Relative Shortcuts On Removable Media In Windows XP Bill Yotter June 2006 way@1way.ws www.1way.ws Overview: (media = cd usb & dvd) Drive independent shortcuts for portable media. Insert your MyDrive media into any computer and automatically all Relative Shortcuts available on that media will be displayed in a new Explorer window. Run MyDrive manually on devices that do not support autorun. Setup: Place 5 files and 2 folders in the root directory of your media: MyDrive.com - Main control program MyInfo.exe - Instructions and key file autorun.exe - Starts the media automatically autorun.inf - Support file for autorun setx.exe - Microsoft utility MyDesktop - Folder for your Relative Shortcuts, auto displayed MyPrograms - Folder & sub folders for your programs & documents Creating Relative Shortcuts: MyDrive defaults to C: drive. After a fresh start of your computer run MyDrive with no media in your drives. Right click on your Desktop, New, Shortcut and fill in the boxes. Create your Relative Shortcuts and directory structure and burn or write them to your media. The Relative Shortcut syntax for Windows is: Location.. %MyDrive%\path\ufn.ext Name...... Your Shortcuts Name Start in.. %MyDrive%\path After creating your Relative Shortcut right click on it, select Properties and add your programs path to the Start in box. To display a picture icon on a relative shortcut change its icon to one of the windows system icons by clicking Change Icon and select one from those displayed or click Browse and select moricons.dll where you'll find another selection. To Use: Insert your autorun media or run MyDrive.com manually, press "F" (Fail) if you get an Abort, Retry, Fail error, this simply indicates that one of your drives is empty. MyDrive will continue with its tasks normally. If your not using autorun, run MyDrive again from the new device each time you change physical drives. If your MyDrive Desktop does not display when switching between drive letters log off & back on or restart your computer to refresh Windows memory. Use only truly portable applications on your read only media. Any program that is semi-portable (writes its data or configuration to its home directory) will fail on read only media but will work on read/write media. - Enjoy FAQ's: Q: Is there a fast start method of setting up MyDrive for USB drives? A: There is now, run MyUSB.bat and follow the instructions. MyDrive will be automatically installed on your USB device. When MyDesktop opens you can start copying portable programs to the MyPrograms folder and creating relative shortcuts for them in the MyDesktop folder. Q: My directory structure on CD contains the full path from where I burned it, how do I fix this? A: I've included vSubst.exe which allows you to assign a virtual drive letter to your work directory, where you've set up your MyDrive structure, then run MyDrive. When you when you make relative shortcuts or burn your CD use the files on the virtual drive and you should be OK. Always use vSubst.exe to remove the virtual drive letter before testing your CD. Q: How do I make MyDrive media automatically start? A: I've added two small files so your media will automatically start when inserted into any computer. You may remove autorun.exe and autorun.inf if you do not need this feature, or your media does not support it. Q: Is there an easy way to run MyDrive for my devices that do not autoboot? A: Sure, make a folder and place MyDrive.exe, MyInfo.exe & setx.exe in it and then make a shortcut from MyDrive.exe to your Windows desktop. When you change devices you can click your MyDrive icon to initialize your new device. Q: I have a CD and a USB attached but only the USB comes up, why? A: MyDrive initializes the highest drive letter that contains a valid key. Advertisement: This technique is readily expandable, my personal extension differentiates between the various directory structures I use on removable media and responds accordingly while enabling semi-portable programs to run from read only media. Other extensions I use check for the key file during computer boot and locks the system if the key is not found. In some cases rather then lock the computer I have it quietly and securely wipe or encrypt sensitive files in the background while continuing with a normal boot. Commercial users may contract with me for customized secure keys & extensions.