Create batch/answer file

peterattheboro · 29 Jul 2008 at 09:57

Basically what i'm trying to achieve is to install Windows XP AND all software that we use at the company.

I want to break this into 2 parts. Mainly because most computers only have CD drives and can't fit all the software onto CD.

So I have created a Windows XP unattended installation CD which installs the OS and all current updates.

We have all of our software stored on our server so once i've added the PC to the domain (can't do it automatically as I have to change the PC name and then add to the domain manually) I want to run a batch file which will then go on to install all of the software that we use.

Ideally I don't want to sit there and install each piece of software manually. I have created a batch file which will actually run the executable but not choose the answers for me.

How do I create a file which will answer the questions for me?

Thanks in advance!

waxapple · 29 Jul 2008 at 10:07

http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/

This may or may not be of use

peterattheboro · 29 Jul 2008 at 10:18

waxapple said:
http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/

This may or may not be of use

Had a look through that but it's very complicated.

Turns out most of our software uses installer programs which aren't used on that site. So that's why it was hard to link them together.

BigBoy · 29 Jul 2008 at 10:37

you could still use the runonce part of the unattended guide to perform your install aslong as you know what the switches are to make your software install silently.

The other option if you cannot make them install silently that is, is to try ziping up the currently installed folder and extracting the registry for each program. Then the install process is just a case of unziping and adding the reg file. and all of that can be done via cmd line. drop me a mail to the googlemail in trust if you need any help..

Burnsy2023 · 29 Jul 2008 at 10:50

Have you though of creating an image and then sysprepping it and spanning over cds?

Or get a USB DVD drive

Burnsy

m4cc45 · 29 Jul 2008 at 10:53

I'd personally use Ghost for this and do what Burnsy suggested and sysprep it then reimage this (I assume you guys use a VLK?)

Alternatively you could make MSI's out of your software that you install. It means installing the software and 'snapshotting' it with an MSI make then you can use MSIEXEC to install it silently.

Loads of options!

M.

Burnsy2023 · 29 Jul 2008 at 10:57

m4cc45 said:
Alternatively you could make MSI's out of your software that you install. It means installing the software and 'snapshotting' it with an MSI make then you can use MSIEXEC to install it silently.

I've found programs like WinInstall can be a bit patchy with a few programs so this wouldn't be my favourite option

Burnsy

peterattheboro · 29 Jul 2008 at 11:27

BigBoy said:
you could still use the runonce part of the unattended guide to perform your install aslong as you know what the switches are to make your software install silently.

The other option if you cannot make them install silently that is, is to try ziping up the currently installed folder and extracting the registry for each program. Then the install process is just a case of unziping and adding the reg file. and all of that can be done via cmd line. drop me a mail to the googlemail in trust if you need any help..

Good idea. I will look into this. Though we have support for the programs which costs us a fortune and not sure if we would still get support if they found out the programs were installed by other methods.

Burnsy2023 said:
Have you though of creating an image and then sysprepping it and spanning over cds?

Or get a USB DVD drive

Burnsy

If worst comes to worst I may do this.

Or i can stop being a lazy **** and just do it manually

Once I have all this mastered I will be moving onto installing over the network.

Had some chew before some getting generic dos drivers for network cards though.

howler · 29 Jul 2008 at 11:35

I think your best bet is either creating an image of the machines or deploying the software using AD

bledd · 29 Jul 2008 at 11:41

what you want to do is concentrate on making one big bat file that installs the lot in one swoop

you can tell the xpdisc to call this bat file (over the network), so you only need to modify this file, and not the disc each time

read msfn, takes a while to get used to it, but it'll all click into place

what do you have to install? most things are covered either on that site, or on the forums

msfn is the best forum out there tbh

m4cc45 · 29 Jul 2008 at 12:57

Burnsy2023 said:
I've found programs like WinInstall can be a bit patchy with a few programs so this wouldn't be my favourite option

Burnsy

We use WinInstall here and its okay. You have to have patience and once you get used to it, it does the job.

For the OP though I'd create an image if I was in his shoes.

M./

peterattheboro · 29 Jul 2008 at 13:02

m4cc45 said:
We use WinInstall here and its okay. You have to have patience and once you get used to it, it does the job.

For the OP though I'd create an image if I was in his shoes.

M./

Yeah i'm definatley going to create an image.

Seems so much easier.

bledd · 29 Jul 2008 at 13:05

remember to sysprep first, that's important, otherwise you'll get loads of pc's 'thinking' they're the same one..

SID
computername

^these need to be different on each machine, sysprep takes care of that (it's on the xp disc)

run sysprep, then take an image before it reboots