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Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
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About this tutorial:
-=-=-=- -=-=-=- -=-=-=- =-=-=- -=-=-=- This tutorial will show you how to customize the Start Menu for the PPCKitchen.org's Kitchen. It will also work on other kitchens, you will just have to find the target Link files. This tutorial ASSUMES you have working knowledge of cooking your own rom with BuildOS. And general Windows knowledge. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO YOU OR YOUR DEVICE by reading this tutorial! This tutorial should work with most windows-mobile based kitchens, Apache, Titan, Vogue and others. I will not teach you how to use any of the programs in this tutorial, but you are free to post your questions/comments. Credits: -=-=-=- -=-=-=- -=-=-=- =-=-=- -=-=-=- 1. I would like to thank PPCGeeks.com and all the members. 2. All those involved with PPCKitchen.org: no2chem - GGuruUSA - naigaman - Colonel - Tiermann - ImCoKeMan - helmi - dcd - luv2chill - NexVision 3. Old_Man_Jenkins for forcing my curiousity and speeding up the thought process creating/testing these methods! 4. All those that have made contributed to making all the kitchens possible! You all know who they (you) are! Terminology used in this tutorial: -=-=-=- -=-=-=- -=-=-=- =-=-=- -=-=-=- OEM - Similar to a .CAB file, this is the method used to add files/programs to a cooked Rom. This is copied to USER_OEM if using the ppckitchen, or into your OEM folder if you are using another kitchen. INITFLASHFILES.TXT - This is the text file you will edit to copy your files on your device from \windows to \whereever. GUID - GUID (or UUID) is an acronym for 'Globally Unique Identifier'. It is a 128-bit integer number used to identify resources. LNK File - Shortcut that windows mobile uses to launch a file. They are usually placed in \Windows\Start Menu to make up your StartMenu. The Tools/Files you will need: -=-=-=- -=-=-=- =-=-=- -=-=-=- -=-=-=- - PPCKitchen.org BuildOS.msi fully installed and ready to go. - WinRar or WinZip - Notepad.exe (Text editor that comes with windows, or any other text editor) - Old fashioned pen and paper. - The zzz_Start_Menu_OEM.zip - QuickMenu - This windowsmobile app will make all this worth while! The steps involved: -=-=-=- -=-=-=- =-=-=- -=-=-=- -=-=-=- This tutorial will allow you to customize your Start Menu on your device using a PPCKitchen rom. I will show you how to add files to the attached "empty OEM", and then edit the initflashfiles.txt file that will copy your files to where you want 'em. 1. Install the necessary files. 2. Plan your approach. 3. Plan your Start Menu. 4. Locate and Rename target LNK files in your OEM's *CAUTION! 5. Locate and Rename target LNK files in your Donor Kitchen *CAUTION! 6. Edit your initfiles.txt from zzz_Start_Menu_OEM 7. Flash! 8. Test placement, Goto step 3 if necessary 1. Install the necessary files. -=-=-=- -=-=-=- =-=-=- -=-=-=- -=-=-=- Here are the files you will need. a. PPCKitchen.org BuildOS.msi fully installed and ready to go. The OEM archives out of the PPCKitchen are PPCGeeks_OEM.rar, and 000_Shareware.rar. b. WinRar or WinZip c. Notepad.exe (Text editor that comes with windows, or any other text editor) d. Unzip the attached zzz_Start_Menu_OEM.zip and place the folder zzz_Start_Menu_OEM into your USER_OEM directory. This contains the unique GUID needed by the kitchen and the initflashfiles.txt you will edit later on. 2. Plan your approach. -=-=-=- -=-=-=- =-=-=- -=-=-=- -=-=-=- There are several way to approach this task. Let's start with the kitchen. WARNING! ************************************************** *********************************DO NOT DO ANYTHING INSIDE THE KITCHEN EXCEPT RENAME THE TARGET LNK FILE! ONLY ADD A "zz-" TO THE BEGINNING OF THE LNK FILE! DO NOT DELETE FILES, ADD FILES, ONLY RENAME LNK FILES. ************************************************** ********************************* DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TAKE A SHORTCUT AND EDIT THE INITFLASHFILES.DAT! ************************************************** ********************************* Wow, that was Loud! You will learn the locations and how-to later in this tutorial. Now let's talk about the preparing your OEM's and to edit the LNK files. There are three ways to do this. a. You could rename the LNK file inside the packaged OEM file archive. This would be erased when you update one on the archives. b. You could extract the OEM archives, but the uncompressed PPCGeeks_OEM.rar is 170MB, compressed