[Permissions Issue with during an Off2k unattended install]

I have created a simple unattended installation of Off2k, slipstreamed the service packs and hotfixes and created an MST file using CIW. I execute it using RunOnceEx.cmd and it works (the applications all install and are configured as I had set with CIW). When I log off or reboot and log back on as any user other than an administrator, I experience 2 INF install failures - specifically the message that appears twice on the desktop is "INF Install failure. Reason: Access is denied." At this point, I can't tell whether this is a registry or file permissions error. My first thought was to utilize Sysinternals FileMon and RegMon tools and execute them at startup to specifically identify the permissions issue - the problem here is that they need to execute with administrator level privileges and the only way to do that that I am aware of is using a shortcut with the runas cmd inserted into the target line - using this approach, while regmon and filemon will definitely run, I will be unable to enter the admin password fast enough for them to run and capture the permissions error, that I am trying to capture at boot up. Can anyone suggest anything?

Update - 20Jun06 - figured it out.

the "INF Install failure", came as a result of using RC8 of nLite. goto RC8 - Advanced INF Install Failure for background and resolution

regarding the use of FileMon and RegMon with elevated permissions without having to enter the admin password in realtime, I utilized and AutoIt script. I got the idea from the forum but the full code block is located in the AutoIt help file. here it is for reference

; Set the RunAs parameters to use local adminstrator account
RunAsSet("Administrator", @Computername, "Administrator password")
; Run program (arg 1) as admin
RunWait($CmdLine[1])
; Reset user's permissions
RunAsSet()

works wonderfully and you can tweak to use for other users and passwords. I found it helpful to check other user's registry entries this way.

anyhow, people are clearly reading this message thread - thought you'd like to know

[Office 2000 configuration and Outlook 2000 account creation]

I am beyond the point of a simple unattended installation of Office 2K. I've learned how to create the admin installation point, slipstream the service packs and hotfixes and create a transform using CIW. I'm now stuck at the point of application configuration (selecting and deselecting the numerous options under tools under each application so that that each application works both consistently for each user and just the way I would like it to operate) and the establishment of user email accounts (each user will have at least one email account and I don't want them to interfere with each other).

As best as I can figure out, I need to work with Office Profile Wizard to create a file that will capture all the settings (located under Tools, Options of each component program) of my Office applications and execute PROFLWIZ at first logon for each user including the Admin user. Each user including the Admin user will have a unique *.ops file as each will contain similar registry settings but belong to a different user profile. Additionally, I will need to create a *.prf file for each user that will contain each user's email account information and execute NEWPROF at first logon for each user probably after having had executed PROFLWIZ.

So my questions are as follows:

1) Has anyone ever tried to do this? if so, how did you do it?

2) Is this a reasonable approach? Has anyone got any ideas as to how to improve it?

3) Does anyone know how to create an *.ops file in which I can use environment variables, specifically %USERNAME%, %USERPROFILE%, %ALLUSERSPROFILE%, %APPDATA% - I suspect this file will be exactly the same for all users apart from the locations and registry locations of all the settings

4) Does anyone know how to create an *.prf file in which I can use environment variables, specifically %USERNAME%, %USERPROFILE%, %ALLUSERSPROFILE%, %APPDATA% - I suspect I may be able to create a file that addresses all email accounts for each user - the underlying settings will be identical, the accounts will obviously be different.

5) Does anyone how to activate a program at first logon only for any user?

I'm sure I will have additional questions - if anyone can think of anything I should consider I would be grateful for the advice.

Thx,

[how to force RunOnceEx to wait?]

BoardBabe, I found your entry in the AutoIt script collection but could not find an attached Nero 7.8.8.2 file. Would you point me to it or post it as I continue to have a need to pause installation awaiting the completion of a setup.exe command with a number of embedded msi files. thx

[PROB | ATI DVD-Decoder]

Tommy, my apologies for not reading the entire email chain thoroughly. I simply lost patience with the approaches and attempts that I had made. Your solution not only worked, it worked first time, and was by far and away the simplest approach. My thanks to you for your ingenuity and clearly your patience with me.

[PROB | ATI DVD-Decoder]

I only recently came across this prospective solution recently, so bear with me. I have tried the suggestion made by polymorphean on aug 27, 2004, tried the suggestion made by OCedHrt on dec 1, 2005 and finally the suggestion made by edadat on dec 7, 2005 - all without success.

the common failed moment is the following error message:

This installation needs to be launched from the ATI DVD Web Wizard
Setup will now exit.

