GreenMachine

@WebMedic - just did the same to my version. Oddly enough, there was only one hard reference, so it almost worked as it was. (see above)

Son of a gun, it looks like that script might almost work off your desktop. But I think the newstyle hotfixes will not be applied (KB814078, Q327405, Q330994, Q822925)

Normal - 13 to 12 minutes can be up to 45 minutes on VPC. It is running that svcpack.inf file, and has no way top calculate time needed.

Sorry, Aaron, as you probably know by now the PREP stuff I posted has required hard-coded paths ... I told you I did not want to blow up anything! At least Virtual PC CDs are cheap ...

Hey, waita minute. I said use WebMedics version! I don't wanna blow anything up! Well ... check the paths, or use the classic D:\XPCD\I386 structure. Good Luck!

@Aaron: Yes that was the thread. I use one of the first versions, so, yes, I do have to manually copy everything into I386. Anyway, looks like Spheris has got 'cha covered. On the other hand, I haven't blown up anything yet doing it that way. Maybe using different hardware does not have the problems.

Sorry, but I don't really understand the question. Can you say it in half as many words? The defaults tweaks are reg entries that pertain to the HOT_KEY_CURRENT_USER reg key. The trick to installing them before the GuiRunOnce is to call them via the cmdlines.txt file in $OEM$, or in a batch file called from there. This file is called near the end of setup, and before the GUI boot. All the per user settings I do are in the file HKCU.reg, included in the above mentioned zip file. These can be imported to any machine via the standard regedit program, by double clicking on them. Certain features, however, will not have an effect on existing user profiles, as this machine is already set up. This includes status bar on, details view, and some others. You can only get them into the default user by copying the whole default user's Current_User registry hive (C:\Docments and Settings\Default User\NTUSER.DAT) to the target machine. If you go that route, you are better off creating a new user on the target machine, make any settings to other software that is installed as well, and then from another administrators account copy the profile to the default user directory (My Computer - Properties - Advanced - User Profiles / Settings - Copy To). You can also customize the start menu, taskbar, desktop, etc.

Here is the skeleton of my installation, including all .reg files, and a copy of webmedic hotfix script. All you need to add is a slipstreamed SP1 XP distribution, and the MS updates and hotfixes. Read the ReadMe files. There are directory listings of the missing update files. As for writing a guide ... why don't you try it and write the guide for others! Let me know if it works out for you.

Jeez, Aaron, did you need to give yourself a Sunday Flogging? WebMedics scipt does exactly that, in less then a minute, works like a charm, and eliminates those silly cut'n'paste type mistakes. They probably spent more time writing the guide than WebMedic spent on the script. I downloaded from here somewhere ... The title of the thread had "SlipStream" in it. (I looked at that MS guide, too, and was quickly disuaded.)

KB824105 is the opposite of a previous KB????????. KB824105 DOES put an uninstall option in the registry, even with the no uninstall switch, (listed in Control Panel - Add Remove Programs) but does not need that entry to determine it has been installed. Do you see it in Add / Remove ? Try to install it using the command line you quoted directly from the DOS prompt after you install. Does it generate an error message of some sort? I see you are not using the standard english version, ENU, but some other version, CHT. Are you sure you have the correct localized version?

How about a 101 guide to debugging? It's too easy to post "This ain't working" and then 100 lines of code. If you interested, I could give you some ideas. Tips should include: Try running batch commands from the command prompt before burning them on a cd. Include a "pause" in the batch commands when testing, to see if any errors show up. Avoid using names with spaces, unless it is needed. Is "Program Files" really any more informative than "Programs"? (Personally I keep everything under 8 letters, but perhaps I'm just showing my age...) The fewer the changes made, the easier it is to find the error. Add things little by little to a working setup/configuration. Keep any cutting and pasting of code to a minimum. If you are having trouble with the swiches in an installation, there is no need to post all the "DEL" statements in your batch file. As Joe Friday says: "Facts. Just the Facts, Ma'am" I'm sure there is more. I like the idea of a minimalist CD layout template, with $OEM$, WINNT.SIF, CMDLINES.TXT, COMMANDS.COM - Which calls a (blank) .reg file. Yes, MS's way and WebMedic's way of the hotfixes are one and the same, except that WebMedic takes it much further. (I have to admit, I just made a couple of changes to his first script, and have not updated 'cause it works just fine.) I hope this gives some ideas. I don't mean to sound cocky - I know I have only been here a few weeks - but I have been around debugging for a while, and am familiar in working with those still somewhat new in the matter.

