HELP! I want to do a WINNT.SIF In-Place Upgrade

[LuckMan212]

ok I am sort of a newb but I have done lots of reading-- I read as much of the MSFN guide (beginner/intermediate section) as i could and I couldnt find really any references to my issue.

it seems like a real simple thing: I want to create a semi-automated (i.e. options are pre-filled out like CD-KEY and Admin name + pwd etc, and OEM drivers are available during setup) but I still want to be able to override the settings during install if I want (example: choose partition to install to, and change Time Zone if I need to etc) without re-burning the CD each time.

Apparently you can do this by editing the WINNT.SIF file created by SetupMgr.exe and making sure the UnattendMode under [unattended] is set to "ProvideDefault". I have done this, in fact my whole WINNT.SIF is below.

Question is: no matter what I do when Text setup (blue screen part) gets to the part where you choose what partition to install to, it does not allow me to do an IN PLACE UPGRADE. It just shows my HD and I am afraid to continue because I don't want it to delete my WINDOWS or documents folders. Usually it will show something like

Choose a windows installation to repair:
C:\WINDOWS -- Windows XP Professional

and then you press "R" to do the Upgrade install which preserves your settings. I dont want to install a whole fresh version of windows in this case, I just want to do the in place upgrade but not have to type in all my info again and get asked for drivers, etc.

Is this possible?? please you gurus, thanks!!

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

[Unattended]
    UnattendMode=ProvideDefault
    OemSkipEula=Yes
    OemPreinstall=Yes
    TargetPath=\WINDOWS
    FileSystem=LeaveAlone
    Repartition=No
    WaitForReboot="No"
    OemPnPDriversPath="Drivers\000_chipset;Drivers\001_storage\3ware_9500;
Drivers\001_storage\nvraid;Drivers\002_network;Drivers\003_graphics;
Drivers\004_monitor;Drivers\005_audio;Drivers\007_pci;
Drivers\008_usb\pl2303;Drivers\008_usb\triax"
    DriverSigningPolicy=Ignore
    NTUpgrade=Yes
    AutoActivate=Yes

[GuiUnattended]
    AdminPassword=xxxxxx
    EncryptedAdminPassword=Yes
    OEMSkipRegional=1
    TimeZone=35
    OemSkipWelcome=1

[UserData]
    ProductKey=XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
    FullName="Luke Hamburg"
    OrgName="MyCorp"
    ComputerName=BLACK-BOX

[Display]
    BitsPerPel=32
    Xresolution=1280
    YResolution=1024
    AutoConfirm=1

[TapiLocation]
    CountryCode=1
    Dialing=Tone
    AreaCode=212

[Identification]
    JoinWorkgroup=WORKGROUP

[Networking]
    InstallDefaultComponents=Yes

[Components]
    msmsgs=off
    msnexplr=off

[Shell]
    DefaultStartPanelOff=Yes

[IEPopupBlocker]
   BlockPopups=No

[WindowsFirewall]
   Profiles=WindowsFirewall.TurnOffFirewall

[WindowsFirewall.TurnOffFirewall]
   Mode=0

[LuckMan212]

nobody?

[Delprat]

hello,

There's nobody because that's impossible

I was willing to do the same, but.... it an hardcoded limitation !

So you'll need to hack some "smelling" setup files to do this...

It seems like the only "existing" way to do this is using a BartPE disc.

OR you can do as me (for now) : copy/move your files to another partition, do a "normal UA install", and then copy/move back your files...

bye

[Wraith]

Or make a multiboot CD, with one source with a WINNT.SIF, one without a WINNT.SIF.

[nikseresht]

hello

I have same of this problem .but I have an idea , if we can integrate a winnt.sif file

with an bootimage we can have more than one winnt.sif file in a mulitboot cd

and we can have mor powerful installation cd.