Unofficial AutoPatcher XP Unattended CD Tool

[Jono]

i have designed a program which lets you create a fully automated cd which installs Autopatcher XP and has SP1 slipstreamed the tool works on any version of XP if your wondering and the file is only 103kb big

All that is required are:

Windows XP Installl Media (Any Version except trial)

AutoPatcher XP

Windows XP Sp1 or Sp1a Network Install file

and CD Builder.

and you get a fullly automated cd where you select install partition after booting from cd the rest is automatic using values you enter such as your name, organisation and serial number so the install is unique to you.

after the 1st user logs in Autopatcher XP is run in unattended mode and uses the defaults you selct when running cd builder so you have complete control over what is installed via AutoPatcher XP.

This is the only tool of its kind and i just finished coding it please give your comments and all instructions are included in the download.

Download: http://www.btinternet.com/~tsystems/V1.0.exe

Please give your comments / views on the program and if you think its a good idea i would also like to add that this is not an offical build and is totally not affiliated with the AutoPatcher team in any way shape or form :whistle: well i thinks that about says it all just tell me your views i already have idea for next version and if your worried or intrested to know what the program does the file is a simple batch file so source code can be viewed in notepad and you can learn your own methods :)

IMPORTANT -- THIS IS CURRENTLY NOT APPROVED BY ME OR RAPTOR, I'M CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO IT.

I know he says it in there already, but I want to be sure you know. It is something I'm considering, but as of now, it's not tested by us. - FlishFun

Version 1.2 Available at http://www.btinternet.com/~tsystems/V1.2.exe

Edited November 14, 2003 by Jono

[FlishFun Veteran]

I edited your post, just to make sure no one misses that. ;)

[akaladis Veteran]

Looks promissing...

[martinsc]

trying it right now :)

[.Atlantis]

Firstly, it isn't the only one of it's kind. Secondly I'd compress the .bat file so that no-one can get your code. Thirdly, what your doing is making so many newbie's learn the easy way, this way they don't learn anything. If you want experience do it from the ground up. Although this is a nifty tool for someone who's in a rush... I'd still not use it, it isn't any-where near as powerful as manual editing :unsure:

[Hamner]

Hmmm, you guys getting this to work?

:start /wait %XP_SP1% -s:"%CD%\XPCD" appears to be the command for expanding sp1a service pack, the one I just downloaded is named "xpsp1_en_x86.exe" no _ between XP and SP.....easy enough to fix

BUT then I get illeagle switch when it runs.....ok comment that out and run it manually

The rest seems to step thru ok and creates the ISO, but upon install I get invalid command on line 66 of winnt.sif. Extracted that file from the ISO and the "" are missing from the C:\AUTOPATCH\apxp_run.exe /unattend /noeula command. Added those to the sif file and added it back to the ISO and saved it.

Made it passed that now and installing now, will keep updating as I go.

[akaladis Veteran]

wow, wait... you arent supposed to use the apxp_run.exe anymore... plus the parameters DONT belong to that file!!

you should execute "AutoPatcher_XP.exe" /unattend /noeula

/Raptor

[Hamner]

Ok new update

Product key didnt go in from Winnt.sif

to mh508 I am using his "file" as is and reporting errors as I go along, as they pop up :) haven't got that far yet :)

Added:

Ok as mh508 stated, that seems to be the wrong command, or atleast Autopatch didnt run either :p no error messages though.

Edited November 14, 2003 by Hamner

[FlishFun Veteran]

Well it looks like this program is lookin' nice so far... I've yet to really try it, just kinda watchin' and seein' how you guys think it is. Plus, busy with other stuff. :) By the way, Hamner... "mh508" likes to be called "Raptor". Unfortunately that name was already taken when he joined. lol :rofl:

[Jono]

@FlishFun i understand your reason for editing post that reason i put it myself lol because it is not official and i didnt pretend for it to be i just wanted user feedback.

@Encryption Pm me detail how to compress source code please, i would like to correct you this is the only program of its kind where kind is defined as using the AutoPatcher XP to install the updates and making the cd bootable etc, other programs exist like wincdman to create standard bootable cds. i would agree the most effective way to learn is to practice using skills but some users dont want to they just want a product that does it for them, this is the anser to that problem also nothing replaces Manual editing as the most effective soloution to a problem is a personalized one.

@Hammer start /wait %XP_SP1% -s:"%CD%\XPCD" the %XP_SP1% is the variable from when the user enters path to Windows XP SP1 file the file doesnt have to be called XP_SP1.exe

i will add the "" to the next update thanks for noticing

and the Product Key i will have a look at that now and maybe release a update sometime tonight.

@Raptor Noted and will change for next version

@FlishFun Thanks for your comments

[FlishFun Veteran]

@FlishFun i understand your reason for editing post that reason i put it myself lol because it is not official and i didnt pretend for it to be i just wanted user feedback.

@FlishFun Thanks for your comments

I know. I just put it how I did incase someone missed it reading yours (in blue and bold usually catches people's attention). And I like the idea of this... is we can get it working by the time the Dec update is ready I'd like to include it for the unattended install. :)

[akaladis Veteran]

Jason... in the december release, please... PLEASE dont put any of those confusing batch files and apxp_syspreps and apxp_run files we used back when we were using System Variables... now we dont, they are completely useless, and i see they cause confusion...

