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Can I write using a USB burner without Installing ANY software onthe machine??



 
 
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  #1  
Old September 8th 04, 12:01 AM
mike
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Default Can I write using a USB burner without Installing ANY software onthe machine??

A USB CD burner sounded like a good idea until I tried to use one.

The attraction of USB is that I can just plug it in to ANY computer
that has a USB port.

The problem is that I can't just burn a CD.
I have to INSTALL a bunch of software that may or may not overwrite
existing windows files/drivers. It mucks with the registry.
It may or may not break other software. It usually installs stuff
that always runs in the background (InCD). It may be
difficult/impossible to remove.

"Excuse me sir, may I trash your computer trying to burn a cd?"

So, what I want is a way to burn a CD without INSTALLING ANY software.
I'm not opposed to COPYING a large number of files to a single directory
tree
as long as the program can run without mucking up the registry or ANY
other files on the system...and can be deleted when done leaving no
side effects. I don't need
any other integration with windows, no shortcuts, no drag/drop.
Don't need packet writing. Just
run the program and use it to create the compilation for the CD to be
burned.
Needs to work with Windows 98SE. Would be nice if it worked in DOS.
Gotta be freeware or part of Nero 5.
Windows XP is NOT an option.

thanks, mike



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  #2  
Old September 8th 04, 06:46 AM
Mike Richter
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Default

mike wrote:

The problem is that I can't just burn a CD.
I have to INSTALL a bunch of software that may or may not overwrite
existing windows files/drivers.


So, what I want is a way to burn a CD without INSTALLING ANY software.


Re the Subject: No, you need an OS; you then need an application which
manages the operations required to write.

Re the Body: You can use XP with its built-in applet.

Depending on what you want to do with the program, you may find mkisofs
sufficient. Otherwise, to use the Windows interface some installation is
necessary for general-purpose writing. One exception is DAO from
Goldenhawk - but I suspect that it will be too limited for you and may
not support your drive.

There's a lot of work behind writing a CD beyond simply copying the
data. The ATIP must be read, the leadin and TOC must be written, the
leadout is also required. That's apart from the higher-order activity
such as CDTExt. Those operations require interfacing with the hardware,
which is supported by Windows through either its own interface or ASPI.

Mike
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http://www.mrichter.com/

  #3  
Old September 8th 04, 07:37 AM
mike
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Default

Mike Richter wrote:
mike wrote:

The problem is that I can't just burn a CD.
I have to INSTALL a bunch of software that may or may not overwrite
existing windows files/drivers.



So, what I want is a way to burn a CD without INSTALLING ANY software.



Re the Subject: No, you need an OS; you then need an application which
manages the operations required to write.

Re the Body: You can use XP with its built-in applet.

Depending on what you want to do with the program, you may find mkisofs
sufficient. Otherwise, to use the Windows interface some installation is
necessary for general-purpose writing. One exception is DAO from
Goldenhawk - but I suspect that it will be too limited for you and may
not support your drive.

There's a lot of work behind writing a CD beyond simply copying the
data. The ATIP must be read, the leadin and TOC must be written, the
leadout is also required. That's apart from the higher-order activity
such as CDTExt. Those operations require interfacing with the hardware,
which is supported by Windows through either its own interface or ASPI.

Mike


OK, I'm not communicating. I'll try again without so many nits to pick.

Looking at the big picture...
I want to take an existing Intel Pentium Computer (assuming sufficient
horsepower, memory, hard disk space, ports, etc. ) with a (working)
clean install of Windows 98SE.

I want to walk up to the machine, plug in my USB drive, copy as many
files as necessary to one new directory on the hard drive in the
computer, Burn A CD, Delete all the files I copied and leave the
computer in the state it was before I started this process.

The files I copy can interface any part of the system they want with
whatever additional capability they want as long as
they don't change any files outside their resident directory tree, including
the registry. Yes, they'll have to duplicate/implement at least some
windows functionality.