it is only 77MB (currently). c. My prefered method is to extract the OEM's you want with a StartMenu LNK file, and place them in your USER_OEM folder. Then delete the OEM from it's original archive. This takes up space, and some say it slows down the 'Build', but you will stay organized. You might even want to add a "_ZZ to the end of the OEM directory name so you know it has been edited for your custom StartMenu. d. Do it your way. If it works, then go for it! 3. Plan your Start Menu. -=-=-=- -=-=-=- =-=-=- -=-=-=- -=-=-=- Windows Mobile 6.1 and prior only creates the following directories on the Start Menu: Programs, Settings, and Games. These we will not change. So on a piece of paper or text editor, plan out your StartMenu. You know which files you will be adding, jot them down. Now using your "creative juices", create your directory structure and annotate where you will be placing your shortcuts for your OEM's in your new StartMenu. Leave room to write down the zz*.lnk name. It will be helpfull later when editing your initflashfiles.txt file! |
Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
4. Locate and Rename target LNK files in your OEM's
-=-=-=- -=-=-=- =-=-=- -=-=-=- -=-=-=- Depending on the method you decided on in step #2, do it. If you went with my method, go ahead and extract your OEM's and place them in the USER_OEM folder of the kitchen. Now let's rename the LNK files. For the sake of uniformity, and functionality, rename your link files by adding a "zz-" using the method that I explained in the initflashfiles.txt section. Why this way? Well, it puts the file at the end of the list on your device, in windows explorer, most won't be able to edit the extension on a .lnk file. It just made sense to me. Starting at the top of your StartMenu planner, look inside each OEM and find the *.lnk file. Rename the lnk file to "zz-*.lnk" by adding "zz-" to the name. Check it off your list and write down the name of the file so you will have it when we edit the initflashfiles.txt later. Now do the same steps for all your OEM's that have a LNK placed in the start menu. 5. Locate and Rename target LNK files in your Donor Kitchen -=-=-=- -=-=-=- =-=-=- -=-=-=- -=-=-=- WARNING! ************************************************** ********************************* DO NOT DO ANYTHING INSIDE THE KITCHEN EXCEPT RENAME THE TARGET LNK FILE! ONLY ADD A "zz-" TO THE BEGINNING OF THE LNK FILE! DO NOT DELETE FILES, ADD FILES, ONLY RENAME LNK FILES. ************************************************** ********************************* DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TAKE A SHORTCUT AND EDIT THE INITFLASHFILES.DAT! ************************************************** ********************************* First you need to know where your link files are. Here is a guide for the PPCKitchen: StartMenu .LNK Name.........Location in the Kitchen (Directory and optional original name) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Calculator.lnk.................\SYS\BaseApps\calc. lnk calendar.lnk.................\SYS\BasaeApps Contacts.lnk................\SYS\BasaeApps\addrboo k.lnk Messaging.lnk...............\SYS\BaseApps\tmail.ln k Notes.lnk.....................\SYS\BaseApps\noteta ke.lnk tasks.lnk......................\SYS\BaseApps Record.lnk...................\SYS\BaseApps\voice.l nk Messaging.lnk...............\SYS\BaseApps\tmail.ln k Notes.lnk.....................\SYS\BaseApps\noteta ke.lnk tasks.lnk......................\SYS\BaseApps Internet Explorer.lnk......\SYS\Browsing\pie.lnk icon.lnk........................\SYS\Entertainment \gamesico.lnk Bubble Breaker.lnk..........\SYS\Entertainment\BubbleBrea ker.lnk Solitaire.lnk...................\SYS\Entertainment \solitaire.lnk Internet Sharing.lnk........\SYS\INTERNETSHARING\IntShrUI.l nk Phone.lnk......................\SYS\PhoneRedist\cp rog.lnk ActiveSync.lnk...............\SYS\Shell\sync.lnk File Explorer.lnk..............\SYS\Shell\fexplore.lnk help.lnk.........................\SYS\Shell search.lnk......................\SYS\Shell This is pretty standard for WindowsMobile. Using WinRar, open up your kitchen. For the above example I used the kitchen Vogue_WM6.1_GPS_3.02.rar. ONLY RENAME THE LINK FILES YOU WISH TO MANIPULATE! Stick with our standard renaming scheme of adding "zz-" to the LNK filenames. Now close and save Vogue_WM6.1_GPS_3.02.rar. Remember, if you rename help.lnk to zz-help.lnk and omit it from the initflashfiles.txt, it will not get copied to your StartMenu, thus it won't show up! 6. Edit your initfiles.txt from zzz_Start_Menu_OEM -=-=-=- -=-=-=- =-=-=- -=-=-=- -=-=-=- First let's take a look at the base INITFLASHFILES.TXT file we will be starting with: Code:
