A geeks guide to Windows XP HAL Replacement

[Johan Arwidmark]

Here is an article (step-by-step guide) on how to keep a single image
for Windows XP deployment, across HAL types, also known as HAL
Replacment.

Sample HAL type detection and sysprep update scripts included.

A geeks guide to Windows XP HAL Replacement
http://www.myitforum.com/articles/15/view.asp?id=8997


regards

Johan Arwidmark
Microsoft MVP - Setup/Deployment

 

[James]

You can do that without WinPE.
http://jimtsay.googlepages.com/mysysprep

James

 

[Johan Arwidmark]

Thanks,

It looks like a nice method as well if you dont have access to, or for
some reason don't want to use WinPE for your deployments.

regards

Johan Arwidmark
Microsoft MVP - Setup/Deployment

 

[Guest]

Quoting: “The HAL type is read from WinPE by quering the
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\ACPI_HAL\0000\HardwareID registry keyâ€

If PE can identify the HAL type, why can’t the mini-setup do that by itself
? Same remark for the mass-storage devices.

I am currently attempting to move an existing installation from a Dell GX1
to a GX520 (too many exotic software installed), but it bluescreens on the
mass storage device. I am considering syspreping the image in order to
trigger a re-enumeration of the mass-storage devices. But does the mini-setup
enumerate the critical boot-time devices ? I doub about that. But if the XP
setup can, why can’t the mini-setup ? I hope that Vista will be better to
that perspective.

 

[Johan Arwidmark]

Well, XP mini-setup can do that, sort of... I have seen software that
intercepts the mini-setup engine.exe (setup.exe -newsetup -mini) and
hooks in an update to sysprep.inf before allowing sysprep mini-setup
to start...

See this example
http://jimtsay.googlepages.com/mysysprep

I prefer to use do this from WinPE since I'm doing updates to
sysprep.inf anyway...

Anyway... Vista is way better with HALs (of course Vista only supports
ACPI hardware, but still)


regards

Johan Arwidmark
Microsoft MVP - Setup/Deployment