This document contains detailed information on how to set up and operate the server folders that host the complete Microsoft Windows® XP Professional, Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, and Microsoft Windows XP Professional Tablet PC Edition unattended installation process. This process uses a host or build server that contains all of the Windows media and scripts. Workstations to be built can then connect to this server via a Microsoft Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) CD and build new workstation images. The goal of this process is the creation of disk images that meet the requirements for workstation images as defined in the functional specification documentation. Automation of operating system installation is a modular process, allowing each of the individual components of the system to be managed separately without having to reengineer the entire process. The goal of the design is to provide the scripts necessary to install, configure, and customize the Windows platform and to switch to updated releases of service packs simply and easily. The system is intended to provide a robust starting point and framework for building systems that are easily and broadly extensible. This guide is intended for a technical audience. It includes information about how to install the scripted environment on a server and how to execute scripted installations of Windows. It also documents how the process is run and how to customize the system to meet specific requirements. The following sections describe the complete details of the unattended installation process by project phase. It is intended that this system will be installed in a lab environment. Note The Solution Accelerator for Business Desktop Deployment version 2.5 provides limited support for Windows XP Professional x64 Edition. Using this solution, you can create unattended installations by using Windows PE. While lite-touch deployment of Windows XP Professional x64 is enabled in this solution, this scenario is not supported. BackgroundThis document and the work it entails typically begin in the MSF Developing Phase, where the images are designed and built. The work continues into the Stabilizing Phase, where the images are tested, piloted, and approved for release to the Deploying Phase. The primary consumer of this work is the MSF Development Role Cluster, because most of this document focuses on the development work needed to create images. The developers work with the technologies and processes described in this document to create and implement modular changes to a base installation of Windows that result in the workstation out-of-box experience. The imaging process uses the information in the functional specification to build the workstation image(s) that the Release Management team will use as the baseline workstation configuration. These images are then given to the Test Role Cluster for testing, validation, and acceptance. The input into this process is the functional specification, and the outputs from this process are the images and pertinent documentation and knowledge obtained during the development. AssumptionsThose who use this system should be familiar with the concepts of unattended installations, including concepts and technologies such as: | • | Unattended text files | | • | Hardware driver files | | • | $OEM$ folders | | • | Boot disks | | • | Batch files | | • | Microsoft Visual Basic® Scripting Edition (VBScript) |
Education and ReferencesThe following resources for education and reference can be helpful for those starting automation projects: | • | Microsoft Windows Desktop Deployment Resource Kit (http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/6562.asp)—Microsoft Press® This book contains in-depth technical information and tools to deploy and manage Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2003, including Microsoft’s most-requested setup and support information in one comprehensive and authoritative volume. With it, you get prescriptive guidance to help choose the best deployment method and tools for common scenarios; perform attended and unattended installations; automate the deployment process, control policy, and profile settings for desktop operating systems and applications; automate deployments for Office and other programs; and more. The information, tools, templates, and scripts come straight from the source and provide the expertise you need to maximize the productivity of your desktop environment and reduce support costs. | | • | Course 2433: Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition and Microsoft Windows Script Host Essentials at http://www.microsoft.com/learning/syllabi/en-us/2433afinal.mspx. The goal of this course is to teach Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system administrators how to take advantage of Windows Script Host (WSH) by using the Microsoft VBScript language. Those who take the course will be able to develop real-world scripts that they can use to manage Windows 2000 networks. This course also provides an overview of other technologies that use scripts, such as Active Server Pages (ASP), Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), and third-party Component Object Model (COM) components. | | • | Microsoft TechNet Desktop Deployment Center at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/itsolutions/
