Trying to figure out SYSPREP and OEMPNPDriversPath

G

Guest

I have been trying to create a single image for several different
workstations. I am trying to use the OEMPNPDriversPath option in the
SYSPREP.INF file and cannot figure out how it works. When does the
information from the OEMPNPDriversPath get entered into the registry? Does
this information get entered into the registry when SYSPREP is run, or when
the workstation is booting up after the image has been pushed to it? I have
created a SYSPREP.INF file and tested it on one workstation and it seems to
be working fine. I have then SYSPREPed the machine and taken an image of the
workstation. I have then modified the OEMPNPDriversPath in the SYSPREP.INF
file in the image, then pushed the image to another similar workstation.
When the mini setup is complete, I checked the
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DevicePath and it contains the
information that is in the original SYSPREP.INF file, not the modifications
that were added to the SYSPREP.INF file. I have then removed the SYSPREP.INF
file from the image and pushed the image to the same workstation. I have to
now manually go through the mini setup, but when I check the
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DevicePath it contains the
information that was in the original SYSPREP.INF. (before running SYSPREP
and creating the image on the original workstation, I checked and the
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DevicePath had the default
values in it and nothing else). From what I have read, it was my
understanding that the OEMPNPDriversPath is used to put the information into
the registry when the workstation is booting up after having SYSPREP run on
it. Am I wrong? I want to be able to modify the OEMPNPDriversPath file for
different drivers without having to create a completely new image. Can
somebody provide me with some direction.

I am using Windows XP with SP1 and using the most recent SYSPREP version 2.0

Thanks in advance
 
G

Guest

Brian,

I am having the exact same problem. What I used to do with my old images was
have a sysprep.inf file specific for each model that I had. I would edit the
OEMPNPDRIVERSPATH for each model and copy that sysprep.inf file to the
correct system. Worked like a charm.

Now I am developing an image for XPSP2 and using Sysprep v2.0.

For some reason whatever I put in the OEMPNPDRIVERSPATH in my edited
sysprep.inf gets ignored. It does not modify the DEVICEPATH entry in the
registry. It seems to ignore that line in the sysprep.inf. I went as far as
to crack open the software reg file in C:\windows\system32\config and edit
the DEVICEPATH entry. Plug the new file into my image file and image, the
entry is then changed but still ignored. If I put the drivers in the original
OEMPNPDRIVERSPATH that was in my sysprep.inf file on the system that I
"resealed" the drivers will install correctly.

This is definitely a bug, I've been working with sysprep for 3 years now and
this is the first time I've had any kind of problems like this.

Please shoot me an email (e-mail address removed), I'd like to know some more
details and see if this is something we can work out.
 
G

Guest

I forgot to mention that you should try sysprep v1.1. I bet it works. I have
only had this same problem with v2.0 which I have read must be used with
XPSP2.
 
G

Guest

Just thought I would update this post with the answers that recieved. (In
case somebody else is looking to resolve this issue)

After a discussion with MS tech, found out that the OEMPNPDriversPath in the
SYSPREP.INF file actually gets read when SYSPREP is running and not when the
workstation is coming back up after running SYSPREP like the rest of the
information in the SYSPREP.INF file. In order to change the DevicePath in
the registry, the registry files need to be extracted from the image,
modified and put back in to the image. I have tested this and it works to
modify the DevicePath in the registry after the image of the workstation is
taken

Brian
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Top