Domain Joining

[Jamesb4uk]

hi guys. i'm new to the world of unnattended installs but i managed to create a cd that joins my domain using my account as the domain Admin & install the programs/drivers i need....

basically we setup a lot of laptops for users (over 20 a day) & different technicians will be using the CD's so they have their own domain admin account.

my question is -

Is there any way for the setup to prompt at the start for the domain admin account & user info and then carry on through using that info?

any help would be great.

James Bell

[Martin Zugec]

Easier way (and more system like) is to create specialized account for deployment... If U still want to do it your way, I could help U, think about it...

[Jamesb4uk]

Easier way (and more system like) is to create specialized account for deployment... If U still want to do it your way, I could help U, think about it...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks - unfortunatly i cannot use a general login for security reasons... (our infrastructure team refused the request)

James

[jmedwid]

I do a network-based install for WinXP that starts with an HTA screen that prompts the installer for any information that I want to be variable.

You could write a quick file [pick your language] that prompts for the information and then does a search/replace inside your unattend.txt file.

john

[tguy]

@jmedwid

Could you send me a copy of the HTA screen you use in a PM?

thanks.

[Jamesb4uk]

I do a network-based install for WinXP that starts with an HTA screen that prompts the installer for any information that I want to be variable.

You could write a quick file [pick your language] that prompts for the information and then does a search/replace inside your unattend.txt file.

john

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hmmm, hadn't thought of that way john,

could you pm a sample so i can see what you mean?

i'm fairly new to this so please excuse me but i'm learning

James

[mirkoB]

There is one simple solution, but unfortunatly, it won't work with laptops

You can remove your unattend.txt from CD and put it on a floppy. Make folppies for each tehnician with his own domain user account.

Second thing, they don't need to be domain admins to add computers to domain. Domain account operators have sufficient rights. Ordinary user can also add a workstation to domain, but number od adding is limited to, I think, 10 times.

Back in NT 4 days, there was command line utility called netdom.

For win 2K, check this http://support.microsoft.com/kb/266651/EN-US

For win xp, check http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;838079 Netdom comes with service pack 2 support tools.

I hope I helped.

Sorry for my English!

Edited March 9, 2005 by mirkoB

[Martin Zugec]

Well, for domains it is better to use network installations than cdrom-based... And then U can manipulate with unattend.txt at your will...

I am usually using strings in files, that will be replaced (e.g. **SERVER**, **USERNAME**) and then use alter or similar tool to replace string with defined