Automating IE6SP1 install for W2K through RIS

[Got KarmA?]

EDIT: PLEASE SEE LAST POST FOR CURRENT (and I think quick) QUESTION! Thanks!

Currently I've automated the entire new PC build (or rebuild) process for my company, minus one thing: IE6 SP1 for our Windows 2000 machines. I have a RIS server set up, which pushes down the OS, Active Directory pushes down supporting applications through group policy, and Software Update Services applies all available hotfixes to the machine. EXCEPT IE6 SP1. This isn't a problem on the Windows XP machines we have, since IE6 is already installed ... but the Win2K SP4 base image is working with IE 5.

I suspect this has something to do with the specialized install IE6 uses ... so I'm trying to find another way to do this without specific input by me or anyone else. I scanned my SUS server and IE6 isn't even available to be approved for install ... so I suspect it won't support it period.

I followed instructions on MSFN to create an admin install for IE6 SP1, and currently have the XP/2000 version waiting to be installed. If I run the ie6setup executable with the /Q flag, it runs completely through without any user input ... but I'm no true pro with this and don't know what other flags I should or could be using.

I'm about at the point where I can put the instructions in http://unattended.msfn.org/xp/installhotfixes_old.htm into effect ... but this is not an unattended CD ... it's a RIS install, and I'm working with Windows 2000, not XP, so I want to make sure I'm doing the right thing.

Currently, the IE6SP1 install is here on my RIS server:

D:\REMINST\Setup\English\Images\WIN2K\i386\update\IE6SP1\ie6setup.exe

There is no svcpack.in_ in the i386 folder, but there is already a svcpack.inf which I suppose will be what I need. The contents have nothing but [setupHotfixesToRun] ... so it's pretty bare, obviously.

If I made the svcpack.inf to this, would the unattended setup work? I'm not sure what I'm supposed to put in for version since this is Win2K SP4, so I just copied and pasted from the guide. I'm guessing it's wrong but I don't know if this stuff even makes a difference.

[Version]

Signature="$Windows NT$"

MajorVersion=5

MinorVersion=1

BuildNumber=2600

[setupData]

CatalogSubDir="\i386\Update"

[ProductCatalogsToInstall]

[setupHotfixesToRun]

IE6SP1\Q330994.exe /Q

Thanks everyone! If you need more information to properly answer my question, feel free to ask ... I've tried to give you guys what I think you'll need, but I'm sure I'll manage to miss something critical!

And FYI, as much as a riprep image would make things much easier, it's not possible in this company, since we have machines ranging from celeron 300's to Pentium 4 3ghz's with laptops and desktops from manufacturers like IBM, Dell, Gateway, and Compaq ... many models for each. It just wouldn't be possible.

[prathapml]

Yup! you got it pretty well setup, I suppose.

I'd suggest you run the IE6SP1 setup through cmdlines.txt or GUIrunOnce. The reason is that, the fiddling with files in the I386 directory is kept to a minimum in that way, and svcpack is a _bit_ more complicated than the other two methods as well. Other than that, I also think you ought to use the "/Q:A /R:N" switch for both, the IE-setup, as well as the update. The reason is that, these switches will ENSURE that it is totally silent.

Do post back on whether it all goes well.

[Got KarmA?]

So if I simply add the following line to my SIF (in my case win2k.sif located in i386\templates\ ... the RIS install instruction file), it'll handle it all?

[GuiRunOnce]
start /wait \\knxw2ks-ris01\Installs\Packages\IE6SP1\ie6setup.exe /Q:A /R:N

Since I only need one thing running here, is that easiest, or should I make a batch file with all those echo commands etc?

Here's the contents of the full thing with the line in it:

;SetupMgrTag
[data]
    floppyless="1"
    msdosinitiated="1"
    OriSrc="\\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%"
    OriTyp="4"
    LocalSourceOnCD=1
    AutoPartition=1
    UnattendedInstall="Yes"

[SetupData]
    OsLoadOptions="/noguiboot /fastdetect"
    SetupSourceDevice="\Device\LanmanRedirector\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%"

[Unattended]
    OemPreinstall=Yes
    DriverSigningPolicy=Ignore
    NoWaitAfterTextMode=1
    FileSystem=LeaveAlone
    ExtendOEMPartition=0
    ConfirmHardware=no
    NtUpgrade=No
    Win31Upgrade=no
    TargetPath=\WINNT
    OverwriteOemFilesOnUpgrade=No
    OemSkipEula=Yes
    InstallFilesPath=\\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%
    UnattendMode=FullUnattended
    OemPnPDriversPath="Drivers\Deskpro\Network;Drivers\Deskpro\Audio;Drivers\Deskpro\Video;Drivers\Gateway\Video;Drivers\IBM\Network;Drivers\IBM\Audio;Drivers\IBM\Video"

