Several Clarification Questions

[Tark]

Hello, all. I've been reading up on the unattended install materials available on this site. I managed to slipstream winxp with sp2.

1) Uxtheme.dll -- I obtained this from http://unattended.msfn.org/xp/hacked_files.htm, and simply copied it to the I386 directory. I also made sure to have WFP turned off in my registry tweaks reg file. I was curious as to how I go about making one of my favorite themes, ximian curve theme my default theme.

I have a file structure like so:

XPCD/
        /I386
        /$OEM$
        /$
        /$$/Resources/Themes/
                                         /Ximian

The problem is that ximian theme didn't come with a .theme file pointing to its own components. I was following the guide in this board's how-to for making a theme your default theme. I'm not really sure what to do with creating the .theme file, as there are several components in the ximian theme that don't follow that example such as shell DLL files. Can anyone advise me here?

2) I see in the batch file examples page that there are two methodologies for running these batch programs upon completion of windows setup.

There seems to be a start.cmd way, which is described in the tutorial, and then there seems to be this RunOnceEx.cmd way which has a whole different syntax involving the registry for install. Can someone clear up for me what is the best approach, or at the very least the pros/cons of each?

Thanks in advance.

[Vadikan]

Tark

1. http://unattended.msfn.org/xp/reference.htm#shell

2. Technically, both RunOnceEx and GuiRunOnce methods are the same. In both cases you install s/w upon the first logon. If you've never done unattended install of s/w before, I'd say you may try GuiRunOnce method first. It's pretty straight forward. If everything works ok, you can move on to RunOnceEx, which just looks better.

HTH

[Tark]

Tark

1. http://unattended.msfn.org/xp/reference.htm#shell

HTH

I saw that [shell] section for the winnt.sif file, but it explicitly states that you have to have a path to a yourtheme.theme file. I meant to mention that the ximian theme I downloaded does not come with a ximian.theme file. I saw a post/guie on how to create a yourtheme.theme file on these boards: first post, section about themes

I think I may be in over my head with this particular theme and creating a .theme file. Is it acceptable to simply place your themes in the $OEM$\$$\Resources\Themes directory, and then manually change the theme? (i.e. the win xp installation doesn't default to this new theme, but it is still available.)

[Vadikan]

I meant to mention that the ximian theme I downloaded does not come with a ximian.theme file.  I saw a post/guie on how to create a yourtheme.theme file on these boards:  first post, section about themes

Yeah, you never mentioned ;-) Looks like you're on the right track with that link.

Is it acceptable to simply place your themes in the $OEM$\$$\Resources\Themes directory, and then manually change the theme?

Certainly, you can place several themes there, and then manually select the one you want. But it won't be really an unattended install ;-) I haven't played much with unattended install of visual styles, so I hope other people will be more specific and helpful.

[Tark]

Well, I was able to determine a lot with my first test of unattended install on virtual pc. I definitely had the right uxtheme.dll and windows file protection turned off. I was able to choose the ximian theme manually. While it is true that this isn't a fully unattended install, I have made vast improvements in that I now have a mostly unattended, bootable xp slipstreamed with sp2 cd.

I'd say this was at least a milestone for myself.