Any info on txtsetup.oem syntax?

[Tony]

My LAN Boot remote install session is having problems
installing the mass storage drivers. I'm trying to
address this by modifying my $OEM$\textmode\txtsetup.oem
file and am having some real problems.

Does anyone know where I can find information on modifying
txtsetup.oem files _specifically_ for use with RIS?

TIA

 

[Patrick J. LoPresti [MVP]]

The definitive document on the txtsetup.oem file format is Microsoft's
own:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/install/hh/install/txtsetup_1wmq.asp

But since that is the first hit at
<http://www.google.com/search?q=txtsetup.oem>, you probably saw it
already.

I know of no other general document on the topic, although I am
considering writing one...

If you could explain exactly what you are trying to do, including the
txtsetup.oem file you started with, what you did to it, and what
precise errors (if any) you are seeing, someone here might be able to
help.

- Pat
MVP, Windows Server - Setup/Deployment
http://unattended.sourceforge.net/

 

[Johan Arwidmark]

Here is a good link

[Unattended] TXTSETUP.OEM, MassStorageDrivers, etc.
http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg00107.html

regards
Johan Arwidmark

Windows User Group - Nordic
http://www.wug-nordic.net

 

[Tony]

First of all, thanks for your reply. This is turning into
something of a nightmare.
-----------
I've copied the i386 folder from my Win2K Pro CD-ROM to
a "distribution point"which just happens to be on my RIS
server. Then I slipstreamed in sp4 into the i386 folder.
Then I ran RISetup and created an image folder from the
distribution point. I ran the setupmgr.exe to create
a .sif file which I'm using instead of the statndard
ristndrd.sif file. I then created the appropriate $OEM$
directory structure as a peer of the i386 folder in the
RISimage folder and copied the appropriate third-party
SATA drivers so that I can use my SATA hard drive during
the installation process.

After some... ah... experimentation for several days I
realized that my problem probably lies with the
txtsetup.oem file and I've been working on that for the
last few days. The installation starts with "Setup is
inspecting yourcomuter's hardware configuration" and then
just hangs. I'm 95% sure this is because it's looking for
the appropriate mass storage drivers to install and is not
finding them, probably due to syntax issues in my
txtsetup.oem file. (?)

In a nutshell, I'm trying to run LAN-based installs from
the RIS server so that I can set up unattended, network-
based installs on many PC's at once. The problem seems to
be that I'm using a 3rd-party mass storage driver during
the text mode of the installation and the installation is
not finding those drivers.

Without further ado, here is the other information that
you asked for.

Here's the $OEM$ directory structure for my RIS image:

=======================================

G:\RIS\SETUP\ENGLISH\IMAGES\WIN2000.PRO.SP4\$OEM$
+---$$
¦ +---OEMDIR
+---$1
¦ +---DRIVERS
¦ +---SATA
¦ VIAPDSK.SYS
¦ VIAPIDE.INF
¦ VIASRAID.CAT
¦ VIASRAID.INF
¦ VIASRAID.SYS
¦
+---TEXTMODE
Copy of txtsetup.oem
txtsetup.oem
VIASRAID.CAT
VIASRAID.INF
VIASRAID.SYS
VT6420
=======================================


Here are the relevant contents of my .sif file for the RIS
image (it is _not_ ristndrd.sif; I'm using a custom file
called win2k-pro-sp4-default.sif):

=======================================

[Data]
AutoPartition=1
MsDosInitiated="1"
UnattendedInstall="Yes"
floppyless="1"
OriSrc="\\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%"
; OriTyp="4"
LocalSourceOnCD=1

[SetupData]
OsLoadOptions="/noguiboot /fastdetect"
SetupSourceDevice="\Device\LanmanRedirector\%
SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%"

[Unattended]
UnattendMode=FullUnattended
ExtendOemPartition = 0
OemSkipEula=Yes
OemPreinstall=Yes
OemPnpDriversPath = "Drivers\SATA"
TargetPath=\WINNT
UseFullDisk = 1
FileSystem = ConvertNTFS
NtUpgrade=No
OverwriteOemFilesOnUpgrade=No
DriverSigningPolicy = Ignore

