Thread: Quick Guide to Preinstalling Windows

MORE INFORMATION

Part A: Install Windows

To get ready for the unattended installation of Windows, follow these steps:
1. Choose one PC as master PC and configure the boot order in the BIOS with CD-ROM drive as first device, the hard disk as second device, and floppy drive as third device.

2. Insert Windows CD into CD-ROM drive of the master PC, and then boot the PC from CD-ROM drive.

Windows Setup starts automatically. Windows is installed in three stages: file copy, text-mode Setup, and GUI-mode Setup. At the end of the three phases of Setup, the in commission system is completely install.

Part B: Create a Winnt.sif Answer File

1. After Windows is installed on the master PC, make an answer file for unattended installation of Windows by using the Setup Manager Wizard (Setupmgr.exe).
The Preinstallation Tools are situated in the Support\Tools\Deploy.cab file on the OEM Windows product media that comes in every OEM three-pack from local Microsoft OEM Authorized Distributor. To install the Setup Manager utility, follow these steps:
a. Open My Computer, and then open the Support\Tools folder on the Windows XP CD-ROM.
b. Double-click the DEPLOY.CAB file to open it.
c. On the Edit menu, click Select All.
d. On the Edit menu, click Copy To Folder.
e. Click Make New Folder. Type the name that you want for the Setup Manager folder, and then press ENTER. For example, type setup manager, and then press ENTER.
f. Click Copy.
2. Open the folder that has the Setup Manager files, double-click Setupmgr.exe to start the Setup Manager Wizard, and then make a new answer file.
3. Follow the onscreen commands from the wizard to make the answer file:
On the Product to Install page, click Windows Unattended Installation.
a. On the Distribution Folder page, click No, this answer file will be used to install from a CD.
4. When you get to the Windows Setup Manager dialog box that prompts you for a place in which to store the newly created file, insert a floppy disk into drive A:, type a:\winnt.sif, and then click OK. You get the message:
The Setup Manager Wizard completed successfully. The following file(s) were created:
A:\WINNT.SIF
A:\WINNT.BAT
5. Click Exit on the File menu to quit the Setup Manager Wizard, and then label the floppy disk that you created as "Windows Unattended Disk." If you want Windows Setup to delete all partitions on the hard disk, and to make a new partition, you must include the Repartition command in the Winnt.sif file. To do this, follow these steps:
Start Windows Notepad, and then open the Winnt.sif file that you created.
a. Under [Unattended], insert a new line, and then type the following code:
b. Repartition=Yes

c. Save the changes to the file, and then quit Notepad.

1. The PC where you want to preinstall Windows, organize the boot order in BIOS with the CD-ROM drive as first device, the hard drive as second device, and the floppy drive as third device. .

2. Insert the Windows XP CD in the CD-ROM drive, and then start the PC.

3. When the Windows Setup blue screen menu is displayed, insert the Windows Unattended Disk that contains the Winnt.sif answer file that you just created.

4. Remove the floppy disk.

5. Restart the PC, and then start Windows to review the system and physically brand it before you run Sysprep and ship it to your client.

Part D: Brand Your System Manually

1. To add support information to the Windows Start menu, make an Oeminfo.ini file by using Windows Notepad, and then copy it to the Windows\System32 folder.
When you use Oeminfo.ini, the values in the [General] section and a Support Information button are displayed on the General tab of the System Properties dialog box.
The following is an example of the Oeminfo.ini file:
[General]
Manufacturer = MyCompany, Inc.
Model = Brand X Processor
SupportURL = mycompany.com
LocalFile = C:\Winnt\Web\LocalFilename.htm
[Support Information]
Line1= For Technical Support:
Line2= to obtain updated drivers or for information on frequently
Line3= asked questions, visit the MyCompany technical
Line4= support web site at:
Line5=
Line6= http://www.mycompany.com/techsupport.
2. To add your logo to the System Properties window in the Control Panel, replace the sample Oemlogo.bmp file included in this OPK with your company logo (bitmap image) in the Windows\System32 subfolder.

Part E: Use the System Preparation Tool (Sysprep.exe) to Prepare for Shipment

You can use Sysprep to do a careful audit of preinstalled PCs. For this, log on to the Windows environment, run auditing or testing tools, and then remove them. When you are completed, run Sysprep to restore the PC to a ship-ready position for delivery to end-users. Sysprep is the last program that you run before you ship a PC.

To restore the PC to a ship-ready state:

1. On the Start menu, click Run, and then type cmd .

2. At the command prompt, change to the root of the system drive, and then type md sysprep.

3. Copy Sysprep.exe, Setupcl.exe, and the optional Sysprep.inf file from Tools on the Windows OPK Tools CD or from Support\Tools\Deploy.cab on the Windows XP product CD to the Sysprep folder.

4. At the command prompt, change to the Sysprep folder, and then type Sysprep.

5. On the Windows System Preparation Tool message that appears, click OK.

6. When you are ready to prepare the system, click Reseal, and then click OK.
When you are prompted to shut down the PC, remove the Windows product CD or OPK Tools CD.