

2018-06-25 06:00 Update: DriveSort 1.231 In response to some user needs, this version brings three changes: A new comparison base in the menu next to the sort icon allows to sort files by their logical long name, which is useful when working with files or folders which contain numbers as is often the case for music tracks. Before, when sorting a list of files named 1-1, 2-1, 5-1, 8-1, 8-2, 8-10, 10-1, 13-1, 20-1 using the long name as comparison base, the list was sorted lexicographically (1-1, 10-1, 13-1, 2-1, 20-1, 5-1, 8-1, 8-10, 8-2) which doesn't feel right. By padding the numbers with zeroes on the left, it was possible to work around the issue to obtain the correct order (ex: 01-1, 02-1, 05-1, 08-01, 08-02, 08-10, 10-1, 13-1, 20-1) but that could become a chore. With this new comparison base the files are now sorted in the more natural order of the numbers they include, as the Windows file Explorer does. An user with an old AMD processor was no longer able to run DriveSort because the new compiler I'm using by default generates code which requires a processor supporting the SSE2 instruction set. In order to be compatible with more machines, DriveSort is now compiled in a way which doesn't require these instructions which it doesn't really need. I don't have a non SSE2 machine at my disposal to test the compatiblity, but by having a quick look at the disassembled code there doesn't seem to be any more SSE2 instructions in the generated code, so I hope this version will be compatible with more machines. Usually administrator rights are required by Windows to lock a disk in exclusive mode and work with filesystems in the way DriveSort needs to. An user nonetheless told me he managed to work with an older DriveSort version which didn't require administrator rights, and was now blocked from using the new versions by the user account control because his account didn't have administrator rights. There might be some situations where special priviledges might suffice, so in order to allow priviledged users without administrator rights to use DriveSort, this version no longer requests administrator rights to start, but only the highest priviledges the user account has been granted. For users whose account had administrator rights this changes nothing, DriveSort will still run as administrator. For normal users, the lack of administrator rights should no longer prevent DriveSort from starting, but the absence of priviledges required by Windows should still prevent exclusive disk locks, which should manifest itself as an error popup when opening a disk with an access denied message. I've performed a few tests on a VM under Windows XP SP3 as User, Power User, or member of the Backup and Restore group, but without success. If anyone manages to open a disk with DriveSort without administrator rights I'm interested to know how your user account is setup (maybe with secpol.msc?) and under which Windows version this is supported, so don't hesitate to keep me posted. Moreover, for more security DriveSort now attempts to enable for its process some more Windows security features and exploit mitigation policies on top of those previously activated when they're available on the Windows version on which DriveSort runs. DriveSort now disables child process creation since it's not supposed to run other programs, prevents the use of dynamic code since it doesn't generate any, disables the use of win32k.sys syscalls, and some other extension points it doesn't use. I could test this version on an up to date Windows 10 and a Windows XP SP3, but if you notice any compatibility issue don't hesitate to mention it to me.

2018-06-25 06:00

Update: DriveSort 1.231

In response to some user needs, this version brings three changes:

A new comparison base in the menu next to the sort icon allows to sort files by their logical long name, which is useful when working with files or folders which contain numbers as is often the case for music tracks.
Before, when sorting a list of files named 1-1, 2-1, 5-1, 8-1, 8-2, 8-10, 10-1, 13-1, 20-1 using the long name as comparison base, the list was sorted lexicographically (1-1, 10-1, 13-1, 2-1, 20-1, 5-1, 8-1, 8-10, 8-2) which doesn't feel right.
By padding the numbers with zeroes on the left, it was possible to work around the issue to obtain the correct order (ex: 01-1, 02-1, 05-1, 08-01, 08-02, 08-10, 10-1, 13-1, 20-1) but that could become a chore.
With this new comparison base the files are now sorted in the more natural order of the numbers they include, as the Windows file Explorer does.
An user with an old AMD processor was no longer able to run DriveSort because the new compiler I'm using by default generates code which requires a processor supporting the SSE2 instruction set. In order to be compatible with more machines, DriveSort is now compiled in a way which doesn't require these instructions which it doesn't really need.
I don't have a non SSE2 machine at my disposal to test the compatiblity, but by having a quick look at the disassembled code there doesn't seem to be any more SSE2 instructions in the generated code, so I hope this version will be compatible with more machines.
Usually administrator rights are required by Windows to lock a disk in exclusive mode and work with filesystems in the way DriveSort needs to.
An user nonetheless told me he managed to work with an older DriveSort version which didn't require administrator rights, and was now blocked from using the new versions by the user account control because his account didn't have administrator rights.
There might be some situations where special priviledges might suffice, so in order to allow priviledged users without administrator rights to use DriveSort, this version no longer requests administrator rights to start, but only the highest priviledges the user account has been granted.
For users whose account had administrator rights this changes nothing, DriveSort will still run as administrator.
For normal users, the lack of administrator rights should no longer prevent DriveSort from starting, but the absence of priviledges required by Windows should still prevent exclusive disk locks, which should manifest itself as an error popup when opening a disk with an access denied message.
I've performed a few tests on a VM under Windows XP SP3 as User, Power User, or member of the Backup and Restore group, but without success. If anyone manages to open a disk with DriveSort without administrator rights I'm interested to know how your user account is setup (maybe with secpol.msc?) and under which Windows version this is supported, so don't hesitate to keep me posted.

Moreover, for more security DriveSort now attempts to enable for its process some more Windows security features and exploit mitigation policies on top of those previously activated when they're available on the Windows version on which DriveSort runs. DriveSort now disables child process creation since it's not supposed to run other programs, prevents the use of dynamic code since it doesn't generate any, disables the use of win32k.sys syscalls, and some other extension points it doesn't use.
I could test this version on an up to date Windows 10 and a Windows XP SP3, but if you notice any compatibility issue don't hesitate to mention it to me.