Trouble Running VB script in PE 2.0

[zorphnog]

I've tried doing it without ntoskrnl.exe and the issue will persist. The original postings I found about the issue said to replace hal.dll, ntoskrnl.exe and ntkrnlpa.exe. I've found that only hal.dll and ntoskrnl.exe need to be replaced, but you're welcome to try it out as well.

[dkreifus]

You've steered me right so far.

To my discredit...If I had read the first line of the VB script that Johan made..I might have understood better.

'// This script updates sysprep.inf with correct HAL Type

'// The Reference (master) computer should be built from

'// an Advanced ACPI computer

But my teachings always say to build from the most recent computer available.

[zorphnog]

Just in case you're interested, here is some of the code from my solution. Note that it is in an HTA, so some of the vbscript calls are a little bit different as far as syntax goes. Oh yeah, just ignore the html stuff, its just informational messages to the user. I should also mention that the needHAL variable is set to 'yes' if acpipic is detected. The main stuff is in the handleHAL Sub.

'*****************************************************************************************
'* restoreBuild
'* starts the ghost restoration process for the selected build and method
'*****************************************************************************************
Sub restoreBuild
  Dim filename, taskCmd

  strTemp = "<h2>Restoring build...</h2>"
  general.InnerHTML = strTemp

  filename = cdrom & "\" & buildFilename
  If not objFso.FileExists(filename) Then
	strTemp = "<h2>ERROR: File not found " & filename & "</h2><ul>Ensure that <u><b>DISK 1</b></u> is loaded in the CD-ROM drive and click the " &_
			  "<i>Retry</i> button."
	document.buttonsForm.nextButton.value = "<u>R</u>etry"
	document.buttonsForm.nextButton.disabled = false
	document.buttonsForm.cancelButton.disabled = false
	general.InnerHTML = strTemp
  Else
	Select Case curMethod
	  Case "Initial"
		taskCmd = "%comspec% /c ghost32.exe -sure -fdsp -clone,mode=load,src=" & filename & ",dst=1,szeL -fx > \ghost.log"
		objShell.Run taskCmd,0,true
		finishBuild
	  Case "Windows"
		taskCmd = "%comspec% /c ghost32.exe -sure -fdsp -clone,mode=prestore,src=" & filename & ":1,dst=1:1,sze1=V -fx > \ghost.log"
		objShell.Run taskCmd,0,true
		finishBuild
	End Select
  End If
End Sub

'*****************************************************************************************
'* finishBuild
'* handles errors that occur during ghost and handles successful restorations
'*****************************************************************************************
Sub finishBuild
  Dim result, logFile, count

  Set logFile = objFso.GetFile("\ghost.log")
  If logFile.Size <> "0" Then
	Set logFile = objFso.OpenTextFile("\ghost.log")
	count = 1
	Do While logFile.AtEndOfStream <> true
	  result = result & count & "> " 
	  Do While logFile.AtEndOfLine <> true or logFile.AtEndOfStream <> true
		result = result & logFile.Read(1)
	  Loop
	  result = result & "<BR>"
	  general.InnerHTML = result
	  count = count + 1
	Loop
	logFile.Close
	strTemp = "<CENTER><H1>FAILED</H1><DIV style='color:red;text-align:left'>An attempt to restore the system failed with the " &_
			  "following error message:<BR><BR><DIV style='position:absolute;border-style:solid;border-color:black;left:5%;" &_ 
			  "width:95%;color:black;padding:5%;border-width:1;font-family:terminal;font-size:10pt;overflow:auto'>" & result &_
			  "</DIV></DIV></CENTER>"
	warning.InnerHTML = strTemp
	warning.style.top = "10%"
	warning.style.left = "10%"
	warning.style.width = "80%"
	warning.style.height = "75%"
	document.buttonsForm.cancelButton.value = "E<u>x</u>it"
	document.buttonsForm.cancelButton.accesskey = "x"
	document.buttonsForm.cancelButton.disabled = false
	warning.style.visibility = "visible"
  Else
	strTemp = "<h2>Complete!</h2><ul><font color=orange>" & result & "</font>The restoration process has finished without any " &_
			  "errors."
	document.buttonsForm.cancelButton.value = "E<u>x</u>it"
	document.buttonsForm.cancelButton.accesskey = "x"
	document.buttonsForm.cancelButton.disabled = false
	general.InnerHTML = strTemp
	warning.style.visibility = "visible"
	If needHAL = "yes" Then
	  handleHAL
	Else
	  rebootMe
	End If
  End If
End Sub