Any further suggestions or comments as to what I might be doing incorrectly.

thx

[HOWTO: Integrate Apr WGA!]

Francesco, your procedure worked perfectly for me. I even learned how to produce self-extracting installers using 7-Zip - I prefer to use this list of switches (/quiet /norestart /overwriteoem /nobackup) over your choice of (/passive) - but the same result is achieved.

the KB you cannot remember is KB892130 - this is the validation tool

You can also use the same technique to trap the notification hotfix (KB905474).

Thank you for this clear, concise suggestion

[[Help] Network Printer Privileges]

Cluberti - your suggestions were extremely helpful. filemon correctly identified that all users accept Administrators were denied access to C:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile. by adding Power Users and Users (actually, i can probably get away with Users alone) and giving these groups Read&Execute, List Folders Contents, Read & Write permissions, i am able to print successfully logged onto a Power User or User account without being a member of the Administrator's group outright.

i don't know what this systemprofile folder is or why it is required althought it bears a striking similarity to Documents and Settings\Administrator folder - any thoughts here? i suspect i need to contact HP and ask them why their OfficeJet software is insisting upon using this folder and not using something under the user profile.

i also noted that as a user i am denied access to c:\windows\shell32.dll - is this a concern? it doesn't seem to impair my ability to print.

regarding the use of the programs you suggested - the sysinternals progs were amazing - netcap is another story, i got them all working and capturing data, however, the data captured by netcap is nothing but jibberish - apparently netcap is not able to view the data it captures - have you any suggestions as to how to view the data (as in free viewers - i presume microsoft has an ability to read this data captures)?

Gunsmokingman - regarding your suggestion, i have not tried it yet. i went to the "hey scripting guy" website and from reading the material, the script you suggest would enable me to share locally attached printers across a network. i have no locally attached printers only one rather stubborn network printer and my other Win98 PC can reach it no problem. my issue is the allowing Power Users and regular Users on my WinXP PC to access it. i have sent an email to "hey scripting guy" to confirm my thinking. they might have a further suggestion. thank you anyways.

[[Help] Network Printer Privileges]

Hi Cluberti, thanks for the suggestions, I have been tinkering here as well without success. I did try your suggestion exactly without success.

Hi Sonic, sorry about the title issue, i will read the new rules.

[[Help] Network Printer Privileges]

I have tried what I believe to be everything. I have a home network (all PCs DHCP to a broadband gateway and the network printer is static IP). One PC is Win98 and works nicely with the networked printer. My WinXP pc is the problem. I have successfully installed the printer (HPK80) as an administrator and confirmed with a print test page. Having completed my software installations, I plan to use the PC amongst a number of users - I set up myself and another as a Power User and 2 other User accounts.

When I logged off and back in as a Power User, I could see the printer, I could ping the IP address of the print server, I could see the print queue, I could print a test page but the test page was always deleted before anything ever got transmitted to the print server (smelled like a privileges issue...maybe not though).

I reset everything (short of deinstalling the printer software). I was using simple file sharing...switched that over to classic file sharing to get the security tab back on the printer properties tab. checked the printer properties, nothing unusual, everyone (all users) should have been able to print.

I even logged back in as admin to add my specific username to the permissions list of the printer without any further success.

Having done all of this, I decided to include my username into the administrator's group. By doing this, I can now print to the networked printer but it defeats the purpose of the having groups if every user needs to be in the administrator's group to print.

I should point out that I also have an Adobe PDF printer that works properly in the environment.

Has anyone got any other suggestions short of junking the HP printer and buying something newer?

Title edited -- Please, use [TAGS] in your topic's title.

Follow new rules

--Sonic

[Creating a Win98SE Install CD using Flyakite method]

No, I'm not using VMware. since my last post i have done some further testing and think i have isolated my problem to the use of memdisk (or diskemu). basically, using either program, i can boot the floppy image just fine. i can start the Win98 setup program no problem, get through the Windows98 GUI Setup screen where i click on Continue etc, however, after the small progress window opens and completes - the setup program appears to want to access the A:\ drive. if i boot from a real A:\ drive it works no problem, if i use the emulated A:\ this is when the setup program freezes or locks up. i get the same behavior using diskemu as well. now i'm speculating that memdisk is wrestling for control of some interupts at this point and a conflict emerges. my question at this point is as follows.

are there any additional memdisk (or diskemu) parameters that i can invoke to ensure that the conflict does not emerge. i have read the documentation for memdisk and it appears that there are parameters called "raw" and "bigraw", however, i am at a loss as to how to inject them into the cshell.ini.

any thoughts?

