User input in DOS mode

[[BM]Crusher]

ok.. so i've been playing around a bit... i have a lot of spare time i worked out a better way to generate a custom winnt.sif file from DOS and wanted to share if anyone might find it useful (for dos based network installations etc)

this file is a little long but it would have been a lot longer if I didn't get bored and stop writing it half-way through... lots of components missing... plus could add a lot more options for modifying different sections...

i've tested the output and it generates a usable winnt.sif

things you have to do to make this work:

1) rename your original winnt.sif to default.sif

2) split the default.sif into 3 parts

start.sif, middle.sif and nearend.sif

start.sif is everything up to the ProductKey line

middle.sif is between product key and userdata (includes the line [userdata]

nearend.sif is after userdata but before components (includes the line [Components])

give it a test and you will see what I mean

please, if anyone knows a better way to do the components section, instead of 6 lines per component, let me know?

@echo offclsecho.echo Pre-Installation Information Gathering Utilityecho.echo.if exist winnt.sif rename winnt.sif winnt.oldecho Please choose:echo 1) Change default winnt.sifecho 2) Use defaults
choix /c:1,2 /nif errorlevel 2 goto :defaultif errorlevel 1 goto :change
:defaultecho Using defaultsrename default.sif winnt.sifgoto :end
:changetype start.sif >winnt.tmp
echo.set /p prodkey=Enter your product key:  echo.set /p username=Enter your desired username:echo.set /p org=Enter your desired organisation:  echo.set /p comp=Enter your desired computer name:  echo.set /p admin=Enter your desired administrator password:echo.echo AdminPassword=%admin% >>winnt.tmptype middle.sif >>winnt.tmpecho ProductKey=%prodkey% >>winnt.tmpecho FullName="%username%" >>winnt.tmpecho OrgName="%org%" >>winnt.tmpecho ComputerName=%comp%type nearend.sif >>winnt.tmp
echo Install solitaire?choixgoto solitaire%errorlevel%:solitaire2echo solitaire=off >>winnt.tmp:solitaire1
echo Install freecell?choixgoto freecell%errorlevel%:freecell2echo freecell=off >>winnt.tmp:freecell1
echo Install minesweeper?choixgoto sweeper%errorlevel%:sweeper2echo minesweeper=off >>winnt.tmp:sweeper1
echo Install MS Hearts?choixgoto hearts%errorlevel%:hearts2echo hearts=off >>winnt.tmp:hearts1
echo Install zone games?choixgoto zone%errorlevel%:zone2echo zonegames=off >>winnt.tmp:zone1
echo Install microsoft messenger service?choixgoto msmsgs%errorlevel%:msmsgs2echo msmsgs=off >>winnt.tmp:msmsgs1
echo Install msn explorer?choixgoto msn%errorlevel%:msn2echo msnexplr=off >>winnt.tmp:msn1
echo Install accessability options?choixgoto access%errorlevel%:access2echo accessopt=off >>winnt.tmp:access1
rename winnt.tmp winnt.sif:end

[XtremeMaC]

edit: god **** it i wrote a looooong post ie timed out all my writings gone

so i'll be brief

nice idea, i was thinking of a similar task myself

but then comes the problem of asking all the components to the user

then i though of this for the components section

1. default components (for newbie) so components prompt

2. average user (ability to remove msn exp/games/etc

3. expert user (iis/front exten/ everything..

then came the idea of "what if the user doesn't want default network components"

u'd have to ask everything from domain name to dns numbers..

that's a lot of work and would be a looooong batch file..

so i've postponed that idea

GOOD LUCK

(sorry for the short and not so explanative post, it was reaaaally long b4 ie messed up.!)

>>now saving post to clipboard for future ie f' ups

[RyanVM]

edit: god **** it i wrote a looooong post ie timed out all my writings gone

so i'll be brief

nice idea, i was thinking of a similar task myself

but then comes the problem of asking all the components to the user

then i though of this for the components section

1. default components (for newbie) so components prompt

2. average user (ability to remove msn exp/games/etc

3. expert user (iis/front exten/ everything..

then came the idea of "what if the user doesn't want default network components"

u'd have to ask everything from domain name to dns numbers..

that's a lot of work and would be a looooong batch file..

so i've postponed that idea

GOOD LUCK

(sorry for the short and not so explanative post, it was reaaaally long b4 ie messed up.!)

>>now saving post to clipboard for future ie f' ups

And at that point, you're better off just using the MS-supplied tools for creating a winnt.sif file

[XtremeMaC]

lol that's what i do, programs are written for lazy ppl by not so lazy ppl

[Jazz]

Hmm, well will this work if there are no partitions on the hdd ?

like creating the batch file on the ramdrive and use it from there or something !

And i had heard that the winnt.exe installation is much slower than the actual windows default installation method, is it true ? is it cuz of the DOS subsystem ?

Well, i'll have a look at it in a very detailed manner, and then i'll post some batch files and images.. and probably a cdshell; script to do install multiple Xp-cd's with customisation and some without customisation..

BYe,

Jazz