Hi,

I'm having a little trouble deploying Office XP via group policy.

I have setup a test group policy that is assigning office xp to 2 test
computers. When I reboot the PCs, the installation starts with message
'installing managed software office xp...' but then seems to fail. When I
look at the event log it says during the installation H:\ drive is
specified, which is an invalid drive.
The H:\ drive is specified as the default document location in an MST
modification file, that I have applied to the software policy, because we
use the H:\ drive a users home drives, however they are not mapped until
after the user has logged on, and as the install is done before you get the
logon screen the drive is never mapped.

Is there a way to install office xp, and set the default drive, even though
they are not mapped, with out the install failing?

Cheers

bjb

Hi there,

Can you check out this writeup on rolling out Office via GP and see if it
helps?

http://briandesmond.com/blog/archive...10/25/233.aspx

--
--
Brian Desmond
Windows Server MVP
(E-Mail Removed)

Http://www.briandesmond.com


"BJB" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%23ZETV%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi,
>
> I'm having a little trouble deploying Office XP via group policy.
>
> I have setup a test group policy that is assigning office xp to 2 test
> computers. When I reboot the PCs, the installation starts with message
> 'installing managed software office xp...' but then seems to fail. When I
> look at the event log it says during the installation H:\ drive is
> specified, which is an invalid drive.
> The H:\ drive is specified as the default document location in an MST
> modification file, that I have applied to the software policy, because we
> use the H:\ drive a users home drives, however they are not mapped until
> after the user has logged on, and as the install is done before you get
the
> logon screen the drive is never mapped.
>
> Is there a way to install office xp, and set the default drive, even
though
> they are not mapped, with out the install failing?
>
> Cheers
>
> bjb
>
>

"Brian Desmond [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi there,
>
> Can you check out this writeup on rolling out Office via GP and see if it
> helps?
>
> http://briandesmond.com/blog/archive...10/25/233.aspx
>
> --
> --
> Brian Desmond
> Windows Server MVP
> (E-Mail Removed)
>
> Http://www.briandesmond.com
>

Brian,

That's a great artical, very easy to follow.

I've pretty much done most of what it says, my current problem revolves
around the 'Custom Installation Wizard' right at the end you can set program
defaults, I would like to set H: as default file locations, and T: as
workgroup templates. However because I'm assigning this software to a PC,
its installed as the machine boots up, before users logon. Its only after
users logon that they get the H: & T: drives mapped, which seems to be why
my office instalation is failing. Looking at the event log I get the 2
errors below.
If I remove the office customisation, it installs without problems, however
this means having to go in and set the H: & T: drive manually.

I was thinking last night, would it be possible to assign the base office
install to the PCs, so it installs on them, then add a published
install/modification to users, so its applied after they logon?

Cheers

bjb

-------------------------------------------------------
Event Type: Error
Event Source: MsiInstaller
Event Category: None
Event ID: 11327
Date: 02/11/2004
Time: 14:34:36
User: N/A
Computer: TESTPC2-2K
Description:
Product: Microsoft Office XP Professional with FrontPage -- Error 1327.
Invalid Drive: H:\
-------------------------------------------------------
Event Type: Error
Event Source: Application Management
Event Category: None
Event ID: 102
Date: 02/11/2004
Time: 14:34:36
User: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
Computer: TESTPC2-2K
Description:
The install of application Microsoft Office XP Professional with FrontPage
from policy Test Group Policy failed. The error was Fatal error during
installation. .
-------------------------------------------------------

BJB,

I think that you need to use the UNC method - as listed in Brian's
article - and *N * O *T a mapped network drive when telling AD where the
..msi file is located. So, you would use \\servername\sharename\file.msi
instead of h:\somefolder\sharename\somefolder\file.msi. As a matter of
fact, I use the UNC when doing the Administrative Installation as
well.....not that this necessarily applies to your issue.

Now, if you are trying to have the default save location for each
application ( MS Word, MS Excel, etc. ) changed from c:\documents and
settings\%username%\my documents to the h:\ or the t:\ drive then you might
want to try using the .adm files for Office 2000 / Office XP / Office 2003.
These are really awesome tools that will allow you to make a whole slew of
settings that you would otherwise have to do on each and every machine ( and
manual work is no fun! ). These .adm files are available from the Resource
Kit from each respective version. They are really really useful!

HTH,

Cary

"BJB" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Brian Desmond [MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hi there,
> >
> > Can you check out this writeup on rolling out Office via GP and see if
it
> > helps?
> >
> > http://briandesmond.com/blog/archive...10/25/233.aspx
> >
> > --
> > --
> > Brian Desmond
> > Windows Server MVP
> > (E-Mail Removed)
> >
> > Http://www.briandesmond.com
> >
>
> Brian,
>
> That's a great artical, very easy to follow.
>
> I've pretty much done most of what it says, my current problem revolves
> around the 'Custom Installation Wizard' right at the end you can set
program
> defaults, I would like to set H: as default file locations, and T: as
> workgroup templates. However because I'm assigning this software to a PC,
> its installed as the machine boots up, before users logon. Its only after
> users logon that they get the H: & T: drives mapped, which seems to be why
> my office instalation is failing. Looking at the event log I get the 2
> errors below.
> If I remove the office customisation, it installs without problems,
however
> this means having to go in and set the H: & T: drive manually.
>
> I was thinking last night, would it be possible to assign the base office
> install to the PCs, so it installs on them, then add a published
> install/modification to users, so its applied after they logon?
>
> Cheers
>
> bjb
>
> -------------------------------------------------------
> Event Type: Error
> Event Source: MsiInstaller
> Event Category: None
> Event ID: 11327
> Date: 02/11/2004
> Time: 14:34:36
> User: N/A
> Computer: TESTPC2-2K
> Description:
> Product: Microsoft Office XP Professional with FrontPage -- Error 1327.
> Invalid Drive: H:\
> -------------------------------------------------------
> Event Type: Error
> Event Source: Application Management
> Event Category: None
> Event ID: 102
> Date: 02/11/2004
> Time: 14:34:36
> User: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
> Computer: TESTPC2-2K
> Description:
> The install of application Microsoft Office XP Professional with FrontPage
> from policy Test Group Policy failed. The error was Fatal error during
> installation. .
> -------------------------------------------------------
>
>

