Help re unattended XP installation..

[Chingy]

Hi there

I have 2 comps networked multiboot systems, I often build them over and over
things gets a bit tedious over time, how do I go about installing a new
windows XP pro on my computers with ease.

eg unattended installation with custom drivers for both machine eg I wanna
create one master image and that image can be used on both of my comps with
custom drivers embeded in it, so that I don't have to install drivers again
for both machine manually.

What are my options? how do I combine unattended with sysprep?..


Cheers

 

[Guest]

Hi,

First - Please understand me because my English is not the best...

Second - Now let's talk about your request @ Disk Imaging via Sysprep:

Install Windows XP again (on FAT/FAT32 formatted partition) and to install
all your necessary applications and updates.
After you’ve installed your applications and updates, insert the WinXP CD
into your drive and go to D:\Support\Tools (when D:\ is your CD Drive letter).
Now extract the Deploy.cab file into your C: partition at new folder (for
example folder named deploy).
Now find the Setupmgr.exe file and create a new Sysprep setup answer file,
you find a new folder in drive C: named Sysprep, and there you find your
answer file that you've been created.
Now edit the answer file and add this section in the answer file's end:
[Sysprep]
BuildMassStorageSection=Yes
[SysprepMassStorage]
Now save it as Sysprep.inf there.

If you want to get more details why you need to add this section watch this
KB article: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=303786
Now go to c:\deploy and copy these files to c:\sysprep:
Sysprep.exe
Setupcl.exe

Now run Sysprep from c:\sysprep and check the "Use Mini-Setup" and "Detect
non-plug and play hardware" and click on the Reseal button.
This action takes between 20minutes to 45 minutes.

When the Sysprep tool done the reseal process and the PC turn off create
with 3rd disk imaging software the image (I recommended you to use Norton
Ghost).

Third – Now let's talk about your request @ using Setup manager to create
unattended installation

In the deploy.cab I've talked on him up @ disk imaging, you can find the
setupmgr.exe file that can create unattended setup installation answer file,
when you over the unattended wizard you can create a floppy disk and from
there to install XP unattended (you run the PC from the floppy disk that you
created and type d:\i386\winnt.exe /u:unattended_file_name_here.txt
s:/the_unattended_source_path) or you can burn your XP CD but take the
unattended.txt file and change his name to winnt.sif and put him @ the CD
you'll burn.
For more info about unattended installation see this site:
http://unattended.msfn.org/
Good Luck!

Best Regards,
Netanel Ben-Shushan
Visit my website (Hebrew website): http://www.netanel.pctip.co.il
Feel free to send me mails to (e-mail address removed)