HAL

[SameOld]

I am about to create a single disk image with different hardware the HALs
are as follows:

1. ACPI Uniprocessor PC
2. Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC
3. ACPI Multiprocessor PC

1. Which HAL I should build master image?

2. Do I need to use the UpdateUPHAL parameter in my sysprep.inf?

Are there any caveats i should be aware of?

Thankyou in advance,

Andrew

 

[Michael Niehaus [MS]]

You will need to create two images. One should be captured from the
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC computer and only
deployed to other Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC
computers. The other can be built on either an ACPI Uniprocessor PC or an
ACPI Multiprocessor PC computer; it can be deployed to either too, using
UpdateUPHAL to allow Windows to pick the appropriate one.

See http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=309283, specifically bullets #5 and
#7, for the details.

-Michael Niehaus
Systems Design Engineer
(e-mail address removed)
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[SameOld]

Well two images is better than 18!

I have read on a few blogs that i should build my master on a MP HAL so as
to avoid any issues with the UP PC's being incorrectly given a MP HAL which
will work but with a degraded performance. Your thoughts on this?

REF
One further question on a different subject.

background.
We have a number of differe4n thardware typesand each has their own specific
sw be it cd burning software and dvd readers etc. Anyway...

How would you recommend I go about getting this hardware specific software
incorporated into sysprep's post mini setup wizard?

I have a few ideas so far e.g. scipting in some WMI to detect the hardware
model and use that logic to install the software..is that the way to go? Or
is their better ways?

Cheers!

 

[SameOld]

Another Question REF the URL you have provided:

What does this section below mean >>>Does this mean that I can use this hal
on the other 4 types listed ?

ACPI Uniprocessor PC", ACPI APIC UP HAL (Halaacpi.dll). Standard PC
. Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC
. ACPI Uniprocessor
. ACPI Multiprocessor


Thanks,
Andrew

 

[Adam Leinss]

Well two images is better than 18!

I have read on a few blogs that i should build my master on a MP
HAL so as to avoid any issues with the UP PC's being incorrectly
given a MP HAL which will work but with a degraded performance.
Your thoughts on this?

Check out http://aleinsstechtips.blogspot.com/2005_07_01
_aleinsstechtips_archive.html.

Though not supported by Microsoft, by using the ACPI HAL solely my
master image supported 3 laptops and 4 PCs.

Adam

 

[Michael Niehaus [MS]]

No, it just means that's what Device Manager will show you.

-Michael Niehaus
Systems Design Engineer
(e-mail address removed)
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Michael Niehaus [MS]]

Apart from the "unsupported" part of this (as you've seen, it works fine in
most cases), there is another downside: If you use the ACPI HAL, you won't
get any benefits from Intel's hyperthreaded processors. You also won't be
able to take advantage of dual-core processors. Windows will only see one.

-Michael Niehaus
Systems Design Engineer
(e-mail address removed)
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Guest]

How about running a multiprocessor HAL on a uniprocessor computer...?
I have a master image here, configured with a multiprocessor HAL, that runs
just fine on my uniprocessor computers too. Are there any issues I should be
concerned about?

 

[SameOld]

Thats good to know!
What HALs your desktops and notebooks had?
Thanks,
Andrew

 

[Adam Leinss]

Thats good to know!
What HALs your desktops and notebooks had?
Thanks,
Andrew

I think Windows 2000/XP defaulted most of the newer hardware to
Uniprocessor HAL. However, this HAL doesn't seem to work well with the
the Omnitech 8100/Gateway 600YGR series. The ACPI HAL seems to work
cross all hardware platforms with no problems. We actually deployed
this image out to over 100 PCs with no ill effects and I've done it
with both Windows 2000 and Windows XP at two different companies.

Of course, your mileage may vary.

Adam

 

[Michael Niehaus [MS]]

The ACPI Multiprocessor PC HAL will run fine on machines that would normally
run the ACPI Uniprocess PC HAL. There is a little extra overhead in doing
this (a couple of percentage points) but it works fine.

The ACPI Uniprocessor PC HAL or ACPI Multiprocessor HAL will most likely
crash on a machine that normally runs the "Advanced Configuration Power
Interface PC" HAL.

-Michael Niehaus
Systems Design Engineer
(e-mail address removed)
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.