[SiMoNsAyS]

Introduction

I've spent many time in this forum and I've collected a great ideas of all the comunity, many of them are or will be forgotten so my idea it's to share them with you.
My intention it's to create a guide so all noobs on this "unattended world" can use this ideas or examples and advanced users can check the work and extract what can be useful.
At the moment I haven't finished my unattended cd but I'll start to share what I've got. Wait a few time until I can completely finish this guide.

1.- Pre-Knowledges
2.- Timeline
3.- Installation Process
4.- Examples
5.- Software Included
6.- Screenshots, Custom Graphics and Downloads
6.1.- Screenshots
6.2.- Useraccount Pictures
6.3.- Downloads

1.- Pre-Knowledges
I'm going to start assuming that you've read the MSFN XPCD Unattended Guide, so if you haven't done before do it now. I'll use terms, tips, tricks and utilities from that guide.
After that I suppose you've spent a few minutes reading posts in this forum, so you have your custom tweaks, you've sucesfully built a WINNT.SIF file and you've played a little with nLite (great application for our purposes).
I'm not going further with applications or drivers because there are other appropiate subforums and you have learnt before how to slipstream them.

2.- Unattended Timeline

Quote

|_
| T-55: Text-mode installation
|_
| T-51: Partition and file system election, reboot
|_
| T-39: WinNTBBU.dll screen it's shown
| |_SystemDrive.exe it's extracted
|_
| T-13: Progs.cmd runs
| |_CMDLines.txt
|  |_User accounts, programs with custom install, codecs, right-menu entries, custom logonui, custom regtweaks, RunOnceEx.cmd entries
|_
| T0: Reboot
|_
| Custom LogonUI it's shown
| |_RunOnceEx starts
|  |_Programs installation, custom boot, Office and PhotoshopCS (2nd CD), startup entries and shortcuts clean
|_
| Reboot
|_
| Custom NTOsKrnl it's shown
|_
| Autologon
| |_nLite post-operations
|  |_Temp installation files cleaned
+ Custom desktop (Installation end)

3.- Installation Process

"Press any key to boot from CD.....", that it's exactly what you have to do to start your unattended installation. After this Text-mode installation loads

Text-Mode Installation: Setup start loading controllers, DriverPack MassStorage it's recommended so drivers for your HD are loaded. A few minutes later you're prompt to select partition and file system. From now you're installation will be unattended if you supplied all the information on WINNT.SIF answer file.

First Reboot and WinNTBBU custom screen: WinNTBBU.dll 1) it's the file that contains the GUI of XP installation (see down screenshot for custom WinNTBBU download), so it can be modified. After a few seconds Detached Program it's run. Take a look at this section on WinNT.sif:

[GuiUnattended]
    DetachedProgram="%systemdrive%\SystemDrive.exe"

SystemDrive.exe: It's stored on $OEM$\$1 folder so as you know it's copied to your HD during text-mode setup, contains all the files that need to be in %SystemDrive% while installation. I use it as a replacement for $1, $$, $Docs and $Progs folders but it's a RAR-SFX so with this we gain a lot of space in our CD. %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Drivers folder it's extracted like %SYSTEMDRIVE%\WINDOWS\Fonts and %SYSTEMDRIVE%\WINDOWS\System32. Those dirs hold custom drivers, custom fonts, pskill.exe, cmdow.exe, Unattended Codec Pack, OEMLogo.bmp, OEMInfo.ini...

Installing...: Setup it's installing the core of the OS, devices, network, start menu, components and finally svcpack.inf that I don't really like it

cmdlines.txt: This is really important. From here we load useraccounts.cmd, "programs.cmd" 2), "codecreg.cmd" (that it's part of the Unattended Codec Pack), "RunOnceEx.cmd", "REGEDIT /S rightmenu.reg" and finally "REGEDIT /S logonui.reg".
"programs.cmd" : 2) Here we run programs that don't need an advanced registry environment, like RAR-SFX files + import REGKEYS.REG. The most important for our customization it's that we are going to use RAR-SFXs to extract our custom NTOSKrnl.exe (renamed to OEMKrnl.exe 3)) and LogonUI.exe (renamed to OEMLogo.exe 4)) to %WINDIR%\SYSTEM32 for further integration. Also we use extract our custom themes now packed to RAR-SFX (Themes.exe) to %WINDIR%\Resources\Themes. It's time to import our RegTweaks.reg. Finally as an addition I'm sure you'll find interesting the use of XP-Antispy commandline version.
RightMenu.reg: Loads reg entries for right-click menu for directories, files and My Computer. You can add interesting things like Resource Hacker or Notepad as for right-click My Computer "Device Manager" or "Add/Remove programs".
LogonUI.reg: Before we have extracted OEMLogo.exe 4) to \System32\ so now we are able to import this key to use our LogonUI.exe (remember our custom file needs to be named OEMLogo.exe):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"UIHost"=hex(2):25,00,57,00,49,00,4e,00,44,00,49,00,52,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,\
  00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,6f,00,65,00,6d,00,6c,00,6f,00,\
  67,00,6f,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,00,00

Finishing Installation: Now setup will finish the main installation, will delete temporal files and the system will reboot.