"Cary Shultz [A.D. MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:O%(E-Mail Removed)...
> BJB,
>
> I think that you need to use the UNC method - as listed in Brian's
> article - and *N * O *T a mapped network drive when telling AD where the
> .msi file is located. So, you would use \\servername\sharename\file.msi
> instead of h:\somefolder\sharename\somefolder\file.msi. As a matter of
> fact, I use the UNC when doing the Administrative Installation as
> well.....not that this necessarily applies to your issue.
>
> Now, if you are trying to have the default save location for each
> application ( MS Word, MS Excel, etc. ) changed from c:\documents and
> settings\%username%\my documents to the h:\ or the t:\ drive then you
might
> want to try using the .adm files for Office 2000 / Office XP / Office
2003.
> These are really awesome tools that will allow you to make a whole slew of
> settings that you would otherwise have to do on each and every machine (
and
> manual work is no fun! ). These .adm files are available from the
Resource
> Kit from each respective version. They are really really useful!
>
> HTH,
>
> Cary

Hi Cary,

I have been using the UNC paths to the msi files for the install
(\\server\software\officexp\PROPLUS.MSI) I always try to use UNC where
possible.

As you said, its the default save locations & templates. I am currently
looking at the .adm files you mentioned. I take its just a simple case of
opening GP and right clicking add/remove template and then importing these
adm files?

bjb

BJB,

That would be correct!

Cary

"BJB" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Cary Shultz [A.D. MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:O%(E-Mail Removed)...
> > BJB,
> >
> > I think that you need to use the UNC method - as listed in Brian's
> > article - and *N * O *T a mapped network drive when telling AD where the
> > .msi file is located. So, you would use \\servername\sharename\file.msi
> > instead of h:\somefolder\sharename\somefolder\file.msi. As a matter of
> > fact, I use the UNC when doing the Administrative Installation as
> > well.....not that this necessarily applies to your issue.
> >
> > Now, if you are trying to have the default save location for each
> > application ( MS Word, MS Excel, etc. ) changed from c:\documents and
> > settings\%username%\my documents to the h:\ or the t:\ drive then you
> might
> > want to try using the .adm files for Office 2000 / Office XP / Office
> 2003.
> > These are really awesome tools that will allow you to make a whole slew
of
> > settings that you would otherwise have to do on each and every machine (
> and
> > manual work is no fun! ). These .adm files are available from the
> Resource
> > Kit from each respective version. They are really really useful!
> >
> > HTH,
> >
> > Cary
>
> Hi Cary,
>
> I have been using the UNC paths to the msi files for the install
> (\\server\software\officexp\PROPLUS.MSI) I always try to use UNC where
> possible.
>
> As you said, its the default save locations & templates. I am currently
> looking at the .adm files you mentioned. I take its just a simple case of
> opening GP and right clicking add/remove template and then importing these
> adm files?
>
> bjb
>
>

Cary,

Hats off to MS on these adm files, it makes applying settings so much
easier, and the way it all ties in with GP & AD is great!

I'm looking at creating custom ADM files (kb323639). We use VNC here for
remote admin, and it would be really cool if I could create an admin
template for all the settings that have to be setup, i.e. password, which
IPs to accept as hosts etc.

Looks a little complex though, shame there isn't a GUI tool for it!

Anyway, thanks for the help!

Cheers

bjb

BJB,

You are welcome.

Cary

PS...I remember someone named Ben Blackmoore who used to spend a lot of time
in the AD and GPO newsgroups. If you are that person, nice to see you back!


"BJB" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Cary,
>
> Hats off to MS on these adm files, it makes applying settings so much
> easier, and the way it all ties in with GP & AD is great!
>
> I'm looking at creating custom ADM files (kb323639). We use VNC here for
> remote admin, and it would be really cool if I could create an admin
> template for all the settings that have to be setup, i.e. password, which
> IPs to accept as hosts etc.
>
> Looks a little complex though, shame there isn't a GUI tool for it!
>
> Anyway, thanks for the help!
>
> Cheers
>
> bjb
>
>

Cary,

Yip, that was me, changed my handle cause I didn't think it was a good idea
to post with my full name.

It's good to be back, nice someone remembers me :-) Been off doing my MCSE
training, and deploying other aspects of AD (DFS & RIS)

bjb (ben)

"Cary Shultz [A.D. MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> BJB,
>
> You are welcome.
>
> Cary
>
> PS...I remember someone named Ben Blackmoore who used to spend a lot of
time
> in the AD and GPO newsgroups. If you are that person, nice to see you
back!
>
>
> "BJB" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Cary,
> >
> > Hats off to MS on these adm files, it makes applying settings so much
> > easier, and the way it all ties in with GP & AD is great!
> >
> > I'm looking at creating custom ADM files (kb323639). We use VNC here for
> > remote admin, and it would be really cool if I could create an admin
> > template for all the settings that have to be setup, i.e. password,
which
> > IPs to accept as hosts etc.
> >
> > Looks a little complex though, shame there isn't a GUI tool for it!
> >
> > Anyway, thanks for the help!
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > bjb
> >
> >
>
>