Automatic installation (OS + Appz + Tools)

[va!n]

Hi guys!
As some of you know, i am building custom PCs, installing and repairing PCs to earn some money! Normaly clients wish to install WinXP Pro! I dont install just only the OS in a hurry... i install all needed SP, Hotfixes, Patches, Bios Updates and all that is needed to get a more stable and faster OS!

Then i start part, where i install all needed stuff by hand like:

C:\   == latest SP, all Hotfixes/Patches, KLite CodedPack...
D:\ == WinRar, TotalCmd, Aimp, Firefox, Thunderbird, Pidgin, PhotoShop and so on...

Installing all this by hand require a lot of time and so it still need up to 1,5 days for installing a complete new OS, with all updates, patches, fixes, tools, appz...

The question is, do you know a way, to install all this things on any clients PC automatical? I know some programs like the MS Hotfixes can be installed by creating an own BAT file and using command line operations, which is very nice - because it saves a lot of time and still works automatic! ^^

Something i thought about is to code a small tool where i can select which tool/app should be installed and when clicking on install button, all the selected stuff will be automatical intalled! Sadly not all programs have the possibility to use any command lines (or i still dont know about it).... An idea it so find the WindowTitle and getting the position of the window and then emulating mouse events... but i dont really like this way, because whats when i add a new version of a app to my installation-package, where the window title has or some installation settings has been changed?

So the question is, is there any idea to select/install latest stuff (all in my installation folder/DVD) automatical - wihout having an ISO/image? THx

[Moroboshisan]

you need to look for Automated install... look for deploy tools onto the XP install CD... there you'll find some starting point...

Everything that needs WGA must be installed separately

You can also look for slipstreaming tools (and alike) via official MS download pages or various other sources:
(following links are just a starting point for tools and info)
http://www.ubcd4win.com/
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
http://www.nu2.nu/bootcd/
http://www.nliteos.com/

most tools have been handy when I was used to install and setup PCs in the past years.

You can also take alook for deploy tools in the official "System Integrators CDs" shipped along with MS OSs and Apps

I would post more links if I'm able to find the most useful ones I found years back...

[Jim]

There are a number of ghost tools that let you set up one working system and take a copy for installing on others.
But if all the target computers are different then that's not much use.
Jim

[Moroboshisan]

There are a number of ghost tools that let you set up one working system and take a copy for installing on others.
But if all the target computers are different then that's not much use.
Jim

exactly... systems MUST be SIAMESE to use ghosting tools....

there is the SYSPREP tool you'll find in the official XP cd-rom that lets you install a complete system and then wipe out critical infos (CD-Key and such) to start mirroring for other system...

cheers!

[va!n]

Jim, thats exactly what i meaned when i talked about ISO/Image... i dont want have one buld image and want to clone/copy to another PC, because each PC has another Hardware!

What i want is something like:  After Windows has been installed, running an own small GUI where i can select which tool/app should be installed on the actually PC... Then all the selected tools/appz should be installed automatical... (even if some appz need a reboot after/while installing like DaemonTools)...

If all setups would support command line feature for custom installation, it would be really great ^^

[Moroboshisan]

What i want is something like:  After Windows has been installed, running an own small GUI where i can select which tool/app should be installed on the actually PC...

actually what you're looking for reminds me of the way Intel based MoBo drivers+apps are automatically installed (fully reboot controlled) but keep in mind that only large batch runs of setups can justify the huge amount of work needed to achieve the result you need (not mentioning that unattended installs require you to pre-determinate every config and answers to "OK", "SKIP", "CONTINUE", "FINISH", and so on, buttons )...

Several years ago I wondered  how to achieve tha same goal as you... with a so-and-so result... Simply I just found myself loosing much more time keeping the unattended setup (lan-based at that time, using a common repository where to store all of the needed unattended setups and batches) up-to-date than installing systems one by one....

If you need to setup, say, 100 systems or more at any given run... maybe you are likely to save time... otherwise I feel a little dubious...

you deinately should read some tuts about unattended setups like this:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=C7D4BC6D-15F3-4284-9123-679830D629F2&displaylang=en

http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Customizing-Unattended-Setup.html

or look for something like this http://www.installunattended.com/ ...

[combatking0]

We use a process similar to ghosting called "Remote Installation Service" (though it may be under a different name for the latest version).

We have lots of different hardware, but the RIS system is given all of the drivers from all of the hardware, and it installs Windows XP with a service pack slip streamed into it, and it uses a transform file to fill in the options, such as the serial key, input region, etc AND it decides which of the drivers are correct.

All we do is update the drivers and XP image. You may need a Windows 2000 / 2003 / 2007 server from which to run it though.