Windows XP Home Edition RIS

[Guest]

Hi, I've got a number of questions regarding RIS and Windows XP Home. I've
got a RIS server setup.

Layout:

Windows 2000 Server w/ SP4 and associated RIS fixes along with updated
riprep utility.
-Dell Optiplex 170L client w/ PXE.
-Windows XP Home SP2 OEM Edition on the RIS server
-Locked down, pre-configured image for XP Home Edition.

I have a couple of questions getting this deployed.

A. Right now it asks me for a product key for each machine. I would prefer
it not ask me for a product key for each machine, even though each machine
has a COA with a unique key on it. I've looked at the 'generic' OEM numbers
for XP, but there isn't a number listed for XP Home.

B. Preserving OEM Activation on each machine. I wish to preserve activation
on each machine. The CD I used was for a newer model Dell (has SP2
slipstreamed, why I used it). I believe this is why these machines are asking
me to activate. If I were to replace the newer oembios.bin and associated
files with the ones off of the CD that came with that machine, will it
preserve activation on those computers?

C. How do I bypass OOBE? I've done a number of things to attempt to bypass
it including UnattendSwitch, FactoryMode, OEMPreinstall, and specifying
options in the oobeinfo.ini file. It continues to ask me for a computer name,
which should already be set by the RIS server *and* the answer file for that
image. I also have tried to bypass the automatic updates configuration in
OOBE, which I cannot do. I have added AutomaticUpdates=Yes in the answer
file, but do I need to place this in the oobeinfo.ini?

D. Upon completion of the install, Windows places 2 shortcuts on the
desktop. One for IE, one for Windows Media Player. As well as adds the icons
on the start menu for IE and Outlook Express. Because of the pre-configured
state of these machines, this is not optimal. Is it possible to prevent this
from happening? The user already exists in the RIPREP image on the server.

Any replies to this would be extremely helpful, Thank you.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Windows XP Home Edition is not supported by RIS.

Remote Installation Services and Automated Deployment Services Comparison
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/community/centers/management/table.mspx

Reasons Not to Use Windows XP Home Edition
http://www.windowsitpro.com/Windows/Article/ArticleID/46288/46288.html

Product Activation Changes
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/partners/productactivation.mspx

Volume Licensing and Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/activation_volume.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Hi, I've got a number of questions regarding RIS and Windows XP Home. I've
| got a RIS server setup.
|
| Layout:
|
| Windows 2000 Server w/ SP4 and associated RIS fixes along with updated
| riprep utility.
| -Dell Optiplex 170L client w/ PXE.
| -Windows XP Home SP2 OEM Edition on the RIS server
| -Locked down, pre-configured image for XP Home Edition.
|
| I have a couple of questions getting this deployed.
|
| A. Right now it asks me for a product key for each machine. I would prefer
| it not ask me for a product key for each machine, even though each machine
| has a COA with a unique key on it. I've looked at the 'generic' OEM numbers
| for XP, but there isn't a number listed for XP Home.
|
| B. Preserving OEM Activation on each machine. I wish to preserve activation
| on each machine. The CD I used was for a newer model Dell (has SP2
| slipstreamed, why I used it). I believe this is why these machines are asking
| me to activate. If I were to replace the newer oembios.bin and associated
| files with the ones off of the CD that came with that machine, will it
| preserve activation on those computers?
|
| C. How do I bypass OOBE? I've done a number of things to attempt to bypass
| it including UnattendSwitch, FactoryMode, OEMPreinstall, and specifying
| options in the oobeinfo.ini file. It continues to ask me for a computer name,
| which should already be set by the RIS server *and* the answer file for that
| image. I also have tried to bypass the automatic updates configuration in
| OOBE, which I cannot do. I have added AutomaticUpdates=Yes in the answer
| file, but do I need to place this in the oobeinfo.ini?
|
| D. Upon completion of the install, Windows places 2 shortcuts on the
| desktop. One for IE, one for Windows Media Player. As well as adds the icons
| on the start menu for IE and Outlook Express. Because of the pre-configured
| state of these machines, this is not optimal. Is it possible to prevent this
| from happening? The user already exists in the RIPREP image on the server.
|
| Any replies to this would be extremely helpful, Thank you.
|
| --
| Michael Cramer
| A+/Net+ Certified Technician
| Future MCSA 2003

 

[Guest]

It seems to work fairly well here. I think it was mostly due to the order in
which I did some of these processes with the images. When I RIS the base
image to a machine with the changes I've made to the answer files, it works
fine. When I RIS our lockdown image to the machines, it doesn't accept the
answer file.

Assumption is--RIS from base image with changes first then lock down image.

Other than this it works fine.

Unfortunately given the task that I have at work, it is what we are
using--we are not and cannot use XP Pro.
--
Michael Cramer
A+/Net+ Certified Technician
Future MCSA 2003

 

[Cary Shultz]

Michael,

I might just jump in for a second. And please do not misunderstand this
post. I am not trying to be an 'A' - hole....

I find it difficult to believe that you "can not use" WINXP Pro. I would
wonder why this is. I might even go so far as to venture to guess that the
primary reason is financial. And pretty much the only reason at that. I
have worked in situations where all the people cared about was cost and they
had horrible environments ( ones that I am amazed worked at all....just goes
to show you that sometimes those who know might not really know.... ).