[RemoteInstall]
Repartition = Yes
UseWholeDisk = Yes

[OSChooser]
Description="Default Base Win2K Pro sp4 PLUS RAID"
Help="This installs Win2K Pro sp4 and adds printers"
LaunchFile="%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%
\templates\startrom.com"
ImageType=Flat

[MassStorageDrivers]
"VIA Serial ATA RAID Controller(Windows 2000)" = "OEM"

[OEMBootFiles]
viasraid.sys
viasraid.inf
viasraid.cat
txtsetup.oem

=======================================

And here's my txtsetup.oem file:

=======================================

[Disks]
d5 = "VIA Serial ATA RAID Controller
Driver ",\txtsetup.sif,""

[scsi]
VIARAID_VT3149_2K = "VIA Serial ATA RAID Controller
(Windows 2000)",VT6420

[Files.scsi.VIARAID_VT3149_2K]
driver = d5,viasraid.sys, viasraid
inf = d5, viasraid.inf
catalog = d5,viasraid.cat

[HardwareIds.scsi.VIARAID_VT3149_2K]
id = "PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3149","viasraid"

=======================================

 

[Patrick J. LoPresti [MVP]]

After some... ah... experimentation for several days I
realized that my problem probably lies with the
txtsetup.oem file and I've been working on that for the
last few days. The installation starts with "Setup is
inspecting yourcomuter's hardware configuration" and then
just hangs. I'm 95% sure this is because it's looking for
the appropriate mass storage drivers to install and is not
finding them, probably due to syntax issues in my
txtsetup.oem file. (?)

Possible, although syntax errors usually cause Setup to halt with a
diagnostic message.

In a nutshell, I'm trying to run LAN-based installs from
the RIS server so that I can set up unattended, network-
based installs on many PC's at once.

I have never actually used RIS myself (see
http://unattended.sourceforge.net/), but as far as I know, what you
are attempting should be possible.

Here's the $OEM$ directory structure for my RIS image:

[snip]

Looks fine.

[MassStorageDrivers]
"VIA Serial ATA RAID Controller(Windows 2000)" = "OEM"

Problem. Here you have no space between "Controller" and "(Windows
2000)"...

And here's my txtsetup.oem file:

=======================================

[Disks]
d5 = "VIA Serial ATA RAID Controller Driver ",\txtsetup.sif,""

[scsi]
VIARAID_VT3149_2K = "VIA Serial ATA RAID Controller (Windows 2000)",VT6420

....but here you do. These strings must match *exactly*, or the driver
will not be installed.

Also, when you have a "[MassStorageDrivers]" section, Setup assumes
you know what you are doing and skips trying to load any other
mass-storage drivers, even the retail ones in your OS image. So your
setup is not loading any mass-storage drivers at all, which is
probably bad.

Your txtsetup.oem file looks OK to me, althoufgh most of the ones I
have seen include a [Config.xxx] section to set registry entries. Is
this txtsetup.oem file derived from one you got from VIA?

- Pat
MVP, Windows Server - Setup/Deployment
http://unattended.sourceforge.net/

 

[Tony]

-----Original Message-----


Possible, although syntax errors usually cause Setup to halt with a
diagnostic message.

Oh? That is strange...

I have never actually used RIS myself (see
http://unattended.sourceforge.net/), but as far as I know, what you
are attempting should be possible.

Yeah, I looked at this a little and I've thought about
trying it. But I figured, one thing at a time, you know?

Here's the $OEM$ directory structure for my RIS image:

[snip]

Looks fine.

[MassStorageDrivers]
"VIA Serial ATA RAID Controller(Windows 2000)"

= "OEM"

Problem. Here you have no space between "Controller" and "(Windows
2000)"...

And here's my txtsetup.oem file:

=======================================

[Disks]
d5 = "VIA Serial ATA RAID Controller Driver ",\txtsetup.sif,""

[scsi]
VIARAID_VT3149_2K = "VIA Serial ATA RAID Controller

(Windows 2000)",VT6420

....but here you do. These strings must match *exactly*, or the driver
will not be installed.

Ahhhh! OK. I'll fix that and try again.

