TC Read-only modus (USB Stick)

[DarkRuleR]

Hi!

A little question:

I want to run TC from a write protected USB stick.
(using LaunchTC v1.03)

TC starts but very slow.
It sometimes takes up to 35 seconds to start.

When I enable writing on the USB stick.
Everything goes fine.

Is it possible to run TC in some sort of read-only mode?

Thanx for the help.
DR...

[Sir_SiLvA]

Hi!
TC starts but very slow.
It sometimes takes up to 35 seconds to start.

That depends on the speed of the Stick

[DarkRuleR]

Hi!
TC starts but very slow.
It sometimes takes up to 35 seconds to start.

That depends on the speed of the Stick

Hehehe... Its a USB 2.0 stick and a USB 2.0 port.
I'm certain it isnt the Stick speed because when I enable writing everything goes fine and fast!

[ghisler(Author)]

Could you check with a tool like filemon from sysinternals what is written to the stick? It should work quite fine in read-only mode too...

[DarkRuleR]

2ghisler(Author)
Filemon wont work on drives that are write protect.
Or at least it wont show the write actions.
:S

I've tried something else.
I changed the attributes for all files in the totalcmd dir. on my stick to Read-only.
And enabled writing on the stick.

Now when I start TC everything goes fine!
I looks like TC wants write permissions on other parts of the stick... Mabe the root?

[Helix751]

What Christian suggests is that you:

1) enable filemon
2) remove the stick's write-only protection
3) plug it to your machine
4) run TC from the stick
5) after a long delay (the one you mention), look into filemon's log to see what is getting written and where.

[DarkRuleR]

2ghisler(Author)
I've made a log.
Please tell me if the information is usefull.
I stripped the unwanted information i think.
If you want the complete log please say so.

DR...

Code: Select all

161	15:17:14	explorer.exe:1716	QUERY INFORMATION	M:\LaunchTC.exe	SUCCESS	Attributes: A	
162	15:17:14	explorer.exe:1716	SET INFORMATION 	M:\LaunchTC.exe	SUCCESS	FileBasicInformation	
163	15:17:14	explorer.exe:1716	WRITE 	M:	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	

263	15:17:15	LaunchTC.exe:1632	LOCK	M:\LaunchTC.ini	SUCCESS	Excl: No Offset: 0 Length: -1	
264	15:17:15	LaunchTC.exe:1632	QUERY INFORMATION	M:\LaunchTC.ini	SUCCESS	Length: 117	
265	15:17:15	LaunchTC.exe:1632	READ 	M:\LaunchTC.ini	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 117	
266	15:17:15	LaunchTC.exe:1632	READ 	M:\LaunchTC.ini	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	
267	15:17:15	LaunchTC.exe:1632	UNLOCK	M:\LaunchTC.ini	RANGE NOT LOCKED	Offset: 0 Length: -1	
268	15:17:15	LaunchTC.exe:1632	CLOSE	M:\LaunchTC.ini	SUCCESS		
269	15:17:15	LaunchTC.exe:1632	WRITE 	M:	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	

349	15:17:15	LaunchTC.exe:1632	CLOSE	M:\tools\totalcmd\TOTALCMD.EXE	SUCCESS		
350	15:17:15	LaunchTC.exe:1632	WRITE 	M:	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	

408	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	LOCK	M:\tools\totalcmd\wincmd.ini	SUCCESS	Excl: No Offset: 0 Length: -1	
409	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	QUERY INFORMATION	M:\tools\totalcmd\wincmd.ini	SUCCESS	Length: 5397	
410	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	READ 	M:\tools\totalcmd\wincmd.ini	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 5397	
411	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	READ 	M:\tools\totalcmd\wincmd.ini	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 8192	
412	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	UNLOCK	M:\tools\totalcmd\wincmd.ini	RANGE NOT LOCKED	Offset: 0 Length: -1	
413	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	CLOSE	M:\tools\totalcmd\wincmd.ini	SUCCESS		
414	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	WRITE 	M:	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	

518	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	OPEN	M:\Tools\totalcmd\TOTALCMD.EXE	SUCCESS	Options: Open  Access: All	
519	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	QUERY INFORMATION	M:\Tools\totalcmd\TOTALCMD.EXE	SUCCESS	FileBasicInformation	
520	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	CLOSE	M:\Tools\totalcmd\TOTALCMD.EXE	SUCCESS		
521	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	QUERY INFORMATION	M:\Tools\totalcmd\TOTALCMD.EXE	SUCCESS	Attributes: RA	
522	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	SET INFORMATION 	M:\Tools\totalcmd\TOTALCMD.EXE	SUCCESS	FileBasicInformation	
523	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	WRITE 	M:	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	

