Checking drivers/addons

[benji1304]

I recently used Nlite for the first time to customise my xp pro installer - i slipstreamed SP3 and added a bunch of my motherboard/gfx/wireless drivers.

Once i had created the iso file i tested it out in Microsoft Virtual PC to check it would install ok and i noticed a few things.

It said i was missing a file (mfplat.dll) which was required for Windows Media Player - I do vaguely remember seeing an error about media player but i think i skipped over it. Would missing this file cause an issue when i install XP Pro?

When testing the iso in the VPC it doesn't appear to have any of my drivers installed, ie dlite wireless driver, nvidia graphics drivers, etc. I looked in the device manager, but because this is was running in VPC it didnt show my hardware, is there another way i could check it has definitely installed the drivers?

Thanks for any advice you can lend

[g-force]

is there another way i could check it has definitely installed the drivers?

The only way to check the drivers is on the related hardware - a VM won`t do the job.

[johnhc]

benji1304, since your VM does not really include the hardware, Windows did not install any of your drivers and as g-force said, you can test drivers only on real hardware. However, nLite places all the drivers in the NLDRV folder in the WINDOWS folder in your installed system and they can be found in the same folder in you I386 install folder. If we are to help you with your others problems, we need to see more information, so please attach (not paste) your Last Session.ini. Make sure to always start with a fresh copy of your CD files/folders, do all your work in one nLite session and integrate only one SP. Enjoy, John.

[benji1304]

Hi guys - thanks for the info.

It looks like from NLDRV all the drivers are there - guess i was a little paranoid i'd missed something!

I've managed to run the WM11 slipstreamer now too, if i run nlite again how do i go about 're-making' my iso? I don't want it to pick up settings from before as i've looked through what i did and think there are some changes i can make. I've slipstreamed WM11 into my c:\xp_source, but that's exactly where i used nlite last time, will this cause issues?

Also, i installed a huge amount of hotfixes there that i dont think i'll need.

Thanks again.

LAST_SESSION.INI

[johnhc]

benji1304, I always start with a fresh copy of my CD files/folders. I copied the CD to a folder and copy from there to a working folder when I want to run nLite. You can get away with having WMP11 integrated into the source, but not it and some more stuff. I don't even do that. Since a couple of releases ago, nLite runs WMP11 Slipstreamer and you can place the installer into the Hot Fix area. I suggest you start with a fresh source folder but use you old preset (Last Session) and go into each section and make the changes you need. You can check and uncheck options, add/delete drivers/hot fixes, and make any changes you like.

I see some problems in your Last Session. WMP11 installer is last in your Hot Fix section and it needs to be placed before any updates to it. The same goes for all updates - they need to be in release order. I also see Directx9. I suspect this will not integrate as it does not in XP x64 (I run). I also don't see any text mode drivers, which are needed if you are going to install on a RAID or SATA file. Enjoy, John.

[benji1304]

John, thanks for you reply.

I think i went a bit overboard with all the addons and updates last time and didnt really look into what i was doing! I'll run another nlite session.

Thanks for pointing out the missing SATA driver! I've just checked and i'd missed it out, i have 3 SATA/Raid drivers for my motherboard I downloaded off the Gigabyte website, i'm not sure which is the exact SATA driver but i know i already have all 3 installed, so i'll slipstream all three too.

[johnhc]

benji1304, I have read here (Fernando 1, I think), that for text mode drivers, the last one to be put in place is the only one that will be used. This means you need to install only the text mode driver for the file (and RAID if used) that you will actually install on. A text mode driver is distinguished by a file name txtsetup.oem in the driver folder. The drivers to be used after installed are selected by Windows by ID that completely points to the drive model/manufacturer/etc. Enjoy, John.

[benji1304]

Ok, i'm not entirely sure which is my SATA driver...

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherb...?ProductID=2626

Looking at what i have installed already and my motherboard manual it's the GIGABYTE SATA2 RAID Driver (Preinstall driver) version 1.17.42.09g

Edit: Attached my new Last Session.ini

This looks more correct now - just to check though, does the SATA driver need to be first?

LAST_SESSION.INI

Edited February 24, 2009 by benji1304

[johnhc]

benji1304, it looks like your board has two SATA/RAID controllers and two text mode drivers, Intel ICH9R/ICH10R Driver (Preinstall driver) and GIGABYTE SATA2 RAID Driver (Preinstall driver). I see you have included the GIGABYTE one. This is correct if you are going to install on a HDD attached to this controller. In my last post I should have mentioned F6 during install. It does not matter where the text mode driver is in your driver list. Your Last Session looks OK, but no hot fixes? I noticed you (and many others) specify several NIC parameters. I think if you read the help on that tab (? in circle) you will see this really does nothing unless you have a MAC address. I use this option and discovered (as others have) that DHCP is defeated. I got past this by specifying an IP address of 0.0.0.0. This resulted in a error in the setuperr.log in the Windows folder after installation, but I have DHCP back. Enjoy, John.

[benji1304]

John, again...so much thanks for your help!

Ok, a few points.

1. SATA/Raid drivers - i have both downloaded but when i go to choose the text mode driver for Intel ICH9R/ICH10R Driver it comes up with a huge list asking which i want to include, i think i'll need to refer back to my motherboard manual to ensure i get the correct one.

2. What do i need to do about hitting F6 during install? Is this something that interrupts an unattended installation? (just found this in the Unattended Guide, http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/view/web/36/ - i'll have a read through and see if this makes sense to me!!)

3. Hotfixes - i have used Autopatcher to download a list of fixes for SP3 - i guess i just need to add these to nlite in the correct order?

4. I've not changed any of the Network settings - i was hoping i could leave that and when i install Windows i'll be able to use my home wireless connection?

[johnhc]

benji1304,

1. I'll DL your drivers a take a look - soon, I hope.
   
2. Using F6 is replaced by integrating the text mode drivers. See the note on OEM Preinstall (Unattended page) - F6 will fail if you don't disable. One of the main reasons I use nLite is to avoid using F6 to load SATA drivers and I don't disable OEM Preinstall.
   
3. Sounds right to me - I'm not familiar with Autopatcher.
   
4. I'm surprised to see the [NetAdapter1] and 2 in your Last Session.
   

Please let us know how you make out. Enjoy, John.

EDIT: I DLed the 64 bit version of the Intel text mode drivers and ran nLite against them. I see what you mean. Some of this in trial and error. I also tried Insert/Multiple driver folder and did not get a long list, just the one folder. I have always wondered why nLite is different from the F6 method. My build simply ask me to place the DLed files on a formatted floppy and hit F6 during install. Windows must do some of its own sorting. I suggest (in a spirit of trial/error) you try selecting the one folder via Multiple driver folder and see if that works. If it fails, it will be quick, probably saying it can't find any HDDs. Please let us hear. John.

Edited February 25, 2009 by johnhc