'*****************************************************************************************
'* handleHAL
'* prepares the system for use with the correct HAL
'*****************************************************************************************
Sub handleHAL
  Dim sysFolder, halFolder, strDest, inFile, outFile, line, words, lword
  sysFolder = "C:\WINDOWS\System32"
  halFolder = "X:\HAL"

  strTemp = "<CENTER><H1>Updating HAL...</H1></CENTER>"
  warning.InnerHTML = strTemp
  objShell.Run "%comspec% /c diskpart /s X:\Windows\system32\probeParts.txt",0,true

  Select Case strHAL
	Case "acpipic"
	  If objFso.FolderExists(sysFolder) Then
		strTemp = halFolder & "\halacpi.dll"
		strDest = sysFolder & "\hal.dll"
		objFso.CopyFile strTemp,strDest,true
		strTemp = halFolder & "\ntoskrnl.exe"
		strDest = sysFolder & "\ntoskrnl.exe"
		objFso.CopyFile strTemp,strDest,true

	  'Remove UpdateUPHal line from sysprep.inf
		strDest = "C:\sysprep\sysprep.inf"
		If objFso.FileExists(strDest) Then
		  Set inFile = objFso.OpenTextFile(strDest,1,true)
		  Set outFile = objFso.CreateTextFile(strDest & ".tmp",true)
		  Do While inFile.AtEndOfStream <> true
			line = inFile.ReadLine
			If line <> "" Then
			  words = split(line,"=")
			  lword = trim(words(0))
			  If Lcase(lword) <> "updateuphal" Then
				outFile.WriteLine(line)
			  End If
			Else
			  outFile.WriteBlankLines(1)
			End If
		  Loop
		  inFile.Close
		  outFile.Close
		  objFso.DeleteFile strDest,true
		  objFso.MoveFile strDest & ".tmp", strDest
		End If
		rebootMe
	  Else
		strTemp = "<CENTER><H1>FAILED</H1><DIV style='color:red;text-align:left'>An attempt to update your system HAL has " &_
				  "failed due to an inaccessible system drive.</DIV></CENTER>"
		warning.InnerHTML = strTemp
		warning.style.top = "10%"
		warning.style.left = "10%"
		warning.style.width = "80%"
		warning.style.height = "75%"
		document.buttonsForm.cancelButton.value = "E<u>x</u>it"
		document.buttonsForm.cancelButton.accesskey = "x"
		document.buttonsForm.cancelButton.disabled = false
	  End If
	Case Else
	   rebootMe
  End Select
End Sub

'*****************************************************************************************
'* rebootMe
'* opens the CD tray, delays 8 seconds and reboots
'*****************************************************************************************
Sub rebootMe
'Open CD tray
  strTemp = "<center><h1>Ejecting Media...</h1></center>"
  warning.InnerHTML = strTemp
  cdrom = cdrom & "\"
  CreateObject("Shell.Application").Namespace(17).ParseName(cdrom).InvokeVerb("Eject")

'Give delay to allow disk to eject
  objShell.Run "%comspec% /c cscript X:\Windows\system32\timer.vbs",0,true

'Reboot the system
  strTemp = "<center><h1>Rebooting System...</h1></center>"
  warning.InnerHTML = strTemp
  objShell.Run "%comspec% /c wpeutil reboot",0,false
End Sub

Edited July 2, 2007 by zorphnog

[dkreifus]

If I put in the command line code that I want to use, can you guys help me insert it into the above VB code..I know what I want to do..I just don't know VB

[zorphnog]

What exactly do you want it to do?

[dkreifus]

If sHalType(0) = "acpipic" Then

rename c:\windows\sytem32\hal.dll to hal.dll.old

rename c:\windows\sytem32\ntoskrnl.exe to ntoskrnl.exe.old

expand c:\i386\halacpi.dl_ -r c:\windows\sytem32\hal.dll

expand c:\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_ -r c:\windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe

I think that should solve my problems

Edited July 2, 2007 by dkreifus

[dkreifus]

I have noticed that it gives me the prompt when Windows Boots up that Windows did not shut down properly, etc...have to figure out how to get rid of that.

[trtkron]

You've steered me right so far.

To my discredit...If I had read the first line of the VB script that Johan made..I might have understood better.

'// This script updates sysprep.inf with correct HAL Type

'// The Reference (master) computer should be built from

'// an Advanced ACPI computer

But my teachings always say to build from the most recent computer available.

The computer you use has no bearing on the end result. Just change the HAL before you sysprep.

[p4ntb0y]

oh my god! this is madness! like trtkron said....

just change the hal

and run the script

think about it when you change your apic_up or apic_mp hal to apic does it ask for installation files or does it do it automactically?

