AIO Neowin Un-Attended SlipStream CD Suggestions

[Shifty]

Hey folks!! Im glad to see the number of downloads grow daily for the First Release Project!!

Me and cpugenuismv are hard at work at the drawing board for the next release of

our Unattended SlipStream CDs for Windows XP.

The first release was at an angle of slipstreaming APXP, which has been successful.

When the project was finished, I was flooded with suggestions from you all to do more.

Naturally, I came to terms to creat an All-In-One (AOI) CD that did it ALL!!

One thing that you all can agree to is that everyday, everyweek new patches and updates

are made and downloaded. After a while its time to "format c:"

The next release has "dynamic upgrade" writen all over it!!

Dynamic Upgrade is a method of creating an ever evolving install CD, that is virtually

never outdated!!

Imagine never have to download more patches, upgrades and re-do custom settings

after an install of XP. This will drastically reduce "Tweak Time" that is a pain in the butt!!

Here are a couple of ideas me and cpugenuismv have been throwing around the office:

-More Customizations in winnt.sif (Improvement over first release)

-regional settings

-local time

-language

-Internet Explorer Tweaks

-Home Page

-Favorite List

-Manually Add Favorite Links

-Copy current Favorite List

-Support for SP1a languages

-Defrag after APXP install (optional)

-Reg tweak for continuous Page File

-2nd CD un-attended install

-Drivers

-Apps w/ switches

-More Reg Tweaks (other than ones included in APXP)

-Clean Out of Default Windows Files (wallpaper, Screen Savers, Etc)

-Hardcore Defrag w/ NT file system tweaks

-Custom Settings

A good point was brought up to me here on Neowin as well as from Email...

Someone asked if we could incorpate Custom settings like Mouse and Keyboard Speed, etc.

Screen Resolutions, Color Settings, Sound Settings, App Settings.

Some these require Registry Entries...

One solution and seeming the "best" solution is for one to install Windows XP from the SlipStream Project,

install ALL apps, configure all settings desired and then copying the Registry file to another SlipStream CD's Second

release and applying it there. This would ensure ALL custom settings based on ANY indivisual user can be applied

without having to make a ton of Reg files that some will use and not use.

There are more ideas floating around, but we want YOU to make suggestions and we will try our

hardest to incorporate them into the next release.

Please post any ideas.

Please include not just the idea but good valid reasons it should be included

I will personally work with you to find all the information available on it,

if it is feasable to do and can it be implemented in the next release.

[HellBender]

Woo hoo! Looks great, when is the expected release date?

[Bizkit]

Nice! sounds really good

[cpugeniusmv]

i think the release date depends on the implemented feature-set...which isn't set in stone yet :)

i've been playing around with the idea of extracting APXP from the executable during the wizard, rather than relying on the user to put everything in the right place...

but i haven't found the switch for the SFX to do it yet (or even if there is one).

i'll keep you posted :)

[Shifty]

What we are looking for is Ideas ;

Basically make a wish list of features of stuff you think would help with

the initial installation of WinXP.

[cpugeniusmv]

-Clean Out of Default Windows Files (wallpaper, Screen Savers, Etc)

apxp already has a tweak that removes all the windows wallpaper and screensavers FYI :)

[akaladis Veteran]

good job guys!

[ElectricDemon]

perhaps in the windows XP setup there could be an option to change the default "program files" folder location, so that the user could choose to store this on a different partition...anyone reckon that could be possible?? I've been trying for ages to work it out but to no avail. If such a thing exists, could you guys implement it into your project??

[ITinerant]

With my current unattended slipstreamed CD I really only have 3 issues.

#1 I must needs to format beforhand the C:\ prior to booting to CD.

If I don't format first I am only given the option "L" to leave file system intact removing only the Windows directory or install to different directory.

I have my winnt.sif set to ... AutoPartition="0" ... which allows me to tell it where to install, but neglects to give the option to format a the the time of Windows Setup.

I guess what I am trying to say is... More control over the initial setup and then let 'er fly unattended.

#2 AutoPatcher creates a log that enables the "Previous Logs Detection" feature. Unfortunately, this means any future editing of AutoPatcher's Default settings saved is affected by the system wherin it was saved. In other words, in order to "Save as Defaults" AutoPatcher and slipstream to a CD, must needs be done on a Clean install (non-AutoPatched) system.

This is important when making unattended/slipstreamed CD's for other persons systems, using their licensed copy of WinXP of course. :whistle:

#3 The Administrator Account is used by default. Whether running as Administrator is or is not a security issue, I don't know. Unfortunately, some of AutoPatcher's Tweaks (not the MS patches) are user specific. When you create another user many of these don't work and need to be "re-patched" when logged on as that user.

Edited December 30, 2003 by ITinerant

[sialivi]

Great project, really looking forward it.

Here's two thing I would value:

1) Setting default "Program Files" directory, which was already mentioned. I always do this manually right after I've installed the OS but it would be great to do this automaticly, so I wont have to move the files which was already installed in the default dir and change hundreds of regentries to hopefully make them still work.

2) Setting drive letters. I have plenty of partitions and some removable drives, and it's a pain in the ass to change all the drive letters each time (for some reason they appear in different orders in Win2000 and in XP)

[cpugeniusmv]

Program Files...I'll look for the key needed, shouldn't be a big deal as long as you know what the drive letter of the partition is going to be.

Repartitioning...if you delete the partition, and create another one you will be given the option of how to format it.

