JayMcJay

So... I've read this forum, but so far it doesn't to be anything other than gathering the manufacturer and model strings from the BIOS. When do we get to use it? This would make reformatting clients' PCs a lot easier! I've called Microsoft too many times

More or less the answer is no. If such a solution did exist, many more IT professionals would have more hair. Bashrat the Sneaky has made DriverPacks, and if they're integrated properly that should cover almost all hardware. If somehow it doesn't have your drivers, check the manufacturer's website and Device Manager to find the proper drivers to download. Good luck!

Sorry I can't be more specific, but one solution would be to wrap moveuser.exe within a script, then run that script as a process, since processes can run even if a user isn't logged in. I've seen information on it before, so I know it can be done... but I can't find where it was. Possibly search Google for more information about creating processes. Good luck!

Anybody? I would think it would be the ultimate accomplishment of unattended installations to be able to (given a external data location) reformat and reinstall, including data, settings, and programs. It sounds pretty farfetched, but so does (or did) slipstreaming all updates, or including drivers in the Windows XP cd for all XP-compatible drivers. C'mon, I could really use some help here. USMT and AutoIt can do a lot, but I can't do it all myself. I'd like a different viewpoint at least to help me out.

The short answer is: you can't. If you really want to have detailed partitioning during install, you'll have to use BartPE or WinPE. I've wanted to do this before, and I came to that conclusion after reading around here. Good luck!

My company is now (finally) rolling out XP to approximately 2100 machines. An SMS 2003 server is available, and the current goal is to use it with queries and advertisements to back up user state data (through the USMT) and currently installed programs (via HKLM/Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall), install Windows XP with some base applications (image-based install, since there's only 3 types of machines), then restore the user settings AND APPLICATIONS. With a database available mapping add/remove program data to packages, it is possible to reinstall the programs. But, since my boss isn't here for the next two weeks, I'd like to come up with a better way I realize that reinstalling the exact same applications as were previously installed is pretty difficult. It does help that each computer name is named for its serial, so backups can be placed in a folder named after the computer on NAS. I'm a big fan of RyanVM and BTS, and I'm currently rallying to have their works implemented into the images. I'm also no stranger to switchless installers and generally making installations silent in various fashions. I've made SMS packages before. Now, to open it up. What's the best way to get this done? Please stay on topic, people.

Hello all, I'm a relative newbie to nLite, though an experienced user of Windows. I work at my school district, and I'd like to make a UXPCD including all drivers since we have so many different types of hardware around. I'm hoping to figure out nLite and unattended installations w/ program installs over the next few weeks. <.< And I'd like to help beta test nLite as well >.> *thinks of the oh-so-wanted Version 1.0 * Anyway, hello!