Images using SIF file not downloading

[nlldavies]

I have installed the RIS service on my 2003 server and uploaded an image to the server after running ripprep on a workstation.

I've succesfully downloaded this image to a similar workstation but have found all the regional settings have defaulted back to US.

I've picked up a message from another forum saying that I can create a .SIF file with the approriate settings by running setupmgr and selecting create a new answer file for - "Remote Installation Services". I have done this and copied the SIF file (RISTNDRD.SIF) to the appropriate image templates folder.

Now when I start the workstation up and initiate the image download it goes as far as the "Setup is inspecting your computer hardware ..." and is then followed by the message "Line 112 of the INF file tmp\d532ef01725911d6bfe5f20d4d8ff228.sif" is invalid".

I'm unaware of a INF file and the filename looks similar to the mac address of the machine.

What am I doing wrong here?

Any help greatly appreciated.

[Br4tt3]

Hi

Check the <drive:>\RemoteInstall\tmp directory for a file corresponding to the name in the error msg. RIS is using this dir for the temporary installations. Also, u prolly have configured the RIS box to base the naming convension of the machines based on their mac addresses. U can verify this from dsa.msc / properties on your RIS machine / Remote Install tab / Advanced settings button and then the customize button... that would display which temp naming convention RIS is using upon install...

Hope it helps

[nlldavies]

Many thanks for your response Br4tt3.

I've checked my RIS setup and have the "Generate Client Computer Names using Username" and confirm that when I attempt to download the image this computer is bening created in the "Computers" folder in AD.

I have also checked the tmp folder and found the file "d532ef01725911d6bfe5f20d4d8ff228.sif" is being created. When I open this file its contents are exactly the same as the RISTNDRD.SIF loacted under the Templates directory for the appropriate image. A copy of this file is pasted below with red items being text I have removed for company security reasons

Line 112 of this file that the image download is tripping up on seems to be the description of the image so don't know why it failing at that point as this message has already benn displayed succesfully.

;SetupMgrTag

[Data]

AutoPartition=1

MsDosInitiated="1"

UnattendedInstall="Yes"

floppyless="1"

OriSrc="\\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%"

OriTyp="4"

LocalSourceOnCD=1

[setupData]

OsLoadOptions="/noguiboot /fastdetect"

SetupSourceDevice="\Device\LanmanRedirector\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%"

[unattended]

UnattendMode=FullUnattended

OemSkipEula=Yes

OemPreinstall=No

TargetPath=\WINDOWS

FileSystem=LeaveAlone

NtUpgrade=No

OverwriteOemFilesOnUpgrade=No

[GuiUnattended]

AdminPassword=mypassword

EncryptedAdminPassword=Yes

OEMSkipRegional=1

TimeZone=85

OemSkipWelcome=1

[userData]

ProductID=xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

FullName="%USERFULLNAME%"

OrgName="%ORGNAME%"

ComputerName=%MACHINENAME%

[Display]

BitsPerPel=32

Xresolution=1024

YResolution=768

Vrefresh=72

[TapiLocation]

CountryCode=44

Dialing=Tone

AreaCode=0151

[RegionalSettings]

LanguageGroup=1

SystemLocale=00000809

UserLocale=00000809

InputLocale=0809:00000809

[setupMgr]

DistFolder=C:\whistlerdist

DistShare=whistlerdist

[branding]

BrandIEUsingUnattended=Yes

Home_Page=www.mydomain.com

[Proxy]

Proxy_Enable=1

Use_Same_Proxy=1

HTTP_Proxy_Server=x.x.x.x:80

Proxy_Override=<local>;<local>

[identification]

JoinDomain=%MACHINEDOMAIN%

DoOldStyleDomainJoin=Yes

[Networking]

InstallDefaultComponents=No

ProcessPageSections=Yes

[NetAdapters]

Adapter1=params.Adapter1

[params.Adapter1]

INFID=*

[NetClients]

MS_MSClient=params.MS_MSClient

[NetServices]

MS_SERVER=params.MS_SERVER

[NetProtocols]

MS_TCPIP=params.MS_TCPIP

[params.MS_TCPIP]

DNS=Yes

UseDomainNameDevolution=No

EnableLMHosts=No

AdapterSections=params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter1

[params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter1]

SpecificTo=Adapter1

DHCP=Yes

WINS=Yes

WinsServerList=x.x.x.x,x.x.x.x

NetBIOSOptions=0

DNSDomain=mydomain

[RemoteInstall]

Repartition=Yes

[OSChooser]

Description="Windows XP Professional - Desktop Installation"

Help=This will install Windows XP Professional on VL420

LaunchFile="%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%\templates\startrom.com"

ImageType=FLAT

Version="5.1 (2600)"

SysPrepSystemRoot="Mirror1\UserData\WINDOWS

[Br4tt3]

lo again dude...

According to me the 112 line is the "HELP" text entry... try enclose the string in "" as in:

Help="This will install Windows XP Professional on VL420" and see if it makes a diffrence, mine is atleast enclosed within my .sif.

Good lyck to ya..

[nlldavies]

Thanks for the reply again.

Quoted the line in the SIF file and comes up with the same message.

I can't understand what it's picking up on that line as it has succesfully used during the image selection as it has shown the description then. I've also tried removing the text leaving just the quotes, leaving it without anything "help=" and remming it out.

I think I'll try and create a new sif file from setupmgr and see what that does or maybe someone has a bare minimum sif file that I can fill with my own details.

[oioldman]

you may find that line=112 is a redherring

look below and spot the missing "

SysPrepSystemRoot="Mirror1\UserData\WINDOWS

try adding the second quote and see what happens.

[nlldavies]

****, hate lapses like that......put the quote in and it has gone further, only to be faced with another message though!

"INF file txtsetup.sif is corrupt or missing, status 21" - I need to get back to some documentation.

Thanks to Br4tt3 and oioldman for the help, I really appreciate it.