InTheWayBoy

Hard to say...you could try emailing ASUS, but you probably won't get much of an answer. When you inserted the CD WinXP will automatically search the whole CD for proper drivers...if it finds one it just loads it on. If it finds two or more, then it asks what you want to do. As for what the device is...could be anything. A lot of newer boards are starting to add extra features, which of course require extra drivers. And since they may not fall into a specific category, you'll get the generic "Unknown Device". If you want to find out, try this: 1. Format and Reinstall using same UA disc. 2. When it asks you about the unknown device, just hit cancel. 3. Download the program "Unknown Devices", and see what it reports. 4. Use that info to determine what driver it's using off the CD. 5. Integrate that driver into your UA CD, and you'll never have this specific problem again! Woohoo! Good luck, and don't forget to update the listing for "Unknown Devices"!

The silent installer by RyanVM has issues? Well...I never seen one...what's the issue? I usually install mine via WPI, along with all the other applications I install on every machine. Never really figured to test it out, but I know I have several .NET applications that seem to run as they always have.

Also...is this just a DSL Modem, or a DSL Modem hooked up to a Router? In either case you'll want to make sure that you don't have conflicting services running...meaning, if your Modem/Router has a built-in DHCP server, you'll want to disable that before you install DHCP on the Server.

Hey RougeSpear...does my process sound correct? Assuming it's not attatched to a domain it should work, right? More of me just wanting to know I'm not talking out my *ss than anything...also, what kinda script are you using? Any chance of seeing the source? As a new net admin I'm trying to learn as much as I can, so I'd love to see how you do it...sounds like you know a hell of a lot more than most of us And don't forget to PM me about the RIS site...if you're still interested.

I don't know, but may I suggest this: http://ryanvm.msfn.org/ There is a custom .NET installer that doesn't need any switches...just double-click or call from a batch file and that's it...no muss, no fuss.

There are many ways to go at this...you would probably want to install at least DHCP on the server, but you might want to look into making it a Domain Controller, which can include DHCP, DNS, and much more. It's also more effort, so be prepaired. If you go the easy route, then DHCP is all you'll really need. You'll need two NIC's in the server if you want to setup to work...one for DSL, the other for your LAN. You can use the built-in Internet Connection Sharing that Server provides to handle the NAT portion, with the DHCP you installed doing it's job. File sharing is usually as simple as right-clicking on the folder you want to share and edit the sharing properties. You'll have to watch out for permissions here, and that changes depending on how you have everything setup. You'll need to figure out how you want to handle things...many people take the easy route and just give "Everyone" full control, but that is a very bad move. So if you want security you'll need to look at either using Active Directory or pre-configuring all the WinXP machines to have similar security settings. The Active Directory path is much harder, but worth it if you plan on doing a lot of reloads of your client machines.

If you don't have your source files on the HD when you do certain upgrades it will ask for them...if you have them on the HD and the registry is aware of them, then it will never ask you for the files. In my opinion, I would think it's best to include a local copy, as there are several situations where it could be useful. You could put it on a network like the previous user commented on, but that would be extra stress to a network, so you need to decide if that's worth it. In regards to the comment on if it will use older files...no, when you install a hotfix or update, it makes several backups of both the current and previous files. It will know this, and not copy the older files...unless you have serious problems that is. But in a case that severe, you probably would be doing a reload anyway.

Well, if you entered the CDKey into the *.sif you made that would disable the message...or, you might be able to change which mode of unattended you are using. I don't have the info handy, but there is the FullUnattended mode, which you are probably currently using...there's also a mode where it won't click the buttons for you, but will put the info in the fields for you. So you still need to click the buttons, but you wouldn't have to enter in all the info.

Exactly...if you call Dell for a consumer PC you still get routed to India. If you are a business customer, then all their support is back to being in the US. They were getting too many angry business customers...too bad more consumers don't take it to the top, as they would probably switch everything back if there was enough reason to. As for opinions and facts...it's all blurred here. There is no clear-cut distinction between a consumer or business machine, as the OEM gets to decide. There are common formulas that are shared, but no specification. So most of this info will be opinions, as everyone looks at the two in different ways.

You could try configuring and backing up the NTUSER.DAT file, and then using the $OEM$ folders to copy it over. I don't know if this really works, but I've seen it mentioned here before. Basically you would put NTUSER.DAT here: X:\$OEM$\$Docs\Default User\ Then, when the $OEM$ files are copied over your custom NTUSER.DAT should be in place, allowing every new user to user your tweaks. Hope this works...good luck!

I don't know about his situation, but I normally ran just Firefox, with just one extension...AdBlock. I don't see how that would get in the way, but otherwise I never found a reason. I haven't used Firefox since 1.0.5, so it might be fixed by now...but I switched to Opera so I really don't care. Of course, in Opera I still get a google issue...their ads mess up the Unattended Guide!

