.reg Files Won't Install into Registry During Unattend?

[Hectic]

OK here's the deal. When my batch file runs to install all of my programs and everything, it looks like it runs all the .reg files to add to the registry, but when Windows loads for the first time and I check to see if the changes are made, they aren't! The .reg files seem to be correct however, because I can click on them and they are successfully added to the system registry and make the changes they are suppose to make. Some NEED to be done during install and it would just be easier if I didn't have to add them in manually. All the .reg tweaks I have so far, I keep seperate in different .reg files. (Not just one big .reg file that makes all the reg tweaks) Below are some copies of the code I use in my batch file for some of the .reg files and I also attached the corresponding .reg files. I'd really appreciate any assisstance that anybody could give to help resolve my problem.

On a different note, I have one other question. After windows finishes installing (the part showing t-minus xx minutes and advertising features of windows), it trys to logon to windows where it will start to run the batch file, but I get an error saying basically, I have to register(activate?) my copy of windows to be able to login for the first time. It gives me a "yes" or "no" choice to do this, I simply click no, and it logs on anyway and continues to start running my batch file. How can I get rid of this? The only things I can think of as to why this may be popping up are acouple of settings in my WINNT.sif file, or because I am using the backup activation method (with the wpa.dbl file) to activate windows, but the computer I'm testing my disk on is different from the one I'm actually going to use the disk on. (Probably explaining why some programs/drivers won't install, even though they look like they do) Any thoughts, suggestions, etc.?

Thanks!

echo ==Disabling balloon tips and tour balloon registry
regedit /s "c:\Documents and Settings\Local_Machine\Initial_setup\BalloonDisable.reg"

echo ==Disabling Automatic Update
regedit /s "c:\Documents and Settings\Local_Machine\Initial_setup\DisableAU.reg"

echo ==Enabling Classic Control Panel
regedit /s "c:\Documents and Settings\Local_Machine\Initial_setup\CPClassic.reg"

BalloonDisable.reg

DisableAU.reg

CPClassic.reg

[stickzilla]

I don't do unattended installs like this, so if I'm wildly incorrect , blah

But i see you are accessing reg files as part of the Local_Machine profile. Is this directory existent yet ? I'm guessing Local_machine is a local account you have - but until that user logs in, I do not believe that Windows creates the directory in /Documents and Settings/.

[T D]

hkey_local_machine is the very first thing in the registry made when windows is installed!

As for wpa.dbl, as of windows xp sp1 beta 2, it doesn't work. And of course, any activation method only works ua if you use it on the same pc you originally activated it on because activation is based on the hardware used. So say you change the cpu of ur pc, you might have to activate it again.

[stickzilla]

I'm not talking about his registry at all, I"m speaking of the source of his reg files

c:\Documents and Settings\Local_Machine\Initial_setup\

[Guest WebMadman]

Edited July 31, 2006 by WebMadman

[Hectic]

Thanks for some of the posts guys! It was the local machine directory that was screwing it up, so I went ahead and changed the location of the .reg files and the batch commands appropriately. That looks like it fixed that problem!

As for the "Windows requiring me to activate windows to logon" error message, any thoughts? As T D says, the wpa.dbl activation file hasn't worked since service pack 1. If that's so, how can you auto activate your copy of Windows without an internet connection? (I will have one, but it's through a wireless connection with a 128 bit WEP security. Is there an automated way to enter the name of the wireless connection and the security key? Doubt it!) Should I just go ahead and get rid of the wpa.dbl file and will that solve the problem? The only other thing I can think of is a few WINNT.sif settings, like the autologin set to yes. (Although I believe that should be set to yes shouldn't it?)

[Guest WebMadman]

Edited July 31, 2006 by WebMadman

[Takeshi]

Autologon has nothing to do with activation.

Even if you need to activate Windows, you have a grace period to do it so whether you logon manually or autologon after installation is not relevant. I believe (though I haven't the need to do it) that you no longer can use the internet to activate but others can verify this.

[Guest WebMadman]

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Edited July 31, 2006 by WebMadman

[Shindo_Hikaru]

how intresting, all my unattended installs, i have set to auto-login and then i call MS for activation never have a problem with that.