Logon and RunOnceEx: We first notice that our OEMLogo.exe 4) it's shown. After that a new window will prompt, that it's RunOnceEx 5). At this moment we install those programs that need an advanced registry structure so they can't be installed before. As an addition you will find insteresting a command file I've built, so we can use a 2nd CD. When Office.cmd 5) have run, we have 1 minute to change between CDs, if this not happens installation will continue as normal.
After all the applications are installed, our AV installation runs. Final steps are StartMenu.exe, Startup.cmd and Boot.cmd.
StartMenu.exe: I use this file to extract files to \Documents and settings\. For example you can use this to place custom shortcuts on your start menu. Also can be used to to extract RASPHONE.PBK and our UserAccount Picture. The last one needs to be extracted to \Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\ if you are using SP2, with SP1 or less it's stored on \Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\. The picture have to be a 48x48 .bmp file, named like our user name. Also you can extract an Administrator.bmp and so on.

4.- Examples

• WINNT.SIF
  
  
  
• Programs.cmd
  
  
  
• RunOnceEx.cmd
  
  
  
• RegTweak.reg

5.- Software Included

Quote

Another BitTorrent Client 2.6.9 (En)
ACDSee32 Classic 2.44 (En)
Adaptec ASPI Integration by RaveRod
Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0.2 (Es)
AdAware SE Professional 1.05 (En)
ATI Catalyst Control Center 17307 (En)
Conceptronic Bluetooth Software (Es)
BitDefender 8 Professional Plus (En)
BSPlayer Pro 1.00.811 (Es)
Cool Edit Pro 2.1 (En)
Daemon Tools 3.47 (Es)
**** NFO Viewer 2.10.0031 RC3 (Es)
eDonkey 2000 0.52 (En)
Gordian Knot 0.28.7.2 (Es)
GSPot 2.5 (En)
GUI-Replacer 1.4 y Gant2 Pack (En)
Hex Workshop 4.23 (En)
HighMat (En)
LClock 1.62b (En)
Mozilla Firefox 0.9.3 (Es)
Media Player Classic 6.4.8.2 (En)
Messenger Plus! 3.20 (Es)
MSN Messenger 6.2.0137 Gant2 Edition (Es)
Nero Burning Rom 6.6.0.0 (En)
Net Transport 1.92.273 (Es)
Microsoft Calculator Plus (En)
Microsoft Net Framework 1.1 SP1 (En)
Microsoft Office 2003 SP1 (Es)
Microsoft Windows Journal Viewer (En)
Microsoft Windows Media Player 10 (Es)
Outpost Firewall Pro 2.5 (En)
PhAnATiC-ScRiPT 5.0.r04 sobre mIRC32 5.91 (Es)
Resource Hacker 3.4.0.79 (En)
SiSoft Sandra Pro 2004 SP2b (En)
Serials 2000 7.2004.10.01 (En)
Speedtouch USB Modem Drivers (Es)
Sun Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE) 5.0 (En)
TuneUp Utilities 2004 4.1.2312 (En)
TweakUI XP Powertoy (En)
Unattended Codec-Pack (Oct 14 2004) by swgreed
Unattended DriverPack Sound (Jun 26 2004) by Bâshrat the Sneaky
Unattended DriverPack MassStorage (Sep 20 2004) by Bâshrat the Sneaky
VoptXP 7.22 (En)
WinAmp 5.05 (Es)
WinISO 5.3 (Es)
WinRAR 3.40 (Es)
WinZIP 9 SR-1 (En)
Work With Registry 3.3 (En)

6.- Screenshots, Custom Graphic Work and Downloads

6.1.- Screenshots

1) 2)

3) 4)

5) 6)

7) 8)

9) 10)

Media Center Edition Style, Start Menu, Calendar, Gant Messenger, Task Manager (XPize from XPero), Shutdown Windows, Change User

6.2.- Useraccount pictures

Administrador, BioHaZaRD

6.3.- Downloads

• TCPIP.sys (100 Connections) - 172 KB
  
• WinNTBBU.dll (Spanish) - 144 KB (Preview)
  
• NTOSKrnl.exe Resources - 15,4 KB (Preview)
  
• LogonUI.exe Resources - 76,8 KB (Preview)
  
• msgina.dll Resources - 63,2 KB (Preview) (Preview 2)
  
• BioHaZaRD Theme, includes custom BioHaZaRD Wall and Royale© - 383 KB (Preview)
  
• OEM Info Resources - 7,6 KB (Preview)
  
• Storm Visual Style by Krezno (Preview)

Please, post your suggestions, corrections or advice me of broken links. Looking for hosting, please PM me if necessary.
All what you have downloaded from my web space can be considered under GNU (GPL) license.

