wolfshade

Just an ideea : u don't need winnt.sif on a floppy since u can do it with batch files: Put an entry somewhere(winnt.sif, cmdlines etc.) for an generalised batch that is on floppy or HDD(make sure that the path would be the same so floppy would be more like it) and make the entries there for anymore batches u would use for anything like start /wait batch1.cmd start /wait batch2.cmd etc. It is a good programming practice to split u're tasks apart if u are constantly editing u're postinstalls.

Yeah thats the link to the site 10x for reminding every1 and No -- it hangs cause my hard disk doesn't seem to be doing anything anymore and i have icons on VMWare that stop lighting up at that point. Any1 knows what stage comes up right after "installing devices" -- maybe I messed something up at that point? I only use GuyRunOnce -- when does it begin installing? Thats strange -- I restarted the Virtual Machine and the setup resumed right after that; So my conclusion is : does the setup needs a restart right after "Installing Devices"? How do i do that? Do I need to remove "WaitForReboot=No" entry in the winnt.sif?

I just finished my first workable unattend (so i thought) and i am testing it in my VMWARE Workstation that simulates a machine but the installation hangs right at the end of "Installing Devices" while installing XP+SP1 slipstreamed. I can't figure what the problem is could any1 help me on this? I made the iso with the cd_image stuff in the site. Below i will add my winnt.sif file so u can look into it and tell me maybe i did something wrong. winnt.sif

I use or try to make silent installs with InstallRite but it records all kinda stupid stuff like clearing MRU and more windows operations while i monitor an install. Isn't there another cool soft like this one that makes absolute snapshots and makes an install kit afterwards? This one is pretty cool u can make silent for anything like Agnitum Outpost Firewall wich is my current operation but i would like to know and try some more and i'm sure more users would too -- 10x in advance.

Here is my opinion ( and the manufacturer's of my Intel chipset drivers as well ) they should definitely be installed before any other driver if possible -- this ussually is a req by chipset drivers. So theres a purpose to making such dir names (the info i picked on site about dirs and the rest i about 2 hours of reading up on chiset docs). I wouldn't worry about a delay while the windows goes past the few dirs containing preinstall drivers -- unless i would have a really slow CPU wich in case i wouldn't be installing XP on it right? -- i think the actual delay consists of miliseconds. I got a lil wiser since i first posted this thread

I saw a lot of ppl complain about Hide extension tweak here is what i use : ;Hide extensions for known file types off [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced] "HideFileExt"=dword:00000000 [HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1715567821-1292428093-725345543-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced] "HideFileExt"=dword:00000000 I am not sure about that serial stuff "S-1-5-21-1715567821 etc." it might be different on u're machine the thing is that whatever is in HK_CURRENT_USER should be in HK_USERS with specific diferrences if u are the only user of the computer -- but it also makes sure the tweak works so i made all change the all users setings too since i don't use many. The thing is that many tweaks are crap they are not made generally, not tested and most importand not comente at least so every1 would pick and customize their own. For example i made all tweaks myself with snapshot soft(InstallRite) and it is obvious to test them cuz they are not made by GOD even so most wont work for all and most of us wouldn't use all As for the Quick Launch i didn't find anything myself cuz InstallRite doesn't register any changes in registry or files when i activate/ deactivate it.

I think so in all my experience with installing drivers manually even if i pointed to a dir with multiple .inf files the windows would pick the right one. Although i can't tell for sure u could put them togheter just eb sure u don't overwrite them or anything. If 98se would find the corect files then winxp should definitely do it.

It actually even simpler than that u just use Alcoho~1 its because of spaces not the "%" necessarely. Also DOS short filenames support max 8 chars per name so anything that is longer considers its first 6 chars and a ~x if there are anymore same name folders/files ussually first is ~1. If u have a dir like "A B C D" then ignore all spaces and use "ABCD~1" it works. Also try using .cmd instead of .bat i think it uses a different emulator - cmd is better. U can test all this in a command window as i did.

I made some reg tweaks with InstallRite and i always noticed the regs for one settings are changed in HKEY_USERS as well as in current user as well the difference is simple firts is for all users second is for curent user only. I dunnow what difference it would make cuz i dunnow wht the T-x setup stages are and wish i had a map and description of those. I guess if u add it to HKEY_USERS it will be available for all (u too but make sure u install that soft before u add the reg so the soft wont overide the reg tweak but viceversa.

Good work! I didn't noticed so far but i tried even w/o the fix i wouldn't get any error just that it wouldn't start command window in that dir but in the parent dir instead.

