DVD Scripted Auto Custom install of XP, Other Sftware,Backup

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I used to provide a "one-step", hardware independent, scripted installation
of all software and updates for "Mom and Pop shops" that ended with a request
for the location of backed up data. Pop in the DVD (CD in the OLD days),
then hit the power button. I stopped doing that because of "The Microsoft
Advantage" stuff--I had people who upgraded equipment and got the "bogus
software nightmare".
*It was made by simply following the instructions for an advanced
deployment of the Desktop.*
I would like to provide this service again--it would save me a lot of
problems, and of course, generate a lot of business. All I had to do was
re-issue updated DVDs with newer "local" (on the media) update file
directories so that the additional downloads were kept to a reasonable size.
The answer file had all of the customizations, licenses, keys, and
compatability database entries. The fact that it created a fresh
installation of the O.S. (with all of the updates and patches applied), then
added each additional piece of software (linking to the compatability data
and patching) in a defined order--the results were far superior to using an
image. It was sweet. No one else provided the service.

Has Microsoft fixed the issues involving "The Microsoft Genuine Advantage"
thingy? Or is this method of deployment/redeployment been permanently
ash-canned?

Running a "virtual" Microsoft installation is too slow on older equipt. (I
could do it using a hacked "Bart PE" installation, but it seems a bit much
even on equipt. which would handle it. And yes, I could do it with
Linux--but the scripts would be a nightmare.)
 
Eqwatz said:
I used to provide a "one-step", hardware independent, scripted
installation of all software and updates for "Mom and Pop shops"
that ended with a request for the location of backed up data. Pop
in the DVD (CD in the OLD days), then hit the power button. I
stopped doing that because of "The Microsoft Advantage" stuff--I
had people who upgraded equipment and got the "bogus software
nightmare". *It was made by simply following the instructions
for an advanced
deployment of the Desktop.*
I would like to provide this service again--it would save me a
lot of problems, and of course, generate a lot of business. All I
had to do was re-issue updated DVDs with newer "local" (on the
media) update file directories so that the additional downloads
were kept to a reasonable size. The answer file had all of the
customizations, licenses, keys, and compatability database entries.
The fact that it created a fresh installation of the O.S. (with all
of the updates and patches applied), then added each additional
piece of software (linking to the compatability data and patching)
in a defined order--the results were far superior to using an
image. It was sweet. No one else provided the service.

Has Microsoft fixed the issues involving "The Microsoft Genuine
Advantage" thingy? Or is this method of deployment/redeployment
been permanently ash-canned?

Running a "virtual" Microsoft installation is too slow on older
equipt. (I could do it using a hacked "Bart PE" installation, but
it seems a bit much even on equipt. which would handle it. And
yes, I could do it with Linux--but the scripts would be a
nightmare.)

Anyone can do it.

CD/DVD
http://unattended.msfn.org/

Network
http://unattended.sourceforge.net/

Imaging
http://www.leinss.com/uniimg.html
and/or
http://www.gc.peachnet.edu/www/wbeck/W2KXP.htm#Master

Other deployment methods
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/desktopdeployment/default.mspx

RIS
http://technet2.microsoft.com/Windo...5eb9-42f1-95ae-490e5d7a55511033.mspx?mfr=true

Vista
http://www.deployvista.com/

Your problem could be avaoided by having an generic OEM version that ONLY
asks for the CD Key as it installs (assuming the people you are selling to
install mostly OEM versions.) Still 'pop in the media and go' - but you
could setup the unattended to ask a few questions - like CD Key,
Computername, Admin Users etc. In many ways - much better than changing it
later.

Personally - if I was a reseller - I wouldn't chance getting my installation
media/setup (customized) from someone else. No offense to you - but who
knows what someone else would put in the unattended CD/DVD/image/install?
It would be fairly simple to setup an application to install all sorts of
neat software so the creator of said installation method could find most of
the machines this process was used on if they connnected to the Internet.
(For example)
 
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