Win2003 Answer File on CD

[jroper73]

I have been trying to make a automated Windows 2003 Server install.

No matter what I do - it does not pick up winnt.sif

Here is what I tried

Moved the CD Files to a directory.

Downloaded SP1

Used the Integrate switch on the directory where my install files are

created a unattend.txt file using setupmgr.exe

renamed and copied to the i386 folder

Extracted boot sector from original CD using ISO Buester

Using neros I created a boot CD with the install files and Boot Sector ISO

The CD boots - and it loads - but it ignores the winnt.sif file.

Tried moving it to the root - Did not work

Check this out - does not work from a floppy

On a floppy - the orginal CD works

I have tracked down the issue with my winnt.sif file. Here it is

;SetupMgrTag
[Data]
    AutoPartition=1
    MsDosInitiated="0"
    UnattendedInstall="Yes"

[Unattended]
    UnattendMode=FullUnattended
    OemSkipEula=Yes
    OemPreinstall=Yes
    TargetPath=\WINDOWS
    DriverSigningPolicy=Ignore
    OemPnPDriversPath="drivers\jr01;drivers\jr02"


[GuiUnattended]
    AdminPassword="Edited Out"
    EncryptedAdminPassword=NO
    TimeZone=4
    OemSkipWelcome=1

[UserData]
    ProductKey=Edited Out
    FullName="TCCF Admin"
    OrgName="TCCF"
    ComputerName=SRV-EBUS

[LicenseFilePrintData]
    AutoMode=PerServer
    AutoUsers=500

[TapiLocation]
    CountryCode=1
    AreaCode=916

[Identification]
    JoinWorkgroup=EBUS

[Components]
cdplayer = off
charmap = off
deskpaper = off
dialer = off
freecell = off
hypertrm = off
media_clips = off
media_utopia = off
minesweeper = off
mousepoint = off
mswordpad = off
pinball = off
rec = off
solitaire = off
iis_nntp = off 
iis_nntp_docs = off 
iis_smtp = off 
iis_smtp_docs = off 
indexsrv_system = off 
TSClients = off
TSEnable = on 

[Networking]
   InstallDefaultComponents=No

[NetOptionalComponents]
   DHCPServer=1
   DNS=1

[Branding]
    BrandIEUsingUnattended=Yes

[Proxy]
    Proxy_Enable=0
    Use_Same_Proxy=0

[GuiRunOnce]
    Command0=d:\eBus\runme.bat

Also - even when it does work - it always prompts me for partition information. I am using SATA drive - but I donno if the two are related.

[TORCHTA]

try this one

replace xxxx-xxxx with your serial # make sure the Winnt.sif is in the I386 folder

Replace source.bat with your bat file

;SetupMgrTag

[Data]

Autopartition=0

MsDosInitiated="0"

UnattendedInstall="Yes"

[unattended]

UnattendSwitch=No

OemPreinstall=Yes

OemSkipEula=Yes

FileSystem=*

WaitForReboot=No

NoWaitAfterTextMode=1

NoWaitAfterGUIMode=1

TargetPath=\WINDOWS

DriverSigningPolicy=Ignore

NonDriverSigningPolicy=Ignore

Hibernation=No

UnattendMode=FullUnattended

[GuiUnattended]

AdminPassword=*

EncryptedAdminPassword=NO

TimeZone=40

OEMSkipRegional=1

OemSkipWelcome=1

AutoLogon=Yes

AutoLogonCount=1

[LicenseFilePrintData]

AutoMode=PerSeat

[userData]

ProductKey=xxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

FullName="test"

OrgName="test"

ComputerName=*

[branding]

BrandIEUsingUnattended=Yes

[Proxy]

Proxy_Enable=1

Use_Same_Proxy=1

HTTP_Proxy_Server=proxy.fun.com:80

Proxy_Override=<local>

[RegionalSettings]

LanguageGroup=17,1

Language=00000409

[identification]

JoinWorkgroup=WORKGROUP

[Networking]

InstallDefaultComponents=Yes

[TapiLocation]

AreaCode=999

Home_Page=www.google.com

[GuiRunOnce]

Command0=%windir%\source.bat

[ToBe]

you didn´t rename it to winnt.sif.txt by any chance? Just a thought... been there myself

[jroper73]

Nope

100% sure I did not.

I am pretty sure I have a syntax error in the winnt.sif file which is causing it to just not use it. I just have to start playing with it to figure out what it is.

I blew away like 30 CDs before I started to use a RW - err oh well.

James

MCSE CNE

[xian7479]

I've the same experience sometime before because I've edited the winnt.sif after setupmgr.exe created it. What I did is using setupmgr.exe to EDIT the modified winnt.sif, just press next untill it finish. After editing the winnt.sif has same content as it does before, but the new winnt.sif does work. I don't realy know the reason, but I guess maybe when useing a texteditor to edit and save it, there is a possibility that the winnt.sif would become unrecognisable to the Windows setup program.

[trisailing]

After some research and trial and error, I figured this out.

If you look at the root of the CD you will notice at least 4 Directories.

3ENE -Enterprise

3ENS -Standard

3ENW -Web

ENGLISH - if you have an english install cd.

You put the Winnt.sif file in the 3EN* folders.

Cool part is that you can have a different one(winnt.sif file) for each different install, enterprise,standard,web.

I also so far have been able to reduces the cd size to 588 mb.

Hope this helps.

Trisailing