I believe i saw this on the forum, but couldnt find it on a search

To reduce the time of "copying installation files" before windows starts installing, is it possible to have applications like photohsop, illustrator and office install directly from DVD and not from HDD?

Im using RunOnceEx.cmd now with all applications in $OEM$\$1\Install\Applications\ now. Takes quite a while copying all them files to HDD...

Yes you can.

Have your runonceex entries point to the dvd instead.

cmdow @ /HID
@ECHO OFF

IF EXIST D:\WIN51 set CDROM=D:
IF EXIST E:\WIN51 set CDROM=E:
IF EXIST F:\WIN51 set CDROM=F:
IF EXIST G:\WIN51 set CDROM=G:
IF EXIST H:\WIN51 set CDROM=H:
IF EXIST I:\WIN51 set CDROM=I:
IF EXIST J:\WIN51 set CDROM=J:

SET KEY=HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx

REG ADD %KEY% /V TITLE /D "Install Applications" /f

REG ADD %KEY%\001 /VE /D "Preparing Installation..." /f
REG ADD %KEY%\001 /V 1 /D "%CDROM%\Software\prepare.cmd" /f

REG ADD %KEY%\002 /VE /D "Another program here" /f
REG ADD %KEY%\002 /V 1 /D "%CDROM%\Software\program.exe" /f

edited code mistake

Excelent, just what I was looking for!

I just gotta ask, whats really the point copying anything to HDD first (drivers apps cmds) ?

isnt it better to just run it from the DVD

That's what i do. Copy to HDD is not really required. Is good to copy stuff to sys dir and docs and settings etc.

This will save alot of time during install i think

good that one wrote this thread

i wanna install my apps too from dvd but have problems with my .inf file

iam using a multiboot dvd with this folder structure:

WinXPPRO\I386

Win2KPro\I386

VOL1

VOL2

PRO1

....

i wanna have my Apps Folder on the Root Folder on my DVD

i dont know what i should change on this inf so i can use the apps folder too 4 Win2K

1 = %cdname%,%cdtagfile%,,\Applications <--- = WinXPPRO\Applications but the Folder should be on Root on my DVD

runonceex.inf:

[sourceDisksNames.X86]

1 = %cdname%,%cdtagfile%,,\Applications

[XP.Preinstall]

HKLM,"%RunOnceEx%\install34",,,"Free Download Manager 1.0"

HKLM,"%RunOnceEx%\install34",1,,"MSIEXEC.EXE /QB /I %1%\Applications\FreeDownloadManager\fdminst.exe /silent"

[strings]

cdname = "Windows XP Professional CD-ROM"

productname = "Windows XP Professional"

cdtagfile = "\win51ip.SP2"

btw.: i dont wanna use a Batchfile 4 recognize the folder..all should be on this inf file

Yes you can.

Have your runonceex entries point to the dvd instead.

cmdow @ /HID
@ECHO OFF

IF EXIST D:\WIN51 set CDROM=D:
IF EXIST E:\WIN51 set CDROM=E:
IF EXIST F:\WIN51 set CDROM=F:
IF EXIST G:\WIN51 set CDROM=G:
IF EXIST H:\WIN51 set CDROM=H:
IF EXIST I:\WIN51 set CDROM=I:
IF EXIST J:\WIN51 set CDROM=J:

SET KEY=HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx

REG ADD %KEY% /V TITLE /D "Install Applications" /f

REG ADD %KEY%\001 /VE /D "Preparing Installation..." /f
REG ADD %KEY%\001 /V 1 /D "%CDROM%\Software\prepare.cmd" /f

REG ADD %KEY%\002 /VE /D "Another program here" /f
REG ADD %KEY%\002 /V 1 /D "%CDROM%\Software\program.exe" /f

edited code mistake

I'm using start.cmd instead of runonceex. Is it possible to use this command in some way in the start.cmd file? 'Cause, when testing in VMware, he started copying all the files first, instead of installing from DVD.

I'm using start.cmd instead of runonceex. Is it possible to use this command in some way in the start.cmd file? 'Cause, when testing in VMware, he started copying all the files first, instead of installing from DVD.

You can find enough info in the Unattended CD Guide on this site to do a runonceex setup.

If you are using the guirunonce method. It is not so painful to convert to runonceex method. I would advise it, since you are doing a dvd.

You just need cmdlines.txt to run your batch file, witch inserts entries into the registry, so the registry will execute your software installs at the end of setup. One of the 1st entries can be something like your start.cmd, with will remove the wallpapers etc. that you do not want on the hardrive. Then software will be installed from the dvd.