Anticipating another nit, let's say that windows will create some "most
recent" entries in the registry. I don't care about those. What I care
about is leaving the computer in the same state as it started without
any new programs running, no system files overwritten,
no side effects.
I want it right back the way it was before I started my TEMPORARY
burning session.

I want a burning application that does NOT integrate itself into the system.

A USB drive that requires a major software installation is not portable
at all. A USB drive that requires installing software that conflicts
with existing software is a disaster.

mike



--
Return address is VALID.
Wanted, 12.1" LCD for Gateway Solo 5300. Samsung LT121SU-121
Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
Compaq Aero floppy,ram,battery.
MINT HP-41CV, 2-METER AMPS, 200CH SCANNER
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/

  #4  
Old September 8th 04, 09:00 PM
Mike Richter
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Posts: n/a
Default

mike wrote:

OK, I'm not communicating. I'll try again without so many nits to pick.


Agreed.

I want to walk up to the machine, plug in my USB drive, copy as many
files as necessary to one new directory on the hard drive in the
computer, Burn A CD, Delete all the files I copied and leave the
computer in the state it was before I started this process.

The files I copy can interface any part of the system they want with
whatever additional capability they want as long as
they don't change any files outside their resident directory tree,
including
the registry. Yes, they'll have to duplicate/implement at least some
windows functionality.


Nope. The closest you can come is to install UDF on your computer, write
either fixed- or variable-length packets and then have appropriate
capability on the receiving machine. The subject is complicated, there
are problems, and it won't do all that you want - but it's as close as
the technology will get you today.

Fortunately, there's plenty of documentation about packet writing and
UDF in the usual references: the CD-R FAQ and the primer at my WWW site.
But that's the only way to come close to what you want in a 9x OS. In
XP, you can use the applet with advantages - but also with drawbacks.

Mike
--

http://www.mrichter.com/

  #5  
Old September 8th 04, 02:36 PM
TommyDale
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Default

You are asking a lot, to be able to do run applications (burn a CD)
without using any application software. Good luck! Also, by limiting
yourself to only Windows 98...Good luck on that one too! If you were
living in the 21st century, you would find that any computer with USB
2.0 and Windows XP could run that external USB external CD Burner with
no effort. It is almost idiot proof.

By the way, there is no need for installing InCD if you don't want to.
  #6  
Old September 8th 04, 11:09 PM
mike
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Posts: n/a
Default

TommyDale wrote:
You are asking a lot, to be able to do run applications (burn a CD)
without using any application software.


Not so. I'm willing to COPY any (and as much) application software
required to do the job. What I don't want to do is INSTALL application
software that
spreads itself all over the filesystem, overwrites windows system files,
changes the registry and integrates itself permanently into the OS.


Good luck! Also, by limiting
yourself to only Windows 98...Good luck on that one too! If you were
living in the 21st century, you would find that any computer with USB
2.0 and Windows XP could run that external USB external CD Burner with
no effort. It is almost idiot proof.


The target machines for this application were indeed made in the 20th
century. They don't have USB2, won't run XP and work just fine for
their intended applications. The CDROM ain't USB2 either.

I can't comprehend why people just roll over and buy hardware they don't
need so they can run an OS they don't need just because M$ needs more
revenue and better pirate protection. Don't get me started on ET-phone
home... Then they have to buy all new applications. In my case, most
of my applications just won't run on XP.

Go ahead and keep buying them multi-thousand dollar laptops. That makes
the $10 used ones available for me.


By the way, there is no need for installing InCD if you don't want to.


That's not been my experience. The application suite installer has one
button..."install". You get all or none.
The point is not, "Can you diddle with it to make it uninstall the part
you don't want."

The point is, "Can you make the temporary software as easy to
add/remove the temporary USB hardware."

For a permanent CDROM installation, USB would be my last choice.

mike




--
Return address is VALID.
Wanted, 12.1" LCD for Gateway Solo 5300. Samsung LT121SU-121
Bunch of stuff For Sale and Wanted at the link below.
Compaq Aero floppy,ram,battery.
MINT HP-41CV, 2-METER AMPS, 200CH SCANNER
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Monitor/4710/

 




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