XP Unattended Hotfix blues

[raid517]

Hi, I have a big problem when making my Windows XP Unattended CD, everything seems to go fine up to the point where it starts copying hotfixes, then the batch script I made starts complaining that pretty much all of the hotfiles I want to install could not be found.

An example of this is "Cannot find file 'C:\install\Hotfixes\Q322011_WXP.exe/Q' no such file or directory." There are about 25 of these messages, all mentioning various hotfixes, but pretty much saying the same thing. Having looked at my C drive and specifically at the directory it mentions 'C:\install\Hotfixes I can clearly see that all of the hotfixes it mentions are indeed present, so they have been correctly copied over from the CD. Which leaves me somewhat bemused.... They are in the directory the batch file is looking in but the batch file still says it can't find them. On the slim chance that someone here might be able to figure out what's going on, I have included my batch file here as an attachment (in text form) I have also included my winnt.sif file too, although I may have to do this in a sepeate post due to restrictions on attachments per post.

I am totally stuck here guys, so any input anyone can offer at all would be deeply appreciated.

I simply want to build a custom Windows XP CD as my Kids have a habit of screwing their computer up and i'm sick of reinstalling windows over and over again.

So as I said, any help is appreciated.

Q

hotfixes.txt

[raid517]

Ok here is my winnt.sif file too...

Thanks to anyone who looks at them...

winnt.sif

Edited November 6, 2003 by silly_walk

[raid517]

Mmm, I guess this is not such an easy question to answer... Oh well...

Q

[Hawkeye]

Hmm. I think I can actually answer this. I'm not 100% sure if I'm right on it, but I think it is. What's wrong with your files is the fact that they are not in the MS-DOS 8.3 filename format (maximum of 8 characters for the file name, and three characters for the extension). I believe hotfixes can only be installed with a batch script when they have an 8.3 filename. The simple solution, I guess, is to rename your hotfixes from "Qxxxxxx_WXP.exe" to "Qxxxxxx.exe". That will then fit into the requirements for an 8.3 filename and should hopefully allow you to install your hotfixes.

Hope this helps.

By the way, quick tip. It's not a good idea to post your WINNT.SIF file before removing your product key from it. Just remove the product key next time, and you'll be all good. ;)

[Joel]

I have edited out the XP key from the winnt.sif

[raid517]

Ooops.... Oh well... There are plenty of those floating around.... Sorry mods...

Yes I suspected something of the same, I will try this again. I followed a guide given by The_Elder_Geek.com. Seems he told me that I should alter this seting when I have never ha to before. I will let you know the results. :) Thanks for the input.

Q

PS.

Erm... I just had a look... So just to be clear,you mean I should use ISO level 1 right, instead of level 2? I'm using nero 6.0 and there is no mention of DOS as there was in nero 5.5x. What settings do ou recomendfor the ISO? I guess you don't have Nero 6.0?

Edited November 6, 2003 by raid517

[raid517]

On a side note, I tried to replace my uxtheme.dll file, but it didn't work. I suspect that this was because XP file protection copied over the correct uxtheme.dll file from the CD before the install process had completed. Is there anyway to prevent this? Or perhaps there is a way to run Neowin's official uxtheme.dll patcher silently? If so, what are the switches?

Also rather than have themes copied over individually (I have something like 60 themes) I would very much like to replace the entire /Windows/Resources/Themes directory, with the Themes directory from my existing Windows install. Is this possible and if so how?

Thanks in advance for any input.

Q

[raid517]

Lol... well OK, I guess that has everyone stumped.... Fair enough, thanks for the input anyway... :)

Q

[FlishFun Veteran]

Silly suggestion, but try writting it like this: "C:\install\Hotfixes\Q322011_WXP.exe" /Q

Example from your text file:

ECHO Installing Q814995_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe
start /wait %systemdrive%\install\Hotfixes\Q814995_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe/Q /M /Z

Try it like this:

ECHO Installing Q814995_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe
start /wait "%systemdrive%\install\Hotfixes\Q814995_WXP_SP2_x86_ENU.exe" /Q /M /Z

The quotes and everything. Let me know. :)

[Hawkeye]

raid517, I will answer both of your last questions in this post.

Yes, in Nero 6, use ISO Level 1. I believe it will default to Level 1 for a Bootable Data CD, but I could be wrong. This should force all files to be in the 8.3 format, and you shouldn't have problems after that.

Alternatively, you could also try the suggestion by Flishfun above. Putting quotation marks, as he suggested, may help as well.

Now, to answer you second question, you can use the UXTHEME.DL_ provided in encryption's fine Unattended guide. It is toward the bottom of the first post, where he mentions UXTHEME.DLL.

encryption's Unattended Windows XP Guide

[PartieHonteuse]

Well, yes there are two reasons why your files cannot be found. Go to your "C:\install\Hotfixes" directory and rename all hotfixes to the 8.3 standard as FlishFun said. Also, read your error again.

An example of this is "Cannot find file 'C:\install\Hotfixes\Q322011_WXP.exe/Q' no such file or directory."

the "wxp.exe/Q" you need to have a space so it shows such as ...Q322011_WXP.exe<spacebar>/Q, hence why it says "can't find file or directory ...WXP.exe/Q" because you've added the /Q to the filename and it thinks that is the name of the file. Also, I do remember reading somewhere on slipstreaming SP's and Hotfixes that the names of the hotfixes do have to go with the 8.3 naming convention.

You may have seen this and may not need it but here is a GREAT tutorial on how to Slipstream SP1 and all your Hotfixes onto a CD

http://www.<< spam >>/unattended/xp/

Partie?

[Echilon]

Its easier to use the FOR command, put all hotfixes that use the 'Welcome to windows XP Qxxxxxx wizard' in \$OEM$\$1\Hotfixes\1, then all the 'Are you sure you want to install this update' hotfixes in \$OEM$\$1\Hotfixes\2, then MDAC 2.8 and the MDAC update in \$OEM$\$1\Hotfixes\3. Lastly, put Qchain.exe in \$OEM$\$1\Hotfixes and create a batch file like this...

@ECHO OFF
ECHO Installing All Pre-SP2 Hotfixes...
CD "%systemdrive%\Hotfixes\1
for %%i in (*.exe) do start /wait %%i /Q /U /N /Z
ECHO.
ECHO Installing All Pre-SP2 Cumulative patches...
CD "%systemdrive%\Hotfixes\2
for %%i in (*.exe) do start /wait %%i /Q:A /R:N
ECHO.
ECHO Installing MDAC 2.8
start /wait %systemdrive%\Hotfixes\3\mdac_typ.exe /q /C:"setup /QNT"
start /wait %systemdrive%\Hotfixes\3\Q823718_MDAC_SecurityPatch.exe /T:%systemdrive%\install\tmp /C:"%systemdrive%\install\tmp\dahotfix.exe /q /n" /Q
start /wait %systemdrive%\Hotfixes\qchain.exe
EXIT

I got part of this info from MS?FN

[raid517]

What about autopatcher xp? What does that do? can this be used silently? I would love to se a program that atomatically bult a custom install CD and allowed you to include all your own custom programs anf hotfixes on the ISO etc. I'm not sure if this is what autopatcher does, but it would be cool anyway.

Q