midiboy

Hi maxXPsoft, yeah, thats the workaround ... using cdimage. Thats what I am using now because oscdimage.exe turns everything to uppercase. But I was wondering if there are commandline tools available that create UDF iso´s like the ones Microsoft is creating with their original Vista images. Also the cdimage.exe has the "problem" that it does not integrate the font to properly display the first few seconds of the Vista installation. Not a big deal but something worth mentioning. Bye, Alex

Hi blinkdt, I am no programmer so I am not very familiar with HTML. Nevertheless, I had a look at the code and through experimentation I was able achieve part of what I wanted by moving the exit button to the extra button bar. This way, it is disabled together with the other buttons :-) Also I moved the button bars more to the bottom by adding more <br>´s :-) Certainly not a very professional approach but it seems to work. However, I did not find the place where I can 1. disable the "Cancel button" in the installer 2. move the position of the main WPI window and the installer windows. Those settings are not in the html files or I did not find them and the js file do not seem to contain this info either. Anyway, thanks a lot for your help ! Alex

Hi guys, I don´t know why nobody has asked this before (at least I did not find it using the search). The oscdimg.exe everyone is using to create the iso is much more limited than cdimage.exe because it does not support the j1 switch anymore which creates a Joliet Unicode filesystem. Instead odcdimg.exe just turns all filenames to uppercase which is a real nuisance if you want to use the files from DVD later on. Also, the original Vista images are UDF and do not suffer from that problem so Microsoft seems to have a tool that creates an UDF filesystem. Are we not allowed to use that or what ? Is there any commandline tool out there that can create UDF images and works with Vista ? Bye, Alex

Well, you would not have to use that feature, would you ? But for some people it would be nicer. Also you can keep your image clean. If you find out that an update causes problems you would not have to ditch the modified image and start from scratch. Bye, Alex

Hi sp00f, Unfortunately, I do not speak any dutch I know I should have learned that ! It would have come handy Anyways, I do not get it. Why should there be no Driverpacks for Vista ? It does not make any sense. I know people are reluctant to move to Vista from XP but over time this will change any more and more people will use Vista. So why not make driverpacks for it ? Is it too much work to assemble all the drivers again or is it a technical issue or did Bashrat move to Linux or what is it ? Anyway, have a nice day ! Alex

Hi Kelsenellenelvian, oh, ok ... sorry for not searching first. This is indeed very strange ... Thanks for the quick response. Bye, Alex

Hi ! I am having a strange problem suddenly with WPI. Everything used to run fine but now suddenly during the unattended installation process on Vista during the silent Office 2007 installation, WPI throws an error (in German) that says: Then, a Script debugger window opens and shows the content of the reboot.js. I have attached screenshots of both events. While this is happening, the installation of other programs continues but the WPI window is not shown anymore and Windows does not reboot afterwards. If I force a reboot through task manager, Windows then tells me after the reboot that installation failed and has to be started again. I do not understand this problem at all because nowhere have I told WPI to reboot at this stage in the process or to run again after a reboot. The code in the config.js while this is happening is simply this: prog[pn]=['Office Enterprise 2007']; ordr[pn]=[42]; uid[pn]=['OFFICEENT']; dflt[pn]=['yes']; cat[pn]=['Office']; forc[pn]=['no']; cmd1[pn]=['"%root%\\Setup\\Microsoft\\Office2007\\silent_install.cmd"']; pn++; The silent_install.cmd only contains the Office 2007 setup command. Any ideas why this is happening ? I am at a loss here ... Thanks for your help Alex PS: The rb_config.js is on C: by the way and I was able to open it on the commandline. Also the WPI_log.txt file does not show any error, even the commands after that incident were seemingly installed correctly.

