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Posted 05 July 2009 - 05:41 AM
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!
v7.6.1 Updates - Released July 6th, 2009
========================================================================
* Updated German, Spanish and Italian Lang files. (Thanks Guys)
* Updated German Manual. (Dynaletik)
* Updated fileVersionGreaterThan() Function (Francesco).
* Fixed English and Swedish flags.
v7.6.0 Updates - Released July 5th, 2009
========================================================================
* Updated the Manual.
* Added License tab to About window.
* Fixed a function name typo: had DriveAvailableSize(), but should have
been DriveAvailableSpace().
* Added function {JSCRIPT}=CreateShortcut() to Commands menu in Config
Wizard to create a shortcut.
Usage: {JSCRIPT}=CreateShortcut("Description","IconLocation","Hotkey",
"TargetPath","Arguments","Destination","Folder")
Description: Shortcut to MyTextFile
IconLocation: C:\Windows\Notepad.exe
HotKey: CTRL+SHIFT+F
TargetPath: C:\Docs\MyTextFile.txt
-or-
TargetPath: [url="http://www.mywebsite.com"]http://www.mywebsite.com[/url]
-or-
TargetPath: \\server\files\ThisOne.xls
Arguments: -c -q (command line arguments for a program)
Destination: Desktop, Favorites, etc.
Folder: Subfolder in MyDocuments, StartMenu, etc. Can be nested.
Note: Use the wizard to make it, please!
Note: Start Menu places it in the upper section of start menu.
Start Menu\Programs places it in the main section of start menu.
* Updated the error output when saving files.
* Fixed a bug that would not gray a forced item. Would cause double
installations in certain situations.
* Fixed bug with WriteRegKey().
* Added function {JSCRIPT}=setEnvVar().
Usage: {JSCRIPT}=setEnvVar("USERNAME","Mark")
Note: You don't need to specify the %'s.
Why: Set environment variables for installation paths, users, etc.
* Added function getEnvVar().
Usage: getEnvVar("USERNAME")=="Mark"
Returns: The value or if invalid the same name passed.
Note: You don't need to specify the %'s.
* Added Bulgarian language. Thank you belivakov.
* Added option to dropdown box in Options -> General -> "Do Microsoft
Office debugger check". It was always done at startup, but occasionally
caused problems. Only needed if installed Office and do not change the
keys before WPI is started.
* Updated the external modules to the latest versions.
* Changed the picture width and height drop-down boxes to string gadgets
to allow any size to be used.
* The picture width and height are automatically filled in. Change if
you wish to scale the picture up or down.
* Updated the Language drop-down box to show the language flag and put
the text in the matching language.
* Added Sounds Scheme tab to Options Wizard to play sounds at critical
times. Look in Windows\Media and WPI\Audio\SoundsScheme for samples.
The red stop button is there in case you played a long sample and want
it stopped.
* Removed option "Randomly select theme" from Options Wizard -> Style.
* When change themes in the Options Wizard -> Style tab, the settings
are now loaded right away and can be changed. No more need to exit the
wizard to load the new theme settings.
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. Go to the very top area above the config section and click on the button that says “Add”
4. Enter in the name section “CCleaner” No quotes! Then press the TAB button to activate the rest of the wizard.
5. You will notice the Unique ID (UID) section gets automatically filled in 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.
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 commands tab click on "Add" at the controls area just right of the command line pane and then the the little folder icon and browse to your folder that contains the app, preferably the .\WPI\Install folder then select the CCleaner installer, this will place the appropriate path in the command line.
9. Add the necessary switch(s) for the program to run silently. For CCleaner the switch is /S so you would have your command line looks like so = "%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 command line.) Other switches for apps that USSF cannot identify you can try looking at the forum section here = MSFN Application Installs section,
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...
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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)
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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.
http://www.wpiw.net/.../Post_$OEM$.rar
Contents of the Post %OEM% archive:
cmdlines.txt
RunWPI.inf
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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.
http://www.wpiw.net/...loads/$OEM$.rar
cmdlines.txt
RunWPI.exe (Sets the runonceex and MCE themeing entries used for WPI)
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An $OEM%\WPI folder that sets up your WPI for RunOnceEx with the official Zune Microsoft Theme!
http://www.wpiw.net/.../$OEM$-Zune.rar
Contents of the %OEM%-Zune archive:
cmdlines.txt
RunWPI_Zune.exe
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An $OEM%\WPI folder that sets up your WPI for RunOnceEx with the official Embedded Microsoft Theme!
http://www.wpiw.net/...M$-Embedded.rar
Contents of the %OEM%-Embedded archive:
cmdlines.txt
RunWPI_Embedded.exe
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Here is mritters RUN_ WPI solution!
http://www.wpiw.net/..._RunWPI.cmd.rar
CleanUpWPI.cmd
cmdlines.txt
RunOnceEx.cmd
RunWPI.cmd
Use is as the same as the one above...
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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)
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Over 2000 .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: 06 July 2009 - 08:16 AM
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