Deployment Solution

When Microsoft created Windows XP they added in a feature that allows Windows to be installed via a script, or an answer file. Basically they created a "hands off" method of installation. Once started, this script will install Windows, all of your favorite programs, drivers specific to your computer, and all of your custom settings without you touching a button. There are many names to created a Windows XP Scripted Install. Some people call them unattended installs, scripted installs, automated installs. In the end, you get the same result.

The Benefits:

There are many benefits to creating a custom Windows install CD. Here are a few of them:

Windows Updates (and Service Packs):

With the number of hackers and ill doers out there installing Windows can be a dangerous task. If you don't get the newest updates on your computer as quick as possible you open yourself to malicious attacks. The only problem is that downloading and installing Windows updates takes time, a lot of time. This becomes a big task if you are using an original Windows XP install CD (from 2001). That means you have to download Service Pack 2 and over 90 Windows Updates. Using this method you can integrate (or slipstream) all of the necessary Service Packs and Windows Updates. This ensures that your computer is up-to-date from the minute Windows is done installing. I think that increases security and peace of mind a lot.

Basic Information:

All of the information (name, company, serial number, timezone, etc.) can be automatically set. This is not a big deal, but it gets tiresome after a while. If you get one little thing wrong (like the timezone or the language settings), it may require you to start over. Adding in your basic information saves a lot of time. I don't know how many times I started to install Windows and I pulled away by some "emergency" only to come back and see that the installation has stopped because I needed to select the correct language, or type in the administrators password. You can avoid all of that by creating a custom Windows Install.

Custom Files:

You can add in any or all custom files you may need in your custom Windows CD. Any files will do. I have included registry keys to set custom settings. I have included pictures for our screensaver. You could also include custom help files, documents, and more. Really, your imagination is the limit here. Allowing any or all custom files that you may need is the most powerful aspect of installing Windows in this way. It is what makes this whole process worth while.

Drivers:

Windows XP came out almost 7 years ago. And Service Pack 2 came out almost 4 years ago. A lot has happened with hardware between then and now. With this method, you can add in all of the drivers you need (graphic, audio, network, scanners, keyboard, mouse, mass storage, etc.) into the process. So, when Windows is done installing your computer has already set up all of the devices. You can start using it immediately. You can also add in SATA drivers, allowing you to install Windows on newer hard drives or even on RAID arrays.

Customizing Windows:

With this process you can have the start menu, desktop icons, screensaver, power settings, folder options, firewall, Internet Explorer - basically every setting you can think of already configured. This saves a lot of time. It can also guarantee that every time Windows installs it is set up the same. (There is nothing worse than forgetting an important setting). You can also set up any user accounts, profiles, and security settings you want in place. This aspect of the scripted Windows installed has saved me a ton of time and headaches. It has helped to guarantee that windows is set up the same on every computer, making the end user much less frustrated.

Installing Programs:

Most programs can be installed using a scripted (or unattended) method. It only makes sense to combine a scripted Windows install with scripted software installs. That way, you can get all of the software out of the way. When everything is said and done, Windows and all of your software is installed by itself and it is configured correctly. Pretty slick huh?

Do it all through Deployment Console:

Its time to bring in the power tools. Deployment Console allows you to create a Scripted OS install job. That means you can install Windows on a remote machine. This great Altiris tool lets you configure everything from the partition on the drive to the start menu (basically all of the benefits discussed above all in one convenient location). Deployment Console brings everything together and allows you to get your work done faster and pain free.

What about images?

Does this new image replace the need for images? No. Images are still really important to the smooth operation of any computing environment. Where does the scripted Windows install fit in? If you use the scripted install to create an image you will be saving yourself a lot of time and energy. You will ensure that each image is set up the way you want it to be (you don't have to keep track of all of the settings you want). Also, you speed up the process because everything is automated. Using this method combined with other Altiris products (like SVS) really opens up a lot of possibilities. This one method has saved our organization a lot of time and headaches. It has allowed us to set our computers up much faster than in the past. Each computer has the same basic settings, allowing a standard computing environment. Troubleshooting is much easier because the IT crew knows exactly what to expect. Updating images is much faster because I don't have to hunt around for everything I need. It is all in one place and it can be deployed using Deployment Console.

Getting Started:

There is a lot of material to cover when it comes to creating a scripted install of Windows. There are many more articles to come. But for now, here are a few things you can do to get started:

Useful Tools:

There are some tools out there that can help you create your very own custom Windows CD. I started out using these tools and eventually started to do my own thing (hence the need for the articles to come). These programs are great places to start. They gave me a feel of what could be done and how to do it. Here they are:

• nLite (freeware) - From the company's website: "Have you ever wanted to remove Windows components like Media Player, Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, MSN Explorer, Messenger... How about not even to install them with Windows? nLite is a tool for permanent Windows components removal and pre-installation Windows configuration. After removal there is an option to make bootable image ready for burning on CD or testing in virtual machines. With nLite you will be able to have Windows installation which on install does not include, or even contain on CD, the unwanted components." This software is very powerful. It allows you to set up a CD that will install Windows with all of the trimmings. It works really well. Try it out!
• RyanVM (freeware) - From the website: "RVM Integrator is not just an integrator. Its main purpose is to actually slipstream hot fixes and third party utilities into your Windows install disks. Integrating is simply a way to attach setup files into your windows disk and have them install at a specific moment during Windows setup. Slipstreaming will actually overwrite older files and place itself directly into the windows installation." RyanVM has taken a lot of work out of creating a scripted Windows install. In his collection you can find Windows Updates, common applications, and a wealth of knowledge.
• Setup Studio (costware) - From the website: "A revolutionary software that installs your PC in completely unattended automatic mode incl. security patches, drivers, programs and configuration, saving great amounts of your time and effort!" This software offers a very clean and advanced GUI that allows you to customize your Windows CD any way you like. It is a very simple yet powerful solution. It also makes adding in drivers, hot fixes, service packs, and updates much easier.

Each of these solutions take a slightly different approach. They each allow you to tweak a different set of settings in Windows. You can use all of these tools together to create your final product. These methods are great if you prefer to create a standalone CD that you can use to install Windows. After you install Windows, you can create and deploy your image. Note: You can also do many of the things that these programs can do through Deployment Console. Using these tools in addition to Deployment Console will make an even better scripted install.

Online Resources:

Many people have been creating scripted installs of Windows for a while now. Here are some good places to start:

• Unattended Windows Introduction
• Complete Beginners Guide to nLite Unattended CDs
• RyanVM Integrator Guide
• The CD Forum

Microsoft has also created a help file if you want to prepared a scripted install. If you look on your Windows XP Professional CD, in the "Support" folder you will find a file called DEPLOY.CAB. If you extract that file, you will find more information on this process.

More to Come:

Like I eluded to earlier, this is a multi-part article. Hopefully when everything is said and done you will be able to use the methods and insights that I will share in the future to reduce costs and headaches in your organization. Here is an outline of what is to come:

• How to integrate windows updates and service packs
• How to create an answer file for your scripted Windows Installation
• How to add custom files to your Windows Installation
• How to add drivers into the Windows Installation
• How to customize Windows
• Installing programs after the install
• Doing it all through Deployment Console

Scripted OS Install - Index of Articles

Scripted OS Install - Part 2: Windows Updates