I'm trying to do a company wide upgrade from Win 2k to
Win XP Pro. I don't have a problem deploying it I just
can't get the answer file to work. Where do I put the
answer file at so it will be used.
(2)When I was creating the answer file it asks alot of
questions that would be needed on a fresh install. I need
to know if there is a different answer file for an
upgrade.
Does anyone know where I can find some answers to my
problems.

Thanks

You cannot use RIS or Sysprep to upgrade an operating system.
The only automated installation method you can use to perform
upgrades is an unattended installation using Winnt32.exe.

Choosing Winnt32.exe Parameters
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tre...cb_ui_hyug.asp

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Resource Kit Documentation
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tre...a_dwp_mbps.asp

Windows XP SP1a Corporate Deployment Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...eploytools.asp

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Rich" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message:
news:b57901c40786$d41cdd10$(E-Mail Removed)...

| I'm trying to do a company wide upgrade from Win 2k to
| Win XP Pro. I don't have a problem deploying it I just
| can't get the answer file to work. Where do I put the
| answer file at so it will be used.
| (2)When I was creating the answer file it asks alot of
| questions that would be needed on a fresh install. I need
| to know if there is a different answer file for an
| upgrade.
| Does anyone know where I can find some answers to my
| problems.
|
| Thanks

How to Use Sysprep with Windows Product Activation or Volume License Media to Deploy Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;299840

Customizing Unattended Installations
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d...c_cai_khud.asp

Deploying Windows XP Using Windows Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...y/wpadepl.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Rich" (E-Mail Removed) wrote in message:
news:93EE585D-B79A-4725-8C5B-(E-Mail Removed)...

| Ok I know that I have to use the unattended install and not the sysprep or the RIS. What I need to know is,
do I use an unattended answer file for this? How will the system know what product key to use? Could you be
more specific on this.
|

Assuming you are using Volume Licensing:

To activate Windows XP using an unattended installation procedure,
add the following information to the Unattend.txt file or the Winnt.sif answer file:

-- In the Unattended section, type AutoActivate = Yes.
-- Under the UserData section, type ProductID = yourProductID
(your ProductID is located on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker).

Note: Every Windows XP retail installation must have a unique Product ID for activation.

Ref: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...unattended.asp

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/


"Rich" (E-Mail Removed) wrote in message:
news:C74A26EB-CB48-4972-8A3B-(E-Mail Removed)...

| I'm not sure that you are understanding my question. I want to set here at my desk, drop these windows 2000
computer accounts in my "windows XP upgrade" OU and go home. I have a shared folder on my file server that I
copied the whole windows xp cd to. I created a GPO that points to the winnt32.msi file in the I386 directory
on my file server. Doing this pushes the upgrade down just the way I want it to. The setup only asks one
question and that is it askes me for is the Product Key. I hope I don't have to go to each computer to enter
this key. I've created the answer file and I can't find anyone that can tell me what to name the file and
where to place the file so I don't have to go to each computer. Hopefully you can help.

I know that you are trying to help, but I don't think you are reading my question. I didn't say anything about auto activation. Yes I'm a volume licensing customer.

Rich
Did you find out where to put your answer file so that the upgrade would find it? Sounds like you need to do a batch file pointing to the winnt32.exe instead of .msi and then specify unattended and include the path to the answer file.

Michelle