Doing a selective install in an unattended XPCD

[edmoncu]

Hi all,

I have been looking at ways to do a selective install of applications in an unattended XPCD.

So far, I have seen 3 approaches...

install vbs/exe

Windows Post Install Wizard

XPlode

I have only focused at install.exe by IcemanND because I find it the most convinient for newbies like me to add entries. I find other approach to be somewhat complex.

But I have a couple of problem with this install.exe... It seems that the install.exe has problems waiting for installation of apps to finish before proceeding with the next. So, what I have done so far was instead of directly calling silent installs within install.exe, what i did was to simply call registry entries instead to be added at runonceex. The problem is that, install.exe fails running properly at the t-13-installation point.

I wonder how could i make a workaround for this, or otherwise, find a better/similar methods to this install.exe.

I hope you wont find my post confusing. Thanks in advanced for all your help.

[XtremeMaC]

well hm

they are 2 different things

xplode works during the setup as well as iceman's install

post install is meant to work after the setup

I think most ppl have prefered xplode as far as I can see on the front page there is no install vbs/exe sub-forum but nlite/xplode/xpcreate

so u tell me..

[edmoncu]

hi XtremeMaC,

i have tried invoking install.exe during setup (t-13 portion, called off via cmdlines.txt). it ran during the t-13 portion, but when i click on "install", it failed to execute further.

i am still trying the install.vbs option and run it at the t-13 portion of setup and see if it will work with me.

as for xplode, i really dunno where to start with the approach. i would like to know also if what part during the xp-setup can this be run from or recommended to be run from (would also like to know the same about install.exe)?

[Wraith]

XPlode has been tested at T-13, T-12 and T-9, all seem to work fine, providing you've set up the files correctly.

XPdeploy was created as a selective version of XPlode, and is currently in a prolonged testing phase - I am starting my exam period, so no time to work on them for about a month.

Personally, I use XPCREATE to master the CD, and run XPlode/XPdeploy off a share on the fileserver on my network, but in general, people have had little problems getting XPlode to run off the CD.

[edmoncu]

would love to try xpdeploy. i was wondering, im really new at xpdeploy. i've been looking at the pages here but im kinda confused where to start.

does xpdeploy needs xplode first?

i hope you could bear with me with this.

thanks in advanced for your help.

[edmoncu]

hmm, tried playing with xpdeploy... and i like it... now, if only i could find ways to disable the display of thumbnail icons at the left portion of every application being installed.

i would like to ask a similar question though. since my main goal for a selective install was to load registry entries of apps being chosen to be placed at runonceex... i would like to know if xpdeploy can run as early as the t-39 stage in the detachedprogram? thanks

[[BM]Crusher]

i use the post install wizard it works good

[XtremeMaC]

lol Wraith implemented the thumbnail option so that it looks nice

that's what u get Wraith

guess u need to put an option for thumbnail on|off

btw for your info i'm running xplode off the cd no problems so far!!!

[Wraith]

After I finish exams the whole renderer will be rewritten.

Think completely customisable HTML/CSS interface.

Should be.... interesting ;-)

As for T-39, I doubt XPdeploy would run, due to the fact that it embeds IE into the window. As far as I know, at that point, IE isn't even installed, so it probably wouldn't run.

Adding registry items at that point may not work either, I don't know if the initial registries are written properly. I know the hives are loaded at the end of text-mode, but as for whether programs can access it yet, I've no idea.

I should point out though, I'm guessing here, so if you can prove otherwise, do so.

[Bâshrat the Sneaky]

I've found another one!

I think I'll use this one from now...

XPES

I know there's still another one.. from IcemanND, but it was never fully completed, still some bugs...

[edmoncu]

I've found another one!

I think I'll use this one from now...

XPES

I know there's still another one.. from IcemanND, but it was never fully completed, still some bugs...

i've initially tried icemandND's install.exe utility. but it has a couple of limitations that impacts the way my application installs.

thanks for the link on XPES, but it seems the program has been stalled for some time already.. it looks great, has potential, but i find some functionality to be restricted.

[new_user]

Yes that is true!

XP-ES is a nice additive tool for unattended Windows XP installations.

And for me with distance the best and easy to use too, which I found so far here.

In and case it should be taken up into the list of the

Sticky: Threads OF Interest - Software Installation Selection

[Alanoll]

very well then, I'll add it later.

It wasn't added, as untill now, I haven't really seen anyone use it. That and it's pretty much a dead topic untill recently.

[Vadikan]

I have been looking at ways to do a selective install of applications in an unattended XPCD.

So far, I have seen 3 approaches...

Here's the fourth one - batch files with yes/no choice.

@echo off
TITLE Software Installation

:POWERTOY
SET Choice=
SET /P Choice=Install TweakUI 2.10 Powertoy [y/n]?
IF NOT '%Choice%'=='' SET Choice=%Choice:~0,1%
IF /I '%Choice%'=='n' goto :NERO
IF /I '%Choice%'=='y' (
ECHO Installing TweakUI 2.10 Powertoy
ECHO Please wait...
start /wait %systemdrive%\Install\TweakUI.msi /qn
ECHO. ) else goto :POWERTOY

:NERO

SET Choice=
SET /P Choice=Install Nero Burning ROM v5.5.10.54 [y/n]?
IF NOT '%Choice%'=='' SET Choice=%Choice:~0,1%
IF /I '%Choice%'=='n' Goto :EXIT
IF /I '%Choice%'=='y' (
ECHO Installing Nero Burning ROM v5.5.10.54
ECHO Please wait...
start /wait %systemdrive%\Install\Nero551054.exe /silent /noreboot
ECHO.) else goto :NERO

:EXIT
EXIT

No GUI, user input is required for every app, but pretty reliable ;-)