[Kelsenellenelvian]

Windows Post-Install Wizard (WPI for short) is a hypertext application designed for giving users choice. While Windows XP offers many ways of customizing the setup process out of the box, its major drawback is the lack of being able to select which applications an end user may install. In the past, end users and administrators needed to either download the files manually, or create overly complex scripts that could only be used once. WPI allows you to create one image, which can then be custom configured, and optionally, automated, so that end users can install any applications.

WPI is a simple to use automation program for the choice and installation of multiple programs, tweaks and scripts. No longer will you need a dozen CD's or more when doing a fresh Installation. No longer will you need multiple files when you are servicing another PC. With Windows Post-Install Wizard all that you will need is 1 or 2 CD\DVD's to fully install your PC with all of your apps, scripts, registry files or tweaks. Instead of having to re-download those apps like adobe reader, flash or updates to programs you can have them all on one disk. With WPI you can have all of them all on one disk and then have a nice interface for selecting which apps to install and after configured properly WPI will install all of them without any needed input from you. WPI also and is commonly used added to your windows installation disks. This way you can automate the complete process of Windows and program installations.

With your typical setup of WPI you have your OS and all of the apps, tweaks and such on one disk. After windows installs, WPI kicks in and you are given a selection of everything you have configured WPI with, then you can select the ones you want or simply let the timer run out and your default apps will install.

Highlights of the newest version!

 
v7.1.1 Updates - Released September 12, 2008

* Dynaletik figured out the online update check. I was using google.com
for the test, but in Germany, and probably a few other countries, it
gets redirected, in his case to google.de. Therefore, the response 
would not come back properly and would fail. 
Now I am using www.wpiw.net.

* Dynaletik updated German manual some more.

* Now using RegEdit32 for 64bit reg edits.

* Russian language file and manual written by stasys44.

* Spanish language file updated by Alanparson.
 

Notes and Extras

Suggested disk folder layout:



With the above folder layout all your config entries should read like:
["%wpipath%\Install\Blah.exe" /switch]

Here is a small tutorial on how to add an app to WPI!

Ok this is a sample (Very simple) configuration for CCleaner (A.K.A Crap Cleaner)
This assumes you have all of the WPI files either in the WPI folder at the root of your Windows cd or all of the WPI folders (Common, Graphics, WPIScripts, Tools, Install and Themes) and the file WPI.hta at the root of your cd.

Remember this is just the most basic and required entries for a program!
#1. Download the app and place it in the WPI\Install Folder. (CCleaner.exe in this example)
#2. Run WPI.hta and click on the “Config” button\Icon area.
#3. Choose the button at the very top above the config section that says “Add”
#4. Enter in the name section “CCleaner” No quotes! Then click on any other section of the config area to activate the rest of the wizard.
#5. You will notice the Unique ID section gets automatically configured for you.
#6. All apps are selected to be installed by default right from the start so if you don’t want it selected by default you must uncheck this box. Also you can decide if you want this app to be a Forced Install or not.
#7. Choose a category for your app to be displayed in. If you want the app to be displayed in a category you don’t see simply chose other and a box will appear that will allow the entry of you choice.
#8. In the Command 1 section click on the little folder icon and browse to the WPI\Install folder and select the CCleaner.exe installer, this will place the appropriate path in the commandline.
#9. Add the necessary switches for the program to run silently i.e. %wpipath%\Install\CCleaner.exe /s (This can be easily done for most standard apps by simply clicking on the USSF button on the far right of the commandline.)
#10. Select the Save and then the Exit buttons and you have now configured your first app!

Afterwards you configure WPI to run with your CD using whichever method you choose. We suggest using one of the pre compiled and nicely provided $oem$ (Source folder if your are using Vista or Server 2008) folders that can be found in the downloads section. Then you can use an app like nLite, vLite, CDImageGUI or the Makeiso* program included in the tools folder to make your CD w\WPI bootable again.

* MakeIso.exe = Adds make bootable .iso to the right click menu of folders. It is a silent installer so DO NOT click on it 50x a simple double click is all that is need to install it. It can be uninstalled from the add\remove programs menu! Just go to the source folder (The one that contains I386 and WPI) and right click then select Make Bootable ISO...


_____________________________________________________________________

I have seperated the tools out from the main archive. You can download the tools here:

Tools archive.

Contents of the tools archive:
WPI Config Lister
CDSwitch <-- 3 Custom themes for CDSwitch
MakeISO.exe
autorun.inf <-- Updated and fixed
WPI.ico New icon thanks to WolfX2
TaskKillS.exe from sadicq <-- TaskKillS Instructions
Cleanup.exe (Deletes ALL icons from the desktop)
Reboot.exe (Dialog box that will reboot in 60 sec unless cancel is pressed)
_____________________________________________________________________

Here is a quick start package that will set your windows disk up to use WPI after the desktop loads.

This is for use with all versions of Windows 2000, XP and 2003!

To make use of this archive all you need to do is unRAR it and place the %oem% folder beside the I386 and WPI folders.

Post $OEM$ Folder (The forum is messing up this link so copy www.wpiw.net/downloads/Post_$oem$.rar )

Contents of the Post %OEM% archive:
cmdlines.txt
RunWPI.inf
_______________________________________________________________________

Here is a quick start package that will set your windows disk up to use WPI with runonceex.

