Vista and XP Drivers - using them during unattended install

[Gwido]

Can you force vista to use .INF files for XP drivers from an unattended installation. If so how as the WAIK stuff is not that helpful in outlining the process.

I ask this as I am using legacy hardware that does not have Vista Drivers but I know I can install specific drivers the old method through the device manager. Short of creating a generalised WIM file - I was wondering how to go about it using autounattend.xml

Thanks in advance

[FireGeier]

Hello Gwido!

If you plan to use xp drivers the only way to install them would be integrate them to install.wim or let them install during WinPE Pass. The third option - to install them during audit mode - will not work unattended, cause you will get the driver signing prompt at this state.

So follow the steps of WAIK-help Add Drivers to an Offline Windows Image or Add Device Drivers During Windows Setup / To add a device driver during Windows PE.

Note:

There is no gurantee that XP-Drivers will be installed properly under Vista.

Martin

[Gwido]

Thaks FireGeier,

I have attempted the offline integration with limited success, but as you say Vista using XP Drivers is not gauranteed to work. I'm slowly working my way through WAIK/WSIM help files and have found like you have mentioned, installing them and then generalising the image is probably the best method. This I have successfully done and re-deployed once.

Secondary to this, I have noticed though that my Graphics driver did not port accross. My offline integration of them looked like it succeeded but in the same regards, I had an issue on the second re-deployment of the WIM file as I modified my answer file trying to make it also upgrade from XP.

I probably over stepped the mark trying too many things at once.

Has anyone had success upgrading using an unattended installation - This should probably be a new thread but I ask this as well due to I want to make a recovery DVD that will upgrade my XP install with the drivers integrated and some default installed programs if possible.

[Gwido]

All sorted - using the driverspath in PE phase and mapping it back to my share worked without a hitch.