This post has been edited by SiMoNsAyS: 14 October 2004 - 10:45 AM

[a06lp]

haha, i'm the first reply!

are you going to include instructions on how we can do what you did?
I like those boot screens/login screen & icons

[SiMoNsAyS]

the unattended guide does a pretty good work on how to create an unattended cd. my plan it's to center the guide on how to customize the unattended installation so yes!
i'll try to show people how to create a custom theme / logon / boot / cursors / icons /sounds... and include them unattended of course

[xtremexxx]

Nice, I'm really interested in how you put those custom icons on the logon accounts....

[battleangel3222]

wow any expected release date of this party im going to have to celebrate hehe.

[enuffsaid]

xtremexxx, on Sep 21 2004, 08:18 AM, said:

Nice, I'm really interested in how you put those custom icons on the logon accounts....

That's easy. Drop a bitmap with the user name in the following folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures

That's all!

The "application data" is a hidden folder. Your bitmaps should be 48*48 pixels.

[SiMoNsAyS]

enuffsaid, on Sep 21 2004, 09:18 PM, said:

xtremexxx, on Sep 21 2004, 08:18 AM, said:

Nice, I'm really interested in how you put those custom icons on the logon accounts....

That's easy. Drop a bitmap with the user name in the following folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures

That's all!

The "application data" is a hidden folder. Your bitmaps should be 48*48 pixels.

if you don't use sp2, drop them in %APPDATA%\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\.
your bmp has to be named like %USERNAME%.bmp, does not matter SP1 or SP2

[glent]

how do i do this unnatended?

[SiMoNsAyS]

glent, on Sep 21 2004, 09:59 PM, said:

how do i do this unnatended?

i didn't want to reply this before because i'll deeply treat it in the guide
please be patitent, let me write tonight

[enuffsaid]

Creating custom boot screens has already been explained by BOred:

Editing WINNTBBU.DLL For Dummies , The Complete Idiots Guide To Hacking WIN

To use custom pictures during the unattended install, simply copy them to the afore mentioned folder during the GUIRunOnce phase of your unattended setup.

...or, as SiMoNsAiD wait for the tut.

[Synapse]

who... what... where... huh? someone mention my name?

i'll deinently be using this if/when you release it

*EDIT* awwww crap..... didn't notice it was in spanish

This post has been edited by Bi0haZarD: 21 September 2004 - 03:18 PM

[RyanVM]

Very nice timeline. I'm going to be sure to refer people to it in the future

[Alanoll]

Quote

custom theme / logon / boot / cursors / icons /sounds

Lets see....
Custom theme is easy, as well as teh cursors/icons/sounds as it's all in the same file. Set it like you want, open up the Desktop Control Panel, and click save as...
Logon, easy method would be to use LogonStudio from ObjectDock, or you can go through manually as all it really is is a HTML type file with some CSS.
Kernel, must we go other this again? Man, soo many posts on this, and almost all of them I've been a part of because PEOPLE DON'T READ.


But in any case, nice to see someone doing somethng I personally like how you have an overall theme to your disc. I had a LOTR one myself for a bit

I"m warning you in advance though, people aren't gonna read this before asking questions. lol. Just won't happen.

[XPero]

Excellent Symonsays!!! Congratulations!! This will be very useful for most people.

[battleangel3222]

i dont think he plans to write the GUIDE in spanish, i think thats just his preference for windows ver.

[sleepnmojo]

Looks nice, but the real beauty is in the stuff that we don't see.

[SiMoNsAyS]

@enuffsaid i don't simply copy those files to the correct folders, i do more things from a single file. that's why i advice to wait for the tut, anyway people that simply want to do this now they now how

@Bi0haZarD LoL i hope you like'em (the custom winntbbu.dll it's in spanish but i want to share the resources so you can manually edit the needed files)

@RyanVM 10x

@Alanoll my intention it's not show how to create a logon, kernel and so on, my intention it's show how to "clean" slipstream them on an unattended CD. hope people can read the full guide until asking for something you know

@XPero many 10x guy

@battleangel3222 that's what i exactly want

@sleepnmojo i'll try to show all that i can show

[Synapse]

SiMoNsAyS, on Sep 21 2004, 02:49 PM, said:

@Bi0haZarD LoL i hope you like'em (the custom winntbbu.dll it's in spanish but i want to share the resources so you can manually edit the needed files)

cool!

[enuffsaid]

SiMoNsAyS, on Sep 21 2004, 04:49 PM, said:

that's why i advice to wait for the tut, anyway people that simply want to do this now they now how

If people searched they would have found prathapml's excellent post regarding this subject:

How to pre-set user icons:

But nothing wrong with writing your own, guy.

[a06lp]

i think the links on the bottom aren't working.

Quote

Examples

WINNT.SIF

Programs.cmd

RunOnceEx.cmd