The log file can be ignored, but that's not really the issue...the problem is the Autodetection of installed patches. While this can be useful in some cases, in ours...it's not. I think I'll suggest to the AP team a switch that turns off the Auto-detection.

Running as Admin...It is possible, and quite easy to setup an account automatically to autologin during setup. This will definately be in the next release.

Setting drive letters...I don't think this one is doable. Every system is different, and I just don't see an easy way of making this easier than just changing them manually.

[ITinerant]

Repartitioning...if you delete the partition, and create another one you will be given the option of how to format it.

Either way it needs to be prepared before booting to disc. :rolleyes:

[cpugeniusmv]

Either way it needs to be prepared before booting to disc. :rolleyes:

so you just want it to automatically completely format the first physical disk?

that can be done.

[ITinerant]

so you just want it to automatically completely format the first physical disk?

that can be done.

I'm not sure if "automatically" is the right word. When I boot to the regular "attended" CD, it tells me there is already a version of Windows present and gives the option of choosing "esc" to clean install and what kind of file system (FAT32 or NTFS) and either format or quick format. I would like that control during the initial "WINDOWS SETUP". Right now I don't have that option, and I don't know how to get it back. I'm thinking it must be in the winnt.sif, but I don't know. :blink:

[Aaron P]

Repartition=1 in WINNT.SIF will delete and create a clean partition on disk 0 during installation.

[cpugeniusmv]

I'm not sure if "automatically" is the right word. When I boot to the regular "attended" CD, it tells me there is already a version of Windows present and gives the option of choosing "esc" to clean install and what kind of file system (FAT32 or NTFS) and either format or quick format. I would like that control during the initial "WINDOWS SETUP". Right now I don't have that option, and I don't know how to get it back. I'm thinking it must be in the winnt.sif, but I don't know. :blink:

so you want to choose the partitions...in windows?

i don't think we can do that.

but as agenta said, Repartition=1 will set the setup to reformat the entire first physical disk to NTFS and use that for installation.

[ITinerant]

so you want to choose the partitions...in windows?

i don't think we can do that.

but as agenta said, Repartition=1 will set the setup to reformat the entire first physical disk to NTFS and use that for installation.

Repartition=1 actually takes away any control over where Windows is installed. I'm looking for more control, not less. Oh well... maybe it can't be done. Then again, maybe it can? :shifty:

[cpugeniusmv]

Repartition=1 actually takes away any control over where Windows is installed. I'm looking for more control, not less. Oh well... maybe it can't be done. Then again, maybe it can? :shifty:

right...

i'm a little confused as to exactly what you want?

you want to choose the partition where windows installs...during the windows setup?

[ITinerant]

right...

i'm a little confused as to exactly what you want?

you want to choose the partition where windows installs...during the windows setup?

I just want the same options I have when I boot to the standard Windows XP disc and I already have Windows installed. There must be a way to have the option of formatting rather than re-installing and leaving the file system intact. Right now I have to boot to my Partition Magic Emergency boot disks, format the C:\ drive and then boot to the Unattended CD and tell it where to install. This isn't necessary with the regular Windows XP disc. It gives me the options I mentioned earlier... "it tells me there is already a version of Windows present and gives the option of choosing "esc" to clean install and what kind of file system (FAT32 or NTFS) and either format or quick format"

[B.Y.O.B.]

Installing Office 2003, or other apps on a second cd would be pretty cool, I know with ORK you can pre-install the cd key for office, so using that incorporated would be nice to have

[cpugeniusmv]

I just want the same options I have when I boot to the standard Windows XP disc and I already have Windows installed. There must be a way to have the option of formatting rather than re-installing and leaving the file system intact. Right now I have to boot to my Partition Magic Emergency boot disks, format the C:\ drive and then boot to the Unattended CD and tell it where to install. This isn't necessary with the regular Windows XP disc. It gives me the options I mentioned earlier... "it tells me there is already a version of Windows present and gives the option of choosing "esc" to clean install and what kind of file system (FAT32 or NTFS) and either format or quick format"

when it asks you which partition to install it on, you can delete the existing partiton...then you will have all the options you want.

[ITinerant]

when it asks you which partition to install it on, you can delete the existing partiton...then you will have all the options you want.

Wow! I really feel like an idiot :blush: I guess I've been doing it the other way for so long, I forgot about that option and I didn't even see it on my Unattended CD. Thank you for opening my eyes. :woot:

[Bizkit]

What I really just want is the first cd just installing Windows without asking me for anything, which I can have it do that now. Then, I want to put in a second optional cd with all my program like AutoPatcher and Winamp and Nero, etc. That way, if I am installing Windows on like my parents, they aren't stuff with all the programs that I have installed.

[cpugeniusmv]

What I really just want is the first cd just installing Windows without asking me for anything, which I can have it do that now. Then, I want to put in a second optional cd with all my program like AutoPatcher and Winamp and Nero, etc. That way, if I am installing Windows on like my parents, they aren't stuff with all the programs that I have installed.

easiest way to do that is just copy AutoPatcher to a second disk...it comes with AutoRun :)

then you can configure AP to setup additional applications if you like.

[junkyinny]

finally got slipxp to work , works great,

the login in as "admin" has to go . i thought it would log in as "valued customer" because thats the name i reg'd it as?

also, i would like to have windows automatically import my old settings via the file and transfer wizard thing. I have my winxp set up to look like win98 more than the new web crap winxp, i use classic view basically. Then i have small icons with no text on all my toolbars, i have 'show system files' etc.. Can this be done?