unattended vista Options

[turbomcp]

for those of you that are interested in learning the new tricks in vista unattended
check the web for automated deploy kit for vista
lets just say "forget everything you have ever known about xp" when you try to unattend vista:)
totally changed
more in awhile

[Martin Zugec]

But I like the new way... XImage, WIM, it is really great!

[n7Epsilon]

Link to article:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvi...y/depenhnc.mspx

XImage, mount as folder, direct editing, ... XML answer files... (!)

Maybe Micro$oft is finally starting to learn...

All that's left is direct hotfix integration (like NLite) and it becomes unattended update paradise !!

This post has been edited by ChipCraze23: Aug 4 2005, 04:17 AM

[IceBlackIce]

Well for what i read

You can service the image offline, including adding and deleting optional components, updates, and drivers, without fundamentally creating a new image.

You can install/integrate the hotfixes in the image file...

So much for countless hours improving our methods

Sound very promising...lets see if Ms screws it up

[Jito463]

Though I have to wonder - given our current issues implementing x64 onto the multi-boot discs - how easy it will be to implement Vista in such a manner.

[JuMz]

is there a deployment kit already out? or is it on the Vista CD kind of like in the support folder in XP? (I would check myself but don't have vista beta installed).

[IceBlackIce]

Let the testing begin

Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) User's Guide for Windows Code-named "Longhorn"

here

[JuMz]

Let the testing begin

Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) User's Guide for Windows Code-named "Longhorn"

here

Thanks dude! I will be deploying my Vista Beta 1 on VmWare tonight!! woo hoo, now, anyone have any driverpacks for vista! J/K

[turbomcp]

forgot one thing:)
you can add drivers too to an image not just hotfixes and service packs
AND it knows how to use single instance(like ultraiso for example and all those all-in-one's) which means you can put multiple images to one file(the common files are saved once=saves space on dvd)

just havent figued out where to put unattned.xml(except floppy i mean)

[IceBlackIce]

Im installing it now (manually as it is the first time) ... i'm very interested in ripping that boot setup in order to make a neat Multiboot DVD without hacks and twists with cdshell...anyone has any idea how to do so?

[JuMz]

forgot one thing:)
you can add drivers too to an image not just hotfixes and service packs
AND it knows how to use single instance(like ultraiso for example and all those all-in-one's) which means you can put multiple images to one file(the common files are saved once=saves space on dvd)

just havent figued out where to put unattned.xml(except floppy i mean)

WOW, you have started already! keep me / us posted! Very interesting indeed. Are you using the pre-installed PE environment? or regular boot from dvd/cd into setup?

I have WinPE and was wondering if i even need to use this anymore

This post has been edited by JuMz: Aug 4 2005, 12:53 PM

[turbomcp]

ok figured it out
vista beta 1 only knows to take unattened from 2 places
floppy or if run from winpe setup /.... path to unattended file
currently putting the file on dvd doesnt work only from beta 2
and another thing

did you notice it doesnt have i386 folder
thats because it actually drops an image on your computer(install.wim) plus hardware detection:)
pretty cool and suposed to be faster too

[n7Epsilon]

It seems that they liked the Sysprep idea in XP and are making everything IBS (Image based setup) on Vista...

→ But I’m sure once it goes final, 3rd party freeware tools will appear and manipulating Vista Setup is not going to be so hard...

I can’t wait to make myself some customized Windows Vista WINNTBBU’s...

This post has been edited by ChipCraze23: Aug 5 2005, 06:19 AM

[turbomcp]

ill keep you guys update as soon as i have new info
i dont think it will be that hard its just diffrent
adding drivers for example will be much easier then before
and because it is suposed to be hardware independed(image can boot to any serial ata for example,with the right drivers)
i think imaging will be more apealing in vista then setup unattened(remeebr you could update your image to include more hotfixes and service packs and drivers(which you cant in xp image)

[turbomcp]

what actually happens when you boot from dvd is winpe is being loaded from this file>>boot.wim
and this launches the install which goes to this file install.wim

[war59312]

Seems a lot more complicated to me.

[McoreD]

Okay guys I have created an unattend.xml file but I am not sure of such a simple thing like where to place it in the ISO. In XP it was winnt.sif in I386 but in Vista can somebody please tell where?

Thanks,
McoreD

[IceBlackIce]

ok figured it out
vista beta 1 only knows to take unattened from 2 places
floppy or if run from winpe setup /.... path to unattended file
currently putting the file on dvd doesnt work only from beta 2
and another thing

did you notice it doesnt have i386 folder
thats because it actually drops an image on your computer(install.wim) plus hardware detection:)
pretty cool and suposed to be faster too

Where did you get the info that putting the file in the dvd doesnt work in beta1 ? Im curious...i'm not saying i dont believe you...cause from what i read...doesnt mention the file in the dvd (only in floppy like you said) but i never read anything stating that was not possible.

[turbomcp]

lets just say
wait for beta 2:)

[IceBlackIce]

hmm ok

And for those who wish to get their hands dirty theres a guide in iexbeta to extract Winpe from the Windows Vista DVD...nicely done...and if you tumble down the rabbit hole deep enough, theres a awesome tool "Ximage" to mess around