Although this will be moved to registry tweaks it would be usefull to stand here for a little while This link really helped me a lot especially with windows services : http://www.blackviper.com Below is my complete services tweak i done thanks to reg tweaks sticky and the site above(just remove the Ati HotKey Poller entry if u don't have an ATI video card) services.rar

I tried to remove the Guest while in windows and its not working. "Cannot perform operation on built-in accounts" Even more funny - my windows xp pro is pretty hacked up right now by all kinda worms and friendly hackers so i don't have workstation service started??? not even present in the services list but i'm browsing the net how is this possible??? LoooL thats a first one for me BTW is this run on GUIRunOnce or RunOnceEx(wich i don't know much) or is it the same thing?

Actually i haven't tested it in an unattend but i figure i have to install it as the very last in my postinstall batches to avoid unpleasant behaviour from the many different patches. But YES! Autopatcher is the ultimate add-on for windows it must be installed after SP1 at any time and the good thing is that not only it includes some non-MS patches it offers a great support to keep up-to-date w/o making a mess of things. The ideea is to that u can make your options(save defaults) then use the flags(swithes) and never touch it again(i mean leave it alone and RUN! ) lol <kidding> of course u can touch it but only for changing the defaults -- thats all u have to configure at it, at least thats what i read and in silent mode it will get the default options u saved et voila. BTW some1 who tested this plz confirm that it worked so i 'ld know what to do before i start my first unattend ever LOL i hope it doesn't go BOOM! Have a nice day!

BTW different commands in GUIRunOnce will run all at one or one at a time e.g. Command0=stuff will run in the same time with Command1=stuff ???

2. Since the setup will get the unattend from floppy then i have to put batch files for postinstall on HDD too if i remove the floppy -- I remember that the stupid install finds the floppy and asks for removal even if theres no danger of booting from it(floppy autosearch bios disabled). I put unattend.txt on floppy cuz the setup won't read the NTFS partitions at start and keep windows on CD cuz it's a readable file system - after he unattends he will be able to read my NTFS partition to get soft postinstalled but i can't get when is the windows setup able to read the NTFS partitions in my system so i can do preinstall devices from HDD too - postinstall should work for sure if MS made the GUIRunOnce as it should but not sure about NTFS reading during setup and OEMPnPDriversSetup. 4.I don't want to install windows on e: i just want to keep preinstall and postinstall non-MS files in it for retrieval/installing purposes. I have to be sure cuz the path's role is to point to wathever i give him(its the setups job of reading the path contents). One more step needed if all of this works : Where to put answer file so i can modify it anytime and be able to read it too at anytime w/o the setup asking for floppy removal w/o any point or can't find it cuz of NTFS. Hmmm some software company had been already capable of releasing NTFSDOS wich can mount all NTFS volumes from DOS -- why can't MS do it in the setup of windows? Please help with any suggestions /test results - every bit counts. OOPS! Almost forgot the $1 directory would be the system drive while $$ the windir so actually it would be logical to put the files anywhere in the install drive but the question is at what point of setup is windows capable of seeing the other NTFS partitions\ volumes? -- this would determine if its really possible to keep non-MS files on HDD ;I am almost sure although i didn't test it, i can keep files on an FAT32 partition and read all even the answer file from it.

Silent Mode (a.k.a. Unattended mode) You can use the /unattend switch when you want to make AutoPatcher XP run in silent mode, suppressing any popup windows, batch file checks or questions. However: This wont stop any other applications/installation routines from giving popups or error messages... Also, note that when you use the /unattend switch, AutoPatcher XP will NOT unckeck any installed updates. An other thing to keep in mind, is, that since the /unattend switch makes the process completely silent, there is no way you can select what to install... This means that AutoPatcher XP will use the defaults, provided by the database file. To change that, you will have to save your own defaults BEFORE using the actual unattended procedure! No EULA Mode In unattended mode, the EULA is displayed because it is an agreement between us and the users. If you have read it, agreed and don't want it to show up, you can use the /noeula switch. This switch will be very useful in unattended installs... No Batch File Checks When AutoPatcher XP starts, it checks for the target batch files, to prevent some problems... If you want to skip these tests and make the startup procedure somewhat faster, use the /nochecks switch. Force Keep Backups You can FORCE the end user to keep backups, using the /keepbackup. Note, that this will make AutoPatcher XP check ONLY for the normal batch files (and not the non-backup versions), but it will also disable the checkbox (quite handy!). Force No Backups Similar to the previous switch, but does the exactly opposite. If you want to FORCE a No-Backup process, you can use the /nobackup switch. Again, this will disable the checkbox. Set the Restart Timer to 60 seconds You can set the Restart Timer from 15 seconds up to 60 seconds, in order to be sure everything will close as it should. Just use the /60secs Log events on screen To make AutoPatcher log events on the screen, during the installation process, use the /screenlog switch. Do not write a file log AutoPatcher XP keeps a complete log of the database condition at the time of installation. This will helps us determine what went wrong in case you experience any problem... However, if you don't want to keep a file log, you can you the /nolog switch. Force no reboot You can use the /noreboot switch to bypass AutoPatcher's restart timer. Use this if you want to restart the system manually. A couple more for December!: Force previous log use You may have noticed AutoPatcher asks about previous logs if you have used AutoPatcher again... There is a way to supply an answer to that question (other that the unattend mode!). Just use /forcelogs and AutoPatcher will automatically use any avilable log files to uncheck previously installed items... Ignore previous logs Similar to the previous switch, though this works in the opposite way... IF AutoPatcher does find any logs, if you supply the /ignorelogs switch, it will just ignore them and move on without asking... Some items (and only hotfixes) will still be unchecked based on the native hotfix check. Disable Nags You can automatically skip any 'nags' such as a failed database validation, antivirus warning, or even detection (logs & hotfixes) screen, by using the /nonags switch. English Mode If AutoPatcher's UI appears in an other language than english (this happens when a UI translation exists for your language) you can still run AutoPatcher with an english UI by using the /english switch. AutoPatcher If you want to open the AutoPatcher Tools immediatelly (normally started in About -> Tools) you can use the /tools switch. AutoPatcher will start, and instead of loading the normal UI and database, it will bring up the AutoPatcher Tools... Have a nice day!