Also, when you have a "[MassStorageDrivers]" section, Setup assumes
you know what you are doing and skips trying to load any other
mass-storage drivers, even the retail ones in your OS image. So your
setup is not loading any mass-storage drivers at all, which is
probably bad.

Your txtsetup.oem file looks OK to me, althoufgh most of the ones I
have seen include a [Config.xxx] section to set registry entries. Is
this txtsetup.oem file derived from one you got from VIA?

No... I took the VIA txtsetup.oem file and modified it to
include just what I expected was needed for the text mode
portion of the setup. However, I have tried it with the
[Config.xxx] entry many, many times. Is it actually
needed for the text mode portion of the setup or just for
the GUI portion?

 

[Tony]

Thanks for the link Johan. That's a good one!

-----Original Message-----
Here is a good link

[Unattended] TXTSETUP.OEM, MassStorageDrivers, etc.
http://www.mail-archive.com/unattended-info% 40lists.sourceforge.net/msg00107.html

regards
Johan Arwidmark

Windows User Group - Nordic
http://www.wug-nordic.net

My LAN Boot remote install session is having problems
installing the mass storage drivers. I'm trying to
address this by modifying my $OEM$\textmode\txtsetup.oem
file and am having some real problems.

Does anyone know where I can find information on modifying
txtsetup.oem files _specifically_ for use with RIS?

TIA

.

 

[Tony]

-----Original Message-----
Also, when you have a "[MassStorageDrivers]" section, Setup assumes
you know what you are doing and skips trying to load any other
mass-storage drivers, even the retail ones in your OS image. So your
setup is not loading any mass-storage drivers at all, which is
probably bad.

Is this really true? If this is so, how the heck would
you handle deploying install images to machines with many
different mass storage devices? Would you really have to
figure out what each mass storage device is (even if it is
a "retail" device) in your network and put _all_ the
appropriate entries in the [MassStorageDrivers] section?

And then wouldn't you have to also derive the files
necessary for the drivers and put them in the
[OEMBootFiles] section? That doesn't sound reasonable.

Thanks for your help Pat. BTW, I fixed the device driver
description strings, and still no luck. I'm beginning to
become completely and truly baffled.

Tony
Sr. Network Engineer
Seventh Wave Technology

 

[Patrick J. LoPresti [MVP]]

No... I took the VIA txtsetup.oem file and modified it to
include just what I expected was needed for the text mode
portion of the setup. However, I have tried it with the
[Config.xxx] entry many, many times. Is it actually
needed for the text mode portion of the setup or just for
the GUI portion?

txtsetup.oem is only used during the text mode portion. The GUI mode
portion uses a .inf file.

So you probably want to put back most of what VIA originally had in
txtsetup.oem.

- Pat

 

[Patrick J. LoPresti [MVP]]

Is this really true? If this is so, how the heck would you handle
deploying install images to machines with many different mass
storage devices? Would you really have to figure out what each mass
storage device is (even if it is a "retail" device) in your network
and put _all_ the appropriate entries in the [MassStorageDrivers]
section?

Yes. See the "NOTE:" in <http://support.microsoft.com/?id=288344>,
which describes what to do just to keep your IDE disks working. (This
only applies if you need to access IDE devices during the text-mode
portion. The GUI setup probes the hardware and loads all of the
drivers again.)

And then wouldn't you have to also derive the files
necessary for the drivers and put them in the
[OEMBootFiles] section? That doesn't sound reasonable.

No, for "RETAIL" drivers you do not need to put anything in
OEMBootFiles, since the files are already part of the media.

You just have to include them in [MassStorageDrivers].

Note that my system (http://unattended.sourceforge.net/) automates the
generation of both [MassStorageDrivers] and [OEMBootFiles]. It scans
$OEM$\TEXTMODE and the media itself to derive the names of the
available "OEM" and "RETAIL" drivers, and asks which ones you want to
include.

Thanks for your help Pat. BTW, I fixed the device driver
description strings, and still no luck. I'm beginning to
become completely and truly baffled.

Well, you might start over with Via's txtsetup.oem file in its initial
state. It may not work, but it should fail with some sort of
diagnostic message. The hanging behavior you describe is just weird.

Then again, maybe the whole TXTSETUP.OEM mechanism just doesn't work
with RIS?

- Pat