This is for use with all versions of Windows 2000, XP and 2003!

To make use of this archive all you need to do is unRAR it and place the %oem% folder beside the I386 and WPI folders.

$OEM$ Folder (The forum is messing up this link so copy www.wpiw.net/downloads/$oem$.rar )

Contents of the %OEM% archive:
cmdlines.txt
RunWPI.exe (Sets the runonceex and MCE themeing entries used for WPI)
_______________________________________________________________________

An $OEM%\WPI folder that sets up your WPI for RunOnceEx with the official Zune Microsoft Theme!

$OEM$-Zune Folder (The forum is messing up this link so copy www.wpiw.net/downloads/$oem$-zune.rar )

Contents of the %OEM%-Zune archive:
cmdlines.txt
RunWPI_Zune.exe

Use is as the same as the one above...
_______________________________________________________________________

This is for use with all versions of Windows Vista and Server 2008!

To make use of this archive all you need to do is unRAR it and place the Sources folder at the root of your CD.

Sources Folder.

Contents of the Sources archive:
setupcomplete.cmd (This needs to be several folders deep so I preset the folders for you)
________________________________________________________

1978 .png images for your pleasure to use in your tooltips or whatever!

PNG Collection.
________________________________________________________



Themes are now hosted on WPI.net!!!

Theme page!

Please remember and donate!

This post has been edited by Kelsenellenelvian: 12 September 2008 - 12:15 AM

[clavicle]

Great update! Changelog is comprehensive.

Thanks Kel!

[Dynaletik]

Nice one again!
You got mail.

[MAVERICKS CHOICE]

Thanks kel will do some testing with this one today.

[anonymous_user]

The new version is great. Thanks

[sp00f]

Buttons still look messed up.

[Kelsenellenelvian]

**** spoof, I am sorry. Please zip up your WPI and send it to me as is (Without installers of course) . So i can see if there is a file conflict or something.

[Ghost82]

@Kel: I'm having the same issue here, useing the Corp_WinXP theme

edit: After saving the config, the buttons returned to normal!?

This post has been edited by Ghost82: 08 September 2008 - 10:04 AM

[MAVERICKS CHOICE]

Ghost82, on Sep 9 2008, 02:03 AM, said:

@Kel: I'm having the same issue here, useing the Corp_WinXP theme

edit: After saving the config, the buttons returned to normal!?

Same prob here but no biggy.

[Kelsenellenelvian]

Thats themes an odd duck made by mritter. He is supposed to be back yesterday so we should hear from him soon on it...

[mritter]

I am still on Jamaica "time", so sitting in a bar drinking with my laptop. Is that super geeky or what?!?!?

Yes, I have seen that button problem before, but only on older slower computers. That may not be your case. Is it just with the Corporate theme, or others also?

I still want to get a new button code worked in; not 100% happy with current buttons.

[stasys44]

Regarding Spoof problem.
Buttons don't mess for me in this version (in older it was). I have changed every theme I know, including Corp. It was OK.

[Kelsenellenelvian]

Updated!

And its mritters birthday so lets all throw him a bone and pitch in for a few drinks 'eh?

[stasys44]

Thank you, will see

Į sveikatą, mritteri, wordly it means - To your health, mritter
translating: cheers (chin-chin), mritter

I may drink not waiting sunset

[Dynaletik]

Thank you for the little update man!

And I wish you all the best for your birthday. Have fun and stay fit!

[MAVERICKS CHOICE]

stasys44, on Sep 10 2008, 09:56 PM, said:

Regarding Spoof problem.
Buttons don't mess for me in this version (in older it was). I have changed every theme I know, including Corp. It was OK.

Still a problem here but only minor & not affecting the install.

[sp00f]

Tried new version , buttons are still messed up.
I dont need to upload this Kelsenellenelvian, i just downloaded the new one , unpacked ,and executed it.

Quote

Yes, I have seen that button problem before, but only on older slower computers. That may not be your case. Is it just with the Corporate theme, or others also?

Slow comp is not the case ,and its with all themes.
Only the standard buttons work, when you choose a style, it messes up.

This post has been edited by sp00f: 23 September 2008 - 09:34 PM

[mritter]

The buttons are all the same. There is no "standard", "normal" button. But yes, they don't always work. From what I can tell, IE6 is the worst culprit.

I posted a message asking for a better button solution since they can't be totally disabled, but no one posted a reply. I'm not the least bit surprised by it. People only complain here, they don't offer any help to me when I need it.

[arabianhorse]

Oh Thanks Kel!

[sp00f]

mritter, on Sep 24 2008, 06:52 AM, said:

The buttons are all the same. There is no "standard", "normal" button. But yes, they don't always work. From what I can tell, IE6 is the worst culprit.

I posted a message asking for a better button solution since they can't be totally disabled, but no one posted a reply. I'm not the least bit surprised by it. People only complain here, they don't offer any help to me when I need it.

I use IE7 , i even tried IE8 beta.

And when you enter WPI for the first time, the buttons are ok.
Untill you add a theme to them, then they mess up.