542	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	OPEN	M:\Tools\totalcmd\TOTALCMD.EXE	SUCCESS	Options: Open  Access: All	
543	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	QUERY INFORMATION	M:\Tools\totalcmd\TOTALCMD.EXE	SUCCESS	FileBasicInformation	
544	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	CLOSE	M:\Tools\totalcmd\TOTALCMD.EXE	SUCCESS		
545	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	QUERY INFORMATION	M:\Tools\totalcmd\TOTALCMD.EXE	SUCCESS	Attributes: RA	
546	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	SET INFORMATION 	M:\Tools\totalcmd\TOTALCMD.EXE	SUCCESS	FileBasicInformation	
547	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	WRITE 	M:	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	

578	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	QUERY INFORMATION	M:\Tools\totalcmd\WC32TO16.EXE	SUCCESS	Attributes: RA	
579	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	SET INFORMATION 	M:\Tools\totalcmd\WC32TO16.EXE	SUCCESS	FileBasicInformation	
580	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	WRITE 	M:	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	

603	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	QUERY INFORMATION	M:\Tools\totalcmd\WC32TO16.EXE	SUCCESS	Attributes: RA	
604	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	SET INFORMATION 	M:\Tools\totalcmd\WC32TO16.EXE	SUCCESS	FileBasicInformation	
605	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	WRITE 	M:	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	

648	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	QUERY INFORMATION	M:\Tools\totalcmd\WC32TO16.EXE	SUCCESS	Attributes: RA	
649	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	SET INFORMATION 	M:\Tools\totalcmd\WC32TO16.EXE	SUCCESS	FileBasicInformation	
650	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	WRITE 	M:	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	

672	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	QUERY INFORMATION	M:\Tools\totalcmd\WC32TO16.EXE	SUCCESS	Attributes: RA	
673	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	SET INFORMATION 	M:\Tools\totalcmd\WC32TO16.EXE	SUCCESS	FileBasicInformation	
674	15:17:15	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	WRITE 	M:	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	

705	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	QUERY INFORMATION	M:\Tools\totalcmd\SHARE_NT.EXE	SUCCESS	Attributes: RA	
706	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	SET INFORMATION 	M:\Tools\totalcmd\SHARE_NT.EXE	SUCCESS	FileBasicInformation	
707	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	WRITE 	M:	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	

730	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	QUERY INFORMATION	M:\Tools\totalcmd\SHARE_NT.EXE	SUCCESS	Attributes: RA	
731	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	SET INFORMATION 	M:\Tools\totalcmd\SHARE_NT.EXE	SUCCESS	FileBasicInformation	
732	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	WRITE 	M:	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	

2294	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	READ 	M:\tools\totalcmd\wincmd.key	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 1024	
2295	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	READ 	M:\tools\totalcmd\wincmd.key	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	
2296	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	CLOSE	M:\tools\totalcmd\wincmd.key	SUCCESS		
2297	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	WRITE 	M:	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	

2471	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	CLOSE	M:\tools\totalcmd\default.bar	SUCCESS		
2472	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	LOCK	M:\tools\totalcmd\default.bar	SUCCESS	Excl: No Offset: 0 Length: -1	
2473	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	QUERY INFORMATION	M:\tools\totalcmd\default.bar	SUCCESS	Length: 1416	
2474	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	READ 	M:\tools\totalcmd\default.bar	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 1416	
2475	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	READ 	M:\tools\totalcmd\default.bar	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	
2476	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	UNLOCK	M:\tools\totalcmd\default.bar	RANGE NOT LOCKED	Offset: 0 Length: -1	
2477	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	CLOSE	M:\tools\totalcmd\default.bar	SUCCESS		
2478	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	WRITE 	M:	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	

2551	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	OPEN	M:\tools\totalcmd\totalcmd.inc	SUCCESS	Options: Open  Access: All	
2552	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	QUERY INFORMATION	M:\tools\totalcmd\totalcmd.inc	SUCCESS	FileBasicInformation	
2553	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	CLOSE	M:\tools\totalcmd\totalcmd.inc	SUCCESS		
2554	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	READ 	M:\tools\totalcmd\totalcmd.inc	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 16384	
2555	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	READ 	M:\tools\totalcmd\totalcmd.inc	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 16384	
2556	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	READ	M:\tools\totalcmd\totalcmd.inc	END OF FILE	Offset: 15038 Length: 16384	
2557	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	CLOSE	M:\tools\totalcmd\totalcmd.inc	SUCCESS		
2558	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	WRITE 	M:	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	

