Visual Studio .net CD's to DVD

[+virtorio MVC]

I have Visual C++.net 2003 (which is 6 cd's inc MSDN). I was just wondering if it is possible for me to somehow put the content from all these CD's on a single DVD and allow me to use it as an installation source.

Thanks

[smurfiness]

Sure. Just copy them all to the same directory on your hard drive, and then burn that directory.

[+virtorio MVC]

Tried that. It just asks me to insert Visual C++ CD 1 into the drive when I attempt to install it.

[azcodemonkey]

Read the readme.htm on CD 1. If you setup like a network install, and have all the folders(PRE, VS, MSDN) exist at the root of the disk, it should work. I have some testing to do on the ISO I just built, but it's close to being what you'd need. If I'm successful I'll share how to do it.

[LlamaTrauma]

You do know that Microsoft offers pretty much all their stuff on DVD already?

[azcodemonkey]

Yeah, but what do you do if you already own the CDs? Pay for it again?

[Vorenus]

Instructions for burning Visual Studio .NET Enterprise Architect 2003 and MSDN Library to DVD

Step 1: creating the folders

Create a folder in the root of your hard drive (note It must be in the root) called "en_vs.net_2003_enarch_full" i.e.(c:\en_vs.net_2003_enarch_full)

It must be in the root

in this folder create a new floder called "MSDN" i.e.(c:\en_vs.net_2003_enarch_full\MSDN)

Step 2: Extract the files

Extract the files from en_vs.net_2003_enarch_full.exe to your \en_vs.net_2003_enarch_full folder

extract the files from the MSDN Library (3cd) to the MSDN folder you created (\en_vs.net_2003_enarch_full\MSDN),

overwritting any duplicate files  (note Setup.hlp is the file to overwrite)

Step 3: Edit the .msi

You will need to edit the msdn.msi file in \en_vs.net_2003_enarch_full\MSDN use a Program called Orca.exe it's part of

the Microsoft Platform SDK.

get it here http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/platfo...e/psdk-full.htm

After installing Orca use it to open msdn.msi in the \en_vs.net_2003_enarch_full\MSDN folder.  Then In Orca, select

"Media" on the left hand side, then scroll down on the right hand side until you see 3 volume labels : QTR40ENUD1

            QTR40ENUD2

            QTR40ENUD3

Change all 3 of them to VSENARD1

Step 4: Creating the ISO

you need a program from Microsoft called cdimage.exe

http://www.wwwfox.net/tool/CDIMAGE.ZIP

http://www.tech-hints.com/prog/cdimage.zip

extract this tool to the root of the same drive as the folders you created

at the command prompt goto the root where your folders are and use this command

CDIMAGE -LVSENARD1 -N -D -H -M "C:\en_vs.net_2003_enarch_full" "C:\en_vs.net_2003_enarch_full.iso"

[azcodemonkey]

Thx. I couldn't remember where those instructions were.

[azcodemonkey]

Doesn't quite work, but I think I can get it to.

[+chorpeac MVC]

wow...nice work guys...I'm interested in this also if it works...PLease post the updated instructions that are positive to work.

[Vorenus]

Well it worked perfectly for me. I burned the DVD and it installed without a hitch - VS.NET, MSDN and all.

-VB Guy

Edited August 15, 2004 by VB Guy

[azcodemonkey]

@VB Guy - I think the difference is that you have a full archive that is ready for DVD burning. I'm coming from a CD install. I think I got it though.

You can refer to the readme.htm for the first part of these steps. They are the "Facilitating Setup over a Network" steps.

Added/Changed steps:

Create a directory to store all your files in. (VS2003)

Copy your VS.NET CDs (1 & 2) to the VS2003 directory, overwrite when prompted.

Copy your Prerequisites disk to another folder under the VS2003 directory( \VS2003\PRE\)

Copy your MSDN disks to another folder under the VS2003 directory(\VS2003\MSDN\)

Modify the setup.ini file's Baseline section to point to the Prerequisites directory. Modify the setup.ini file's Documentation section (at the end of the file) to point to the MSDN directory.

[Baseline]
Dir=.\PRE
FileName=setup.exe

[Documentation]
DIR=.\MSDN
Version=2003FEB

This is an extra step, but handy if you don't like having to retype your product key all the time. Under the setup directory (\VS2003\Setup\), modify the Setup.SDB by adding a section called Product Key to the end of the file and enter your 25 character key(don't include dashes):

[Product Key]
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Next, using Orca, modify the vs_setup.msi. Change the VolumeLabel column under the Media table to have disk 2 point to VSENARD1.

Do the same for the msdn.msi for all its disks.

Utilize the CDIMAGE program as prescribed by VB Guy, modifying your root directory name as needed. (VS2003, or en_vs.net_2003_enarch_full).

I also added my VSS disk and SQL Server 2000 disk to this DVD, and there's still plenty of space left.

[Datalore]

Wow, thanks for those instructions. I've been wanting to do this. (Y)

[azcodemonkey]

No prob. Thanks VB Guy! :D I've been wanting to do this too. I'd recommend mounting the ISO with Nero or Daemon Tools to test.

[+virtorio MVC]

Thanks for the help. I will (try to) get it to go tonight.

[Linkinfamous]

For some reason PSDK-FULL.11.cab is corrupt each time I try to download it.

At first, It shows a 25meg file, but then when the download is done, The fine is 25k!

Any ideas?

[azcodemonkey]

What disk?

[MrRogers]

Can I get orca from somebody so that I don't have to download the whole SDK?

[tanshu]

There you go, it is approx a 2.5 meg download, will come in handy ...

ORCA

[MrRogers]

Thanks man!

[MrRogers]

Thanks man!

[tanshu]

No worries MrRogers, I just found it out by googling it. Now I gochha try Weenur's method and see how it goes. :)

[tanshu]

Works like a charm !!! Thanx a ton weenur. Just one question, have you just created a directory for SQL 2000 or somehow got it to install it with VS as well?

[azcodemonkey]

I didn't modify the install to install SQL 2000. I just put it in its own directory. It's just nice to have everything on one disk. I'm glad it worked for you.

[tanshu]

K, that's what I had thought. I did the same with my SQL Server 2000. Great DVD.

And Thanx again

[Finsta]

K, that's what I had thought. I did the same with my SQL Server 2000. Great DVD.

And Thanx again

Will this work for VB .net 2003?