How do I install apps silently post-Windows ?

[mecalvint]

Hi,

Could this forum plz help me with a question.

My company already has an unattended Windows setup CD.

The CD would install Windows 2000 for a certain Dell, add the necessary drivers, and then some proprietary apps. This is properly done through some sort of scripts like cmdlines.txt or RunOnceEx.

Then the Dell would reboot one time to clean up.

From here then, how do I setup another set of apps of my own silently and unattended.

I could write a little vbs with all the apps switches, but would that work, especially with some of the apps that may requires a reboot.

This forum is way cool.

[Cartoonite]

Thanks for the praise, and welcome to MSFN.

The easiest way to do it would be to modify the existing uA Windows CD and add the programs you require to the end of the process that installs all the proprietary apps. As you said yourself, the apps are installed through some sort of script, so just editing that script to add your custom apps to the end of it (but before the reboot) should give the result you are looking for.

[durex]

WPI may be the way to go... it allows you to load a bunch of apps onto your uA cd, then choose which are actually installed after the os portion completes... check out the wpi thread for more info

[mecalvint]

Thanks for the prompt replies.

I think it would take me a while to find out which script install the apps on the uA. And not too sure if I can mess around with that script.

Will look into WPI as an easier solution.

And if not, will try looking into the uA's script.

Thanks again.

Merry Xmas.

[hasi001]

All your wishes could be fulfilled by WPI.

There's one point to be aware of: If one of your application installs needs a rebbot and does that automatically, ther could be problem with WPI .. but there's a workaround.

WPI is a configuration interface to Windows' runonceex-functionality. You sure know the runonxeex dialog. It's only 1 column. So if you install a lot of applications, it could grow too big for you screen resolution. Therefore WPI has a mechanism to install chunks of applications (15 per default). This means, that the runonceex-dialog will show 15 apps, install then, then WPI configures runonceex to process the next 15 apps and so on... WPI (although not visible) runs in background

If one of the installed apps reboots the machine, WPI is closed. All applications left in the current chunk would install as usual, but if there'd be another chunk it wouldn't be configured (WPI doesn't run in background after restart).

The number of applications per chunk can be configured. So don't forget to do that in the options dialog (up to 60 - reply if you need more, or adjust the value in useroptions.js) to have them all install in one chunk.

Have fun.

[Jedi82]

i didn't understand the way to move for for example directx9 that want a reboot, how can i do to install this app and then the others?