Windows XP: Unattended Installation Windows

Microsoft has taken care of its users and has created a utility setupmgr for us. So, take the Windows XP distribution in the Support / Tools directory looking deploy.cab file. Open it and unpack the usual WinRar'om setupmgr.exe file - he needs us. Run it.

When you run the program asks what to do: create a new file or edit topics. Note the first item. Then the program is interested in, what we create this file. Since we need only automatic XP installation, we also check the "Windows Automated Installation".

The next dialog box will ask you for some of the operating system is file. Select an OS Windows XP Pro (if you install Windows XP Home, then choose the corresponding item).

The next dialog box "level of user interaction" will ask you how the installation will take place. Choose the second option "Fully Automatic Installation".

The window "distribution folder" will ask you where the Windows installation files. Select the second paragraph, "The response file will be used to install from a CD" and click "Next".

In the next window you can read the license agreement. If you agree, check the box "I accept the terms of this license agreement." If you are against it, press the button "Cancel" then the program will terminate.

Now, the program will open a new kind of window that is needed to control other parameters.

It is necessary to:

• on the tab "General settings" to enter a user name and organization, set the screen color palette, resolution and refresh rate, the time zone you are in, enter the product key;
• on the tab "Network Settings" enter the name of the computer (any, but preferably consists of Latin characters, although permitted and Cyrillic), specify the Administrator password (or leave it blank if you do not use passwords on your system), configure the network components (if the computer is used on the network, specify the IP address, add or remove services, and if the computer is not in use on the network - to leave the default settings), and finally specify the workgroup or domain (again for the computers used in the network);
• on the tab "Advanced Settings", select the country you are in, phone area code, code access an outside line and dialing method (these settings are required if you use the Internet), then select the language, browser settings, the folder to which you want to install Windows.

Finally click "Next" and get a window that asks where to place the unattend.txt file. Save it where you want. For example, I will keep it in the «C: \ Temp» folder.

Finally, the last dialog box will notify you that the work program is completed and the file is saved where you specified. But that is not all…

Go to the directory where you saved the file (in my case it is C: \ Temp) and rename it to Winnt.sif. Now the answer file is really ready. Insert a floppy disk 3.5 (A) in the drive and copy the file to it.

Now that you are going to install the Windows, in addition to the CD with Windows XP distribution, paste and even a floppy disk with that file. The system will find the answers to all the questions that need it to install Windows XP.