As Yazoo said. You must be doing this from the GuiRunOnce file, as PROFILESDIR exists only in the PRE-GUI Reboot portion of set up. You can use ALLUSERSPROFILE (probably = C:\Documents and Settings\All Users) once the machine has been setup. I do not know of a variable for the default users profile.

@RyanVM: THe following is an indepth explanation that also replies to your question. The short answer is make changes to HKCU from setup BEFORE the GUI reboot, via cmdlines.txt. @Enclave: Here are the details of what I was trying to tell you earlier. I manage to make many changes to the HKCU, and they all stick for all users. The HKCU key .default is not for default users, but for the system when it is not logged on as a user - i.e. during boot or shutdown. It seems to me that changes I make during setup are in fact applied to the ntuser.dat file in %PROFILESDIR%\Default User, which is then copied to each new user. I make these regedits in a call from a file called commands.com, which itself is called from cmdlines.txt after most of setup has completed, and before cleanup, etc, starts. This corrosponds to the "13 Minutes Remaining" point of the installation. Every tweak, update, file copy, file removal I do from this file in this order: 1) Run MS updates that could not be "HotFix Streamlined" (Thanks WebMedic), such as dotnet, JavaVM, Media Player, IE 6.1, and any hot fixes to these items. 2) Call three reg files, for the three different HotKeys I touch in the registry. 3) Delete all files that I deem sub-par or superfluous ... (Such as all the start menus) 4) Copy files that suit my fancy, (Such as a cleaner start menu) 5) Delete the User Accounts that I do not need (aspnet and helpdesk) 6) Add the User Accounts that I will use, add them to the correct users group, and disactivate the accounts I do not want to use. All that done, and so is my part of the instalation. Setup continues, and when it reboots I am taken to the mini-setup page where I have the option of registering before logging on the first time. I hit Next, Next, Select "No, Not at this time" and am taken to the Welcome Screen where the User I created (called User...) is the only name on the list. Here either I hit Ctrl-Alt-Del two times, and log in as my newly created Administrator (called SysAdmin...), or a User logs on: the machine is ready to go - and I have (most) everything as I like it. (Still can't get the Quick Launch Bar) There are a couple of things I do different than many of you, which I suspect play a role here: 1) I do not use GuiRunOnce - everything is done before the reboot into the GUI, while the system is using the default user profile (and not the HKCU\.default key) 2) I clean up the stubpath reg entries, as I mentioned in the thread "Deleting protected folders". 3) I set up windows only during the setup. I do not try to add any other programs at this point. Clean setup, period. (How I automate the program installation is a whole 'nother topic.) 4) I use the WebMedc HotFix StreamLine Method (WHSM?), and have incorporated the hotfixes before my batch file is called. By running my setup files before the GUI reboot, I am convinced (though most pleasantly surprised) that the changes are made to the HKCU of the Default User. The stubpaths are calls to initialization routines, and I strongly suspect that one of these routines (Probably IE, as the Explorer.exe is in fact a "part" of IE) is resetting some of your changes. Some of the side effects of clearing the stubpaths include: - The directory %PROFILESDIR%\USERNAME\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch never gets created. If you try to display the Quick Launch Bar an error is generated. I overcome this by copying the Quick Launch directory into the default user profile. - The Outlook Express, IE, WMP icons that were previously created all over the place no longer appear (That's how I got into this in the frst place). I doubt that any of the OE defaults have been set. By only installing Windows I considerably reduce debug time. I must have lost too many brain cells to be able to handle all those variables at once... So ... The status bar as, well as details view, are settings that are in the "stream" registry key. This is certain. The trick is getting them there before you log on AND not letting any other program change them between the moment you logon and the moment the desktop etc are built the first time. If all this seems like to much trouble, use the all at once method: Create a system, log on, make all the changes you like, log off, logon as another user, save the ntuser.dat file from the first user, and then create a distribution where this ntuser.dat is copied to %PROFILESDIR%\Default User. I have not tried this method, but I have read up on it, and there are others that have done it. Some things to keep in mind here: 1) When logged on as the user whose ntuser.dat file you will copy, try to only do any manipulations that are directly concerned with the settings you wish to modify - no need to open all directories, surf the 'net, add docments to your MRU lists. 2) Remember you can only copy the ntuser.dat of another user - you cannot copy your own as it is in use. 3) Copy the ntuser.dat to %PROFILESDIR%\Default User AFTER the system has rebooted into the GUI, as at this point the Administrator is the current user, and not the Default User. If you do try this method, I am interested in the results. Congratulations to those of you that read everything up to here!