I have ATI RADEON 9200 and i can't figure out the registry settings for the Control Panel included in Catalyst. I would want do deactivate systray icon and stuff more exactly all options tab settings stuff from display properties. Control Panel aplication from Catalyst comes with regs but i can't figure out wich are for the options tab. It works anyway with the -s switch for silent mode install. The drivers also can be put separately and i think they can be extracted with some drive extractor while in windows (e.g. DriverGuide Toolkit software) so it will be a minimum set pasted into the $OEM$ or wathever dir u use. I need info fromu on this one as i didn't test anything yet.

I thought a while and the best solution for me would be to make the folowing unattend: Burn the slipstream XP Pro+SP1 on CD and keep the postinstall files even the preinstall on HDD but i've got some questions about it, so: 1. I would require to keep the unattend.txt and batch files on floppy so i can change them always. Is it posible to put the answer file on floppy while booting from CD? 1.1. If this would work then i guess i can name the answer file how i please? 1.2. At what point it would be safe to remove floppy cuz it would be needed for setup (unattend.txt) and after for batch files for postinstall. [a:after the install finishes is this correct cuz the setup wont copy anything from a:\ to HDD?] (this would require keeping BIOS setting on autosearch floppy to off so the setup would take the path A:\ but don't mount it as a boot device). 2.If so as u might understand theres no rule on that u should keep any files in $OEM$ unless u do a full CD unattend. If it is posible to keep pre/post install files on HDD then it can be done in fixed dirs wich u could work as software is updated all the time. 3.I would add the path to /u:a:\unattend.txt (AUTORUN.INF) and [GUIRunOnce] > Command0=a:\batchfile1, Command1=a:\batchfile2 etc right? 4.The post install files/directories would reside on one of my partitions other than the one i am installing on so i can always update soft. My partitions are all NTFS - will the setup detect preinstall files on HDD cuz i'm thinking of putting the OEMPnPDriversPath=e:\specificdirs ? So the main point is i want clean slipstreamed XPSP1 on CD but every preinstall and postinstall file even answer file to HDD respective the floppy what do u think?

10x i presume install right is a software i have to get although i saw something somewhere once but can't remember cuz i've been through so much new info these days that my head spins there is a way to disable all restart but can't remember how or wher to find or if i saw it corectly. So if i use a second batch imediately after the software that would restart, the RunOnce would resume its commandX that is right after ... right? (if it is in regs it would have to i think). I'll stick to batches cuz i got too much on my head allready have to make all software run silent and presetted if possible. Many thanx to the existing on site guide to aplications switches.

hmmm then i'll just add the chipset inf files wich are about 7 and are required as mentioned in the docs to be in $OEM$\$$\inf allthough i searched through actual windows inf files and didn't find them installed there?

If a restart occurs from one of the software that would run from batch will the software after that resume install? (GUIRunOnce > batch) -- (running start /wait batch commands).

