XPost: alt.windows7.general, alt.comp.os.windows-10
On Fri, 26 Aug 2016 17:39:48 -0000 (UTC), Danny D. wrote:
How do you archive a printer driver once it has been installed?
The answer seems to be the following, thanks to another current thread on
the subject.
On Sat, 27 Aug 2016 15:44:47 -0400, Paul wrote:
The catalog.update.microsoft.com site uses an ActiveX plugin.
The ActiveX plugin runs the "Shopping Cart" interface
provided on the catalog server.
It allows you to queue up a bunch of downloads, like
search for 30 different items, and "add them to your cart".
Then, once you start the download, you can go off and
make dinner while it downloads.
The list of downloads could be stored in a cookie, or
a cookie could be used to sync a server-side grocery
list.
The reason for the ActiveX plugin, is to give
the user that capability. When asked to install the
ActiveX plugin, give it permission.
Thank you for explaining why that site doesn't work with a major browser.
I can't stand non-standard web sites but I'm currently stuck on WinXP for
the archive of the printer driver because that's where all my archives are
and the win 10 machine is at work.
Microsoft "promises" to modify the Catalog site design,
but given how Microsoft is also going to fuck over
Win7 and Win8 updates anyway, I just assume they're
not doing anything at the moment.
I am on WInXP for my archives (that's where I have kept my software
archives for years).
If you use Internet Explorer, even Internet Explorer 6,
you will be able to use catalog.update.microsoft.com .
I located the never-used IE shortcut on WinXP and clicked on it and it said "Welcome to IE 8":
http://i.cubeupload.com/rGjtq0.gif
Then I went to
https://catalog.update.microsoft.com with IE8.
Ooooh. Pretty baby blue color! It says it wants to install a "catalog".
http://i.cubeupload.com/wIUSmP.gif
Wow. Whatever it installed sure does consume resources!
http://i.cubeupload.com/BvJgYN.gif
My CPU went to 100% in a second when the catalog started!
http://i.cubeupload.com/Anxnqf.gif
But a search does seem to find a huge amount of related "stuff".
http://i.cubeupload.com/MJL47r.gif
But most of the "stuff" seemed to be the same file.
http://i.cubeupload.com/F4VMsK.gif
Here's the description for just one of the stuffs:
a. Microsoft driver update for HP LaserJet 2100 Series PCL 5
b. Windows 7,Windows 8,Windows 8.1 and later drivers,Windows Server 2008 R2,Windows Server 2012,Windows Server 2012 R2 and later drivers
c. Drivers (Printers)
d. 6/21/2006
e. 6.1.7233.0
f. 11.6 MB 12129488
The fact that a 10KB driver is "11.6MB" is already pretty suspicious.
1. But I hit the "Add" button.
2. And then the "catalog" button.
3. And then the "download" button.
4. And then the "browse" button.
5. And then the "continue" button.
6. And then the "done" button. (Can they make this more steps?)
http://i.cubeupload.com/ugFCp9.gif
Is "this" the archive of the HP LJ 2100 TN printer driver that I want? AMD64-all-4188_bacd1413e93b4a6362d9a2ca653c869f1c02f6f7.cab 11,846KB
If you open the archive with 7ZIP, one of the
files at the top level is
prnhp001.inf
And that is a text file. INF files are
used by installers.
There is a section in there, which lists the
hardware supported. For PNP subsystem usage.
7ZIP can be obtained here. It's a tool which
will open a variety of archive types. GZIP,
7Z, RAR, VHD files, raw disk img files. Opening
some file types causes unfortunate usage of
%temp%, while some of the other types can be
processed quite quickly. This is one of the
first programs I install on a fresh OS install.
http://7-zip.org/
7ZIP will not open InstallShield cabs but it
will open the Microsoft cab in your example.
There is a whole sub-species of "packers"
which cannot be opened by 7ZIP as well.
For example, I wouldn't expect a UPX compressed
EXE to open in 7ZIP as an archive.
Paul
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