unattended mode setting problem

[muffinman123]

In unattended mode there are 5 options

-provide defaults

-fully automated

-hide pages

-read only

-gui attended

-prompt repair

What I intend to do is enter all the values as default, but may change the values based on the current condition of my computer. So I chose provide defaults, but when I installed with this version, the windows does not show all the dialog pages. It didn't show any serial key page so I do not have the option to enter another key if I want to change it.

Is this an error or this mode is designed like this? If so, is there any mode I can enter the serial key as default and give the user the ability to enter their own key on install?

Also, what does wmp.dll and t2embed.dll do? The blue screen setup warned me of the missing files, I know I removed some components using nlite, but they do not tell me what files are removed by removing that component.

Thx for the help

[unattended]

UnattendMode = 0

DisableOem

ComputerType = Automatic

MaximumDataStorePercentOfDisk = 12

RestorePointLife = 30

DesktopTheme = Default||

AutoUpdates = 3

AutoUDay = 5

AutoUHour = 15

ProgFilesPath = "\Program Files"

Edited May 11, 2010 by muffinman123

[Ponch]

Also, what does wmp.dll and t2embed.dll do? The blue screen setup warned me of the missing files, I know I removed some components using nlite, but they do not tell me what files are removed by removing that component.

This is because you're using nLite on a set of files that have already been modified. You should not do that and it is possibly also the cause of your main problem. Only start with your original disc or with Service Pack ONLY integrated.

[muffinman123]

I am modifying the msdn version of the vlk windows xp sp3, original ones to be exact, so I do not know why I am missing files.

Can you also tell me about how to make serial key default but changable in the unattended setting?

[Sp0iLedBrAt]

What Ponch is saying is that, when you copy XP to your PC and modify it with nLite once, you shouldn't modify it again. You should rather start with a fresh source. As to the product key, please provide more explanation what you want to do with it.

[muffinman123]

well for the product key, I want the installer to provide a default key when I fresh install windows xp, but I also want the ability to change the key if I want to.

I have seen office installer doing that, I also seen that in windows 2000 installer doing that, now I want to know if I can do the same with windows xp installer by setting it up using nlite

[Sp0iLedBrAt]

Maybe this will help you

[muffinman123]

Let me clarify what I hope to accomplish again:

- During fresh installation of windows xp, I want to click to the page where it asks me to enter the product key

- the page already provides a default product key in the text boxes (which I will integrate into the installation CD)

- the text boxes are not grayed out so I can delete the key myself and enter my own keys if I want to.

the thread you provided points me to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457096.aspx#ECAA which is a link provided by you in that thread.

it suggests to use something like unattend.txt, but it doesn't tell me where should I place this file on the installation CD in order to make this work, some extra knowledge is required to build such setup. Also this file makes the installation unattended, while I want to be in front of the computer, checking out all the answers and see if I want to change default answers.

Is it possible to simply do what I want to do with just nlite or some text file inside the cd? or it's more complicated than I imagined?

Edited May 14, 2010 by muffinman123

[Sp0iLedBrAt]

If you want everything unattended, except for the page where you enter the key, don't enter any keys in nLite. If you do enter the default key, you will get full unattended installation. If you don't want an unattended installation (to manually enter all answers), then just choose "GUI attended" as a mode and you will get a normal XP install.

[muffinman123]

I tried gui attended and provide defaults modes but it still skips the product key page

[muffinman123]

ok, so I have been checking out various unattended mode installer script for windows xp setup CD. they all seem to be telling me that it is impossible to have the system providing me a default serial key and allowing me to enter my own on the installation page like I stated in post #7 because all these tools are just using windows deployment tool which only let admins to enter the key once in the script file and that's it.

am I missing anything? is there still any other way of doing what I wanted to do?

[johnhc]

ok, so I have been checking out various unattended mode installer script for windows xp setup CD. they all seem to be telling me that it is impossible to have the system providing me a default serial key and allowing me to enter my own on the installation page like I stated in post #7 because all these tools are just using windows deployment tool which only let admins to enter the key once in the script file and that's it.

am I missing anything? is there still any other way of doing what I wanted to do?

muffinman123, I guess you could enter an invalid key and Setup would then be forced to ask for one. Please let us know if you try this. Enjoy, John.