GUI setup will not start

[signomaster]

I have attempted to create an unattended XP setup disk using the instruction on http://unattended.msfn.org/xp/gettingstarted.htm.

I am using the RunOnceEX method.

Everything appears to be going as planned, I get past the format portion and the file copy portion. ... That’s where the problem begins. The system reboots after the copy and then it just starts back again with the format etc... it never gets to the GUI setup.

I have read through the forum extensively and reread through the instructions...

At this point I am lost, so any ideas to point me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

[Astalavista]

show me money!

I mean show me your winnt.sif, show me your prepare.cmd

lets start with that. dont post the content, post the winnt.sif as a file. rename

to winnt.txt.

[Cartoonite]

The system reboots after the copy and then it just starts back again with the format etc...

It sounds to me like this is a boot-sequence error. Rather than booting off the the hard drive like it is supposed to after the reboot, it is booting off the CD again. When it boots off the CD, it re-reads the WINNT.SIF file and starts the whole installation process over again.

Every XP and 2000 CD I have used to install has always prompted me to "Press any key to boot from CD" if the CD-ROM is listed before a bootable hard drive in the BIOS boot sequence. Whether during an attended or an unattended install, not pressing a key skipped booting from the CD and booted from the hdd to continue the installation.

I'm not exactly sure what controls this behaviour. I believe it is related to the boot.img file that is used to burn the cd. If you used the .img file that is included in the zip file download of CDImage, I don't think the image file is the issue. I use that same image file to burn my ISOs, and don't experience the same issue.

I suggest taking a look at how the boot sequence is configured in your system's BIOS. If you have more than one hard drive installed in your system, make sure that the one where you are installing Windows is the one listed. If it does not currently have an OS installed on it, it can be placed either before or after the CD-ROM drive, as per your preference. However, if there is an OS installed on your boot hard drive, the hard drive must be listed after the CD-ROM.

When booting from the CD to install Windows (first boot) you should receive the message "Press any key to boot from CD" if there is an OS installed on the hard drive. Otherwise the installation should begin automatically.

Once the text-mode portion is complete and the PC reboots, the BIOS will again be consulted to determine the proper boot order. If the hard drive appears before the CD-ROM, the PC should boot immediately from the hdd and continue with GUI-mode installation. If the hard drive is listed after the CD-ROM, you should be prompted to "Press any key to boot from CD." If you press a key, the computer will then boot from the CD and restart the installation process from scratch. If you do not, it should continue booting from the hard drive and continue with the previous installation after about 10 seconds.

If you are not being prompted and the PC is booting immediately from the CD without any input from you, then there is something wrong with the boot information on your CD. Unfortunately I don't know how to determine exactly what that problem is. I can only suggest using the xpboot.img file provided in the CDImage zip file, or extracting the one from your original XP CD using a tool like ISO Buster.

Hopefully this will at least give you a starting point for your troubleshooting. Good luck.

[prathapml]

You should have the file "bootfix.bin" in your I386 folder. Maybe it got deleted in some way. That is the file which gives the "Press any key to boot from CD" prompt. Put it back in there from somewhere, and your problem is solved (hopefully).

Do post back with results.

[Cartoonite]

One-upping me, as always, I see, prathapml.

Thanks for that addition, though. It was annoying me that I didn't really know how that part of the install worked. (Just not enough to actually go out and ask someone at 5 o'clock in the morning. )

I second prathapml's request. Please do post back letting us know whether or not this fixes your issue.

[prathapml]

Nopes, I don't intend to one-up at all.

In fact, you are the one who has given far more info, which he'll still want to refer to later.

[Cartoonite]

I know it's not your intention, prathapml. Was just a comment on how often you seem to have that little piece of knowledge that makes my understanding of a topic complete.

Kudos to you, and thanks for all of your help