How to automate .reg entries in RIS installations

[infoteklink]

I have RIS on a 2k3 server. RIS works great for what I need except for one thing and its getting the best of me. I need to have RIS automatically copy the i386 files to the c:\ drive. That part I was able to figure out. What I need to do now is change the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\SourcePath to c:\ instead of it pointing to the RIS server. So I made a .reg file and called it sourcepath.reg.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup]

"SourcePath"="c:\\"

I put sourcepath.reg in the $oem$ folder and made a file called cmdlines.txt in the $oem$ folder. Here is the cmdlines.txt file.

[Commands]

"regedit /s sourcepath.reg"

What am I doing wrong? I've been working on this for two days. I found most of my RIS help just by reading these forums. The post I found on my current issue at hand is here

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=57218&st=15

I have read many other posts and tried other suggestions. This method seems like the easiest and most logical solution. I do not need anything fancy. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks Guys!

[oioldman]

i just exported that key and noticer that the sourcepath looks like this:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

"SourcePath"="C:"

notice i have the \\ missing.

So i would suggest checking find the key, export and delete what you don't want from it.

It won't import and incorrect key

[infoteklink]

hmmm, interesting.... I exported that key and it gave me the \\'s. I'll give it a try and report back. Thanks!

[infoteklink]

Nope, it still does not work. I exported the file again and this is what I see. Note the double slashes. BTW, This image is of win2ksp4.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup]
"SourcePath"="c:\\"

Thanks!

[infoteklink]

I'm an id***. I think I figured out the problem. I'll post back the results. In my ristndrd.sif I had:

[Unattended]
OemPreinstall = No

I changes it to:

[Unattended]
OemPreinstall = Yes

[infoteklink]

Ok, it still is not working. I'm going to post all the files I use for this process and their paths:

\RemoteInstall\Setup\English\Images\win2ksp4\i386\templates\ristndrd.sif

[data]
floppyless = "1"
msdosinitiated = "1"
OriSrc = "\\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%"
OriTyp = "4"
LocalSourceOnCD = 1

[SetupData]
OsLoadOptions = "/noguiboot /fastdetect"
SetupSourceDevice = "\Device\LanmanRedirector\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%"

[Unattended]
OemPreinstall = Yes
NoWaitAfterTextMode = 0
FileSystem = LeaveAlone
ExtendOEMPartition = 0
ConfirmHardware = no
NtUpgrade = no
Win31Upgrade = no
TargetPath = \WINNT
OverwriteOemFilesOnUpgrade = no
OemSkipEula = yes
InstallFilesPath = "\\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%"

[UserData]
FullName = "aaa"
OrgName = "aaa"
ComputerName = *
ProductID = "xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx"

[GuiUnattended]
OemSkipWelcome = 1
OemSkipRegional = 1
TimeZone = 35
AdminPassword = "*************"
AutoLogon=Yes
AutoLogonCount=1

[LicenseFilePrintData]
AutoMode = PerSeat

[Display]
ConfigureAtLogon = 0
BitsPerPel = 32
XResolution = 1024
YResolution = 768
VRefresh = 60
AutoConfirm = 1

[Networking]
ProcessPageSections=Yes

[GuiRunOnce]
Command1 = "\\risserver\e$\RemoteInstall\Setup\English\Images\win2ksp4\i386\$oem$\$1\w2k-isg-addon\install.bat"


[Identification]
JoinWorkgroup = workgroup

[NetProtocols]
MS_TCPIP=params.MS_TCPIP

[params.MS_TCPIP]
; transport: TC (TCP/IP Protocol)
InfID=MS_TCPIP
DHCP=Yes

[NetClients]
MS_MSClient=params.MS_MSClient

[params.MS_MSClient]
InfID=MS_MSClient

[NetServices]
MS_Server=params.MS_Server

[params.MS_Server]
; service: SRV (Server)
InfID=MS_Server
BroadcastsToLanman2Clients = No

[ServicesSection]

