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Streamlining installation of application

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by jvasterling

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I am trying to find a way to automate the installation of addional programs.
Scenario: User has Win2k installed
Needs Ms Office, Lotus Notes, Remote connectivity installed.

Goal:
To be able to go to users pc, after on lan, run small util, andinstall applications to predetermined location, ie data files: C:\data\
this would be the same for all users.
To reduce the time of install from 3-4 hrs to 1 or so, using values already set, ie serial number, data and program locations, and default application values.

Is the use of SysPrep from Microsoft's web site the best way to achieve this?
If so, any suggestions on a short version of the 120 page document from Microsoft's site on how to do such?

1 reply

by cptomlly

Are the PC's of similar configurations? To use SysPrep the PC's must have the same hardware abstraction layer and disk controller drivers (basically identical hardware). You must also have a third-party disk imaging software to take the image. Sysprep basically just cleans up the hard drive so that you can take image. This definitely sounds like the best way to solve the problem. An unattended installation file also has the capability to run a batch file at the end of installation, but it gets pretty complicated if the hardware isn't on the HCL, because then you have to automate 3rd party driver installation.

There is some good information on both the unattended and SysPrep on the LabMice site:

http://www.labmice.net/Windows2000/install/default.htm

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