Universal Image - Using Devcon to Change the HAL Manually

G

Guest

Hi,
I was wondering if Microsoft offically supports the changing of a Windows XP
HAL with the utility DEVCON?

We are designing a Universal image, and this has proven to work very well -
however I wanted to ensure that its supported by Microsoft before providing
it as an offical solution for my company.

Anyone ever done this?

Cheers
A
 
G

Guest

Thanks a heap James, thats fantastic.

I actually prefer one of your options more than using the Devcon approach,
so I thihkn we will look at presenting all 3 and let the customer decide.

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.
Cheers
Andrew
 
A

Adam Leinss

Hi,
I was wondering if Microsoft officially supports the changing of a
Windows XP HAL with the utility DEVCON?

We are designing a Universal image, and this has proven to work
very well - however I wanted to ensure that its supported by
Microsoft before providing it as an official solution for my
company.

Anyone ever done this?

Two thoughts:

1. You can use Windows PE and scripting if your company is under a SA
or EA: http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-2285185.php

2. Use a repackager to capture the HAL change process

For #2, you would go into Windows, start your repackager, go to the
device manager and by right-clicking on the computer device in the
device manager, change the HAL to what you want. Save the package out
as a MSI file.

Using DEVCON in the [GUIRunOnce] section, execute the correct package.

BTW, I'm using the ACPI HAL for all my hardware and it works fine. Did
this at two companies for 9 different pieces of hardware and no
problems. Actually, one minor one: my image locks up in the mini-
sysprep on the Dell D600 laptop. If you run a Windows repair though,
it works fine.

I also force generic IDE drivers so the image even works on hardware I
never tested or explicitly added support for, such as our PDS 700 MHz
machines and Compaq Deskpros.

Adam
 

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