appropriate thread.

 

 

Hi @mooms,

I have just tested your VirtualCloneDrive. It was installed silently without a problem this time. It added virtual drivers to the system after logout.

 

However, there is an interesting thing. VirtualCloneDrive cannot be seen anywhere in the system including shortcuts, Start Menu-Programs, Program Add-Remove. Even Revo Uninstaller did not see it. VirtualCloneDrive cannot be seen anywhere to uninstall. It is like a ghost in the system :g:

 

System: Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64, English.

Edited January 24, 2014 by oguz

[mooms]

Seems not installed or misinstalled.
Try to run it again. Protip: you can use the switch -ai to keep the autostart of the daemon tray.
 
Updated the SFX:

 

- The icon of Virtual CloneDrive is now used in the SFX.

- Deletion of the autostart of Daemon tray is now done in command line.

- Daemon tray is now killed after installation.

[oguz]

Hi @mooms,

I have just tested your VirtualCloneDrive again. VirtualCloneDrive adds many shortcuts to "Start Menu-Programs" and it looks in "Program Add-Remove" without any problems.

If possible, can you remake the sfx "without shortcuts in Start Menu-Programs" and with below settings?

 

 

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Elaborate Bytes\VirtualCloneDrive]
"VirtualSheep"=dword:00000001
"EjectUnmounts"=dword:00000001
"KeepHistory"=dword:00000000
"AutoMount"=dword:00000000
"ShowTrayIcon"=dword:00000000 (its alredy exist)
"NumberOfDrives"=dword:00000001
 

Edited January 27, 2014 by oguz

[mooms]

@oguz:

 

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

 

You should learn how to remake the sfx yourself, this way you can always adapt it to fit your needs.

See here to learn how to make a 7zip SFX.

You can also use 7zip split to split the SFX and make the changes in the config file and the 7zip archive.

 

Here is the config file, the lines in bold are the changes you want to add:

;!@Install@!UTF-8!
GUIMode="2"
MiscFlags="4"
RunProgram="hidcon:cmd /c certutil -addstore \"TrustedPublisher\" EB.cer"
RunProgram="VCD5470.exe /S /noreboot"
RunProgram="hidcon:cmd /c reg delete \"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\" /v VirtualCloneDrive /f"
RunProgram="hidcon:cmd /c taskkill /f /im VCDDaemon.exe"

RunProgram="\"regedit\" /S your_reg_file.reg"
AutoInstall="hidcon:cmd /c certutil -addstore \"TrustedPublisher\" EB.cer"
AutoInstall="VCD5470.exe /S /noreboot"
AutoInstall="hidcon:cmd /c taskkill /f /im VCDDaemon.exe"
AutoInstall="\"regedit\" /S your_reg_file.reg"

Delete="%CommonDesktop%\\Virtual CloneDrive.lnk"
Delete="%7zSfxFolder23%\\Elaborate Bytes"
;!@InstallEnd@!

 

Extract the content of the SFX in a folder, add your reg file inside, then run these commands (copy the content in a text file and change the extension to .cmd)

7za a vcd.7z ".\VCD\*" -mx=5copy /b 7zsd.sfx + config.txt + vcd.7z SFX_VCD5470.exedel /f /q "vcd.7z"

7za.exe should be in the same folder. You can also create the 7zip archive with 7zip gui, then the first line is not needed.

 

VCD is the name of the folder that contains the files. Adapt the names.

[Kees030]

@mooms

 

Thanks for your SFX and explanation how to remake it. I've been fishing for few days now, however still no fish  :doh:  Please help :please:

I'm trying to get a SFX with 3 Drives, VirtualSheep, SaveHistory and ShowTrayIcon. Here is what I did (Win7Pro-x64):

 

1. made VCD.reg:

 

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Elaborate Bytes\VirtualCloneDrive]
"VirtualSheep"=dword:00000001
"EjectUnmounts"=dword:00000000
"KeepHistory"=dword:00000001
"AutoMount"=dword:00000000
"ShowTrayIcon"=dword:00000001
"NumberOfDrives"=dword:00000003
"VCDDriveMask"=dword:000000e0
 

2. made config.txt

 

;!@Install@!UTF-8!
GUIMode="2"
MiscFlags="4"
RunProgram="hidcon:cmd /c certutil -addstore \"TrustedPublisher\" EB.cer"
RunProgram="VCD5470.exe /S /noreboot1:03 3-6-2015"
RunProgram="\"regedit\" /S VCD.reg"
Delete="%CommonDesktop%\\Virtual CloneDrive.lnk"
;!@InstallEnd@!

