RE: Unattended Installation, where and how to start?

From: BAR (BAR_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 10/26/04 

Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 00:23:03 -0700

What effort and expense do you wish to exert on being able to 'restore' a
complete PC configuration.

Given that your intention is to be able to recreate a working Windows /
Application environment at will, this may be good. It will only work on one
hardware configuration, which is why manufacturers which sell 1,000s of
identical PC configurations spend money to do it [but only for the basic XP
system].

What you would be better achieving, is to be able to restore one
configuration: build up your hardware / software configuration [Mouse,
keyboard, motherboard, sound card, video adapter, modem, monitor, printer,
scanner etc - get the picture: plus Windows, Norton, Office, Acrobat etc] and
get everything working properly. Thus your unique confiuration is
established.

Once all updates are applied and settings made for the unique environment,
that is Cable / DSL modem, Usernames, Email account etc: then get Norton
Ghost and make an Image file of the Hard Drive. This can be created on a
partition or a separate drive. The image file can be copied to DVD or CD.

If needed one can recreate the functional computer by Restoring from the
image file [Hard Drive or CD copy]. Benefit is that your fully functional
status is restored in about 30-40 minutes.

"Eli" wrote:

> Hello all,
> I have been asked few times about an issue and now I'm thinking
> seriously about it.
> Briefly, it is about installing windows and other software in an
> automatic way. I think this is called "unattended".
> To solve the problem of a friend, I'm thinking about putting all the
> software he uses on a DVD-R along with the proper "installation
> script". Not sure if this is the proper name.
> My hope is that such a DVD will allow him to boot his machine and
> leave it running overnight for everything to be installed without
> human interaction.
> The installation script is expected to do the following:
> 1. Install Win XP injecting the serial number, the name, the company
> along this installation.
> 2. To install and configure his hardware drivers (webcam, scanner,...)
> 3. To inject the proper networking info (eg local static IP, gateway
> IP, ...)
> 4. Upon the end of installing windows, to activate it online.
> 5. To install Norton Antivirus and activate it online.
> 6. To install the kids' software.
> I think this is doable as a set of CDs came with his laptop that does
> the same, just for Win XP no more.
> Has anybody tried similar script in the past?
> Heaps of thanks,
>
> Eli
>

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