Installing on several partitions

[unixfreak]

Hi, I would like to install with Docs 'n Sets and Program Files on seperate partitions and have been Googling around for ages. It seems I have to do an /UNATTEND install but that's almost as much information I can get.

I need to run winnt.exe /unattend:<filename> where filename is a file with options in it to install. I've got those down I think.

It's very unclear how to run winnt /unattend though... From the current install? From a rescue prompt booted from CD?

I found a description saying I had to dump the XP install CD to disk, change a startup file and re-build the CD to do this but I'm hoping that's not right...

Can anyone sched some light on this?

Thanks

-----
Cheers,
Henrik Morsing

http://www.aixperts.co.uk/

Join us on irc://chat.freenode.net channel ##aix

 

[kjv1611]

Not sure, b/c I gave up on such an install type for WinXP several years ago for the same reason - not much good documentation, and frankly very little benefit (if any) for all the effort.

As far as an unattended install, you could look at the nlite application, and see if you can setup an install the way you want through that. That's another thing I played around with, but decided to just leave it alone. I think my problem was I tried to customize TOO much out of curiosity, and always ended up messing something up. Just figured sticking to a standard install with data on a separate partition, and SWAP on a separate partition would work, and so far that has always worked out very well.

Of course, another option is that if you just want new programs to be installed to another partition, you could just specify that whenever you install them.

I think there's a system config file/registry entry somewhere, but I've never bothered in actually trying to change it.

 

[unixfreak]

Thanks,

What do you mean by data on a seperate partition?

-----
Cheers,
Henrik Morsing

http://www.aixperts.co.uk/

Join us on irc://chat.freenode.net channel ##aix

 

[aich69]

kjv1611 is on the right track with nlite... we've used it to move the users entire profile to a second partition (amongst other custom tweaks). It takes a while to get it all together but it's well worth the effort. We have around 400 workstations running this custom build and it works a treat.

It will certainly do what you are looking for, there's a version for Vista too 'vlite' (for what it's worth )

I used to have a handle on life... but it broke. Cpt. Red Bull

 

[kjv1611]

Yeah, aich69, if you're setting up tons of computers with the same configuration, than somethign like nlite would be a life saver for sure!

unixfreak,

What I mean by a separate data partition, I'm talking about you can force your Documents, etc, to reside on the separate partition.

In Windows XP, I just set up a separate partition, and told the MyDocuments folder to put stuff there.

With Vista and 7, you can actually make each USER folder basically totally move to another partition.

Here's what I do all the time:
1. Create separate partition (I usually use the H: letter, so I'll use that in this example)
2. For Each folder under C:/Users/WhateverName/, I:
3. Right-click the folder, select Location Tab, and then edit the text box there, change C: to H:.
4. Hit OK
5. On next prompt, tell it to move all files to the new location.
6. Then hit OK again if there is one... just basically default any prompts you might see...

What that does is move all user "docs and settings" type files to the other partition, so you're getting the use of another partition or separate disk if setup that way, and your data is more-so protected from the system files in case there is any mess-ups there.

 

[linney]

Floppy drives, do you remember those?

"unattended answer file must be renamed to Winnt.sif and copied to a floppy disk so Setup can access it."



How to Perform an Unattended Installation of Windows from a CD-ROM

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314459&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

SYSPREP Windows XP: Cloned PC asked for all details?
thread779-1262931

SysPrep Guide

http://www.vernalex.com/guides/sysprep/

MSFN Forums > Unattended Windows Discussion & Support > Unattended Windows

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showforum=70

 

[goombawaho]

Floppy???? Yes, we have no floppy.

 

[BadBigBen]

goom, Verbatim still makes them...

Sony has just quit making them in the past month or so...


Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[goombawaho]

I was joking - I have a floppy available at all times. It's most people that have overlooked that little device, until they need it.

 

[kjv1611]

I picked up a USB floppy (used - old) by IBM about a year ago, in case I need one for loading Windows XP on any particular hardware. However, I've not NEEDED it once for that purpose since. Go figure. But I'm still glad I got it. I did get to make use of it to help out my pa in law, while still trying to get him adjusted to using a USB flash drive instead of floppies.