Some Notes on the Machines

Pale Moon portable.

This has some gems in it:

scripts.aaronjstevenson.com/

including a Dell Command Update script which reportedly takes care of all drivers and firmware on Dell non-servers in one swell foop!

The Powershell below, calls all of the tools listed for it here.

if (([Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal][Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent()).IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole] "Administrator"))
    {
    "Running elevated; good."
    ""
    } else {
    "Not running as elevated.  Starting elevated shell."
    Start-Process powershell -WorkingDirectory $PWD.Path -Verb runAs -ArgumentList "-noprofile -noexit -file $PSCommandPath"
    return "Done. This one will now exit."
    ""
    }

Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force

[Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls -bor [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls11 -bor [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12;

Import-Module BitsTransfer

$ps_script_list = @(
    'mma-appx-etc.ps1',
    'TweakMemTCP.ps1',
    'RunDevNodeClean.ps1',
    'wt_removeGhosts.ps1',
    'TweakDrives.ps1',
	'TweakSMB.ps1',
    'OWTAS.ps1',
    'OVSS.ps1',
    'CATE.ps1',
	'TweakHardware.ps1'
    )

$wco = (New-Object System.Net.WebClient)

ForEach ($ps_script in $ps_script_list) {
	$download_url = "http://cbt-tech-lab.centuryks.com/windows-tools/tools/$ps_script"

	""
	"--- Downloading $ps_script... ---"
	Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $download_url -Outfile ".\$ps_script"

	$run_script = ".\$ps_script"

	& $run_script
	Remove-Item ".\$ps_script"
	}

$wco.Dispose()

#end of script

The Powershell below, updates/installs all Microsoft redistributable libraries. The general repository is here.

<#PSScriptInfo

.VERSION 4.2

.GUID 03c695c0-bf45-4257-8156-89310e951140

.AUTHOR Jonathan E. Brickman

.COMPANYNAME Ponderworthy Music

.COPYRIGHT (c) 2024 Jonathan E. Brickman

.TAGS

.LICENSEURI https://opensource.org/licenses/BSD-3-Clause

.PROJECTURI https://github.com/jebofponderworthy/windows-tools

.ICONURI

.EXTERNALMODULEDEPENDENCIES 

.REQUIREDSCRIPTS

.EXTERNALSCRIPTDEPENDENCIES

.RELEASENOTES
GetRedists
Retrieve, and install/update, all missing VC++ redistributable libraries
currently being supported by Microsoft, using the excellent
VcRedist module.

.PRIVATEDATA

#> 

<#

.DESCRIPTION 
GetRedists - Get all current Microsoft VC++ redistributables

#>

Param()


#######################################################################
# GetRedists                                                          #
# v5.0                                                                #
#######################################################################

#
# by Jonathan E. Brickman
#
# Retrieves and installs all of the Microsoft redistributable libraries
# currently being supported, using the excellent VcRedist package.
#
# Copyright 2024 Jonathan E. Brickman
# https://notes.ponderworthy.com/
# This script is licensed under the 3-Clause BSD License
# https://opensource.org/licenses/BSD-3-Clause
# and is reprised at the end of this file
#
# GetRedists is entirely dependent upon VcRedist:
# https://docs.stealthpuppy.com/vcredist/function-syntax/get-vclist
# for which profound gratitude is!!!
#
#

""
""
"****************"
"   GetRedists   "
"****************"
""
""

# Items needing work:
# - Command-line option for location of repo folder
# - Error handling; if errors occur at any stage, terminate and print.

# Self-elevate if not already elevated.
if (([Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal][Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent()).IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole] "Administrator"))
    {
    "Running elevated; good."
    ""
    } else {
    "Not running as elevated.  Starting elevated shell."
    Start-Process powershell -WorkingDirectory $PWD.Path -Verb runAs -ArgumentList "-noprofile -noexit -file $PSCommandPath"
    return "Done. This one will now exit."
    ""
    }

# Sets TLS version.  Necessary for some situations.
[Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol -bor [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12

$reportStatus = ''
$currentOp = ''
function ShowProgress {
	param( [string]$reportStatus, [string]$currentOp )

	Write-Progress -Activity "Get Microsoft Redistributables" -Status $reportStatus -PercentComplete -1 -CurrentOperation $currentOp
	# Write-Progress is not compatible with some remote shell methods.

}

'Preparing Powershell environment...'

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Force > $null

ShowProgress("Preparing Powershell environment...","Setting up to use Powershell Gallery...")

Install-PackageProvider -Name NuGet -Force -ErrorAction 'SilentlyContinue' > $null
Set-PSRepository -Name PSGallery -InstallationPolicy Trusted
If (Get-InstalledModule -Name PsWindowsUpdate -ErrorAction 'SilentlyContinue') {
	Update-Module -Name PSWindowsUpdate -Force
} Else {
	Install-Module -Name PSWindowsUpdate -Force
}
Import-Module PSWindowsUpdate

ShowProgress("Preparing Powershell environment...","Checking and preparing module VcRedist...")