[UserData]
    FullName="%USERFULLNAME%"
    OrgName="%ORGNAME%"
    ComputerName=%MACHINENAME%

[GuiUnattended]
    OemSkipWelcome=1
    OemSkipRegional=1
    TimeZone=%TIMEZONE%
    AdminPassword=knxalocaladmin

[GuiRunOnce]
start /wait \\knxw2ks-ris01\Installs\Packages\IE6SP1\ie6setup.exe /Q:A /R:N

[LicenseFilePrintData]
    AutoMode=PerSeat

[Display]
    ConfigureAtLogon=0
    BitsPerPel=32
    XResolution=1024
    YResolution=768
    AutoConfirm=1

[Networking]
    ProcessPageSections=Yes
    InstallDefaultComponents=Yes

[Identification]
    JoinDomain=%MACHINEDOMAIN%
    CreateComputerAccountInDomain=No
    DoOldStyleDomainJoin=Yes

[RemoteInstall]
    Repartition=Yes
    UseWholeDisk=Yes

[OSChooser]
    Description="Windows 2000 Professional - Standard Installation"
    Help="This will install Windows Professional in a standard configuration."
    LaunchFile="%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%\templates\startrom.com"
    ImageType=Flat

[TapiLocation]
    AreaCode=610

[SetupMgr]
    DistFolder=C:\win2000dist
    DistShare=win2000dist

[Branding]
    BrandIEUsingUnattended=Yes

[URL]
    Home_Page=http://www.kenexanet.com

[Proxy]
    Proxy_Enable=0
    Use_Same_Proxy=0

thanks for your help!

[peachy]

I run the IE6 install using cmdlines.txt using this line:

".\IE6\ie6setup.exe /q:a /r:n"

The IE6 folder is in $OEM$. From experience IE 6 installs require two reboots so I autologon twice using winnt.sif. This works for me in unattended slipstream CDs and RIS.

[prathapml]

The easiest way has been told by peachy above - that's the one I've all along been doing too!

BTW, please enclose any code from your configuration/INI/REG files within the [code ] tags (the way peachy has above). That contributes to being easy on the eyes, and elicits a quicker response (because it doesn't require all THAT much of reading to understand what the post is all about).

[Got KarmA?]

Thanks for the help peachy!

Could someone point me to where cmdlines.txt is covered on msfn.org? I tried a google for cmdlines.txt site:msfn.org and couldn't find anything that specifically detailed it. Thanks!

I also edited my post to include code tags.

[prathapml]

You can search, and there's bits-and-pieces of info all over the place, but there's no one place where you get to see details about it....

Well, I'll see what I can do to help - I've been thinking of writing a how-to for cmdlines.txt usage since a long time (with a beginner's view-point, and tips, and so on). But probably I'll get to that in a day or two, so please bear with it.

@all

Hey MSFNers, if there's already a HOW-TO for cmdlines existing, do tell me - so that I don't need to spend time on an unnecessary topic. Also, how many of you would be interested in having one, if there isn't already?

[Got KarmA?]

Still playing around. GuiRunOnce is great, but I don't want it to execute that late ... so I was looking into cmdlines.txt, and figured these were the most solid instructions:

http://unattended.msfn.org/xp/autologon.htm

I know what to put in my cmd file as well as the cmdlines.txt, but I don't see how or why this automatically executes? If OemPreInstall=yes, does that automatically execute cmdlines.txt in the $oem$ folder if it exists, or what?

Also ... this runs before the first login, right?

[Got KarmA?]

I run the IE6 install using cmdlines.txt using this line:

".\IE6\ie6setup.exe /q:a /r:n"

The IE6 folder is in $OEM$. From experience IE 6 installs require two reboots so I autologon twice using winnt.sif. This works for me in unattended slipstream CDs and RIS.

my cmdlines.txt is as such:

[COMMANDS]
"addaccount.cmd"
"addie6sp1.cmd"

addaccount.cmd is:

net user knxaadmin <passwordremoved> /add
net localgroup Administrators knxaadmin /add
net accounts /maxpwage:unlimited
EXIT

it runs just fine if I launch it manually.

addie6sp1.cmd is:

".\IE6sp1\ie6setup.exe /q:a /r:n"

it won't run properly if I manually execute it ... which makes sense. What should I make this? Don't the contents of $oem$ get copied locally? So what should I make the command in addie6sp1.cmd?

Edit: if I make it start /wait \\knxw2ks-ris01\Installs\Packages\IE6SP1\ie6setup.exe /Q:A /R:N instead, it runs properly. I guess my only question now is whether or not cmdlines.txt runs automatically or if there is some entry I need to put somewhere to do it.

[Got KarmA?]

bump. I think I'm at the point where I just need to figure out how to use this cmdlines.txt, but although I can find information on how to configure it, I can't find information on how to have it execute.