unattended install application custom

[bradsorensen]

Ok, Im confused after reading the help file for adding application and registry tweaks.

I have my registry file created and located in XP\$OEM$

I have crearted a file called cmdlines.txt and located in XP\$OEM$

Multiple tweaks and multiple apps need to be installed completely unattended.

Im doing an unattended install of xp pro sp2 this works fine until I try an add registry tweaks and additional software. The software in folders on the cd under XP\$OEM$\$1\Install\Eudora ect

do I add them in the cmdlines.txt or in the sif file under [GuiRunOnce]

I guess I need examples...

below is a copy of my tweaks.reg and cmdlines.txt

tweaks.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

;--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

;Speed up shutdown

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]

"AutoEndTasks"="1"

"HungAppTimeout"="100"

"WaitToKillAppTimeout"="1000"

;--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

;Faster reboot time

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]

"EnableQuickReboot"="1"

;--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

;Custom message to display before logon

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]

"LegalNoticeCaption"="Unattended Windows XP Pro Sp2 Install"

"LegalNoticeText"="Created by Brad Sorensen Systems Administrator Los Almos National Laboratory if you have any questions or comments about this install please contact me at brad@lanl.gov"

;--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

;Add Los Alamos National Laboratory As Main Start Page

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]

"Start Page"="http://int.lanl.gov/"

;--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

;Increase Network Throughput

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanworkstation\parameters]

"MaxCmds"=dword:00000064

"MaxThreads"=dword:00000064

"MaxCollectionCount"=dword:00000064

;--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

;Increase RPC Packet Size

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Rpc]

"MaxRpcSize"=dword:00100000

cmdlines.txt

[COMMANDS]

"REGEDT /S tweaks.reg"

NAV.msi "/qn REBOOT=Suppress"

eudora.exe "/qn REBOOT=Suppress"

adobe.msi"/qn REBOOT=Suppress"

[nitro322]

cmdlines.txt is for installing applications during the OS installation in the context of the Default User, whereas GUIRunOnce is for installing applications after the first login in the context of the logged on user (usually Administrator). Which one you want to use really depends on your preference. I generally prefer to do everything I can in cmdlines.txt, but certain apps may need to be installed during GUIRunOnce.

As for how to actually do it, that also depends. There are several methods documented on this forum, but my preferred approach is to use cmdlines.txt call a batch file, which in turn does all of the work. Well, actually it calls an AutoIt script now, but I used a simple .bat file for quite a while before moving to AutoIt and it worked fine. The reason I do this is because Cmdlines.txt is very picky and very sensitive about syntax, and can sometimes be difficult to make work. So, my Cmdlines.txt looks like this:

[Commands]

"inst_oem_apps.bat"

Then create an inst_oem_apps.bat file that contains the installation commands for all of your programs.

You're on the right track with importing the registry settings. There's one thing I should point out here as well, though. Remember I said that cmdlines.txt and GUIRunOnce are executed at different times during installation? Well, certain registry settings need to be applied at different times as well. My personal approach is to import my .reg file in both cmdlines.txt AND GUIRunOnce. It's a rather brute-force approach, but it works.

I'm sure you can get a better technical explanation from other users, but this should get you started. Let me know if you have any more problems.

[MHz]

Using correct syntax normally helps in any situation. An MSI is not an executable file, so you cannot call it direct. Msiexec runs MSI files so you just need to call Msiexec to achieve the task as shown below.

You were missing an "i" in Regedit.

cmdlines.txt

[COMMANDS]"REGEDIT /S tweaks.reg"

"MSIEXEC /i C:\Install\Norton\NAV.msi /qn REBOOT=Suppress"

"MSIEXEC /i C:\Install\Eudora\eudora.exe /qn REBOOT=Suppress"

"MSIEXEC /i C:\Install\Adobe\adobe.msi /qn REBOOT=Suppress"

Specifing a fullpath to the MSI files is needed as the files are not relative to Cmdlines.txt or in the systems path. If you want to make use of DOS variables such as %SystemDrive%, then add the MSI files into a batch file and execute from Cmdlines.txt.