/Raptor

[Sn00pY]

Firstly, it isn't the only one of it's kind. Secondly I'd compress the .bat file so that no-one can get your code. Thirdly, what your doing is making so many newbie's learn the easy way, this way they don't learn anything. If you want experience do it from the ground up. Although this is a nifty tool for someone who's in a rush... I'd still not use it, it isn't any-where near as powerful as manual editing?:unsure::

you're clearly a newbie yourself then considering you finished your post with the most retarded comment...

"manuel editing" yet you CLEARLY stated in the post "compress so people cant steal your code..."

Nice tool dude...good job:))

hopefully Flish/Raptor will add this/something similar to APXP:))

Be Nice! No flaming other members. - FlishFun>

Edited November 14, 2003 by FlishFun

[Jono]

@Flishfun hopefully it will be :)

@All Also the Latest Version just been released which fix bugs mentioned above hopefully you should read my first post for the new link as will be the case for all updates released as most people read the 1st post when clicking the topic title to read updates.

@Hammer i think the Product Key problem which i can not recreate are you sure your input the product key correct and using the -'s in right place etc, also just to be sure i have make sure there are no space at end of line incase setup detects the space as a charachter if you could try the new version and tell if problem fixed please.

@Sn00pY Thanks i didnt have any way of compress source code but i decided not to anyway because then if people want to know the workings of the program they can just look inside and see how it works, also i will be adding more comments to the source code soon explain what go off at each stage.

Jono

[FlishFun Veteran]

Jason... in the december release, please... PLEASE dont put any of those confusing batch files and apxp_syspreps and apxp_run files we used back when we were using System Variables... now we dont, they are completely useless, and i see they cause confusion...

/Raptor

I know... they were accidentally left in (they don't hurt, but are confusing). The updater for December will delete them. :)

@Sn00pY - Thanks for kind words towards his program, but please don't bash other members (no matter what your opinion is). If you feel the need to rant, then go to the Soapbox (you still can't bash members... but you can rant). But you do it here and I'll hafta send you to time out. :p

@Jono - Make it work like you want it to, and I'm sure I'll include it. :D

Edited November 14, 2003 by FlishFun

[akaladis Veteran]

thanks Jason... and Jono... keep it up!

[aitf311]

This looks awesome, dont worry about letting the new peeps have the easy way out...most of them just want this anyways and dont want to go any further. Great tool...

[Hamner]

Ok downloading it now, will give it a spin after dinner

edited:

Ok now I see what I did wrong on the service pack, it needs to be path including file name :p

And am leaving the - in the key numbers this time as well, so far it's cookin :)

edited again:

Ok bad news, still getting a problem in the Winnt.sif file

"Line 65 of the INF file \i386\winnt.sif is invalid

Setup cannot continue. Press any key to exit."

Attaching that file

WINNT.rar

Edited November 14, 2003 by Hamner

[Jono]

ok i have a soloution to this problem am going to update it asap, the way it will work will also add a option for the user to run their own program aftr the autopatcher or before it runs in GuiRunOnce.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR ANYBODY POSTING THEIR WINNT.SIF FILE TO ANYWHERE MAKE SURE TO REMOVE YOUR PRODUCT KEY FROM IT BEFORE SENDING.

@hammer you didnt include your product key im just making sure people are aware of this.

Edited November 14, 2003 by Jono

[Jono]

ok the new version is up at http://www.btinternet.com/~tsystems/V1.2.exe and hopefully solves the problem you discover please let me know if this is true,

@aitf311 Thanks for your comments, hope you find tool useful.

@hammer i will include your problems in documentation when i finally get around to it lol, by the way are you installing onto your C Drive in whatever your testing because i have feeling it is not working if the systemdrive is not C:\ anyway please test and let me know if all is working.

[Hamner]

Umm I think I misread what you were asking, if you are asking where I am building this at, the statement below in paras. applies. If you are asking where I am installing to, creating a new virtual PC for each attempt and installing to default. Does that help?

(Actually, I'm running it off of c:\ root in a folder called slip.....maybe include specific direction as to loc? Just a suggestion :p )

Trust me, if anyone can read something wrong, it's me, I read too fast, and tend to get partial comprehention(sp?) and feel like I got it 100 percent......when it's actually 100 percent wrong :)

Also, I am capable of doing this manually, and have, I just like making it to where you don't have to show someone a 100 times how to do something, when they actually don't wanna know, or don't care to know. With this, they can run it and be done with it, without driving everyone insane?.....more insane......whatever:pp

Oh forgot one thing,

NICE JOB!

[Jono]

i meant the virtual pc thing and you clear it up for me thanks yeah i would agree that people that dont want to know how it works and just want it to work will find this usefull.

[Hidea]

So... what this CD thing does is

to make a Bootable Windows XP CD that has built-in SP1, AutoPatcher XP. It also saves you installation file because you don't have to input CD-Key or Username when the Windows XP installation promts it because it's stored in the CD already?

Am I right so far?

[FlishFun Veteran]

So... what this CD thing does is

to make a Bootable Windows XP CD that has built-in SP1, AutoPatcher XP. It also saves you installation file because you don't have to input CD-Key or Username when the Windows XP installation promts it because it's stored in the CD already?

Am I right so far?

Exactly... if he can get it working bug-free and I like it (which I think I will), it will be included in the Dec update as the unattended install. :)

[Hidea]

OK~ that sounds amazing!!!!

OK, a request... why not make a feature that allows user to install mini-apps of their choice? Like... Browser... DL Manager... and so on... But ofcourse.. make this limited to a certain size.. (e.g.: you may add a few extra software but is limited to a size of 30MB in total). Make that also path configureable! :D :D