unattend setup

Hello!
I'm trying to do unattend setup of winXPsp1 Professional from network share
from the DOS.
The hard disk was previously formatted and the answer file was copied into
c:\temp folder.
The source location is:
\\server\testlab\winXP\i386
the command is:
winnt.exe /s:\\server\testlab\winXP\i386 /u:c:\temp\unattend.txt
The command is recognized and the setup procces beginning, but it hangs on
the screen:
"Wait while copying files on your hard drive."
Then I tried to reboot with system disk. And run the scandisk c: - it found
the error: missing chains. I checked - there was no any errors before I run
setup.
What can happen?

In my experience, installing out of DOS takes a *long* time. I've been
working with Server 2003 for the last week or so. It sits there for
almost 3 hours before it actually does anything. After that, it works
fine (for me anyway).

Just let it run overnight and see what happens.

(j)
James

Rostislav V. Nedosekin wrote:
> Hello!
> I'm trying to do unattend setup of winXPsp1 Professional from network share
> from the DOS.
> The hard disk was previously formatted and the answer file was copied into
> c:\temp folder.
> The source location is:
> \\server\testlab\winXP\i386
> the command is:
> winnt.exe /s:\\server\testlab\winXP\i386 /u:c:\temp\unattend.txt
> The command is recognized and the setup procces beginning, but it hangs on
> the screen:
> "Wait while copying files on your hard drive."
> Then I tried to reboot with system disk. And run the scandisk c: - it found
> the error: missing chains. I checked - there was no any errors before I run
> setup.
> What can happen?
>
>
>

Is it a problem of winxpsp1? Cause I tried to do that a half a year ago with
winxp without sp1 and it worked fine.
I use dos boot, cause I'm going to use PXE boot enviroment..


"James Williams" <james_williams@nospam.ncsu.edu> wrote in message
news:%23Rj6o5wPDHA.4024@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> In my experience, installing out of DOS takes a *long* time. I've been
> working with Server 2003 for the last week or so. It sits there for
> almost 3 hours before it actually does anything. After that, it works
> fine (for me anyway).
>
> Just let it run overnight and see what happens.
>
> (j)
> James
>
> Rostislav V. Nedosekin wrote:
> > Hello!
> > I'm trying to do unattend setup of winXPsp1 Professional from network
share
> > from the DOS.
> > The hard disk was previously formatted and the answer file was copied
into
> > c:\temp folder.
> > The source location is:
> > \\server\testlab\winXP\i386
> > the command is:
> > winnt.exe /s:\\server\testlab\winXP\i386 /u:c:\temp\unattend.txt
> > The command is recognized and the setup procces beginning, but it hangs
on
> > the screen:
> > "Wait while copying files on your hard drive."
> > Then I tried to reboot with system disk. And run the scandisk c: - it
found
> > the error: missing chains. I checked - there was no any errors before I
run
> > setup.
> > What can happen?
> >
> >
> >
>

Even when Smartdrv is running?

"James Williams" <james_williams@nospam.ncsu.edu> wrote in message
news:%23Rj6o5wPDHA.4024@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> In my experience, installing out of DOS takes a *long* time. I've been
> working with Server 2003 for the last week or so. It sits there for
> almost 3 hours before it actually does anything. After that, it works
> fine (for me anyway).
>
> Just let it run overnight and see what happens.
>
> (j)
> James
>
> Rostislav V. Nedosekin wrote:
> > Hello!
> > I'm trying to do unattend setup of winXPsp1 Professional from network
share
> > from the DOS.
> > The hard disk was previously formatted and the answer file was copied
into
> > c:\temp folder.
> > The source location is:
> > \\server\testlab\winXP\i386
> > the command is:
> > winnt.exe /s:\\server\testlab\winXP\i386 /u:c:\temp\unattend.txt
> > The command is recognized and the setup procces beginning, but it hangs
on
> > the screen:
> > "Wait while copying files on your hard drive."
> > Then I tried to reboot with system disk. And run the scandisk c: - it
found
> > the error: missing chains. I checked - there was no any errors before I
run
> > setup.
> > What can happen?
> >
> >
> >
>

Good point. No, I do not have smartdrv running. I haven't found a copy
yet (haven't spent a ton of time trying). I have one laying here
somewhere, I'm sure. It isn't a problem for me though. I just do
whatever tweaks I need and start the install when I come in and again
when I come back from lunch. No biggie for me. 8)

(j)
James

Oli Restorick wrote:
> Even when Smartdrv is running?

:-)

That'll be why it's slow.

I remember installing Windows 2000 on a laptop with no CD-ROM drive using
the command line. I didn't think not having Smartdrv would make much
difference, but I was there for an entire evening just getting the base
operating system on.

Cheers

Oli


"James Williams" <james_williams@nospam.ncsu.edu> wrote in message
news:eN%23A750PDHA.2036@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Good point. No, I do not have smartdrv running. I haven't found a copy
> yet (haven't spent a ton of time trying). I have one laying here
> somewhere, I'm sure. It isn't a problem for me though. I just do
> whatever tweaks I need and start the install when I come in and again
> when I come back from lunch. No biggie for me. 8)
>
> (j)
> James
>
> Oli Restorick wrote:
> > Even when Smartdrv is running?
>

I tried to run installation for a night and it completed only in
morning....
And - the smartdrv was running.