[Creating a Win98SE Install CD using Flyakite method]

Here are the specifics:

1) Using CD Shell 2.1.6

2) Bigger project is to create a Mult-Boot for XP, 98SE and some utilities for home machines

3) Used Flyakite's methods and 98SE.ima verbatim

Freeze / lock up occurs at the same time irrespective of what I fiddle.

i've tried OEMSETUP.EXE

i've tried setup /ie /im /is /iv / nr /T:e:\tempinst

i've even had autoexec.bat leave me at the A:\ prompt and i've manually key'd in the setup command

in all cases, the program seems to take a while to execute, comes up to the Windows 98 Setup GUI, where i select Continue. Then it brings up the small progress window indicating that Setup is preparing the Windows 98 Setup Wizard and then the minute it reaches 100% the program locks up. the only way out is to reboot.

has anyone experienced this and found their way out of it?

[EXPAND environment variable]

I continue to tinker...

I have removed the set EXPAND=YES and it seems to have no impact on my autoexec.bat successfully decompressing (using extract) the ebd.cab file onto a ramdisk (i tried several commands without issue).

If this environment variable served a purpose at one time, it certainly isn't obvious what purpose it serves now.

[EXPAND environment variable]

Does anyone know the effect that the following command has within an Autoexec.bat file:

set EXPAND=YES

It is typically found on bootdisks and I googled everywhere and found nothing

["Eject PC" in the Start Menu]

Does anyone know how to remove "Eject PC" from the Start Menu with a registry hack? I have a docked notebook PC and am tired of accidently activating Eject PC rather than Shutdown. I never Eject PC so I would like to remove it from my Start Menu.

for the record, here are the hacks i tried that failed

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\IDConfigDB\CurrentDockInfo]

"EjectableDocks"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\IDConfigDB\CurrentDockInfo]

"EjectableDocks"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

"NoStartMenuEjectPC"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

"NoStartMenuEjectPC"=dword:00000001

i did come across something within MS Technet - The "Eject PC" command appears only if a computer is ACPI-enabled. and hunted around my registry for some clue but no luck so far, maybe this clue will resonate with someone else. also found a Win98 hack to remove "Suspend" from Start Menu but couldn't twist it to work on "Eject PC".

[WinINSTALL LE]

I have tried to install Acrobat 6.0 Std based upon your directions for installing Acrobat 6.0 Pro (Example #4, Post #55). I appear to be experiencing some sort of registry error and would like some advice.

The error I experience involves Distiller & Acrobat Registration; specifically the SERIAL value. I modify the MSI file; specifically the SERIAL value for Distiller & Acrobat Registration keys you have identified but no matter what, it does not appear to be set when I execute the installation using the modified MSI file. further, an additional value within the Acrobat Registration key appears to be needed to ensure that when Acrobat is opened, I am prompted to register - the additional value is "PRODREG"=dword:65686669.

now I can live with this situation as I simply execute a short registry hack after the install but being a purest, I would think that I am missing something when I modify the MSI using WinInstall LE and would like to understand what it is. Can you suggest anything to check to ensure that I am not missing something?

[winnt.sif - activation]

I have a Dell OEM version of Win XP Pro SP1. Using the reinstallation CD, the install is automatically activated. I have successfully slipstreamed SP2 and created a reinstallation CD. Using this new reinstallation CD, the install is automatically activated. further, I have successfully slipstreamed hotfixes into the SP2 version and created a reinstallation CD. Using this new reinstallation CD, the install is once again automatically activated. When I attempt to use winnt.sif to pre-fill my user data, create a reinstallation CD, then use this CD to install, it fails to preserve the activation. I have followed the Unattended CD instructions to the letter (at least, I think I have). I have have attached my winnt.sif file (at least the key parts) for review. can someone make any suggestions that would help me preserve the activation?

;SetupMgrTag

[Data]

AutoPartition=0

MsDosInitiated="0"

UnattendedInstall="Yes"

[unattended]

UnattendMode=FullUnattended

FileSystem=LeaveAlone

OemSkipEula=Yes

OemPreinstall=Yes

TargetPath=\WINDOWS

UnattendSwitch=Yes

[Newbie]

Hi everyone. Glad to be here, unfortunately, I expect to be asking more questions than offering advice, at least in the near but have hope...put a monkey in front of a piano and given enough time you might hear some that resembles music.