simonagraham

I am just worried that in the future - if I add additional drivers to support new servers, additonal service packs, etc then eventually the files will not fit on the CD. For certain servers, I would also like to copy over the applicaiton sources files before the unattended install - i.e Exchange or SQL files. This will need additional CD's. Otherwise I will have to prompt for more CD's after the OS has installed and therefore making the installation 'less' unattended! However, if /INRAM doesn't work and no-one else has done this before - it looks like I will have to rethink my strategy!! Thanks again Simon

Hi there Thanks for all your replies so far - but I am still struggling...... I want to be able to copy the sourcefiles for OS and Apps to the C drive before starting the unattended install of W2003. However, the machine inconsistently hangs when I take the CD out and put the source files Cd in. I have tried the /INRAM switch and i thought I ahd solved it, but every so often, if I suddenly move the mouse, etc after the WinPE CD has been removed it will hang. I have copied the WinPE i386 directory to C: and run the batch files using the CMD.EXE file from c:, I have changed the path variable to point to C:\i386, etc and stil it hangs. Any ideas? Is this possible?

There are a couple of reasons why I don't want the source files on the WinPE 1. Knowing Micorosoft, when SP1 for W2003 is released it will bloat the i386 folder even further, I therefore dont want to develop a solution that will not work after the first SP is released. 2. I also want to include some post installation applications. I want to copy all of these to C: before the installation is stasrted, therefore the installation will be fully automated rather than prompting for CD's after the intial installation of W2003 Thanks (Ps - Cheers - a very english way of saying thank-you!!!)

Ok thanks Is the batch file to install from Cd and the Tool for BartPe two different things? I would prefer to go the batch file route - any pointers on the batch file Regards Simon

Hi I am new to WinPe and I am trying to use it to install Windows Server 2003. The problem I am having is that in most cases, DHCP will not be available and therefore I cannot rely on copying files from a network drive. I therefore want to boot to WinPE, format the disk and copy all files from CD's to the hard drive and initiate the unattended installation. I have noticed from many posts that the source files are added to the WinPE CD - the problem with this is that I cannot fit all files required onto the WinPe CD. Therefore, I want to prompt the operator to insert CD's to copy them to the C Drive. My initial effrots end up with WinPe hanging because I have removed the WInPe Cd from the CD drive. Using aDVD is not an option. Has anyone done this - do I need to create / use a RAMDrive? If so - how? Any help appreciated Cheers Simon