 

3. Made MakeSFX.cmd en executed it:

 

7za a vcd.7z ".\VCD5470\*" -mx=5
copy /b 7zsd.sfx + config.txt + vcd.7z SFX_VCD5470.exe
del /f /q "vcd.7z"

 

4. Then I executed the generated SFX_VCD5470.exe.

 

Result:

-TrayIcon is present and right click shows 3 Stations

-Clicking settings shows number off drives=1 and Virtual Sheep unchecked

-In the registry (HKCU\Software\Elaborate Bytes\VirtualCloneDrive) I just get VCDDriveMask key.

 

After running "VCD.reg /s" all keys were added and settings are as they ought to be, so it seems to me VCD.reg is OK. It just isn't processed during SFX.

 

How can this be solved?

Edited June 2, 2015 by Kees030

[mooms]

Since you do not kill the daemon tray, do you have tried to restart the computer after running the SFX ?

Wich SFX module are you using ? Try this one.
Also, what's the purpose and meaning of "VCD5470.exe /S /noreboot1:03 3-6-2015" ? why adding the date ?
 

right click shows 3 Stations

What is that ?

 

 

You can also try to add the keys by cmd commands, example with the autostart deletion:

RunProgram="hidcon:cmd /c reg delete \"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Run\" /v VirtualCloneDrive /f"

See this for the syntax.

 

and also a warning about 7zip SFX syntax:

 

IMPORTANT! Certain two-symbol sequences in the Value are parsed as follows:

• \\ = \
• \" = "
• \n = caret return
• \t = tabulation (TAB)

As a result, you MUST use DOUBLE backslashes (\\) wherever you normally use backslashes (\) (e.g. in paths or dialog texts). Similarly, if the Value contains double quotes ("), you MUST precede them with a backslash (\").

[Kees030]

@mooms: Thank you for your quick response :prop:

 

-I used "7zsd_160_2712.7z"  following your link in #17 (See here to learn how to make a 7zip SFX.).

 

-I wasn't aware date was added. My mistake; it must have happened accidentally when copying and pasting into the wrong Window :confused02:

 

-right click shows 3 Stations (=Virtual Drives): After running the SFX I clicked on the VCD TrayIcon. It showed a menu with Settings, Help, Station F:, Station G: and Station H:. That was according to value in VCD.reg ("NumberOfDrives"=dword:00000003). However, Clicking settings showed number of drives=1 and there was no "NumberOfDrives" in the Registry.

 

-I basically used your config from #3 and added "RunProgram="\"regedit\" /S your_reg_file.reg" from #17. When I manually ran "VCD.reg /s" directly after running the SFX I did not kill the daemon tray and everything was OK. So I guessed I didn't need the taskkill line.

 

 

SOLVED :dancing: VCD.reg was in the folder with config.txt and MakeSFX.cmd. After moving VCD.reg to the VCD folder it worked. It appears I've been fishing with the hook in the boat instead of in the water :doh:

Edited June 4, 2015 by Kees030

[mooms]

I have tested your config in virtual machine (Win7 x64) and it works, only obvious difference is the module version (it is 150_2712).

Try it yourself:

 

SFX_VCD5470_Kees030.rar

MD5: 07ead9431b0515f7a8b9f744354cf632

[bphlpt]

It seems Kees030 solved his issue by where his VCD.reg was located.  (See above in his last post on the previous page. )

 

Cheers and Regards

[mooms]

Ah, I see, he edited his post after I answered....Thanks bphlpt.

[Kees030]

@mooms

 

Thanks for your help and the personalized SFX. I saw your answer only today. I did some comparison and testing:

• I didn't have the line with taskkill (yet it worked as well) and kept the delete .lnk line
• After extracting your rar and running vcd.cmd I got a SFX with size 59.155
• Additonal extracting of SFX_VCD5470.exe to \VCD made no difference
• When I added 7za.exe I got a SFX with same size as yours
• With your 7zsd.sfx I get a SFX with Virtual Sheep icon :icon_cool: . The one I had gives a 7zSFX icon.

Is the icon creation a standard behavior of your 7zsd.sfx or did you modify it?

Edited June 5, 2015 by Kees030

[Thiersee]

I just finished a repack using the mooms-rar-archive from post #21.

I splitted the SFX_VCD5470, put the content in the folder \VCD, changed the .reg for my purposes and started the vcd.cmd: no problem at all, it works to my satisfaction.

 

The folder-structure:

 

BTW, with the (original?) sfx-module I don't get the Virtual Sheep for the SFX_Installer too.

Edited June 5, 2015 by Thiersee