Set the value of the entry to a minus sign: ;Removes MSN v6 from startup [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] "MsnMsgr"=-

In layman's terms ... PROFILEDIR refers to a "bucket". In this bucket, you will find all the user profiles on the computer. Perhaps your real question should be: What is a profile, then yes, most (though not all) your personal settings, personal info, web surfing history, references to images you may have looked at, songs you may have played and more are there. If this is in fact your question, be weary trying some of the recommendations on this site, as they can be involved and complex...

Not a profile at all. Simply the location of the user profiles directories, such as WinDir is the location of the windows directory. Usually translates to "C:\Documents and Settings" ('cept on my machines, where I find "C:\Data" more logical, and a lot easier to spell).

The syntax to add the user is correct, asuming that the first set of "sensitive data" is the user name, and the second set is the password. If you have a blank in the user name that would be a problem. Use quotes. Unless you created a user name "User", the command to add the user to the Administrators group cannot work. Should be: NET LOCALGROUP Administrators ***** /ADD (or possibly) NET LOCALGROUP Administrators "***** ******" /ADD The group (Administrators in this case) does not need quotes if it has no blank in it. Debug it yourself! This is just a batch commad, and as such can be run from a command prompt window. If there is an error, it will indicate it to you.

I am a little confused here. Setup does notice that the UXTHEME.DL_ and SFC_OS.DL_ are "incorrect", and reports so in the setuperr.log. This in itself does not seem to cause any errors ( ... on my system ... ). Does replacing a file with an "incorrect", yet working version generally cause an error, or stop setup? Otherwise, isn't there an OEM setting to allow OEM files to overwrite windows system files? Is the issue really with the compressor: why would CabPack be any better than MS's CabArc? Thanks for any light you can shed on this.

The directory, no, but all the files, absolutely. I have been doing it for a while. You can also take a look into the event viewer after you install an application, and if there was a protected file overwrite, it will tell you in the viewer which file had been replaced. You will also be prompted to insert the CD whenever this happens, but you can choose cancel (or was it ignore ...). With the hacked SFC_OS.dll you should be able to control the warning / ignore behaviour for these message boxes.

A list of what I do is: ;Get rid of these silly stubs ... [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{2C7339CF-2B09-4501-B3F3-F3508C9228ED}] "StubPath"=hex(2):00,00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C}] "StubPath"=hex(2):00,00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{44BBA842-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015B}] "StubPath"=hex(2):00,00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{6BF52A52-394A-11d3-B153-00C04F79FAA6}] "StubPath"=hex(2):00,00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{7790769C-0471-11d2-AF11-00C04FA35D02}] "StubPath"=hex(2):00,00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{89820200-ECBD-11cf-8B85-00AA005B4340}] "StubPath"=hex(2):00,00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{89820200-ECBD-11cf-8B85-00AA005B4383}] "StubPath"=hex(2):00,00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{89B4C1CD-B018-4511-B0A1-5476DBF70820}] "StubPath"=hex(2):00,00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\>{22d6f312-b0f6-11d0-94ab-0080c74c7e95}] "StubPath"=hex(2):00,00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\>{26923b43-4d38-484f-9b9e-de460746276c}] "StubPath"=hex(2):00,00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\>{60B49E34-C7CC-11D0-8953-00A0C90347FF}MICROS] "StubPath"=hex(2):00,00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\>{881dd1c5-3dcf-431b-b061-f3f88e8be88a}] "StubPath"=hex(2):00,00I doubt that even the kids that wrote them could tell you what they do ... Look in the registry and there are plenty of clues as to what is going on - it is mostly media player, OE, IE, NetMeeting, etc. I very scientifically found every key named StubPath in the registry, and clear it ... Again, I am not sure this solves the original problem, but I know it has been a while since I had the directories return, and this is the first thing that comes to mind. These directories are not copied from somewhere, they are created, much as the Media Player and OE icons can sneak their way into the Quick Launch bar (gotta be in some .inf file somewhere, nudge nudge...)

