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Installing Windows with Recent Updates?
MoJo asks: "As a computer technician, I have to re-install Windows often. It takes three attempts to complete Windows Update (get latest update software, validate Windows, download updates). It seems like all this clicking could be scripted somehow, but I can find no-one who has found a way of reducing the whole painful affair to just one or two clicks." Is there a way to build a Windows installation CD that includes the most recent set of updates?
Ever here of slipstreaming?
A lot of people just use it to update with SPs, but you can use it for regular updates and drivers, too. If you need help, you can use a utility like AutoPatcher or nLite to get you started.
We used BartPE or a bootable DOS disk (if the DOS network drivers were available) to boot the computer onto something besides the hard drive in order to create or restore an image.
If the hardware's different, you have to use Sysprep, but I haven't messed with that.
MSFN's Unattended Windows : Introduction
Have you ever wanted a Windows CD that would install Windows by automatically putting in your name, product key, timezone and regional settings? And have it merged with the latest Service Pack to save time? Followed by silently installing all your favourite applications along with DirectX 9.0c, .Net Framework 1.1 and then all the required hotfixes, updated drivers, registry tweaks, and a readily patched UXTheme.dll without any user interaction whatsoever? Then this guide will show you how you can do just that!
Through the course of this guide, you will create a CD that does all the installing for you. The CD will be fully updated with the latest hotfixes, and install all your programs for you.
If you manage a lot of desktops, Microsoft's System Management Server (SMS) is a good way to go. You get used to writing scripts for it after a while.
I'm pretty sure SMS is still an up to date product from Microsoft, unless they've developed something else in the last couple of years...
Task Mangler
Most of the pages you will get when you google "slipstreaming" will talk about slipstreaming service packs, but you can also slipstream individual hotfixes into windows installations. Also not that Microsoft makes avaiable for download ISO Images containing every windows critical and security update. If you really want to make a slimpstreamed install of Windows with every single hotfix possible, this will save you time searching and download the iduvidual updates.
I don't always use unix-like operating systems; but when I do, I prefer FreeBSD.
Nlite is a great tool designed exactly for this. I've used it for several installs, and have created a CD that will install XPSP2 with hotfixes and all my drivers, and none of the extra crap that gets installed by default. It starts up in my LCD's native res, includes all my critical apps (firefox, etc.) right on the CD, and is completely unattended.
As others have mentioned, it is fairly easy to slipstream SP2 into an XP CD. But if you want to integrate the more recent updates, there's really only one option. RyanVM's Windows XP Post-SP2 Update Pack does exactly what you want and works like a charm. There are even third-party addon packs which let you add other interesting things to your XP install CD.
The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.
--Aristotle
Why would you need to slipstream a few times a month?
Microsoft only releases patches the second Tuesday of the month.
You don't waste time installing the patches, you let WSUS do the work once you hook the computer on your domain.
While slipstreaming service packs is a common practice, you can also slipstream hotfixes. Hack when I was in IT support we used this great script to automate the process. Some of the other links I still had bookmarked may be of value to people who not only want to slipstream service packs/hotfixes but also build an unattended installation CD. In our case we installed all the apps common to our PC images (except for office) from one CD. We threw the CD in, booted from it and came back 2 1/2 hours later to find a fully installed desktop with all our standard apps. This method is superior to using Ghost or other imaging software when you have a heterogenius enviroment where PC hardware varies drastically from depertment to department or desktop to desktop.
e ak/default.mspx
http://www.nu2.nu/bootablecd/
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/ie/i
http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/
http://www.appdeploy.com/packages/
This last link related to a commercial software distribution enviroment but but it includes an archive of the known switches accepted by various installers to make them silent. The technique we used was to use the unattended.txt file to add a RunOnce registry entry, to regedit (to marge a secondary gegistry file containing other RunOnce entries) to be executed on the second reboot to silently install our list of apps, where the installer commands used included the switches detailed on the appDeploy website (and many other palces across the web).
