Quickest, simplest guide to Installing XP+apps

[diddykong]

I've read various bits on the forums about this topic particularly the following page http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=26240 where methods for unattended ways of installing the firefox browser are described. However what I've found isnt short and to the point for my simple needs and its really confused me, I dont know what applies to me and what doesnt. I hoped someone could look at what I want to accomplish below and describe the quickest, simplest method:

If I have 5 or so computers I want to load XP onto (already with SP1+2) perhaps taking out some bits using Nlite (?) which I then want 4 other applications loaded in the quickest, simplest way possible onto the machines so its all setup up. These will be Firefox browser + Thunderbird mail as defaults with a few extesions, a security suite, burning suite, and office 2003!

Can someone please advise the simplest best method in steps, or at least where I can find out more or speak to someone who will know.

Thanks.

[eben]

silence of the foxes nice n easy, but not perfected yet (components folder)

theres a thread in app installs

[rendrag]

if you just want to install firefox, just call the extension with a -ms switch and it will silently install it

[diddykong]

So are you saying its not that easy yet even with Firefox, and as for an online security suite, burning suite, and office 2003, much different?

Also what do you mean "call the extension with a -ms switch" ?

[gmx]

astalavista wrote a guide thats the simplest guide yet... when u r finished u'll integrate drivers addding appz to ur unattended install

[eben]

some tools that could help you out are 'runonceexmaker" and "silence of the foxes" as mentioned before. u should be using runonceexmker AFTER u read the guide on http://unattended.msfn.org/

goodluck