Are you using Firefox? I've noticed that in Firefox it does what you explained...no default to the search box. IE and Opera seems to do it...but not Firefox. Of course, if you are using IE or Opera and it's not working, then I have no clue.

I think you're just screwed...I could be wrong, but I don't think there is any support for SATA with NT. You could see if you can find an NT driver for your SATA controller, but given what I've read/heard you're up a creek man...

Yeah, the need for AD is a little bit of a waste...but there is always this: http://unattended.sourceforge.net/ Hope that gets you where you need to be...good luck!

The new 2005 won't work last I checked...there are numerous 2003 plugins that work, but I have never tried them. Most are located here: http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showforum=23

Hey RedCloud...thought I chased you away...too bad. A "business" class machine will generally: 1. Offer better quality components...quality, not quantity. 2. Offer better support options...if you decide to pay for them 3. Offer better management...many can even have their BIOS altered from a remote location if you have the right tools. 4. Typically come preloaded with WinXP Pro...Home is generally not offered. 5. Not change too much...they try to stay as similar as possible, to make future upgrades easier. A "consumer" class machine will: 1. Come With WinXP Home...but offer Pro for $$$. 2. Will have stickers all over it with catch-phrases ) 3. Includes extra features that are not cost effective for "business" machines...dual optical drives, memory readers, modems, extra software, free cheap-o printers. 4. Have horrible support. Now those aren't all the differences by any means, but it's a good list to add to the rest that have been mentioned. Other things to take into account is the computer support at the place of use. If you have an IT staff, then some of the features of a "business" machine are lost. A cheaper, more powerful "consumer" model will be attractive to places where they have their own IT staff, since they won't have to worry about talking to India all the time. Also, financing plays into this as well...certain leasing options may only be offered on an OEM's "business" class models. Features like Wake On LAN are easy enough to impliment in any PC...just drop the appropriate NIC into it. But on a "business" PC these are often standard, making it a bit easier to ensure a uniform computer environment. Same goes for SCSI, gigabit, and ECC RAM. For many IT people, paying a slight premium to take all that headache out of the picture is worth it. At0mic provided some great examples as to why it's not always a good idea to mass produce your own machines.

Well mine didn't...just something to watch out for.

As for this, I don't think that's correct...they use several methods to accomplish this, but I don't believe that is one of them. A VLK is to be used in an environment where you own and control all the PC's. Large OEM's don't get VLK's to sell...they get them to use. Meaning, all of Dell's internal machines are most likely VLK's, but when they sell you a PC it's an OEM version.

See that's the thing...as much as I understand that there are lists that have Home VLK included, and someone else says they have it...I really don't think it actually exists. The list can be explained cause it just follows a formula...to make a complete list they may just have made sure to cover all the different flavors, even ones that don't exist. And until I see a legit way of proving it, I'm gonna have to say it's a hack. I keep a close eye on the warez scene and it's releases, and I've never seen a Home Corp edition...I've seen Xn1's that have a hacked version of Home that makes it Corp, but not a stand-alone 100% original release. So I say until someone shows us proof or a place to buy it, then it's all just rumors...

First off read this: http://unattended.msfn.org/ If you have further questions about installing Windows Unattended, check here: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showforum=70 More questions about installing applications silently, check here: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showforum=80 And as a suggestion, check here: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showforum=93 That last link is to a program called WPI, or Windows Post Installer. It's very nice, easy to use, and basically does what you require...installs various applications.

Screen shots are useless...pictures of the VLK detailing that it applies to Home is what we need to verify. Most people who have Home Corp really have a hacked version of Home that removes the need to activate, so you too may have that kind. A list of the cd's files might be helpful too...

See...that's what I thought. Why would a company buy Home, when if they are using that many they would obviously need domain support...I knew I smelt something.

Really? I would love to know how you got a hold of that...I've never seen a Corp/VLK copy of Home. Of course, it may just be because almost no business would buy Home in such large copies...but I guess there are a few. More info please!

Well...what are you looking for? You won't find someone who will do it for you, all we do is suggest and help pin-point any issues. You'll still have to do all the hard work, that's just the way things are.

For the splash screen you could use something like CDShell. In regards to adding more tools to the recovery console...well I don't think the native WinXP Recovery Console can be customized much. And if you could it probably wouldn't be worth it. Most of the current tools revolve around some form of bootable windows. Be it the official M$ WinPE, the third party ERD 2005, or the freeware BartPE, all boot to a GUI and have mouse support and then some. You'll have to figure all those out as well, there are tons of lovely tutorials here or on the net.