There are a relatively small number of installers out there that take a relitively well known set of switches to make the installation silent (accepting all the defaults). These methods saves us thousands of man-hours in PC deployment in the two years they was in use.
--CTH
--Got Lists? | Top 95 Star Wars Line
For those with never enough time to be as nitpicky as they'd like:
Nlite is a wizard which will prep custom XP or 2003 install discs for you. It will slipstream service packs and hotfixes in, add drivers (including storage or net drivers for the initial installer), remove drivers and services, allows you to setup unattended install, plus has tons of other tweaks and adjustments. You can then install directly from the modified install folder, or have Nlite prep an ISO and burn a bootable CD.
I recently used it to strip XP down to run in under 64MB RAM on an older laptop. Runs like a charm, and needed no updates when installed.
Also perfect for preparing an initial install image for use with RIS and sysprep.
Of course, you still have to find and download the hotfixes, but I think some of the other posts in this discussion have pretty well covered that part.
"Not one shred of evidence points to the notion that life is serious" -- Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain
This project describes how to do what you are talking about.
If you use ghost images, just setup a baseline PC that uses automatic updates or WSUS. Everytime updates are released, run sysprep and ghost the machine.
Conformity is the jailer of freedom and enemy of growth. -JFK
I'm sure that there is a more elegant solution, but I use Autopatcher, when I need to bring a system up to date.
Slipstream SP2 into an install CD. When it's installed copy over and run Autopatcher.
If I had to do it more often, I'd probably look into a better way but the 4-5 times a year that I need to install XP doesn't make it worthwhile.
LK
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
Google for hfnetchk, hfnetchkpro, shavlick or shavlik. Sorry I'm not on a real PC to make looking that up for you easier.
Just spotted that /. posted my question, yay!
We can't use slipstreamed CDs. Microsoft says that it violated the terms of the licence agreement. To reinstall, we need the customers original CD and COA sticker. If they only have a restore CD which doesn't work, they are SOL and need to buy a new copy of Windows.
We have already been fined over this. We phoned up the Dixons group tech support line to see what they said, and they told us we should "borrow a friends CD". Luckily, we taped the conversation and sent a copy to Microsoft. Well, if we are gonna get screwed, at least everyone should be on a level playing field.
const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
It amazes me no-one has mentioned RIS.
I'm no fan of MS, but the one place I've worked where it was used, it was invaluable.
Put the machine GUID into Active Directory, PXE boot the machine, select the OS image, it formats the drive and puts the image on. You can add whatever updates/drives you want to the image. The rest can be delivered by SMS (Systems Management Service), it can be very slow though.
The other excellent option I've seen is a custom linux partition on each drive that has a modified version of init, boots and checks the windows partition with an image on a remote network drive using rsync. Once done it reboots with the windows partition selected for default boot.
All the admin need do is update the image and reboot the terminals.
We build pc's for business and home use. Due to lack of time for building and maintaining a OEM installation server, my co-worker installs all machines from an installation cd.
Now and then, Windows Update downloads are pretty slow. Therefore i have copied everything Windows Update downloads to a fileserver and created a batchfile with which we can install the patches. Ofcourse this is a bit time-consuming and it still has to be maintained each month, but it's quicker than letting Windows Update download and install everything for every pc we build.
These are the steps to follow:
On a freshly installed pc, which has the same servicepack, you can now copy that folder to the pc, and run the batchfile to install all updated (or perhaps you can assign a driveletter to the share so you don't have to copy the files). If you burned everything to a cd, you can probably start the batchfile without copying everything, i never tried that myself.
Note that you should make a different folder like this for each windows version (pro, home and others).
Anyone who wants to try this should thoroughly test it. You can verify if the patches have been installed by looking at the list displayed in 'Add/Remove programs'.
Just to go off on a tangent...