Copy what you like to the "%PROFILEDIR%\Default User\Desktop\" directory, and each user will get their very own copy. Copy it to the "%PROFILEDIR%\Default User\Desktop\" directory and all users will share it. If you are setting up multi user systems, you should define the contents of both of these in a less random manner than the default. Note: Default Users gives everyone a copy to do with as they please, All Users shares (thus controls) one copy for everyone. Users can use it, but only administrators can add/remove. You are best of doing all this from the cmdlines.txt call before the GuiRunOnce. Silly me that'd be %PROFILESDIR%

I used to have this problem, but it seems to have gone away. I cannot delete the xerox directory, and I would assume it is in use by a fax or imaging service. ComPlus Applications, Online Services go and never come back. (Haven't tried gaming zone - need a little distraction). One thing I do that I have not seen others here do is to clear all the "stubpath" entries in the registry, such as this one: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{2C7339CF-2B09-4501-B3F3-F3508C9228ED}] "StubPath"=hex(2):00,00These stubpaths are similar to "RunOnce" programs, and do such things as create the Internet Explorer and Outlook Express icons that show up in Start - Programs everytime a new user logs on, or setting up a default account in Outlook Express. Without these entries, the time it takes for a new user to log on the first time is much quicker (and cleaner) In any event, it is not WFP related, as that does not prevent the deletion of files, that just puts 'em back (behind yo' back..)

There are a few rather large font files in there I bet'cha could do without ... (*.TT_), as well as some stuff which is obviously japanese.

I trust you mean cd\$oem$\$1\drivers, and you have the $oem$ directory parallel to the I386 directory, and not as a sub-directory ...

1) Is the first login, which is OK, an "autologon" continuation of the setup, which logs on as administrator? Are the other logons also as administrator? I have it set to classic, and I never see the new style. You must be setting something somewhere, as the new style is the default. (Your code is a little too long to look through ...) You logon, it is as it should be, you make a change, and it shows in subsequent boot. Behaviour by design. 2) I set superhidden just as you, and it is OK as well. When you look in the registry, it is 0, not the 1 you set? 3) I have managed to open directories by default in the split-pane, details view with the status bar by default as such: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Defaults] "{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}"=hex:1c,00,00,00,04,00,00,00,00,00,00,\ 00,00,00,9a,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,ff,ff,ff,ff,f0,f0,f0,f0,14,00,03,00,\ 9a,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,30,00,00,00,fd,df,df,fd,0f,00,05,00,24,00,10,00,2e,\ 00,46,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,04,00,00,00,78,00,\ 96,00,60,00,60,00,78,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,05,\ 00,00,00,ff,ff,ff,ff,cf,f3,a8,b0,33,43,ab,4b,88,73,1c,cb,1c,ad,a4,8b,30,f1,\ 25,b7,ef,47,1a,10,a5,f1,02,60,8c,9e,eb,ac,04,00,00,00 "{F3364BA0-65B9-11CE-A9BA-00AA004AE837}"=hex:1c,00,00,00,04,00,00,00,00,00,00,\ 00,00,00,90,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,ff,ff,ff,ff,f0,f0,f0,f0,14,00,03,00,\ 90,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,30,00,00,00,fd,df,df,fd,0f,00,04,00,20,00,10,00,28,\ 00,3c,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,b4,00,60,00,78,00,\ 78,00,00,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,ff,ff,ff,ff,00,00,00,\ 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\ 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00Obviously, I have no clue which each of those bits is doing ... but it works. You should probably export that reg key on one of your own machines, not copy mine. 4) If you find an answer, I'm a taker! I thought you were talking about the quick launch bar - nevermind ... I am not sure the status bar thing will work for you. The trick is to make this change BEFORE you log on. I do this by applying the reg file during before the first reboot, while the system seems to be (much to my surprise ...) using the .default user and not the current user. These tweaks are thus applied to all users, which is fundemental to me, as most of the boxes I install are multi user systems. P.S. The above only does details view and status bar. The Split pane by default is: ;Open folders in Explorer view. [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell] @="explore"