Hi elajua, Thanks, yeah I thought so. Mhh, I guess it will be much better after SP1 has been released for Vista. There WindowsPE/Vista/Server 2008 will search for drivers in the $WinPEDrivers$ folder in the root of each available drive automatically. This offline integration is just not very practical for longterm use in my opinion ... Bye, Alex

Hi atabrk, thanks for the input. Yes, that seems to be the way to do it but it is not very good. On each new update by microsoft you have to start WSIM and add them to the image. I´d rather just put the updates in a folder on the DVD or share and have Windows pick them up during Windows setup automatically. In Windows XP I am doing this with a script but since Vista altready has that "Installing Updates" phase I thought it would be cool to use that. Bye, Alex

Hi guys, thanks for this. Just updated my image with the MUP and the Vista Tool. Just one question ... if new drivers/updates are available would I have to start from scratch, meaning a fresh image or is it possible to update an already patched image ? What if updated drivers are available ? Will they replace the older ones in the image or will both drivers be in the image afterwards ? Thanks, Alex

Hi Sp00f, What do you mean "never gonna be" ? Never heared that before. Actually Bashrat said in the Driverpacks forum that driverpacks for vista are being developed. So where do you get this information ? Bye, Alex

Hi elajua, thanks for the reply. Yes, I saw the $WinPEDrivers$ directory mentioned in the logfiles of the Vista SP1 Setup, since that will share the same code with Windows Server 2008 we will have this feature soon for Vista too. That will be the easiest way to integrate drivers. But as far as I know it is only for drivers, NOT for Windows Updates. So what does Vista Setup do during the phase where it says "Installing Updates ..." ? Seems like it looks for updates somewhere (online ???) but in my case this phase is over very quickly so I guess it does not find any updates. There must be a way to tell Windows Setup to look into a special folder for updates during that phase, no ?? Bye, Alex

Hi guys, using WPI for the very first time and have already mastered most of the problems that arose. However, 4 questions remain: 1. Is there a way to disable both the "Close" Button on the bottom of WPI and the "Cancel" Button during installation ? I would like to make it harder for people to skip the installation. 2. Is it possible to change the order applications are displayed in WPI so that they are grouped together with the other apps of a category (Utilities, System etc.) ? Currently apps are displayed according to their install number, not their category which results in categories being displayed twice or even more than that. stupid me, found the solution to this one myself ;-) 3. Is it possible to change the location of the "Installation and "Programselection" Buttons to some place else like for instance more to the bottom ? Reason for asking is that the "Windows Setup" window during runonceex (in XP) or audit user phase (in Vista) is always pretty much on the upper left corner and is blocking the sight to those buttons. 4. Is it possible to move the whole WPI window to any one side if it is for instance in 800x600 resolution and the PC resolution is higher ? Right now it is always at the center, it would be nice if one could move that window some place else ... Thanks for your help !! Alex

Hi guys, just a quick question. During Windows Setup there are a few phases (installing functions, updating Windows etc.) What is Setup doing during the "Updating Windows" Phase ? Could I maybe add Windows updates to a special folder on the setup DVD and Windows would then install those updates during setup automatically ? The guide by Firegeier has a section on integrating updates but I´d rather not do it that way because if new updates are released I would have to use WAIK again. It would be far easier to just drop the new update files in a folder, don´t you think ? Thanks for your help ! Alex