Directory("\existing_directory\"):- Directory("new_di rectory") Directory("destination_directory"):-File("destination_filename","source_path+filename" ) In the above example where it says ";Make your directories here:", well ya, it makes your directories. If it already exists, nothing bad will happen. Always create them unless you are positive they exist in the typical windows directory structure! In the example above the directory "\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Don" is created. Using your template you created in step #3, using the cut&paste method, copy the existing line to create your StartMenu's directory structure. Where it says ";Copy your files here:", this copies your files from their cooked location in \windows to your StartMenu. In the example above I have moved four files that usually crowd up your 'root' directory of the Start Menu. Use the cut&paste method to "copy" your files into the StartMenu. You will need a line for each lnk file you wish to relocaate. You can use the comment line to either make notes to yourself, or to comment out or omit file copy operations. To create "nested" directories in your StartMenu, create them one at a time. The following will create \Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Utilities\Rarely Used : Code:
;make my dirNote2: Notice how in the first portion of the above command case doesn't matter. In the second part, when creating the actual directory, uppercase/lowercase do matter! Tip1: Any line beginning with a ";" is ignored as a comment. Tip2: If you rename for example Help.lnk to zz-Help.lnk and do not copy it, it will not show up in the Start Menu! Tip3: The above example is the actual initflashfiles.txt from the zz_StartMenu_OEM you downloaded (when first published). Tip4: This method also works on a de-constructed rom! 7. Flash! -=-=-=- -=-=-=- =-=-=- -=-=-=- -=-=-=- Press Play and FLASH! 8. Test placement, Goto step 3 if necessary -=-=-=- -=-=-=- =-=-=- -=-=-=- -=-=-=- Browse your StartMenu and look for any needed changes you would like to make. If there are changes, back to step #3. Repeat until DONE! |
Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
My Thoughts on this....
-=-=-=- -=-=-=- =-=-=- -=-=-=- -=-=-=- This site is about sharing the knowledge. I personally think the Borg are an evil race, But I do like their "collective Brain" theory. So I started writing the Customizing a Custom Rom tutorials. I have tested this and it works fine. The folks at the PPCKitchen may not want you messing with it this way, but this will further enhance the kitchen until they add more customizations like this. Heck, I hope I inspire another DLL for BuildOS...(hint...hint) They have the OEMizer, why not the MENUizer? So I feel that I am only enhancing the kitchens usability by showing you how to customize the start menu. If something bad happens, just reinstall the kitchen. No big deal... A word on my methods of renaming and hooking onto the initflashfiles.dat using an empty OEM and it's initflashfiles.txt. When the kitchen builds a rom, BuildOS uses a SYS specific initflashfiles.dat. It then looks into each OEM 'checked and appends the contents of initflashfiles.txt to the initflashfiles.dat. In this tutorial, you will rename LNK files. This will make it so the SYS rom's initflashfiles.dat and each OEM's initflashfiles.txt won't be able to copy the original file. DON'T WORRY. I've been using this method for a while now and if winmobile can't file a file to copy...it moves to the next entry. If it can't find a directory to create, or you tell it to create a duplicate,...it moves to the next entry. Keeping this in mind, Nothing Bad will happen! If you get the name of a file wrong, it won't copy it. It will do what you tell it to, with error safety nets! By editing something other that what I describe in this tutorial, that is when bad things will happen. Use caution with this tutorial. Print it, and highlight the good stuff in yellow! I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and you use it to customize your PPCGeek'd Device! Edit: This method also works with the command line kitchen many Chefs are using. You just have to search for the links in your kitchen directory. |
Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
This looks like some great work, Thanks T M Z
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Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
very nice. something to play with in anticipation of cooking anew. Thanks.