[RemoteInstall]
Repartition = Yes
UseWholeDisk = Yes

[OSChooser]
Description ="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP4"
Help ="Automatically installs Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional without prompting the user for input."
LaunchFile = "%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%\templates\startrom.com"
ImageType =Flat
Version="5.0 (2195)"

\RemoteInstall\Setup\English\Images\win2ksp4\i386\$oem$\cmdlines.txt

[Commands]
"regedit /s sourcepath.reg"

\RemoteInstall\Setup\English\Images\win2ksp4\i386\$oem$\sourcepath.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup]
"SourcePath"="c:\\"

Now, I know the sourcepath.reg file works because I merged it with the system I just ris'd and it changed the sourcepath to c:\. So the \\ seems to be correct. Anyone know what else I'm overlooking? I have a feeling it is sitting right under my nose, I'm just not seeing it.

Edited June 8, 2006 by infoteklink

[RogueSpear]

cmdlines is too early to make that registry change. You should try doing it from GuiRunOnce or RunOnceEx. It's not that you can't import reg entries during the cmdlines execution, I do it on every install, it's what you're changing. There are numerous registry entries that will not "stick" when made from cmdlines and I think this may be one of them.

[Arbeider]

@RogueSpear: How do you import registry settings from your cmdlines.txt? I'm using it for my riprep image. Everytime I try to import settings into the registry it gives me an error that it can't access the registry. In my riprep-image I have the folder SYSPREP\i386\$oem$

In that directory I hace cmdlines.txt with under the [commands] section "regedit import.reg"

Also in that directory there is the import.reg file

I don't use the /s yet because I keep getting the access error of the registry.

Edited June 9, 2006 by Arbeider

[RogueSpear]

This is my cmdlines.txt:

[Commands]
"cscript cmdlines.vbs"

There's a line in the VBscript that imports:

ws.Run("REGEDIT /S cmdlines.reg"),0,True

I see you're using RIPrep however. I can't understand with thread after thread of the same problems why people still insist on using that. Anyway, I can't say for sure what works or not under RIPrep. The above may work, it may not.

[infoteklink]

I'm still having a small problem. First I'll post all my processes then give a pic of what I still can not accomplish.

My .sif

[GuiRunOnce]
Command1 = "\\risserver\e$\RemoteInstall\Setup\English\Images\win2ksp4\i386\$oem$\$1\w2k-isg-addon\install.bat"

Install.bat to copy i386 files to local c drive and start the .reg process (.reg process is still the problem)

xcopy "\\risserver\e$\RemoteInstall\Setup\English\Images\win2ksp4\i386\$oem$\$1\w2k-isg-addon\i386\*.*" "c:\i386\*.*" /s /y

call "\\risserver\e$\RemoteInstall\Setup\English\Images\win2ksp4\i386\$oem$\reg_add.bat"

reg_add.bat

start regedit /s
  \\risserver\e$\RemoteInstall\Setup\English\Images\win2ksp4\i386\$oem$\sourcepath.reg

sourcepath.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup]
"SourcePath"="c:\\"

Everything seems to work good except I still have to click to accept the setting for the reg entry.

Here

and here

How can I automate that?

Edited June 12, 2006 by infoteklink

[oioldman]

try removing the word start from your reg_add.bat - for some reason this can be weird in action - i had similar issue other day and noticed it all worked with no start action. also is it all one long line as codebox may be breaking it ni display - just wanted to check

[infoteklink]

HAH!! You guys are the doo doo! I did have the lines seperate. I put them on the same line and now it works perfect. Here is my reg_add.bat file now.

regedit /s \\risserver\e$\RemoteInstall\Setup\English\Images\win2ksp4\i386\$oem$\sourcepath.reg

I initially left the "start" in to see if it mattered or not. It didn't matter if it was there or not, so I just took it out. No need to have more crap in the code than needs to be.

Thanks again RogueSpear and oioldman!!

[LocoBenno]

I've also found that you have to change the sourcepath in two locations, always worth considering:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

SourcePath=

and

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

SourcePath=

For some reason I've found only changing one of these values doesn't work. Changing both always works, praps I've just run across a glitch unique to me.

Cheers and beers

Benno