desktopdeployment/default.mspx This Web site includes links to sources of information about deploying Windows XP Professional and Office 2003, including solution accelerators, resource kits, white papers, documentation, and many other online sources. | | • | Microsoft TechNet Windows XP Service Pack2 (SP2) Resources for IT Professionals at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/
winxppro/maintain/winxpsp2.mspx Windows XP SP2 contains major security improvements designed to provide better protection against hackers, viruses, and worms. Windows XP SP2 also improves the manageability of the security features in Windows XP and provides more and better information to help users make decisions that may potentially affect their security and privacy. The Windows XP SP2 site on Microsoft TechNet is the best resource for accessing the most up-to-date technical information regarding this service pack. | | • | Microsoft TechNet subscriptions, at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/default.aspx With a TechNet subscription, the latest Microsoft technical information is delivered monthly on CD-ROM or DVD-ROM discs, letting you avoid the need to download the content from the Microsoft TechNet Web site. A fully searchable knowledge base is also included to help improve the productivity of IT professionals. | | • | Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) subscriptions, at http://msdn2.microsoft.com/subscriptions/default.aspx The MSDN subscription program enables IT professionals to receive Microsoft server, desktop, productivity, and developer tools software packages. These can be used in lab environments (described below) to improve productivity and reduce the cost of maintaining a lab. | | • | Microsoft Windows Scripting Self-Paced Learning Guide (http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/6789.asp)—Microsoft Press This book describes how to write system administration scripts—straight from Microsoft scripting experts. This practical learning guide teaches how to use scripting techniques to gain control over your Microsoft Windows environment, all at your own pace. Build practical skills for everything from writing your first script in Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript) to working with Windows Scripting Host (WSH), Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), and Microsoft Active Directory® Services Interface (ADSI); and from creating logon scripts to automating the management of systems, user accounts, files, printers, the registry, network services, directory services, security features, Group Policy, and more. The companion CD features the complete eBook plus more than 200 sample scripts and a host of timesaving scripting tools. | | • | Deploy.chm in the Deploy.cab file in the Support\Tools folder on the Windows XP CD-ROM This help file, titled the “Microsoft Windows Corporate Deployment Tools User’s Guide,” describes each of the tools provided in the Deploy.cab file such as Sysprep, Diskpart, and Winnt32.exe. These tools help you preinstall, customize, and deploy Windows XP. | | • | Ref.chm in the Deploy.cab file in the Support\Tools folder on the Windows XP CD-ROM This help file, titled the “Microsoft Windows Preinstallation Reference,” describes how to configure Windows during an unattended installation or deployment of Windows XP. Each setting in the Unattend.txt file (used to configure which Windows components are installed) and the Sysprep.inf file (used to automate Windows XP mini-setup) is described in this file. | | • | Microsoft help at support at http://support.microsoft.com This Web site contains the fully indexed and searchable Microsoft product knowledge base, updated daily with the latest information on Microsoft products. Many issues and questions can be resolved using this site. | | • | Microsoft TechNet Script Center at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/default.mspx The TechNet Script Center provides one-stop shopping for system administrators wanting to manage their Windows computers using Microsoft’s scripting technologies. | | • | Winpe.chm in the DOCS folder of the Windows PE 2004 CD This help file, titled the “Microsoft Windows Preinstallation Environment User’s Guide,” provides information for corporate administrators about using Windows PE to deploy Microsoft Windows to computers within your organization. It describes the features of Windows PE and explains how to configure and customize Windows PE for your specific requirements. |
