can I batch install updates to a live system?

[Molecule]

total noob here

the word "unattended" seems to imply construction of a new CD, which is then used in place of the original MS CD for system installs

can the same techniques be used for batch installs onto live systems as well?

do the installer switches for hotfix.exe, update.exe and msi installers work in batch live (versus unattended CD)

is qchain.exe needed in a batch file run as well? I guess no-reboot is a required switch, or else the batch gets terminated??

I have a fresh 2k-sp4-oem install, and would like install my list of components, updates, patches, etc in chronological order

I would like to use a simple batch to do this ... if possible??

is there a way to batch install a large group of upgrades and patches etc into a live system?

I don't want to use [for *.exe in ( ) do xyz] ... (anyone know how a for-do cmd decides on sequence?) ... a new for-do cmd would be required at each chronological change in staller type, since reportedly the require different switches (... I am noob and this is my first time)

(--I tried, but figuring out all the elegant code and sequencing tricks in HFSLIP is way over my head ...)

in case it matters, my list of 2000sp4 updates, upgrades, etc. is attached ...

it was developed mostly by my own frogwalk of MS bulletins (arghhh!), then refined by comparing it to lists of other listkeepers ... http://www.msfn.org/board/windows-2000-upd...ed-t128237.html

I didn't look into exactly which files and versions are installed by which update, so there are probably update overlaps ... at this point an inelegant batch will be just fine

in the list files are grouped, then within each group they are listed by date

if batch is possible, the executables each in their group subdirs, could be executed in chron order

any help appreciated ...

listing.txt

Edited November 9, 2009 by Yzöwl
Tab Delimited file attached for page layout reasons.

[beats]

do the installer switches for hotfix.exe, update.exe and msi installers work in batch live

Yes, you can chain install hotfixes silently from a batch file. In fact, it's not a problem at all.

[Yzöwl]

Since the file you've provided is not in chronological order either by name or date, a batch fle couldn't 2nd guess it for you either. If you really do think that you'll benefit from installing in a specific order then use the file I've used to replace your [code /] You've already ordered it how you want it so the hard work has already been done, all you need to do is to add the appropriate switches and run the text file tab delimited in a for loop with an eol=; to ignore the group subdirs.

[Molecule]

hey thanks Yzöwl!

Sorry to be so late with an answer ... I'll have a look at your file ... my list was very prelim, and had overlaps

I was thinking of sequencing brute force by date ... msi's and exe's ... as long as for exampe gold installations precede SPs, upgrades, and patches ...

meanwhile, I am becoming more curious about building an unattended CD

does anyone know how nLite or HFSLIP sequence MIXED hotfix/upgrade executablees? by dates in the header, by kb num, alphabeticaly by file name, sequentially as fed into the program, ...??

sample problem ... say I have 2 years of update.exe's for core components, installed by hand in chronological order by the date they were published (since KB numbers don't follow dates)

then an .MSI is release for, say for example XML which I want to install

then I have 2 more years of .EXE updates, with updates and sevice packs for the w2k core + the addon

then I have another .MSI addon

then 2 more year of .EXE updates, with updates and sevice packs for the two new addons

how does HFSLIP or nLite handle that?

can it do half of run once, then return to installing patches, then return to run once (assuming .msi's go in runonce)

[Yzöwl]

I'm having a little difficulty trying to work out why you are going to these lengths. Is there a reason why you are not using QChain.exe? QChain will 'chain' post-SP2 Windows 2000 updates together and install the latest version of all files regardless of the order the updates are processed.

To ensure that you do not have problems with earlier updates, (pre-December 2002 I think), just make sure that you are using this version of QChain.

You can then install with the For loop you appear to have already discounted!

[Molecule]

first, I want to express how much I appreciate your help and guidance ... to me it looks like I'm mounting a mountainous

learning curve

Part A: SWITCH choices

I'm having difficulty understanding which switches to use for batch runs on a live system, and which switches to use to build an unattended CD.

learning by example

1b.) switches for batch of W2KSP4.EXE would be [-u|-q] -n -z meaning [unattended mode no user interaction but showing a passive progress bar, or, quiet mode with no user interaction or display] nobackup (meaning ?= no unusable uninstall infs/files to bog up system) no restart

1u.) switches for unattend-CD of W2KSP4.EXE would be the above plus -s:"fullpath to xcopy-dir of M$CD-root" meaning integrate with M$CD-root, no restart , no backup, [unattend-passive display, or, quiet-null mode]

2b.) batch Rollup-891861-v2 switches [/quite|/passive] /norestart /nobackup

2u.) unattend Rollup-891861-v2 switches would be the above plus /integrate:"fullpath to xcopy-dir of M$CD-root"

do those look right?

how do I figure out what to use with these modes of install?

.net installations for example

start /wait dotnetfx.exe /Q /C:"install.exe /q"

and

start /wait NetFx20SP2_x86.exe /q

and xml installations for example

msiexec msxml2.msi /? /? /?

Part B: scope of QCHAIN functionality - is it global?

how does qchain.exe do its thing ("to qchain a list" now as a verb) a batch run into a live system? I can understand the idea in an inf (because I don't know enough to say that inf's don't read the entire file first, and might begin processing at the middle). As I understand it, a batch file starts execution at the first line, thus qchain.exe at the end of the file has no way to be read in a batch install to a live system

also, if I put qchain as the last line in the [setupHotfixesToRun] section of SVCPACK.INF, then, how does it reach over into another secion ... "qchaining" (the verb) the .msi's and exe's for xml and .net installations, since they are in another section ([RunOnce]??) OR am I all wet, since xml and .net and vb runtimes cannot be installed using svcpack.inf?

I'm setting aside unattended-CD because it seems like batch-live is easier, more flexible and more powerful -- I can easily sort a mixed set of files by date (for sequencing a mixed set of msi's and exe's for installs, and exe's updates) since I'm using a database with spread sheet to write all my batch code

has anyone ever used qchain to "sequence" the installation msi's and exe's for xml, messenger, and vb runtimes, sequencing them correctly with patches and upgrades?

I am just now graduating RELUCTANTLY from w98se (a **** good system -- virus free without ever running an antivirus or firewall for ten years plus), and I have a lot to learn (like what is a user account?) just to build a 2k system ... I have a good disk which I bought ages ago, but never installed ... and spending $300 now for a W7 (which will have just as many problems to be sure ... we all heard the exact same promises and promise (lies) from M$ before, over and over) so W7 is just not in my financial picture.

... again I really appreciate you guidance and help ...

Edited November 11, 2009 by Molecule