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Windowa XP Installation process


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Hello,

 

i have made for me an unattended XP CD and i'm now asking me which files and Folders are included in the setup process.

 

I know so far:

 

The El torito Bootsector looks for an bootfiix.bin in the i386 dir (Press key ...) if present the Press key message is shown else it loads the setupldr.bin directly.

The setupldr.bin loads ntdetect.com (Setup is detcting...) which Returns the main hardware configuration to the setupldr then ???

 

I haven't found a topic which explains so detailed the boot and installationprogress.

 

kthanx 

 

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The El torito Bootsector looks for an bootfiix.bin in the i386 dir (Press key ...) if present the Press key message is shown else it loads the setupldr.bin directly.

To be picky, not exactly-exactly.

The bootfix.bin tries to access the internal hard disk MBR AND IF it founds not proper partition data in it (a primary partition marked as "acive") it doesn't show, if on the other hand it finds valid data in it, then it shows the prompt to press a key for booting from the internal hard disk.

Basically the idea is that when you boot from the CD for the first time with a blank hard disk inside the PC, it doesn't show, while if you "forget" the CD in the drive, it prompts you to press the key within 5 seconds.

 

 

The setupldr.bin loads ntdetect.com (Setup is detcting...) which Returns the main hardware configuration to the setupldr then ???

 

I haven't found a topic which explains so detailed the boot and installationprogress.

Winnt.sif

Unattend.txt

migrate.inf

Txtsetup.sif 

...

See if these fit:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc786944(v=ws.10).aspx

 

http://gosh.msfn.org/intro.htm

jaclaz

Edited by jaclaz
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So there are two main setupmethods.

 

1. Boot from CD (setupldr ..), Partition ,create MBR-Bootcode ,copy files listed in dosnet.inf (Section root boot files in ~bt ? and section files in ~ls ) to the partition then Create directory tree (txtsetup.sif) and boot.ini ntldr ...

GUI Mode is then a real windows ( standard Windows boot procedure) . The files in ~bt were also  unnecessary and for GUI mode no CD is required ?

  

OR start winnt from a dos ?

 

2. Start winnt32 from a windows pc, copying files listed in dosnet,inf to the ~ls and ~bt.

 

Create new entry in boot.ini which starts the setupldr (renamed to bootsect.dat?) in ~bt . Setupldr  won't partition the drive because there are now the ~ls an ~bt dirs ? on the drive, instead everything apart from ~ls and ~bt will be deleted. Creating directory system (txtsetup). replace the bootsect line in boot.ini with a kernel .

GUI Mode is then a real windows ( standard Windows boot procedure) . 

Edited by xilodynamit
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GUI Mode is then a real windows ( standard Windows boot procedure) . 

 

Yes and no.

The GUI mode is more than anything else a "PE".

And sure, once you have made the  ~ls and ~bt dirs what is booted is the hard disk.

 

As a matter of fact the "traditional" (and IMHO "right") way to install a NT system was to NOT install it from CD, but rather use a WINNT32 with makelocalsource and noreboot:

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/77526-installing-xp-on-vaio-wo-cd-or-floppy/?p=527214

 

jaclaz

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 the Windows starts the ntkernel and the smss  .. and then the gui setup, without having services etc.

 

The ~ls dir is nothing else than a copy of the most files in the i386  (which are in dosnet.inf) 

 

But what is the big difference between the standard i386 and the ~ls and ~bt, many instructions like gosh's multi home & pro xp cd use the ~ls and ~bt dirs and rename them .?

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Most of the complexities are - I believe - due to some limitations in the booting mechanism of NT based systems and to some (BTW senseless) hardcoding that had some reason in the early days of NT (the setup process is essentially the same since then) but make much less sense in 2K and even less in XP.

 

However, JFYI ;) (not really-really useful, but maybe interesting to you), some experiments were made when developing "install XP from USB" methods, though all in all they did not provide particular advantages:

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/130689-guide-install-winxp-from-hdd-or-usb-drive-or-cd/

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/131103-win-ntbt-can-be-omitted/

 

In order to understand some of the references in the above you will need to read this (very long :ph34r:) "historical" thread:

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/61384-how-to-bootinstall-from-usb-key/

 

jaclaz

Edited by jaclaz
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Your letting Gosh' articles confuse you. They are for the specific purpose of making an AIO CD. The link was given to "help" understand. Here, be more confused (MultiBoot USB) -

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=22857

 

Just run the WINNT32 as instructed above and then compare to the Original I386 if you want to know.

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/73532-movecopy-i386-directory-from-win-ntls-before-deletion/

 

edit - YIKES! Jaclaz provides more info/links. :yes:

 

edit2 - my "WinPE"-style pre-setup. IOW, boot to WinPE -or- LiveXP CD/DVD and run this -after- creating a Partition and Formatting it on the HDD -and- copying the I386 folder to the HDD.

C:\I386\winnt32 /dudisable /makelocalsource /syspart:C: /tempdrive:C: /noreboot /unattend:C:\I386\winnt.sif

Unnattend is Optional (look that up yourself). You will -STILL- get the ~BT/~LS folders. Also note you -will- make the C-drive Bootable -and- have a BOOT.INI that pushes you into the "Setup" - if you do this on -YOUR- computer you -WILL- have an additional Entry in the BOOT.INI. Go back to the TechNet article jaclaz gave and read VERY carefully. Akso just go to a Command Prompt and try "WINNT32 /HELP" and see what you get.

Edited by submix8c
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