Lab RequirementsThis system copies large volumes of files between the host server and the target workstations. Because of these high-volume data transfers, you should establish a lab that is physically separate from the production corporate network. To the extent that it is possible, you should configure the test lab to fully represent the production environment. You should configure the lab with at least the following items readily available: | • | A Windows domain for the computers to join and to host user accounts. This could be a Microsoft Windows 2000 or Microsoft Windows Server™ 2003 domain. | | • | DHCP services, for providing TCP/IP addresses to client computers. | | • | DNS services, for providing TCP/IP host name resolution to client and server computers. | | • | WINS services, for providing NetBIOS name resolution to client and server computers. | | • | A build server (at least a Windows 2000 or newer Windows computer) in the domain to host the build files and images. This can be a workstation or server class computer. Although the system has no specific dependencies on the build computer, the computer should have at least 50 gigabytes (GB) of disk space and some form of backup equipment, such as a tape drive or a storage area network (SAN). | | • | Remote Installation Services (RIS), optionally used to deliver Windows PE to computers that do not yet have an operating system. RIS servers require a Windows 2000 or newer domain. Additional RIS functionality is available on Windows Server 2003, so this should be used if available. | | • | Network switches and cabling. 100 megabits/sec (Mb/s) or faster is recommended to accommodate the high volumes of data. | | • | Client workstations. Any unique type of workstation configuration that will be found in production should be duplicated in the lab. This allows for testing each hardware configuration. | | • | Keyboard/video/mouse (KVM) switches. It can be helpful to have the client workstations connected to a KVM switch to minimize the floor space needed to host the workstations. | | • | CD or DVD burner. A system should be available in the lab for creating CD-ROMs or DVD-ROMs. | | • | Internet access. The lab (or a portion of the lab) should have access to the Internet for downloading software updates. |
Note Windows XP SP2 protects users against malicious programs by warning users when they try to run a program that they downloaded from the Internet. Users must accept the warning to continue. This warning prevents packages you download from the Internet for inclusion in a disk-image build from running automatically, however. After verifying that the file is safe, you can disable the warning: Right-click the file, click Properties, and then click Unblock. Windows XP SP2 does not display this warning when you download files from sites listed in the Trusted sites security zone, and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 does not allow you to download programs from untrusted sites by default. | • | Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 1 media, available on the volume license media (Select CDs), and volume license keys. (If not available, original Windows XP Professional media can be slipstreamed with Service Pack 1.) | | • | Windows XP Professional with SP2 media, available on the volume license media (Select CDs), and volume license keys. (If not available, original Windows XP Professional media can be slipstreamed with SP2.) | | • | Windows XP Professional x64 Edition media, available on the volume license media (Select CDs), and volume license keys. Note: the Solution Accelerator for BDD does not support the Itanium-based Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition. | | • | Original Windows XP Professional Tablet PC Edition 2005 media (two CDs), available on the volume license media (Select CDs), and volume license keys. | | • | Office 2003 media, available on the volume license media (Select CDs), and volume license keys. | | • | Office 2003 Service Pack 1 media, available on the volume license media (Select CDs) or downloadable. | | • | Windows PE media, available on volume license media (Select CDs). This solution supports Windows PE 2004 and Windows PE 2005 only. | | • | BDD media. | | • | Any additional application media to be included in the images. | | • | Any hardware-specific software, such as drivers, CD-ROM burner software, and DVD viewing software. |
A sample scenario for this solution has been provided, using a fictitious organization, Trey Research, in which to apply the solution. For the Trey example, specifically, you need the following media that shipped with the hardware: | • | InterVideo WinDVD CD-ROM Version 4.0.11.30. Shipped with Dell Latitude D600—Dell part number 8T827. | | • | CyberLink PowerDVD DVD-ROM Version 4.0.12. Shipped with Dell OptiPlex GX270—Dell part number D0827. | | • | Roxio Easy CD Creator 5.3.4.21 Basic CD-ROM. Shipped with Dell OptiPlex GX270—Dell part number T0408 Rev. A00. | | • | Roxio Easy CD Creator 6 CD-ROM. Shipped with HP Compaq Business Desktop d530—HP part number 303275-B28. | | • | Hardware drivers and applications that need to be downloaded from the Internet. See the subsequent section, “Installing Hardware-Specific Media,” for a detailed list of downloads required. | | • | Microsoft hotfixes and software updates that need to be downloaded from the Internet. See the later section “Downloading Windows Hotfixes” for a detailed list of the download files required. |
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