Distribution share

[dreamtime]

Hi,

Having looked at the various articles on your site, I have created an unattended setup for use on my network. I plumped for the 'Create new distribution share' option as opposed to a CD, as this seemed most appropriate for my needs.

Having created the share and unattended.txt file (a batch file runs the unattended.txt file) it all works fine (XP setup takes my settings) apart from the OEM side of things. Although I have carefully setup my folders and made sure the OEMpreinstall=yes is present, the folders are not getting copied across during install.

Here is a copy of my unattended.txt file....

;SetupMgrTag
[Data]
    AutoPartition=1
    MsDosInitiated="1"
    UnattendedInstall="Yes"
    AutomaticUpdates=yes

[Unattended]
    UnattendMode=FullUnattended
    OemSkipEula=Yes
    OemPreinstall=Yes
    UnattendSwitch="Yes"
    TargetPath=\WINDOWS

[GuiUnattended]
    AdminPassword=xx
    EncryptedAdminPassword=Yes
    OEMSkipRegional=1
    TimeZone=85
    OemSkipWelcome=1
    AutoLogon=Yes
    AutoLogonCount=1

[UserData]
    ProductKey=xx
    FullName="xx"
    OrgName="xx"
    ComputerName=ICT

[Display]
    Xresolution=1024
    YResolution=768

[RegionalSettings]
    SystemLocale=00000809
    UserLocale=00000809
    InputLocale=0809:00000809
    LanguageGroup=1

[Identification]
    JoinDomain=xx
    DomainAdmin=xx
    DomainAdminPassword=xx
[Networking]
    InstallDefaultComponents=No

[NetAdapters]
    Adapter1=params.Adapter1

[params.Adapter1]
    INFID=*

[NetClients]
    MS_MSClient=params.MS_MSClient

[NetServices]
    MS_SERVER=params.MS_SERVER

[NetProtocols]
    MS_TCPIP=params.MS_TCPIP

[params.MS_TCPIP]
    DNS=No
    UseDomainNameDevolution=No
    EnableLMHosts=Yes
    AdapterSections=params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter1

[params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter1]
    SpecificTo=Adapter1
    DHCP=Yes
    WINS=No
    NetBIOSOptions=0
    DNSServerSearchOrder=xx

[Branding]
    BrandIEUsingUnattended=Yes

[Proxy]
    Proxy_Enable=0
    Use_Same_Proxy=0

[WindowsFirewall]
    Profiles=WindowsFirewall.TurnOffFirewall

[WindowsFirewall.TurnOffFirewall]
    Mode=0

[components]
    msmsgs=off
    msnexplr=off
    freecell=off
    hearts=off
    minesweeper=off
    pinball=off
    solitaire=off
    spider=off
    zonegames=off

[GuiRunOnce]
"%systemdrive%\install\RunOnceEx.cmd"

Is OEM possible from a distibution share or only from a CD? I hoped to be able to add all applications to the network share so that the XP install is fully automatic. We don't have DVD-roms in most of the machines.

It might be worth noting that I am running it from a mapped drive. Do the OEM folders get copied across at the start with the windows setup files? I run the setup from within the existing Windows XP install but obviously when it resets, it would lose the drive mapping.

If I can't get it to work, I will copy the folders across using the batch file commands anyway. Would however like to know.

Thank you.

[Martin Zugec]

Hi! Finally someone using network setup

$OEM$ must be INSIDE i386 directory if U R performing network install

[dreamtime]

Thank you for your prompt reply.

I will change this immediately.

[Astalavista]

hehhehehe soulin

network installer guy!

u should change your profile description

at least i know who to ask when i do a network install in the future.

[Martin Zugec]

Network install is great I got one even in my home I am using small boot medium (about 700kb), that automatically perform gdisk, restart, automatically configure network card and run installation. I got implemented features like connecting NTFS volume (from dos) etc...

With properly prepared unattended installation with adequate structure there is almost unlimited space to automate processes - once I was preparing unattended installation for one school. Computers were reinstalled every night - they decide in which class they R, found out what lessons will be there next day and automatically installed only needed SW. Combination of PXE and WOL automated this process. It was great feeling to stand in middle of the room, watch at clock and at 10pm all computers start up and began with installation... I think I really impressed management of that school

[dreamtime]

'I am using small boot medium (about 700kb), that automatically perform gdisk, restart, automatically configure network card and run installation.'