Also, I assume ( there I go again! ) that you have seen the following....

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/oempreac.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/factorymode.mspx
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=311781
http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?act=ST&f=70&t=10502

Please remember. I am not criticizing. Have worked in several 35 - 45 user
environments that were in a workgroup and used a WINXP Pro box as the
'server'. They all finally went to a domain. Thank God for that!

Anyway, glad that you were able to fix things. I learned something from
this post. I would have sworn up and down that you can not use WINXP Home
as a RIS Server....apparently you have figured out how to do this. But,
then again, I have never tried. I typically stay away from WINXP Home.
Only use that on low-end systems that I build for 'value' customers.

 

[Guest]

You've misread a bit. Though I am humbled by your response (most of the time
the things I request assistance on never get responses because they often
require very specific responses. Of course, I would not usually ask a
question unless I can find the answer on my own.)

With that said.

-Windows XP Home is not being used as a 'server' in any way. As I had stated
originally, the server is a Windows 2000 setup with RIS installed. It has Sp4
and has all associated RIS updates to allow it to deploy Windows XP images.

-With RIS, it does this flawlessly. I am able to deploy Windows XP Home
images from the machine, and I've done it enough times testing various
settings in both oobeinfo.ini and the answer file.

With regards to
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/oempreac.mspx,
yes. I have read it. I attempted to use the Windows XP Pro key on the home
image I was trying to deploy--but it would not take. As of right now, before
the release of this image, we are currently using a key off of one of the PCs
that is licensed to use Windows XP Home Edition. This is because I am unable
to find a key otherwise and a key is required in order to RIS to the box.
Unfortunately because Microsoft has added no XP Home Edition key to that
list, I am unable to use otherwise. Alternatively, I could input each and
every key by hand. However, we have 30 machines stacked up now and possibly
more in the future that will require re-imaging, and I'd rather do all of the
work now than have much to do towards the end.

-I am using riprep.exe, and not sysprep.exe. Riprep information is not
supplied on that page. Therefore I am following the unattended installation.
The images must work in a way that requires no end user interaction to
configure when we image them. Therefore I cannot allow it to go into the mini
setup.

-Another problem with this is the OEM Preactivation. While it's not posted
anywhere in Microsoft documentation as to which files preserve OEM
pre-activation, it is documented elsewhere--such as msfn, about the
OEMBIOS.BIN and its associated files. I used a newer CD for a newer model
Dell machine to create the Base Image required by RIS before you can use
riprep.exe. My assumption is that it asks me to activate because those files
are locked down to that particular model of machine, and not the older model
in which I am RISing to. I have yet to put this particular theory to the
test, since I have been bombarded with other projects while at work (this is
really a side project at work that the managers would like to see be
accomplished).

-Again, the key here is that there is no user interaction after we image the
machine. My absolute preference is that the machine is booted up and right
into Windows bypassing any further user input after what is configured in all
of the inf/answer files. I am continually getting the OOBE screen, including
it asking for a computer name--however, it gets a computer name from many
locations including the answer file AND the RIS server. I am unsure as to why
OOBE is asking for that information.

What is interesting about OOBE is that it appears that you simply can't
modify the riprep image on the server and have it bypass OOBE if the original
image on the riprep was RIS'd by a setup that had oobe enabled. Meaning, I
was able to RIS from the base image and it took the answer file setting to
bypass OOBE completely--but modifying this function in the answer file for
the seperate RIPREP'd image does not illicit the same response. I am unsure
as to if this is a bug or not, but it is definitely not expected behavior
(meaning that RIS preserves some original settings from the master image,
regardless of further modifications to each individual image's answer file).

And you noted in the last part of your response, that you only use Windows
XP Home for 'value' customers. While I do not feel it is within my realm to
share exactly why I am doing this (not too sure what is or isn't sensitive
data to operations), I can say that this is precisely the reason that we are
using Windows XP Home.

--
Michael Cramer
A+/Net+ Certified Technician
Future MCSA 2003

 

[Guest]

does this help?

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/wpadepl.mspx

Regards
David

 

[Guest]

Hey,

I had found that link some time ago, but definitely thanks for replying to
the thread.

The problem is that I really would like activation to be preserved on the
system, pre-activated by Dell. This would make automation a lot quicker.

 

[Guest]

Michael

No problem. Can't you put the generic product key in your RIS image to for
the initial build and then using a Uniqueness Data File which holds computer
name and the OEM Product key and scripts included in the article activate
each PC with the correct key.

It may be possible to use a UDF as part of the build process, although most
TechNet articles relate to XP Pro.

Regards
David

 

[Guest]

Michael,

I also have the same problem you stated in item D. I first made my image
with a machine where outlook express was "uninstalled", removed msn explorer
and other items I did not wish to have in my image. After I ran ris and made
my image those icons and unistalled programs are still there. I also tried
to edit my riprep.sif file with a componets setion. I based this info on
itmes I found for the unattended.txt file. Once again this did not work. If
you or anyone else has found a solution please let me know.