mazin

Just a side note: Open Task Manager. Go to File --> New Task(Run...) and see what you get.

Thanks mgadallah. I'll be pleased if you join our testing and discussion. Project files are attached to the first post.

Just done a few more tests with the new keys suggested by crahak and Takeshi. The following keys are tested. Only those with arrow worked. I don't know whether the remaining keys can execute only during Windows Setup. However, the results are summarized below. :===========:=============:=============:=========:============: :-CMD from--:-Start Time--:-Finish Time-:-Desktop-:-CMD runs---: :===========:=============:=============:=========:============: :-1-LM-ROEX-:-11:33:45.59-:-------------:-NO------:-Alone------: :---LM-ROEX-:-------------:-11:33:57.00-:-NO------:-Alone------: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-2-CU-ROEX-:-11:34:03.79-:-------------:-NO------:-Alone------: :---CU-ROEX-:-------------:-11:34:18.78-:-NO------:-Alone------: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-3-LM-RO---:-11:34:23.24-:-------------:-NO------:-Alone------: :---LM-RO---:-------------:-11:34:32.12-:-NO------:-Alone------: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-4-LM-POL--:-11:35:02.26-:-------------:-YES-----:-Alone------: :---LM-POL--:-------------:-11:35:44.30-:-YES-----:-in company-: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-5-LM-RUN--:-11:35:05.60-:-------------:-YES-----:-in company-: :---LM-RUN--:-------------:-11:35:46.56-:-YES-----:-in company-: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-6-CU-POL--:-11:35:05.83-:-------------:-YES-----:-in company-: :---CU-POL--:-------------:-11:35:44.33-:-YES-----:-in company-: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-7-CU-RUN--:-11:35:10.04-:-------------:-YES-----:-in company-: :---CU-RUN--:-------------:-11:35:54.45-:-YES-----:-Alone------: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-8-STRTP-A-:-11:35:59.92-:-------------:-YES-----:-Alone------: :---STRTP-A-:-------------:-11:36:47.36-:-YES-----:-in company-: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-9-STRTP-U-:-11:36:00.99-:-------------:-YES-----:-in company-: :---STRTP-U-:-------------:-11:36:47.36-:-YES-----:-in company-: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :10-CU-RO---:-11:36:01.92-:-------------:-YES-----:-in company-: :---CU-RO---:-------------:-11:36:47.36-:-YES-----:-in company-: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: @ Takeshi ++ For your tests, do you have anything else to run/install in RunOnceEx apart from the exe? ++ Only this command once prior to testing: rundll32.exe iernonce.dll,RunOnceExProcess ++ Your method involves outputting to individual txt files, right? ++ Yes, so I ensure everything runs independently.

Your problem is the easiest to solve since you want to apply the settings to each user. You can import a reg key to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce at T-13 or T-12. Importing the reg key at T-13 or T-12 makes it stick for all computer users, either those have been created already or those will be created in the future. The reg key will be run only once, exactly as you need it to be. The reg key is supposed to run whatever code you want; like COPY, REG ADD, etc. Not to double posting, please read this for more information. @ Takeshi Your suggestion is excellent.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechn...unattended.mspx

If there's a problem, I can help. @ mgadallah You're welcome.

1- So far, and by design, WINNTBBU displays a single picture as a background. I haven't, yet, seen someone who hacked it to display more than one pic. It should be funny, of course. However, I recall there's someone who created a slideshow to be displayed in front of WINNTBBU. I don't have the URL nor remember his/her name. But you can search for SlideShow, if you are interested. 2- Also, long ago, I read a topic on how to play music during Windows Setup with the help of an app. I don't have the URL nor remember the author's name. I haven't used any of the above, however.

WINNTBBU.DLL is used during Windows SETUP. (GUI stage)

That's good news. This shows the same priority on all tests, as I've done extra 20 tests today. The results are the same regarding priority and Desktop.

Well! I've done a research on Unattended Windows forum using ProductID as a keyword. I've got 15 pages, 25 topics each. Most of these topics appeared in the search results just because someone posted their WINNT.SIf in a topic. This shows a fact that many people are using ProductID not ProductKey. B) Oh well, I've got some fun, too. Here, RyanVM says exactly the opposite to what I said. And it works! elduderino, the topic starter, answered: "Thats weird, because the winnt.sif is copied from a working unattended CD (SP2 slipstreamed)." elduderino used ProductID! -------------- Here, NickAtNight used the SP2 setupmgr.exe from the DEPLOY directory. He/She created unattend.txt (WINNT.SIF) that has ProductID not ProductKey. Funny! Mine (SP2 setupmgr.exe) does create ProductKey not ProductID. -------------- Here, both ProductKey and ProductID fail with jbond_13. His/Her key works if entered manually, though! -------------- I still don't remember where I got "ProductID" from! But I recall that MS said that ProductID is used in WINNT.SIF if AutoActivate is set to YES.

I'm used to reading before I apply/use anything that's new. After Ctrl-X had posted his input, I just looked in my WINNT.SIF of the three copies of Windows I've got on my CDs. (XP, XPSP1A, XPSP2) And, yes, what I said is correct in my case. I don't remember where I read this, however. But I'll see and post back if I find it.

I use ProductKey=xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx for WIN-XP without Service Pack and for WIN-XP with SP1. I use ProductID=xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx for WIN-XP with SP2.

