Set and Forget install CD

[sensationull]

Hi, I work at several schools providing tech support and would like to create an extremely low maintinence XP distribution CD for restoring and adding workstations.

What I would like it to preferably is ask all of its questions at the very start ie preferably before or during text mode.

I would like to be able to insert the CD, have it firstly prompt me for a hostname and then have it format, copy etc. As we are on a Windows 2000 network I will leave all of the software installation to Active directory allowing one cd to work for many different stations. It would be good if after prompting for the username it installed, joined the domain and then rebooted to allow it to install all of the assigned software.

Secondly I would like to be able to join to the domain in a specified Organisational Unit so that it can get the correct software. Does anyone know whether it is possible to either change the default on the server from Computers to a different OU or specify it in the winnt.sif. I know that you can use netdom.exe but does this have any drawbacks in comparisson to using the winnt.sif join to domain section.

Thanks.

I would be grateful for any help or suggestions.

[Swerver]

For the Hostname just leave it out of winnt.sif file and it should prompt you to stick it in as far as I can remember.

As for the domain query use netdom.exe (download it from MS website)

Put netdom somewhere in your OEM folder

I Create a .cmd file and put it wherever, then called that file from RunonceEx.

my Domain.cmd looked like this:

----------------------------------------------------------------------

start /wait %systemdrive%\install\netdom join %computername% /domain:malaysia /userd:administrator /passwordd:******** /OU:"OU=MALAYSIATECH,DC=MALAYSIA,DC=LOCAL

------------------------------------------------------------------

That command adds and joins me to the domain and puts the com in the MALAYSIATECH OU

syntax:

netdom join <computer name> /domain:<domain name> /userd:<domain user> /passwordd:<domainpassword> /OU:<DN for OU>

[sensationull]

Thanks for those methods I will try them however it is not an ideal solution as both of these methods mean that you have to wait for it to format the hard drive and copy the files before you can enter the information. This means either having to wait around or come back to the system half way through.

I was wondering if there was any inventive way, perhaps using a boot loader to prompt for the values before text mode setup. Hence you could chuck the cd in, enter the required variables almost instantly and not have to revisit the machine other than to retreive the cd.

[kenedy]

You can create .bat file that asks for values and then launches setup.

Use WBAT - Dialog Box Tool to create dialog boxes and INIFILE 1.2 to write values to answer file. Search Google for those, both are freeware.

Also use RAMdisk to store answer file since You can't write it to CD

[jdgordon]

im currently making a program that will do this pretty easily for u...

it will load default values from a winnt.sif file then when u adjust it it will get install going 100% unattended (i hope anyway )

the only downside (not really downside but anyway...) is that it uses the winnt32.exe file to do it all so it has to be run from winPE really for it to work (have a lookl at pebuilder for a free pecd creater)

u can have a look at a Work in progress build if u want (http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?act=ST&f=81&t=18150&st=0#)

just dont actually click "Do it!" unless ur in virtual PC (or similar)

[sensationull]

These methods look great, thanks for the help everyone.