3300	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	OPEN	M:\tools\totalcmd\default.br1	SUCCESS	Options: Open  Access: All	
3301	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	QUERY INFORMATION	M:\tools\totalcmd\default.br1	SUCCESS	FileBasicInformation	
3302	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	CLOSE	M:\tools\totalcmd\default.br1	SUCCESS		
3303	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	READ 	M:\tools\totalcmd\default.br1	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4	
3304	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	READ 	M:\tools\totalcmd\default.br1	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	
3305	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	READ	M:\tools\totalcmd\default.br1	SUCCESS	Offset: 4 Length: 40	
3306	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	READ	M:\tools\totalcmd\default.br1	SUCCESS	Offset: 44 Length: 32768	
3307	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	READ	M:\tools\totalcmd\default.br1	SUCCESS	Offset: 32812 Length: 20824	
3308	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	CLOSE	M:\tools\totalcmd\default.br1	SUCCESS		
3309	15:17:16	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	WRITE 	M:	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	

4377	15:17:17	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	LOCK	M:\tools\totalcmd\WCX_FTP.INI	SUCCESS	Excl: No Offset: 0 Length: -1	
4378	15:17:17	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	QUERY INFORMATION	M:\tools\totalcmd\WCX_FTP.INI	SUCCESS	Length: 2884	
4379	15:17:17	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	READ 	M:\tools\totalcmd\WCX_FTP.INI	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 2884	
4380	15:17:17	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	READ 	M:\tools\totalcmd\WCX_FTP.INI	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	
4381	15:17:17	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	UNLOCK	M:\tools\totalcmd\WCX_FTP.INI	RANGE NOT LOCKED	Offset: 0 Length: -1	
4382	15:17:17	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	CLOSE	M:\tools\totalcmd\WCX_FTP.INI	SUCCESS		
4383	15:17:17	TOTALCMD.EXE:1608	WRITE 	M:	SUCCESS	Offset: 0 Length: 4096	

[Sheepdog]

Just an Idea: Try to set in wincmd.ini

Code: Select all

[Configuration]
TreeFileLocation=

to any writable location. (see the Help section wincmd.ini)

Maybe that helps.

sheepdog

[DarkRuleR]

2Sheepdog
No luck...


I even tried to remove my wincmd.ini to test if it is a faulty setting in my ini file.

Thanx for the tip though.

[ghisler(Author)]

2DarkRuleR
I can't see any write calls to _files_ on the stick...

Could you try to set the "read only" attribute to all files?

Or maybe a virus scanner or so causes the troubles with the files?

[DarkRuleR]

2ghisler(Author)
It was the virus scanner that was the cause of the problems.

I use Symantec AntiVirus at work.
And I forgot to disable that while testing.

Thanx for the tips and the solution!

[ghisler(Author)]

That's bad - can you fool the scanner by setting the read only attribute?

[DarkRuleR]

2ghisler(Author)
Here are the test results.
I hope they are usefull.

The Symantec Anti Virus version I use is:
v8.1.0.825

1)
- Symantec Anti Virus Enabled.
- USB-Stick Writing Disabled (no writing possible).
Result:
TC starts very slow.

(2)
- I've made a custom iso file with ISO Commander
(http://www.turtleblast.com/en/index.php).
This iso has the same content as my USB-Stick.
- Symantec Anti Virus Enabled.
- I mount the iso using Daemon Tools.
- All the files and the whole iso is read only.
Result:
TC starts normal.

3)
- Symantec Anti Virus Enabled.
- USB-Stick Writing Enabled.
- All files in the TC dir. are read-only.
Result:
TC starts normal.

4)
- Symantec Anti Virus Disabled.
- USB-Stick Writing Enabled.
Result:
TC starts normal.


Content of LaunchTC.ini

Code: Select all

[LaunchTC]
CmdLine=.\tools\totalcmd\TOTALCMD.EXE /i=.\WINCMD.INI /f=.\WCX_FTP.INI
RunAs=0
UserName=Administrator

Gtx,
DR

[ghisler(Author)]

Hmm, you haven't tried to set the "read only" attribute to all files in the TC directory on the stick, and then write-protect the stick. This should have the same effect as with CDs, where all files have the read-only attribute.

[DarkRuleR]

2ghisler(Author)
I've set the "read only" attribute to all files and write-protected the stick.
And the result: TC starts very slow.
:S

Gtx,
DR...