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Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
I had a good question that came up in a pm and want to share it.
You can move the *.lnk files from your SYS folders and OEM's and place them all in the zzz_Start_Menu_OEM folder if you wish. You still need to rename them and also remember to delete them from their original locations again if you update the donor rom. The method above is preffered, but this will work too. You want to be extremely carefull what you delete from your SYS folder! |
Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
nice write-up rstoyguy, and a very good idea on customizing the start menu.....thx for sharing!
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Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
One suggestion....
Instead of having to edit .lnk files within rars or anywhere else, it would be easier to just create new .lnk files and have them in the OEM in User_OEM. These will overwrite any shortcut files that are in OEM or SYS. This is also a good idea since it reduces the risk of unintentional errors when messing with core files. I will definitely look at this though. Looks like a helpful tool. Perhaps we can streamline it further. Also, jump in the chat room if you need to rstoyguy. Also, after rereading, are you talking about the start menu or Start Menu\Programs? I am thinking it looks more like \Programs. If this is the case, I can show you an even easier way to do everything you want to do here. While BuildOS may be "limited" this is done to keep it simple. However, you can do just about anything you can think of with it while leaving the core files in the .rars. Anyway, I will try to get to it and create a provxml to show you how to do what you want. One other thing, you don't technically need to create the directory as long as there is a shortcut going into it. However, if it is going to be empty for now, you have to create it seperately. Good work though and I think this will help a lot of people. |
Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
colonel ftw!
Would you care to show off that easier way? :) I tried a while back to move the default start menu items back to programs. I haven't tried this method yet, but would I be able to just set up a provxml to move the file back to the programs folder without having to create new lnk files? |
Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
You can have a provxml do just about anything you want.
Also, this could be added to OEMizer, but there will be some obstacles to overcome. Mostly, the problem will be that OEMizer would not know which apps you are selecting in buildOS and would not know how to set the shortcuts up as options. I guess people could add them by hand, but that is no fun ;) |
Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
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Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
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Yes, the Menuizer would be a great project. Like I said, I think the only real problem will be addressing how it handles the different apps users will choose. However, it wouldn't be difficult ot have it include the "standard" shortcuts. |
Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
Heh, by the way, you could create a whole new initflashfile.dat that would overwrite the original on too. Just thought of that. Anyway, back to the prov.
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Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
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Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
Tautoinstall doesnt have to do provxml. Those are installed automatically. As far as xml, it will do that.
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Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
Here is where I am ...
I have cut down a great deal on the applications that I install post-flash. Most of the items I do install (UserConfiguration) require human-interaction to complete the installation. Thus, I have a need to create folders and move shortcuts around, once the install process has completed. It seems that one way to do this is via the XML: command Now, here is my question ... I want to test the XML command and in the readme for TAutoinstall, is mentions that 1.8 works with the XML command. Unfortunately, even with a config.txt that references the xml file, I can't get it to show up in my list of items to check and install. Best regards, -boggsie |
Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
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I have taken all start menu items and moved them from initflashfiles.dat into my oem's initflashfiles.txt. Here is what I have with my personal rom: Quote:
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Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
Whoa - I appreciate that rstoyguy.
So this handles the items that go in via the PPCKitchen. Unfortunately, all of the post-cooking / flash installs aren't impacted, or can they be ... hmm, I guess you could insert dead shortcuts; shortcuts that wouldn't work until after the applications had been installed. I'll have to think about that. What I wanted to avoid was doing the same work, on different items, using two different methods. a) PPCKitchen items need to get cleaned up, so use initflashfiles.dat in a user oem to clean those things up. b) Some applications get installed on first boot (SDAutorun or TAutoinstall) and so those get cleaned up with via cleanup.xml, as the last command in config.txt, prior to resetting the device. Thanks again for your insight. Best regards, -boggsie |
Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
4 Attachment(s)
A little different approach. I thought I would post here, too.
