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" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> 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" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> 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" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:eN%(E-Mail Removed)...
> 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" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%23%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Even when Smartdrv is running?
>
> "James Williams" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> > 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-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:e$(E-Mail Removed)...
> 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" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%23%(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Even when Smartdrv is running?
> >
> > "James Williams" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > 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/default...B;EN-US;296814

Scott McArthur[MS]
Microsoft Windows Server Setup Support
--------------------
| From: "Oli Restorick" <(E-Mail Removed)>
| References: <eBE#(E-Mail Removed)>
<#(E-Mail Removed)>
<##(E-Mail Removed)>
<eN#(E-Mail Removed)>
| Subject: Re: unattend setup
| Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 23:07:33 +0100
| Lines: 30
| X-Priority: 3
| X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
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| Message-ID: <#(E-Mail Removed)>
| Newsgroups: microsoft.public.win2000.setup_deployment
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| Xref: cpmsftngxa09.phx.gbl microsoft.public.win2000.setup_deployment:2983
| 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" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
| news:eN%(E-Mail Removed)...
| > 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?
| >
|
|
|