@ Takeshi Well! I've just reformatted your results in a tabular form. Your posted test shows the same results as mine, regarding to the priority. The ROEX keys did not execute, in your tests, because you may need to run this command prior to testng: rundll32.exe iernonce.dll,RunOnceExProcess Please consider using my project files, so your results are tabulated. :===========:=============:=============:=========:============: :-CMD from--:-Start Time--:-Finish Time-:-Desktop-:-CMD runs---: :===========:=============:=============:=========:============: :-1-LM-ROEX-:-Not-Tested--:-------------:NotTested:-Not-Tested-: :-1-LM-ROEX-:-------------:-Not-Tested--:NotTested:-Not-Tested-: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-2-CU-ROEX-:-Not-Tested--:-------------:NotTested:-Not-Tested-: :-2-CU-ROEX-:-------------:-Not-Tested--:NotTested:-Not-Tested-: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-3-LM-RO---:-00:21:57.07-:-------------:-NO------:-Alone------: :-3-LM-RO---:-------------:-00:22:06.43-:-NO------:-Alone------: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-4-LM-RUN--:-00:22:10.06-:-------------:-YES-----:-Alone------: :-4-LM-RUN--:-------------:-00:22:23.12-:-YES-----:-in company-: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-5-CU-RUN--:-00:22:10.45-:-------------:-YES-----:-in company-: :-5-CU-RUN--:-------------:-00:22:23.03-:-YES-----:-in company-: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-6-STRTP-A-:-00:22:11.85-:-------------:-YES-----:-in company-: :-6-STRTP-A-:-------------:-00:22:22.60-:-YES-----:-in company-: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-7-STRTP-U-:-00:22:19.82-:-------------:-YES-----:-in company-: :-7-STRTP-U-:-------------:-00:22:32.17-:-YES-----:-in company-: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------: :-8-CU-RO---:-00:22:20.00-:-------------:-YES-----:-in company-: :-8-CU-RO---:-------------:-00:22:31.82-:-YES-----:-in company-: :-----------:-------------:-------------:---------:------------:

Yes, this is the question. Or, maybe, you used ProductKey= instead of ProductID=!

Simply, I created an unattended win98se cd and an unattended win-xp-sp2 cd. I boot using win98se cd and install Windows to C:. I boot again using winxp cd and install winxp on D:. I removed the upgrade folders (manually) from win-xp cd and put some entries in WINNT.SIF to tell setup that I don't do upgrade installation. Well, I got a pagefile.sys on both C and D. But I delete that one on C, unattendedly, too. That's it.

I apply my HKCU reg tweaks at T-13 (SVCPACK) and they stick to all user accounts on my my PC.

I agree with both T D and Takeshi! Otherwise, you need the whole site of MSFN summarized, here, in a single topic. This is impossible. You've already prepared a brilliant list of your needs and you know exactly what you want. This is a good starting point showing that you've done many things correctly. I suggest you spend (actually, you invest) some of your valuable time in reading. The following tasks can be achieved by reading: - Windows XP SP2, with all current HotFixes - Create a fully unattended setup with no input from user. - Completely Customize Disc (Billboard, OEM info in System Properties,Choose Default Startup Style/Wallpaper) - Custom Registry Tweaks - Integrate Chipset, LAN, GPU (ATI) & RAID Drivers. - Install some programs at setup (Opera, Nero etc.) You'll need Resource Hacker to customize Windows. And nlite is good at removing uneeded components.

I tried it and it worked correctly.

SO FUNNY! I could swear that I'd let the hair grow longer and wash it all day long. So, compared to the life, it's even much better.

Sure! I'll be attaching them after I've finished writing the ReadMe file. Certainly! But I'd like to widen my test as far as I could. I'll consider testing the run points you've mentioned and will refresh the first post when done. I assume you mean that a user must have permission or admin previlages. Sure, there is. But I decided to do it myself since I have the tools, already. Plus, I beleive in sharing; which brought your ideas here in public. Thanks for the input and stay tuned. @ Takeshi I'm reading your post carefully ATM. < EDIT > Project files attached to the first post.

I had installed win98se on C: (primary) and winxp on D: (logical)! NP.

What does line 34 read?

Thank you very much for being interested in this topic, Takeshi. Actually, and after reading some posts here in the forum (especially by PaulIA and MHz),I got in a mess, myself. That's because I only use SVCPACK and LM-RUN. I was curious about whether other methods are also effective. Well, PaulIA has decided to research and I've decided to do it, myself. Yes, they do. I've just been doing my tests. But you may want to post the other results. Yes, it was written to a txt file. I can't log the loading of Desktop. But I like watching. Here's one of my batch files. Not bad, I hope! NB: The words "8, YES, and Alone" are just written for convenience. I chane them later after looking at the time log and watching the Desktop. However, I can attach the whole project, without SFXs, if anyone is interested in doing the same test on their computer. This saves much time.

When I PMed you to post your opinion, I was certain that you'd post helpful hints. And you did! Now you come up with a new (to me) idea. Importing some reg keys to CU-RO at T-12 (or T-13, maybe?) provides a good routine for some need-to-be-sticky actions. This will be useful to me (at least) in applying a certain Power Policy for each created user. I've had to log on to each user account to run an INF file to apply that policy. Now, using CU-RO, I'd leave that INF in \system32 or in \INF directory and let it be called by CU-RO. So, even if a new user is created, after I'm gone, it will get the same policy applied. That's a brilliant use of CU-RO. Thanks Michael! BTW, you've done a good job with "AutoIt3 Unattended Software Deployment". If I get interested in AutoIt, one day, I'm sure I'll use it.

Thanks. I got to read them.