Well i read in site that u could name dirs like 00_chipset, 01_LAN, 02_audio and add them in the same order in OemPnPDriversPath but if i put the inf files in $OEM$\$$\inf as the docs of the drivers pointed me will it still make the install in order? Besides that wich makes the order? - dir naming, OemPnPDriversPath adding order? If i put the inf files into $OEM$\$$\inf will the windows get the right order? I ask this cuz i know the chipset should be installed before all other drivers although until now i installed first thing in GUI after install(no unattend). Allthough i didn't noticed that some problems would result from it i get in the conflict \ sharing info from system info a lot of conflicts\sharing and i hope they are just sharing -- they are between agp and pci and cpu and controllers dunnow for sure but seems important. (this is from normal install not unattend)

Well that was the quick 20$ question Does order matter for execution between [stuff] and [stuff] or even for entries? Example does it matter if i put [unattend] before [data]? The thing is i put the entries like FileSystem=* and TargetPath=* as i read them in ref.chm that means alphabetical order.

Well i think i got it anyway and found very helpfull tips on site like put directories in order like this : 00_chipset then 01_lan then 02_audio and so on. http://www.driverguidetoolkit.com/ I get the driver files with the soft DriverGuide Toolkit who's manufacturer link was posted above then look in the inf file for what .cat file it need, paste it into the dir, rename inf after the .cat excpet for extension of course then paste all files into $OEM$\$1\drivers\[specificdir]. In my case i can put it in whatever dir i want cuz i run it from HDD and the RunOnce would get it in the post install from my partition -- by the way do i really need to put all inf files i use in $OEM$\$$\inf ???

well no big changes so far for an HDD run just made an unattend.cmd (name optional) like this : @echo off set AnswerFile=driveletter:\setupdir\unattend.txt set SetupFiles=driveletter:\setupdir\i386 driveletter:\setupdir\i386\winnt32 /s:%SetupFiles% /tempdrive:c: /unattend0:%AnswerFile% for windows start or driveletter:\setupdir\i386\winnt /s:%SetupFiles% /u:%AnswerFile% for DOS start (it doesn't work for my NTFS partitions - recomend getting NTFSDOS that mounts NTFS partitions - 2 floppies ;boot from a normal floppy first). Check with ref.chm from deploy.cab on u're CD. Here's the unattend i used so far but i can't get it to first format the drive i am installing on instead it saiz it will delete the dirs before installing (yeah like i believe that - have to test this / sounds like any microsoft promise ). [Data] AutoPartition=0 MsDosInitiated=0 UnattendedInstall=Yes [Unattended] CrashDumpSetting=0 DisableDynamicUpdates=Yes DriverSigningPolicy=Ignore FileSystem=* OemPnPDriversPath="drivers\00_Intel_Inf;drivers\01_Intel_LAN;drivers\02_Audio" OemPreinstall=Yes OemSkipEula=Yes TargetPath=* UnattendSwitch=Yes UnattendMode=FullUnattended WaitForReboot=No [GuiUnattended] AdminPassword="xxxxxxxx" AutoLogon=Yes AutoLogonCount=3 EncryptedAdminPassword=No OemSkipRegional=1 OemSkipWelcome=1 TimeZone=115 [UserData] ComputerName=wolfshade FullName="wolf" OrgName="wolfpack" ProductID=xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx [Components] accessopt=off deskpaper=off dialer=off freecell=off hearts=off hypertrm=off ieaccess=off licenseserver=off media_clips=off minesweeper=off mousepoint=off mplay=off msnexplr=off mswordpad=off netoc=off objectpkg=off pinball=off solitaire=off spider=off zonegames=off [Display] BitsPerPel=32 Xresolution=1024 YResolution=768 Vrefresh=60 [RegionalSettings] LanguageGroup=1,2 [Identification] JoinWorkgroup=WORKGROUP [Networking] InstallDefaultComponents=No [NetAdapters] Adapter1=params.Adapter1 [params.Adapter1] INFID=* [NetProtocols] MS_TCPIP=params.MS_TCPIP [params.MS_TCPIP] DNS=No UseDomainNameDevolution=No EnableLMHosts=No AdapterSections=params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter1 [params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter1] SpecificTo=Adapter1 DHCP=No IPAddress=194.102.241.174 SubnetMask=255.255.225.240 DefaultGateway=194.102.241.161 DNSServerSearchOrder=194.102.241.1 WINS=No NetBIOSOptions=2 [Shell] DefaultThemesOff=Yes [ComputerSettings] PowerScheme=Presentation [GuiRunOnce] Command0=e:\winxpsp1\postinst.cmd I don't really know where to put the "stuff" and where not i just put them on strings like "name" or "password" and not on flags like Yes/No 1/0 i don't think it matters really if u put all answers in "" The beauty of having an HDD install is that u don't burn CD's for nothing if u have to put a new software update in it and modify the answer file and directories. But u might make a SP1 slipstream anyway and burn it then work it like u work from the hard with a batch command and keep a dir structure on HDD (except for $OEM$ of course wich needs to be on cd of course so be carefull what unattend strategy u use if u try this cuz preinstalation of chipset and stuff could be done with batch too (GUIRunOnce).