Basically, each OEM has the necessary (required) components listed in the options.xml for that office, accessories or media oem (attached). If you add the OEM to USER_OEM and refresh or restart BuildOS, you'll see a new group (hopefully) at the top of the OEMs in BuildOS. (. Organize Start Menu). If you select an oem, it includes the required modules and organizes the start menu for those items. The attachments are a WinRAR files, but I added the zip extension so that I could upload the files and attach them to this message. Best regards, -boggsie |
Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
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I'm just thinking about the ppckitchen update in 2009 that may not include some of those files.... |
Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
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Best regards, -boggsie |
Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
I'll stick with my method then. I didn't get a chance to fully examine/test provxml as I stated in another thread, but I did notice that removing some provxml file operation files (like all the ones out of the sys dir), the reboot times seemed quicker. Could be that when windows notices an update, it processes and copies all those files again slowing boot up. I still need to investigate and see what triggers a mxipupdate* to be processed, but other than e-mail setup, and a couple regedits, I'll shy away from it.
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Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
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In particular, I didn't like the need to modify the existing PPCGeeks_OEM.rar in order to avoid duplicate entries. Code:
\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Calculatora) modify the existing kitchen RAR b) provxml to remove the existing item in favor of the new one Now, if you could use initflashes.txt to perform moves and deletes _and_ it wasn't as fragile as file operations in provxml, I'd be all over that. Best regards, -boggsie |
Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
Does anyone know where to find the cook icon ? in the rom ?
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Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
Thanks for all the great TUTS they came in extremely handy.
One question I can't seem to track down an answer for. How can I delete a directory/folder that gets created but is empty? Ive search all the init files and the init.dat nothing there. So say I open my programs directory there are several folders one named Sys apps How can I delete? I know I can use resco or something but I want to cook the fix in thanks |
Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
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http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread...=56207&page=12 |
Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
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Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
I am using Calk’s kitchen and he does not have enough folders in the start menu for me. So I am trying to add some additional ones for my use. I managed to get the folders to appear and moved some of my programs to those folders but the icons for the folders do not show up. For example I want to add a folder for Browsers. I went to (EXT File) Skyfire app.dat and changed
Directory("\Windows\Start Menu\Programs"):-File("Skyfire.lnk","\Windows\_Skyfire.lnk") TO Directory("\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Browsers"):-File("Skyfire.lnk","\Windows\_Skyfire.lnk") Then I added the Icon in SYS\23506\Diamond\DPI_192\Common\Base_DPI_192 Start_Icon_browser1.png Then I went into OEM\23506\Diamond\0409\OEM_Lang_0409 to initiflashfiles.dat and added Directory("\Windows\Start Menu\Programs"):-Directory("Browsers") Directory("\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Browsers"):-File("icon.lnk","\Windows\Browser1.lnk") No Icon appears for folder. Where did I go wrong? |
Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
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Re: Customize your StartMenu for PPCKitchen.org's - BuildOS - Tutorial
I made some changes to my initflashfiles.dat and initflashfiles.txt. When I load the rom the screen calibration does not come up and when I touch the screen nothing works. So I assume the two problems are tied together. I must be missing a file somewhere that I need.
What are the x0052 numbers listed below? Is this something I need in my .dat or .txt? I run both of those files from my EXT if that makes a difference. If I have these files in the EXT should I even have them in the OEM folder at all??? Directory("\Windows\Start Menu\Programs"):-File("\x0052\x0065\x006D\x006F\x0074\x0065\x0020\x 0044\x0065\x0073\x006B\x0074\x006F\x0070\x0020\x00 4D\x006F\x0062\x0069\x006C\x0065\x002E\x006C\x006E \x006B", "\Windows\wpctsc.lnk") Directory("\Windows\Start Menu\Programs"):-File("\x0054\x0061\x0073\x006B\x0020\x004D\x0061\x 006E\x0061\x0067\x0065\x0072\x002E\x006C\x006E\x00 6B","\Windows\TaskMgr.lnk") Directory("\Windows\Start Menu\Programs"):-File("\x0047\x0065\x0074\x0074\x0069\x006E\x0067\x 0020\x0053\x0074\x0061\x0072\x0074\x0065\x0064\x00 2E\x006C\x006E\x006B","\Windows\WelcomeCenter.lnk" ) |
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