Hi guys, strange problem: After the sysprep.exe /generalize /quiet /oobe /reboot command in auditUser pass, Windows setup does not restart but instead the sysprep gui starts. If I then force the reboot in the sysprep GUI, Windows restarts but then stops with a serious error message: Installation could not be finished. Start installation again (translated from German). In the setupact.log file the following message appears at the end: couldn´t find <reseal> setting in unattend file. Sysprep GUI is started. I build the autounattend.xml according to the MSFN guide. Here it is: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend"> <settings pass="windowsPE"> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <SetupUILanguage> <UILanguage>de-DE</UILanguage> </SetupUILanguage> <InputLocale>0000043a</InputLocale> <SystemLocale>de-AT</SystemLocale> <UILanguage>de-DE</UILanguage> <UserLocale>de-AT</UserLocale> </component> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <UserData> <ProductKey> <Key>XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX</Key> <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI> </ProductKey> <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula> <FullName>Privat</FullName> <Organization>None</Organization> </UserData> <ImageInstall> <OSImage> <InstallFrom> <MetaData wcm:action="add"> <Key>/IMAGE/NAME</Key> <Value>Windows Vista Ultimate</Value> </MetaData> </InstallFrom> </OSImage> </ImageInstall> </component> </settings> <settings pass="oobeSystem"> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <OOBE> <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage> <NetworkLocation>Home</NetworkLocation> <ProtectYourPC>1</ProtectYourPC> <SkipUserOOBE>true</SkipUserOOBE> </OOBE> <AutoLogon> <Enabled>true</Enabled> <LogonCount>2</LogonCount> <Username>Administrator</Username> </AutoLogon> <TimeZone>W.Europe Standard Time</TimeZone> <UserAccounts> <LocalAccounts> <LocalAccount wcm:action="add"> <Password> <Value>xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx=</Value> <PlainText>false</PlainText> </Password> <Description>AIW Administrator</Description> <DisplayName>AIWAdmin</DisplayName> <Name>AIWAdmin</Name> <Group>Administrators</Group> </LocalAccount> </LocalAccounts> </UserAccounts> <Display> <ColorDepth>32</ColorDepth> <DPI>96</DPI> <HorizontalResolution>1024</HorizontalResolution> <VerticalResolution>768</VerticalResolution> </Display> </component> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <InputLocale>0000043a</InputLocale> <SystemLocale>de-AT</SystemLocale> <UILanguage>de-DE</UILanguage> <UILanguageFallback>de-DE</UILanguageFallback> <UserLocale>de-DE</UserLocale> </component> </settings> <settings pass="specialize"> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <RunSynchronous> <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add"> <Order>1</Order> <Path>cmd /c "FOR %i IN (C D E F G H I J K L N M O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z) DO IF EXIST %i:\AppsRoot.txt SETX AppsRoot %i: -m"</Path> </RunSynchronousCommand> <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add"> <Order>3</Order> <Path>cmd /C "cmdow @ /HID &%WINDIR%\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /quiet /audit"</Path> </RunSynchronousCommand> </RunSynchronous> </component> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-Licensing-SLC-UX" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <SkipAutoActivation>true</SkipAutoActivation> </component> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <ProductKey>xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</ProductKey> <CopyProfile>true</CopyProfile> <TimeZone>W.Europe Standard Time</TimeZone> </component> </settings> <settings pass="auditSystem"> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <AutoLogon> <Enabled>true</Enabled> <LogonCount>3</LogonCount> <Username>Administrator</Username> </AutoLogon> <TimeZone>W.Europe Standard Time</TimeZone> </component> </settings> <settings pass="auditUser"> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <RunSynchronous> <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add"> <Order>1</Order> <Path>cmd /c "cmdow @ /HID & %AppsRoot%\WPI\wpi.hta"</Path> <Description>Anwendungsinstallation</Description> </RunSynchronousCommand> <RunSynchronousCommand wcm:action="add"> <Order>60</Order> <Path>%WINDIR%\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /generalize /quiet /oobe /reboot</Path> <Description>Generalisierung durchführen</Description> <WillReboot>Never</WillReboot> </RunSynchronousCommand> </RunSynchronous> </component> </settings> <settings pass="generalize"> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-PnpSysprep" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <PersistAllDeviceInstalls>true</PersistAllDeviceInstalls> </component> </settings> <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim://mediastation/mediausers/alexander/installation/aiw5/release/sources/install.wim#Windows Vista ULTIMATE" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" /> </unattend> Does anyone know why it does not work ? Thanks, Alex

Hi Zedox, yes, I also verified this by using a normal RTM Vista image with the same answer file. There the error does not appear and the PC does not shut off. Since Windows Server 2008 and Vista SP1 share the same codebase I guess it is a beta problem or did you find a solution for this "interactive logon process`" failure yet ? Does your logfile contain any information ? Mine does not ... Bye, Alex

Hi zedox ! I have the same problem but have not found the solution yet. In addition, right before the PC (VmWare 1.0.4) shuts off there is a short blink of an error message. Something like "Failed to initialize ...." It is not visible long enough to read it and I did not find any error in setuperr.log afterwards. Are you by any chance using Vista + integrated SP1 (build 6001) yet ? I am and I am thinking it may have something to do with using the beta SP1 ... Bye, Alex