What mode must smartdrv run? I run it with /v key, and it said that only
read cache is enabled. Is it nessesary to swith on write cache?




"Oli Restorick" <oli@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:%23%23MI9lyPDHA.304@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Even when Smartdrv is running?
>
> "James Williams" <james_williams@nospam.ncsu.edu> wrote in message
> news:%23Rj6o5wPDHA.4024@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > In my experience, installing out of DOS takes a *long* time. I've been
> > working with Server 2003 for the last week or so. It sits there for
> > almost 3 hours before it actually does anything. After that, it works
> > fine (for me anyway).
> >
> > Just let it run overnight and see what happens.
> >
> > (j)
> > James
> >
> > Rostislav V. Nedosekin wrote:
> > > Hello!
> > > I'm trying to do unattend setup of winXPsp1 Professional from network
> share
> > > from the DOS.
> > > The hard disk was previously formatted and the answer file was copied
> into
> > > c:\temp folder.
> > > The source location is:
> > > \\server\testlab\winXP\i386
> > > the command is:
> > > winnt.exe /s:\\server\testlab\winXP\i386 /u:c:\temp\unattend.txt
> > > The command is recognized and the setup procces beginning, but it
hangs
> on
> > > the screen:
> > > "Wait while copying files on your hard drive."
> > > Then I tried to reboot with system disk. And run the scandisk c: - it
> found
> > > the error: missing chains. I checked - there was no any errors before
I
> run
> > > setup.
> > > What can happen?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>

Rostislav, try placing the unattend.txt on the server not the local drive and see what happens. Also, why are you using UNC path? Why not just map a drive letter?

net use x: \\server\testlab
x:\winxp\i386\winnt.exe /s:x:\winXP\i386 /u:x:\winXP\i386\unattend.txt


Conrad Lawes
http://www.argontechnology.com/cms






"Rostislav V. Nedosekin" <rostik-xeon@yandex.ru> wrote in message news:e$8dvo6PDHA.1336@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> I tried to run installation for a night and it completed only in
> morning....
> And - the smartdrv was running.
>
> What mode must smartdrv run? I run it with /v key, and it said that only
> read cache is enabled. Is it nessesary to swith on write cache?
>
>
>
>
> "Oli Restorick" <oli@mvps.org> wrote in message
> news:%23%23MI9lyPDHA.304@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > Even when Smartdrv is running?
> >
> > "James Williams" <james_williams@nospam.ncsu.edu> wrote in message
> > news:%23Rj6o5wPDHA.4024@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > In my experience, installing out of DOS takes a *long* time. I've been
> > > working with Server 2003 for the last week or so. It sits there for
> > > almost 3 hours before it actually does anything. After that, it works
> > > fine (for me anyway).
> > >
> > > Just let it run overnight and see what happens.
> > >
> > > (j)
> > > James
> > >
> > > Rostislav V. Nedosekin wrote:
> > > > Hello!
> > > > I'm trying to do unattend setup of winXPsp1 Professional from network
> > share
> > > > from the DOS.
> > > > The hard disk was previously formatted and the answer file was copied
> > into
> > > > c:\temp folder.
> > > > The source location is:
> > > > \\server\testlab\winXP\i386
> > > > the command is:
> > > > winnt.exe /s:\\server\testlab\winXP\i386 /u:c:\temp\unattend.txt
> > > > The command is recognized and the setup procces beginning, but it
> hangs
> > on
> > > > the screen:
> > > > "Wait while copying files on your hard drive."
> > > > Then I tried to reboot with system disk. And run the scandisk c: - it
> > found
> > > > the error: missing chains. I checked - there was no any errors before
> I
> > run
> > > > setup.
> > > > What can happen?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

When doing a unattended setup using winnt.exe make sure you are loading
smartdrv.exe and also do not use any command line switches. Using any of
the switches can cause a delay at the point mentioned.

http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...KB;EN-US;296814

Scott McArthur[MS]
Microsoft Windows Server Setup Support
--------------------
| From: "Oli Restorick" <oli@mvps.org>
| References: <eBE#fgwPDHA.1608@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl>
<#Rj6o5wPDHA.4024@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl>
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<eN#A750PDHA.2036@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl>
| Subject: Re: unattend setup
| Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 23:07:33 +0100
| Lines: 30
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| X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.win2000.setup_deployment
|
| :-)
|
| That'll be why it's slow.
|
| I remember installing Windows 2000 on a laptop with no CD-ROM drive using
| the command line. I didn't think not having Smartdrv would make much
| difference, but I was there for an entire evening just getting the base
| operating system on.
|
| Cheers
|
| Oli
|
|
| "James Williams" <james_williams@nospam.ncsu.edu> wrote in message
| news:eN%23A750PDHA.2036@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
| > Good point. No, I do not have smartdrv running. I haven't found a copy
| > yet (haven't spent a ton of time trying). I have one laying here
| > somewhere, I'm sure. It isn't a problem for me though. I just do
| > whatever tweaks I need and start the install when I come in and again
| > when I come back from lunch. No biggie for me. 8)
| >
| > (j)
| > James
| >
| > Oli Restorick wrote:
| > > Even when Smartdrv is running?
| >
|
|
|