Noob question about %systemdrive% and %cdrom%

[Swimming_Bird]

I'm making my first UA install and a lot of the sample install scripts i see the install directory in %systemdrive% instead of %cdrom% do most people copy their install directory over to systemdrive then delete it or is the install cd treated as the systemdrive at this point of the installation, that doesnt make sense to me though ?

[Alanoll]

think more of it like a progression.

In the beginning, most people copy their installers for their programs to the HDD, %systemdrive%, and then the installations are called using their scripts.

Then as they're more experienced, they progress to leaving the files on the CD preventing the copying step. %CDROM% comes from here. The reason is simply to keep it simple at first before progressing to more technical techniques.

[Swimming_Bird]

1) what is different about installing from the hdd compared to the cd? I cant see a benifit from copying the installers to the HDDs. I dont even see why you would want to do that if runing WPI or something along those lines.

2) how do you deal with having multiple optical drives?

[Alanoll]

1) what is different about installing from the hdd compared to the cd? I cant see a benifit from copying the installers to the HDDs. I dont even see why you would want to do that if runing WPI or something along those lines.

2) how do you deal with having multiple optical drives?

1. I recommend people to start with simple batch files, to get the general concept of the install down, instead of diving into WPI or the like. Simply so they can learn how the installer works, and when and where they can install things. The Unattended Guide also recommends this.

To be honest, there isn't any benefit, but it's easier for people to grasp the concept of files on the harddrive, then visualizing where their files will beon the CD and changing their paths accordingly.

2. If you look through the beginning of most of the batch scripts you've seen, there are IF EXIST lines that search the drive for an ident file (typically WIN51) and then assigns the drive letter to the variable.

[Swimming_Bird]

the main reason i want to do more complex things instead of testing out some unattended cds is because i dont want to have to format again each time i try out my new install cd. i dont have a spare machine atm i can test with. I have to run but as soon as i get back i'll post again with a little bit more of what i'm hoping to do with a UA CD

thanks for all the help alanoll

[Alanoll]

no need to reformat each time. Use a VirtualMachine. Runs within your current system, and you can reformat all you want in that, without screwing up the rest of the machine. I'm using one as I'm typing, testing out a CD

VMWare Workstation is an option, and Microsoft VirtualPC is another. Both have a free trial, and the period should be long enough for you to get a CD working right, and if not...reformat and continue

[Swimming_Bird]

what's your suggestion, VM or MS?

anyways why i chose to use WPI was i figured that i would just have it run as i would any installer but once in there i can customize my install. Just breaking up the runonce inside of WPI. I was looking at xplode but its too complex for me atm. i was planning on using it on a future disk. But now that i can test it i'll just set up one classically then try it out.

anyways if you can provide me a bit of batch that would allow me to designate the cd so i wont have to copy it.

[gunsmokingman]

You Can Also Make Separate Partitions On A Single HD

and Multiboot your computer.

I Use This Instead Of A VM Install.

A Way To Get The CD Drive.

If The XP CD Not There Than It Will

Echo Out A message And Quit

echo off

cls

mode con: cols=55 lines=5

color 5f

TITLE Test New Set CD Varible

:: THIS VARIBLE 1

for %%i in (C: D: E: F: G: H: I: J: K: L: M: N: O: P: Q: R: S: T: U: V: W: X: Y: Z:) do if exist %%i\SETUP.exe set CDROM=%%i

:: THIS IS VARIBLE 1

if not exist %CDROM%\SETUP.exe goto ops

echo.

ping -n 3 127.0.0.1> nul | Echo This Is A XP CD

cls

echo.

echo          Your Cd Is %CDROM%\

ping -n 4 127.0.0.1> nul |SET /P =  This Will Close In 4 Seconds

GOTO EOF

EXIT

:ops

ECHO.

ECHO The Cd Is Not Avalable At This Location

ping -n 7 127.0.0.1> nul |SET /P =  INSERT THE XP CD AND RE RUN THIS SCRIPT

GOTO EOF

EXIT

Edited February 22, 2006 by gunsmokingman

[Alanoll]

what's your suggestion, VM or MS?

anyways why i chose to use WPI was i figured that i would just have it run as i would any installer but once in there i can customize my install. Just breaking up the runonce inside of WPI. I was looking at xplode but its too complex for me atm. i was planning on using it on a future disk. But now that i can test it i'll just set up one classically then try it out.

anyways if you can provide me a bit of batch that would allow me to designate the cd so i wont have to copy it.

smoking gun has provided the batch...

I personally prefer VMWare, but it's based on speed. I find VirtualPC slower....

[Swimming_Bird]

*snip

Does this "define" %cdrom% as the drive with setup.exe on it?

[keytotime]

Yes.

[Cartoonite]

Yes, Swimming_Bird, you've got it right. Additionally, gunsmokingman's script will provide an error message if setup.exe is not found. The only required line for setting up the CDROM variable is the for statement. I use a slight variation of the one gunsmokingman posted in my own scripts.

FOR %%d IN (D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z) DO IF EXIST %%d:\WIN51 SET CDROM=%%d:

WIN51 is a file that resides at the root of all Windows XP CDs so that an alternate drive won't be designated by accident if, for some reason, you are booting from the Windows XP CD with another CD in another optical drive. Also, I personally feel the code is a little bit cleaner if the colon is added at the end of the line as a part of the set statement rather than repeating it throughout the set to be parsed by the for statement.

[abu ryan]

hi

sorry for this but i need your help

as you know that when we made our Unattended CD with the some of software and Hotfix

in our hotfixpatch ,we right the comand to run the installation from the HDD after it get copyes to HDD what i need how can we change the comand in both

winnt.sif

and

hotfix.cmd

to Avoid Copy for (Install) folder and to let the Installation for the softwar and any update starting from the CD not from the HDD

Please sorry for that if you can give me what change i will do for both files .

thanks a lot

[Astalavista]

abu ryan u dont hv to do any of that

learn to use the /integrate command for hotfixes.

[ Integrating Hotfixes and Patches ]

Method 1: RyanVM XP Post - SP2 Update Pack (multilingual) http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/updatepack.html

Method 2: Manual Install - (Multilingual) http://rapidshare.de/files-en/426277/SP2_p...ar.html?pmode=1

[abu ryan]

Astalavista

hi man

i use the integrated command for the hotfix and it is ok thanks alot

but what about my lest of programs for example

after installing the windows the CMD patch run which will installing moy software .

this installation is starting from the systemdrive © where is the windows located

but i need this to be run from the CDROOM not from the harddesk als no need to copy the folder (Install) to SYSTEMDRIVE) ..

please try to help me with it .....