Halfwalker

Just an update on how it's working for me. I test in a VM, and want it to change to 1024x768 as soon as it can, so one can see what the <bleep> it's doing. The 1365VidChng.exe program is stored in $OEM$\$$\system32 RunOnceEx contains this ... : : SET KEY=HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx REG ADD %KEY% /V TITLE /D "Installing Programs" /f REG ADD %KEY%\150 /VE /D "Setting screen resolution" /f REG ADD %KEY%\150 /V 1 /D "%SystemRoot%\system32\1365VidChng.exe 1024x768x32@1 -q" /f REG ADD %KEY%\150 /V 2 /D "%SystemRoot%\system32\1365VidChng.exe 1024x768x32@60 -q" /f : : It runs after the Bashrat stuff, which is set in BTS_DPs_ROE.cmd as level 100. For some reason putting the video change before the Bashrat stuff doesn't work. If it's coming up in a VM, the first entry will work, the second one fails. Ta dah - got 1024x768 in a VM. On a real system, the first one may work, and the second one will probably work. Ta dah - got 1024x768 in a real machine. So far it's worked fine on the two systems I've tried it on. D.

When is the splash screen etc from winntbbu.dll actually run ? I ask because in my testing (Ryan packs, Bashrat drivers etc) on 2nd boot it sits at a plain light-blue screen with the mouse in the middle for a couple of minutes. Then, it brings up the splash screen with the items listed on the left, and it's already down at item 4 ... 2nd point - I know it's possible to replace the boot screen with the pulser across the bottom once everything is installed. Anyone know where that's kept in I386, so it can be pre-loaded (and shown) during install ? D.

I'm using Ryans installer just fine. Looks like this in RunOnceEx.cmd ... REG ADD %KEY%\220 /VE /D ".NET Framework v1.1 with SP1" /f REG ADD %KEY%\220 /V 1 /D "%PP%\NET\netfxsp1.exe" /f D.

Dang - doesn't work in a VM. You can manually change the resolution just fine - even before installing VMWare tools - up to 1024x768. You cannot change the refresh rate though, and the only choice is "default rate". Therein lies the hassle - 1365VidChng.exe can't specify a default rate. You have to specify an actual number, none of which work. Except 1, like BigDaddy said. Once VMWare Tools have been installed, then the only rate available is 85Hz, and that works fine. Interesting, because my monitor is at 2048x1536x32 at 60Hz. In the VM do 1365VidChng.exe 1024x768x32@85 poof it works. So, I'm trying something a little different. A batchfile in $OEM$, called from cmdlines.txt, before the Bashrat driver cmd file. Resolution.cmd has this in it It simply fails silently if it doesn't work. So this should work in a VM or a real machine ... It's installing in a VM as I type We'll see.

Cool - thanks for the tips. I'll use the 1365VidChng.exe way - it's small and will work everywhere. D.

if you havent install drivers for video card unattended those settings will be ignored and the resolution will be the default , i think 800x600@60Hz do you use BTS driverpacks or other method to install your videodrivers before first boot ? Yes, the BTS driverpacks are integrated into the image. Hrm - I checked, and the video drivers aren't there at all. That must be it then ... They're not exactly required for the main disc used for machine installs, but it would be nice to have them integrated for all the VMWare testing. I'll start googling around, but in the meantime, anyone have any pointers ? D.

I have a nicely built Unattended Install image here that's working just the way I want it to, except for one last niggling detail. It seems to ignore the screen resolution setting in WINNT.SIF, installing with a 640x480 screen. The section looks like this : I've been doing all the testing under VMWare - haven't tried it on a real machine yet, so the problem may be an artifact of the VMWare virtual video device. The two main symptoms are : 1) During the RunOnceEx install, the list of items to be installed is too big for the screen - the bottom items are out of view. 2) When it finally boots into XP, it's a 800x600 screen. I have to manually change it up to 1024x768. Any ideas ? D.