So where do you think these files come from?

This has never failed for me and I got 10 different laptops and 20+ Desktops.

Again I have never renamed any files nor copied them from CD or have an i386 anywhere near my images.

unless Johan Arwidmark MVP is wrong? maybe he is? all I know is he help me alot and his script and comments helped me consolidate all my images into one using ghost or wims.

@DKREIFUS

Please can you do a devcon on all your machines you want as one image. Then run Device hwids and I will knock up the script you need and the sysprep entries you need also for mass storage devices. if you like?

[dkreifus]

my mass storage is fine...thank you though.

I've never changed the HAL on an image before sysprepping it.. So thats a new idea to me.

[p4ntb0y]

ok say you have a machine that is....ACPI Uniprocessor PC", ACPI APIC UP HAL (Halaacpi.dll)

or...ACPI Multiprocessor PC", ACPI APIC MP HAL (Halmacpi.dll)

go into device manager and click on my computer and change the hal type to...

"Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC", ACPI PIC HAL (Halacpi.dll)

this will not ask for any additional files. Sysprep your machine and then deploy to an..

"Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC", ACPI PIC HAL (Halacpi.dll)

run either script from johan or trtkron within winpe.

there is no reason why this would not boot on a "Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC"

The script would not make any changes to the sysprep.inf file as no change of hal is required.

Now try the same image onto a "ACPI Uniprocessor PC" and run the script this will update the unattend section of your sysprep and add the following "UpdateUPHAL = "ACPIAPIC_UP,%WINDIR%\Inf\Hal.inf"

now I know your wondering %windir%\inf does not contain my files well the files are taken from the dllcache folder.

Please put my mind at rest and try this lol

sorry If I come across a bit harsh I only mean to help :-)

Edited July 2, 2007 by p4ntb0y

[zorphnog]

Never thought of doing it that way. Thats much cleaner.

[dkreifus]

ok say you have a machine that is....ACPI Uniprocessor PC", ACPI APIC UP HAL (Halaacpi.dll)

or...ACPI Multiprocessor PC", ACPI APIC MP HAL (Halmacpi.dll)

go into device manager and click on my computer and change the hal type to...

"Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC", ACPI PIC HAL (Halacpi.dll)

this will not ask for any additional files. Sysprep your machine and then deploy to an..

"Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC", ACPI PIC HAL (Halacpi.dll)

run either script from johan or trtkron within winpe.

there is no reason why this would not boot on a "Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC"

The script would not make any changes to the sysprep.inf file as no change of hal is required.

Now try the same image onto a "ACPI Uniprocessor PC" and run the script this will update the unattend section of your sysprep and add the following "UpdateUPHAL = "ACPIAPIC_UP,%WINDIR%\Inf\Hal.inf"

now I know your wondering %windir%\inf does not contain my files well the files are taken from the dllcache folder.

Please put my mind at rest and try this lol

sorry If I come across a bit harsh I only mean to help :-)

Yea..I understand. I did the HAL change this morning as a test on my computer, and I can do it. I'll be trying it shortly. Sadly, I don't know how to unseal an image, so I am updating my image, and doing a test today.

I don't know when I'll have the results. My apologies for not posting my HAL update earlier.

Is there a way to script the HAL change? I am trying to do a touchless unattended install as well

Edited July 3, 2007 by dkreifus

[p4ntb0y]

@dkreifus

yes we can do lite touch ms speak.

How are you deploying your image.

is it wim based (file based)

or ghost (sector based)

we could boot winpe 2 and using the startnet.cmd add the cmd to cut your disk how you want it and then apply the image and then run ztihaldect.vbs.

your journey must near its end?

Not sure but you can sysprep a box three times good practice would be to capture the master first then do a sysprep.

[dkreifus]

I am in the process of switching from Ghost based to WIM based so I can do the ztihaldetect script.

My process is an unattended installation, then I do some minor touching for applications. (some configs).

Then I run a script which logs out, logs in as a second account, copies the admin account to the default user account. Then it logs back in, deletes that 2nd account, and then syspreps the whole setup. (mass storage drivers and all).

I am switcing to using WIM now and PE2.0

When it loads up, it does sysprep, then logs in as admin. the user goes through a set of menu options which move the computer account to the right domain, install software based on the computer type (laptop, desktop), and then it reboots, cleans up, and reboots again for final use.

This is a very simplified understanding of my process.

My boot disk also lets the user choose their location, and deploys the image from different servers based on their location. (we're across the country)

Edited July 3, 2007 by dkreifus