Hi again, well, I did not find out how to use that function yet but I managed to find out the reason why the mentioned code did not work. The DELIM in Windows XP was a <TAB> key, in Vista it has to be a <SPACE> Key. Does anyone know how to change special user folders like Documents, Music, Videos etc. to another path using a cmd or vbs in the same way as doing it manually in Explorer (if you do it in explorer you are being asked if you want to move the files over to the new place, then the old folder is deleted and the new one is created) Thanks, Alex

Hi guys ! I am trying to find the location of the users Desktop folder in Windows Vista. Querying the registry like in Windows XP does not work anymore. In XP I used this: FOR /F "TOKENS=3 DELIMS= " %%i in ('reg query "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders" /v Desktop') do set DESKTOP=%%i Now the registry value is still there but it still does not work. Also, the registry contained a value that said "Do not use these Registry values, use SHGetKnownFolderPath or SHGetFolderPath instead." So I tried to look up this function on MSDN but since I am no programmer I am not able to use that to my satisfaction in a cmd or vbs. Thats the link: Function Can anyone help me out by explaining how I could use this function from inside a cmd ? Thanks a lot ! Alex

Hi guys, if I understand this correctly after reading the Vista unattended guides one would have to add at least three passes (each requiring a reboot) in addition to the normal phases of a vista setup if one would want to add applications and regtweaks (specialise pass + audit mode pass) and copy the userprofile over to the default user (generalize). This would make 5 reboots during an unattended installation if I counted this correctly. Is this really necessary ? Can´t you combine phases so that things happen in one phase instead of two ? For instance when installing applications one has to first add commands to the specialise phase in order to add environment variables that are then needed in the audit phase. Then, to copy the user profile into the default user profile a generalize phase is seemingly necessary. Why not simply do all of those things in one phase ?? Maybe that´s a dumb question but it is very different from a Windows XP setup and the number of reboots necessary is really a nuisance in Vista. Thanks, Alex

Hi guys, still a little confused by the various methods available to integrate drivers. After reading the Microsoft Vista deployment guide and the guides on this forum I am still unsure which method is preferable and if one method is enough or not. I guess not. So there are 3 methods: 1. Integrate into offline image (install.wim) 2. Online integration during Windows setup (Windows PE pass) 3. Online integration during Windows setup (audit pass) Now, to me the first method seems the least interesting because it involves modifying the original image, also since only the install.wim ist modified it seems that those drivers are not available in Windows PE, right ? As for the other two methods: Do I have to use both or is it sufficient to use the second method (online integration during windows pe pass ) ? After reading the various guides it seems like the second method will also work for massstorage drivers so it seems like this method is the best but I still don´t know if it will work for all drivers and if those drivers will be available for Windows PE and for Windows Setup later. Sorry if those are dumb questions ... and thanks a lot for your help ! Alex

Hi Razormoon, thanks, will try that and let you know if it works. I just think there may be a problem with rights. At least last time I tried something similar the administrator account did not have the rights to modify the registry like this but I don´t remember the exact reason. Will try it again. Bye, Alex

Hi guys, in Windows XP it was possible to modify the registy of the default user profile by loading the ntuser.dat like this: REG LOAD "HKU\CUSTOM" "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\..\Default User\NTUSER.DAT" REG ADD "HKU\CUSTOM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /V "Test" /D "%PROGRAMFILES%\Test.exe" /F REG UNLOAD "HKU\CUSTOM" However, in Windows Vista, this does not work anymore. Do you guys have any idea how I can modify the default user registry after Vista Setup has finished ? Thanks a lot for your help ! Alex

Hi gunsmokingman, again, thanks a lot ! How come you know all those commands ? Is there a magic book where you look these things up or do you simply know them ? Bye and have a nice day ! Alex

Hi again, here´s a followup question: Is there a way to test if the OS is 32 or 64 bit too ? At least with the net config command it does not seem to be possible ? Thanks again ! Alex