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Project Support Forums => MASM32 => Topic started by: fheller on April 13, 2009, 08:15:18 PM

Title: Network install workaround
Post by: fheller on April 13, 2009, 08:15:18 PM
MASM will install on Network Drives if you modify the installer.  It's just one instruction change and I wrote this quick tutorial:
www.forrestheller.com/masm_install/

Title: Re: Network install workaround
Post by: dedndave on April 13, 2009, 10:44:43 PM
oops - i think it was written that way so as not to violate MS licensing agreements
Title: Re: Network install workaround
Post by: drizz on April 14, 2009, 12:01:03 AM
Can't you just unpack install.exe to "Z:\masm32" with e.g. 7zip and run makelibs.bat?
Title: Re: Network install workaround
Post by: hutch-- on April 14, 2009, 01:19:30 AM
There is an easier way to do it without having to tweak the installation, install it on a normal fixed disk then copy the entire installation to another partition.

The reason why the install is designed to block network installations is because there were so many errors when earlier versions were installed on some forms of network drives where path errors prevented the installation from working.

The project is designed around fixed paths from the root directory of whatever partition it is installed on as this prevented a miriad of problems picking up the wrong linker and libraries.
Title: Re: Network install workaround
Post by: fheller on April 14, 2009, 04:08:06 AM
Quote from: hutch-- on April 14, 2009, 01:19:30 AM
There is an easier way to do it without having to tweak the installation, install it on a normal fixed disk then copy the entire installation to another partition.

The reason why the install is designed to block network installations is because there were so many errors when earlier versions were installed on some forms of network drives where path errors prevented the installation from working.

The project is designed around fixed paths from the root directory of whatever partition it is installed on as this prevented a miriad of problems picking up the wrong linker and libraries.
Thanks for the background info.  I didn't have access to C: on the installation.

Quote from: drizz on April 14, 2009, 12:01:03 AM
Can't you just unpack install.exe to "Z:\masm32" with e.g. 7zip and run makelibs.bat?
Didn't occur to me;  If you elaborate more (Do I have to run a resource extractor to feed the compressed file into 7zip, etc?) I can put this in the guide.  I don't have time to try it right now.
Title: Re: Network install workaround
Post by: hutch-- on April 14, 2009, 04:57:44 AM
 :bg

> I didn't have access to C: on the installation.

Try D: E: F: G: H: etc ..... It works on any partition that has a root directory.
Title: Re: Network install workaround
Post by: drizz on April 14, 2009, 01:59:16 PM
Quote from: fheller
Quote from: drizz
Can't you just unpack install.exe to "Z:\masm32" with e.g. 7zip and run makelibs.bat?
Didn't occur to me;  If you elaborate more (Do I have to run a resource extractor to feed the compressed file into 7zip, etc?) I can put this in the guide.  I don't have time to try it right now.
You can extract SFX exes just as easily as archives, navigate in the 7zFM to install.exe and press Extract, or right click on install.exe if you have shell context menu integration for 7z and press "Extract to". You can also extract with Total Commander if you have it by pressing Alt+F9 on the install.exe.
Title: Re: Network install workaround
Post by: Mark Jones on April 14, 2009, 04:45:40 PM
Or, for a real thurough reversing, you could run each module through ObjConv, and then re-assemble that any way you see fit... who wants to see a demonstration?
Title: Re: Network install workaround
Post by: fearless on April 14, 2009, 04:58:15 PM
Also seems to work on SUBST drives. I use that to create drives for M: for Masm stuff and V: for visual foxpro stuff, and i create a batch file and save it in the startup folder:

SUBST M: C:\DEVELOP\ASM
SUBST V: C:\DEVELOP\VFP\SOURCE
Title: Re: Network install workaround
Post by: Vortex on April 14, 2009, 05:25:38 PM
Hi fheller,

The subst trick is a nice one. With this method, you can run multiple instances of Masm32 on the same partition.
Title: Re: Network install workaround
Post by: fheller on May 04, 2009, 07:14:09 PM
I added the methods suggested by drizz and fearless (quoted directly) and linked back to this page.  Thanks for the suggestions!