Questions

[Revampster]

Alright Well allitle background info is needed for my question to be answered correctly. I am a Network Operator and Maintainer for the United States Army, one of many so im no expert nowhere close to it but we have a side job of setting up laptops that the army uses for all types of communication. Well Im getting tired of spending 4 hours per laptop installing all the required programs security settings and drivers that the laptop needs to be fully operational so I am looking to make one CD or DVD (If necessary) to automate the whole process. I have the unattended part of it down and working on making a WPI for the applications but Im stuck on this driver problem. I cannot use any third party programs to alter windows in anyway so BTs DriverPacks are out of the question. So I know the answer would have to be done I believe through winint.sif and RunOnce but here comes my question. How can I make windows know which driver to install and how to install it because some have Inf files others have just setup.exe. I would say Im going to be working with about 20 or so dell models to work with. Any and all help would be appreciated and any questions you have for me I will try and answer.

Thankyou

PFC Downey

[kickarse]

The only thing I can really add is

http://unattended.sourceforge.net/

http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/

Because your hands are fairly tied. I'm assuming that you wouldn't be budgeted or allowed to use imaging software?

Edited February 29, 2008 by kickarse

[Revampster]

The only thing I can really add is

http://unattended.sourceforge.net/

http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/

Because your hands are fairly tied. I'm assuming that you wouldn't be budgeted or allowed to use imaging software?

Thanks for the links but I have a basic idea of how to do the unattended itself but adding this multitude of drivers and how to make them all be detected and installed if needed. We are allowed to use ghost but that would require me to make about 20 ghost images of each model number then double that one for unclassified laptops and 1 set for classified because of security issues.

Anyone else have any idea or suggestions

[kickarse]

The only thing I can really add is

http://unattended.sourceforge.net/

http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/

Because your hands are fairly tied. I'm assuming that you wouldn't be budgeted or allowed to use imaging software?

Thanks for the links but I have a basic idea of how to do the unattended itself but adding this multitude of drivers and how to make them all be detected and installed if needed. We are allowed to use ghost but that would require me to make about 20 ghost images of each model number then double that one for unclassified laptops and 1 set for classified because of security issues.

Anyone else have any idea or suggestions

If you can write a script enumerate all folders with the INF files in them and then write them to the registry you can do it with Sysprep and ONE image for the de classified models. Look at the utility Sysprep Driver Scanner from Vernalex. Do a google search. Also the forums for driverpacks.net has a wealth of information. While you may not be able to use driverpacks you would be able to still use the concepts.

I have 1 image for 6 different models of laptops. I could build it for more if I needed to. So it is possible.