# Install or update module VcRedist
If (Get-InstalledModule -Name VcRedist -ErrorAction 'SilentlyContinue') {
	Update-Module -Name VcRedist -Force
} Else {
	Install-Module -Name VcRedist -AllowClobber -Scope CurrentUser -Force
}

# Import VcRedist to this session
Import-Module -Name VcRedist

if ($False -eq (Test-Path C:\VcRedist -PathType Container)) {
	New-Item C:\VcRedist -ItemType Directory | Out-Null 
	}

''

'Getting list of currently installed redistributables...'

ShowProgress("Getting list of currently installed redistributables...","")
$InstalledRedists = Get-InstalledVcRedist

'Getting list of currently available and supported redistributables...'
''

ShowProgress("Getting list of currently available and supported redistributables...","")
$AvailableRedists = Get-VcList

ShowProgress("Checking and installing/upgrading as needed...","")

# Create blank array of redists to install
$RedistsToGet = @()

# Initialize...
$NothingMissing = $True

# Cycle through all available redists
# Using .ProductCode not .Version, .ProductCode will eliminate false downloads
ForEach ($OnlineRedist in $AvailableRedists) {

	'Checking: ' + $OnlineRedist.Name + '...'

	# Cycle through all redists currently installed,
	# checking to see if the available one being checked is there,
	# and if not, add it to the array of those to be installed.

	$IsInstalled = $False

	ForEach ($LocalRedist in $InstalledRedists) {
		If ($OnlineRedist.ProductCode -eq $LocalRedist.ProductCode) {
			'Already installed.'
			""
			$IsInstalled = $True
			break
			}
		}
	If ($IsInstalled -eq $False) {
		'Needed.'
		""
		$RedistsToGet += ,$OnlineRedist
		$NothingMissing = $False
		}
	}

If ($NothingMissing -eq $True)
	{
	"No VC++ redistributables missing."
	""
	Exit
	}

ShowProgress("Retrieving all needed redistributables to repo folder...","")
"Retrieving..."
""
$ListOfDownloads = Get-VcRedist -Verbose -VcList $RedistsToGet -Path C:\VcRedist

ShowProgress("Installing all needed redistributables from repo folder...","")
""
"Installing and reporting current list..."
""
Install-VcRedist -Verbose -VcList $RedistsToGet | ft

# The old brute force get-them-all code
#
# ShowProgress("Retrieving all redistributables to repo folder...","")
# Get-VcList | Get-VcRedist -Verbose -Path C:\VcRedist | Out-Null
# ShowProgress("Installing all redistributables from repo folder...","")
# Get-VcList | Install-VcRedist -Verbose -Path C:\VcRedist | Out-Null

ShowProgress("Removing repo folder...","")
Remove-Item C:\VcRedist -Recurse -Force | Out-Null
ShowProgress("Done!","")

# The 3-Clause BSD License

# SPDX short identifier: BSD-3-Clause

# Note: This license has also been called
# the AYA>A>??sA??.??oNew BSD LicenseAYA>A>??sA??,A? or AYA>A>??sA??.??oModified BSD LicenseAYA>A>??sA??,A?.
# See also the 2-clause BSD License.

# Copyright 2018 Jonathan E. Brickman

# Redistribution and use in source and binary
# forms, with or without modification, are
# permitted provided that the following conditions are met:

# 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the
# above copyright notice, this list of conditions and
# the following disclaimer.

# 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the
# above copyright notice, this list of conditions and
# the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or
# other materials provided with the distribution.

# 3. Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the
# names of its contributors may be used to endorse or
# promote products derived from this software without
# specific prior written permission.

# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND
# CONTRIBUTORS AYA>A>??sA??.??oAS ISAYA>A>??sA??,A? AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES,
# INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
# OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
# ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER
# OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
# INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
# (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE
# GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR
# BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
# LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
# (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT
# OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
# POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

AutoSizer:

www.southbaypc.com/AutoSizer/

really works remarkably well. Rather helpful if you bring up ticket note windows or anything else over and over again which need resizing. It repositions and maximizes as desired too. By default it runs by window class (my own preference!) but can address windows by title as well. Sits in the Windows tray nice and quietly and does its job. Lovely!

Newly updated as of this writing, I’m running it on Windows 11.

My favorite by far is draw.io. Online:

app.diagrams.net/

or cross-platform installable:

github.com/jgraph/drawio-desktop/releases/

…

Two more I have used:

http://www.yworks.com/products/yed

https://www.calligra.org/flow/

Many old friends, e.g. Hiren’s and UBCD4Win, are no longer in development, and do not boot on quite a lot of newer hardware; for a while there was no clear replacement. But there is Medicat, which is Linux-based:

gbatemp.net/threads/medicat-usb-a-multiboot-linux-usb-for-pc-repair.361577/

and there is a new Hiren’s renaissance:

www.hirensbootcd.org

There is a renaissance of Hiren’s Boot CD, called Hiren’s Boot CD PE:

https://www.hirensbootcd.org

Today (2024-02-12) my up-to-date Lazesoft could not reset a Windows password, but when I booted into the above, loaded drivers using the embedded Lazesoft, and then reset the password using the NT password edit/reset tool, it worked. There’s also a way to build the bootable with custom driver additions.

This very nice tool will download an executable from a web site and test it for bad actor behavior.

www.virustotal.com/

This tool does the job, it uses Crowdstrike and other major-player tools:

www.hybrid-analysis.com