My colleagues slipstream service packs and critcial hotfixes (i.e. those that can result in ones machine being 0wn3d during the install) into the installation image...
I recommend doing all your installation behind a cheap cable/DSL router; this will block any incoming traffic from reaching the machine. Unless you decide to go surfing around on suspect web sites with the incompletely updated machine, you're pretty much guaranteed not to get 0wn3d.
google for AutoPatcher.
Aw, heck, I guess I'll google it for you.
http://www.autopatcher.com/
That'll hook up your new windows installation right quick.
"Champagne for my real friends - and real pain for my sham friends!" http://ericblade.postalboard.com/
Most windows programs will accept both slashes and dashes.
Karma: -2147483648 (Mostly affected by integer overflow)
I have been a computer tech for 11 years now. I have slipstreamed many a cd for purposes like this. Even before slipstreaming was a possibility from Microsoft I was doing it by hacking the iso and putting the newer files into it. With that said, a little creativity and Googling will do wonders for you in this case.
As far as it not being legal to use your own disk to install WindowsXP +SP2 +Updates is BULLSHIT! It is perfectly legal as long as your installation meets a couple requirements.
1.) The installed Operation System is the exact same one as originally came on the system when purchased from an OEM like Dell, Gateway, etc. Meaning if it an OEM system you are installing an OEM version of the OS. If it is a clone system that originally came with a RETAIL version of the OS you must install the RETAIL version of that OS. If it was built/purchased for a business with a VLK license you must install the VLK version of the OS.
2.) You must either return the comptuer to the user UNREGISTERED/ACTIVATED depending on which version of the OS was installed; or you can use a do one of the following:
a.) Use a customer supplied license key to register the OS for them.
b.) Sell the customer a new license key (which you can buy in bulk from Microsoft) and use that
license key to register/activate the Operating System.
With that said, it is possible to create a boot cd that will have every possible version (OEM, Retail, VLK) of WindowsXP/2003 with all the service packs/updates already included. Furthermore, it is possible to make each of those install unattended without entering registration/activation info during setup so that once the OS is installed it has all the updates but has not been activated or registered (doesn't have a licence key entered).
I have one of those CD's that has all three versions of XP SP2, all three versions of 2003 SP2 and all three versions of MCE 2005 SP2. It is perfectly legal to own and use as long as the proper license key is used before returning to the customer or you return it to the customer with no license key used.
To make one of those disks, you can follow a fairly easy process:
1.) Make a folder on your hard drive (in the root for ease) called TechCD
2.) In the folder TechCD create a folder for each OS you want on the disk, like:
a.) Windows XP SP2 (OEM) - Folder name: xpsp2oem
b.) Windows XP SP2 (Retail) - Folder name: xpsp2ret
c.) Windows XP SP2 (VLK) - Folder name: xpsp2vlk
d.) Windows 2003 SP2 (OEM) - Folder name: 2003sp2O
e.) Windows 2003 SP2 (Retail) - Folder name: 2003sp2R
f.) Windows 2003 SP2 (VLK) - Folder name: 2003xp2V
g.) Windows Media Center Edition 2005 SP2 (OEM) - Folder name: mce5sp2O
h.) Windows Media Center Edition 2005 SP2 (Retail) - Folder name: mce5sp2R
i.) Windows Media Center Edition 2005 SP2 (VLK) - Folder name: mce5sp2V
3.) Then copy all the files from each Install CD into the appropriate directory. Don't copy the non
required stuff like Tools, etc. as it will make the CD Image to large to fit on 1 CD.
4.) Now use slipstream the appropriate service packs and updates into each one. (Googling Required)
5.) Now create you a Boot Image with a menu to select which OS/Version to install. (Googling Required)
6.) Now use a tool like UltraISO Media Edition to create a Bootable ISO using the boot image
you made in step 5 and the various folders you created in steps 1-4. I suggest ULTRAISO because
it has a feature (which you have to turn on in setti