This is my biggest sticking point at the moment. Is there any chance you could shed some light on this boot disk. Currently I am trying the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows to load an environment that can run the install.

When I tried to launch the XP setup program from dos, it failed.

Any information would be greatly appreciated. I work in a school and the ability to reinstall from the network using a boot disk would be a massive advantage to us.

[Martin Zugec]

Problem is I got it in czech language... If U will wait till next week, I am working on translation to EN.

What is the error U got?

First common error is Setup was unable to install Windows Boot Loader, it is problem with boot medium.

Second is setup was not able to copy files, it is because U got too small partition (I recommend using 2GB->4GB, depends on OS)

[dreamtime]

Thank you for your feedback, I would be very interested in your translated version.

Ok,

I may be on completely the wrong track with this one.

I have downloaded a dos boot disk with network from

Bart's Network Boot Disks

My plan was to boot to dos, connect to the distibution point by mapping a drive (eventually to be automated) and then run setup (from dos). This would allow me to install onto a new harddrive.

I go to the mapped drive, run my batch file (which works from windows - 'computername' assigns to the computer the name I give it)...

setupxp computername

The error I get is....

invalid switch - /S

This program cannot be run in DOS mode.

If I choose the alternative autoname version I just get...

This program cannot be run in DOS mode.

To be clear, this is the automatic batch file created by the setupmgr program....

@rem SetupMgrTag
@echo off

rem
rem This is a SAMPLE batch script generated by Setup Manager.
rem If this script is moved from the location where it was generated, it may have to be modified.
rem

set AnswerFile=z:\unattend.txt
set SetupFiles=z:\i386

z:\i386\winnt32 /s:%SetupFiles% /unattend:%AnswerFile% /copysource:lang

Is there a command line version of the setup program that I should be running instead?

[dreamtime]

Additional.

It appears that I need to be running z:\i386\winnt instead of winnt32.

However, I still get the 'invalid switch - /s' error if I run the batch file version.

I have modified it to be

@rem SetupMgrTag
@echo off

rem
rem This is a SAMPLE batch script generated by Setup Manager.
rem If this script is moved from the location where it was generated, it may have to be modified.
rem

set AnswerFile=z:\unattend.txt
set SetupFiles=z:\i386

z:\i386\winnt /s:%SetupFiles% /unattend:%AnswerFile% /copysource:lang

...but this does not seem to work (it just lists the various switches for winnt).

[dreamtime]

I have got it working if I remove ....

/makelocalsource /copysource:lang

from the batch file command...

z:\i386\winnt /s:%SetupFiles% /u:%AnswerFile% /udf:%ComputerName%,%UdfFile%

I am guessing these are winnt32 setup only controls for language selection.

Thanks Soulin for your aid on this.

[Martin Zugec]

Winnt32 is for upgrading... U cant run it from dos, instead U have to use winnt.exe...

Instead of /unattend: use /u (e.g. /u:c:\temp\unattend.txt)

I never used UDF - instead I used alter.exe to modify settings from batch file...

For winnt32/winnt comparison, have a look to deploy.chm

[dreamtime]

****. Soo close.

Still having trouble. I get various messages reporting errors in drive space. I have formatted the C drive.

The setup just keeps crashing at the 'Please wait whilst setup copies files to your hard disk. '

I have taken on board your ideas and removed the udf.

Now the batch file is bare minimum...

@rem SetupMgrTag
@echo off

rem
rem This is a SAMPLE batch script generated by Setup Manager.
rem If this script is moved from the location where it was generated, it may have to be modified.
rem

set AnswerFile=z:\unattend.txt
set SetupFiles=z:\i386

z:\i386\winnt /s:%SetupFiles% /u:%AnswerFile%

[Martin Zugec]

Ok, how big partition U have? Looks like it is too small... One change - before SP2 every version of windows needed just 2GB partition, now recommended value is 4GB... Also try to use /t:c, it is location of temporary files

[dreamtime]

It definitely appears to be to do with this. It is complaining (now) that it needs a minimum of 2 gig free as you suggested.

However, its just a single partitioned 30gig harddrive.

I added the switch you suggested, but this does not seem to help. And yet sometimes, it does not display this warning and seems to use c:\ for its drive (there are setup files on it) but crashes.

Running winnt without any switches seems to start installing but stops at the 'Please wait whilst setup copies files to your hard drive.'

Odd.

Will try another PC.

[dreamtime]

Could this be due to long filenames?

I was calling unattend2 which is over 8 characters long.