C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Application Data
This only leaves the issue of the cdloader entry in the registry. It doesn't seem to cause any problems, but I'll need to test it further to be sure.
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This is my first time here, though I just got through with setting up my second MJ box. After discovering the wonderful gotchas when setting up my dad's box, such as the popups and the fact that the stupid thing doesn't work if you didn't log into windows, I went the service route that others have described. Though they do work, aside from another issue that'll get into later, the other methods still have a few problems and MJ still dumps its installation in every user profile.
After conducting my own research and experimentation, I've devised another process for getting MJ to work as a service that doesn't require creating a new user or have any erroneous errors in Event Viewer.
1) Install MJ as usual.
2) Once MJ is finally at the dialpad window and working properly, open Task Manager, click the Processes tab and end the MagicJack.exe process.
3) Run MSConfig, go to the Startup tab, uncheck cdloader2.exe, then click OK.
4) Open My Computer and go to
C:\Documents and Settings\Your Username\Application Data
and move the mjusbsp folder to
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Application Data
While you're in My Computer, also note the letter for second drive assigned to the MJ box. If you right click the drive and choose Properties, the correct one will have the name PHONE.
5) You can get rktools.exe to install the Windows Resource Kit, but you only really need instsrv.exe and srvany.exe.
6) Using the default path where the resource kit is installed, run cmd and enter
"C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits\Tools\instsrv.exe" "MagicJack" "C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits\Tools\srvany.exe"
If you have those two files somewhere else, just adjust the path accordingly. Make sure that there are no errors reported and close the window.
7) Run regedit and go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Current Control Set\Services\MagicJack
Right click the MagicJack key, choose New>Key, and name it Parameters.
Now in the Parameters key, right click, choose New>String Value, and name it Application.
Double click the Application value and set it to
"C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\mjusbsp\magicJack.exe" /scf _magicJackPersonalDataRoot "X:\magicJack"
where X is the second MagicJack drive letter you found earlier, then click OK.
That's ALL! You can either restart your computer or open the services window and start the new MagicJack service. Once MagicJack as connected, you should get a dial tone.
TROUBLESHOOTING:
If you've completed all of the steps and still can get it working, try the following:
1) Check that the MagicJack service is running. If not, try starting it.
- If it still doesn't start, make sure step 6 was completed correctly.
2) Open the Task Manager, click the Processes tab, and check if magicjack.exe is running.
- If it is, end the magicjack.exe process.
3) Edit or create a shortcut for MagicJack. Change the Target field to
"C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\mjusbsp\magicJack.exe" /scf _magicJackPersonalDataRoot "X:\magicJack"
where X is the second MagicJack drive letter you found earlier. Change the Start in field to
"C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\mjusbsp\"
a) If the shortcut works correctly, run regedit and go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Current Control Set\Services\MagicJack\Parameters
and correct the value for Application. Stop the magicjack.exe process and restart the MagicJack service.
b) If it shortcut doesn't work either, make sure that the mjusbsp folder is in "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data", that the drive letter is correct, and that everything in the shortcut was entered correctly. Note that there IS a space between "/scf" and "_magicJackPersonalDataRoot"!
NOTES:
You don't have to create a new user to run MJ as a service. Actually, you can move the mjusbsp folder just about anywhere, though you should place it somewhere in All Users or Program Files if you want Limited Users to have access to it. You don't have to name the service "MagicJack" either, but it at least should be something easy to remember.
Also, unlike the other "simple" method, I recommend using srvany.exe instead of magicJackLoader.exe directly, because it will start the service a LOT faster, doesn't give erroneous errors in Event Viewer, and still allows you to access the dialer window too!If you need to access the MagicJack dialer window for any reason, just open the Services window, right click on the MagicJack service, click the Log On tab, click Allow service to interact with desktop, and click OK. Right click the MagicJack service again and choose Restart
What, no splash screen!? Using the alternate method for starting MJ rather than using magicJackLoader will not only skip the splash screen, but will stop it from needlessly installing itself in every damn user! You could also use it in a shortcut as well, in case you ever need to start it without using the service.
Overall, this method for setting MJ as a service is so simple, I probably could create a batch file to do the whole thing! If there's any request for it, I could write one when I get the time.
Shutdown issues:
Well, I said would get to it later, didn't I? Some time after I had first setup the service using the standard method on my parent's computer, it began locking up when restarting or shutting down and sure enough, disabling the service fixed the problem. There were errors in Event Viewer stating MagicJack had been accessing the registry while windows was shutting down, so I figured that I just needed to force the service to shut down when Windows shutdown. Using a shutdown script seemed to work most of the time, but sometimes it would still lockup and this time the computer would hang at the BIOS while searching for USB drives. After some research I found a small utility that can disconnect USB drives, such as MJ, from a command prompt. After adding it to the shutdown script everything works perfectly!
So if anyone else has the same problem, I detail my fix here as well. Unfortunately, it does requires using the Group Policy editor, which is missing from XP Home, so if anyone has this problem and has XP Home, let me know.
1) Download RemoveDrive and extract the files into your mjusbsp folder.
2) Run gpedit.msc, go to Computer Configuration->Windows Setting->Scripts and double click Shutdown. Click Add, then Browse. Right click in this window, choose New->Text Document. Open the file and add the following
Code: Select all
net stop MagicJack
"C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\mjusbsp\removedrive\RemoveDrive.exe" ymax*
If you are still having the problem and checked that the file .bat you created is correct, then again in Group Policy editor, go to Computer Configuration->Administrative Templates->System->Scripts and double click Run shutdown scripts visible. Choose enable and click OK. When you restart your computer, a command prompt window should appear momentarily.
[EDIT 5/5: several clarifications and corrections, with addition information and advise provided by sh42n81 and Stewart.]
Obviously, these issues would prevent me from doing this on a regular basis, but the sound and convenience of talking without a phone were great. Just for reference, I'm using Toshiba's Bluetooth software, so you probably would have better luck with one of the others. .jpg)
