• From: Baja, Mexico
  • Registered: 2009-01-23
  • Posts: 4

Topic: Help with Network Installation

Truly first of all, I want to THANK YOU all!!!

Here is my question (just in case you want to skip my long winded stuff below.)  Is there a way, after XP is installed, to have XP search and install any missing drivers from a network share or a mounted ISO?

I would like any info about my situation:  I have an Internet Cafe, School & Computer repair and sales in Mexico, here is my MO at this time.

I wrote all my own software for tracking time, snacks, etc.  For the school I have several programs for tracking student progress and other CBT.  I do not restrict what the machines are used for (customers can install anything they want.)  This means I get about 2-3 weeks before the machines need to be reinstalled.  Also I get many computers a month to reinstall (many different brands and models.)

So I have installations in English and Spanish.  My install process is as follows:

1 - I use a Unattended bootable CD w/intragrated SP and a portion of drivers (what space will allow.)
2 - After install I use a network share to install ALL software needed (this is done with BATs and scripts)

Overall I am VERY happy with the way it works, P3s are done in about 2HRs and P4s a little over an hour.  The only interaction is formatting the HD (I stop there for safety reasons.)  Other than that IE7 at the end and ready for users.

The 2 biggest problems I face:
1 - If a different driver is needed I have to find a way to get it installed.  This is often difficult because rarely do the machines I work with have a DVD.  So I have 2 CDs but often need to switch... bla, bla, bla

2 - I still have not gotten a good way to intragate IE7 into my installation (I have tried all the switches from MFSN and other sources.)  So any suggestion would be helpful.

TIA,
DPRoberts

  • From: Baja, Mexico
  • Registered: 2009-01-23
  • Posts: 4

Re: Help with Network Installation

Sorry, I did not mention, Is there a way to do this automaticly.  I know how to do manually.

DPRoberts

  • OverFlow
  • DriverPacks Administrator & BASE Developer
  • Offline
  • From: Cincinnati
  • Registered: 2006-12-02
  • Posts: 6,730

Re: Help with Network Installation

Here is your answer in case you don't want to read all the stuff below - DriverPacks BASE SAD feature.


The best solution is RogueSpears AutoImage which will allow you to do a RIS install.
That eliminates the CD and related space issues altogether.

Batch scripting software installs is effective but clumsy, I would suggest you take a look at Windows Post Installer (WPI).
Since you already have the switches required to automate the install, adding them to the interface would be a breeze.
It is a ery powerful tool that allows multiple configurations, will auto continue if a reboot is required and is just pretty darned slick.

DriverPacks BASE has a feature called SAD (Stand Alone Drivers) this feature will allow you to create either a network repository or a CD with all of the DriverPacks. That will cure your driver issues, however I would like to point out if you used RIS with DriverPacks then your drivers would simply be installed with the OS an eliminate the need to use SAD.

I personaly carry a DVD and a USB to IDE converter. You can either hang a DVD on the machine (It is always a good idea to open the case so you can verify that the CPU fan has not become a dust bunny nest. smile) or use the USB option if the box supports boot to usb. a DVD is 20 dollars and a USB to IDE is even less. wink

The RVMIntegrator and nLite can both add IE to your install quite easily. There are several IE7 AddOns for RVMI and many RVMI addons can be added with nLite.

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  • From: Baja, Mexico
  • Registered: 2009-01-23
  • Posts: 4

Re: Help with Network Installation

Yes I am playing with the WPI, It looks much better.

The methods I use now is USB and mounted ISO.  But they have the draw back that when the installtion is done, I have to physically go the machine and insert a USB or using VNC I can mount an image and install.  But either way the machine can not be used until I get to it.

My goal is to start the installation and at the end it is ready to use (currently it still has IE6, but is ready to use.)  My current CD is 701 MB (I use a stripped XP (254 MB) and CPU, LAN, Sound A/B, Video B/C (450MB).)  Now I want to update my CD and Video B has increased ALOT and with SP3, the smallest I can make the CD 786MB.  So my hope was to move ALL drivers (exept LAN) to the network.

So I do have the drivers so I can use manually, Here is my perfect world:

Install XP
Use a program. BAT or script, to force the computer to re-search for uninstalled drivers, after mounting an ISO that contains ALL drivers. 

OR

I saw a post that sounded like there was a way to leave the driver packs compressed, and uncompress them during the install, but it looks like this done after the computer has installed the drivers and again means that the drivers are there, but require manually installation.

Anymore thoughts,
DPRoberts





The key is automation, if it is possible.

  • OverFlow
  • DriverPacks Administrator & BASE Developer
  • Offline
  • From: Cincinnati
  • Registered: 2006-12-02
  • Posts: 6,730

Re: Help with Network Installation

Apparently you did not read what i wrote....

SAD does what you want... it installs all the drivers in the packs automatically

Run DriverPacks BASE and select SAD... not only is it possible but i have already told you how.

Create a SAD Disc or network repository and run DP_Inst_Tool.cmd it automatically installs drivers.

SAD does what you want... Try it before you ASSUME i did not understand you.

The KEY is paying attention...

I also told you how to address the IE issue...

I also told you using RIS will eliminate going to the machine at all

Please attempt the solutions offered FIRST, then report back if you have questions.

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  • From: Baja, Mexico
  • Registered: 2009-01-23
  • Posts: 4

Re: Help with Network Installation

Thank you for your quick responses. You are giving me hope. My READ:WRITE ratio is about a 1000:1, I will read a 1000 words before I write 1.  So there is no need to be so condescending.  When I created the SAD a few days ago and run the process, it did not work, by the end I still had to tell the computer to search my driver CD to install.  When I tried that time I did not watch the process, I only knew in the end it did not find the driver.  That time was a mounted CD and then run the CMD.

This next time I watched the whole process, it still did not work, but this time I have notes of what I did see, here are the notes:

My workstation is a Compaq 510 Evo, no upgrades.  It has an integrated NIC, Sound and Video.  My new install CD, finds the NIC and sound, that leaves the Intel 82845G video.

For this second test I tried the network share idea.  I did a fresh install (the install creates the share) and manually ran the CMD.  The DOS style screen says “Installing Method #2† and appears to uncompress files to the C drive.  After that screen is done a second starts, it appears to go though a bunch of INF files, during this process it seemed to slow-down about 4 times, one of these times I think it reinstalled the NIC (the icon in the task bar disappeared and reappeared saying acquiring a network address.)  After that screen another started that said “DP Finisher.†  After that everything was closed.

NOW that I have seen what it does I am sure it will be exactly what I need!  How can I test what I am doing wrong?

TIA,
DPRoberts

  • OverFlow
  • DriverPacks Administrator & BASE Developer
  • Offline
  • From: Cincinnati
  • Registered: 2006-12-02
  • Posts: 6,730

Re: Help with Network Installation

the key to finding out what did or did not work is in the setupapi.log wink
You might also find the dpinst.log useful.

Nothing, I repeat... Nothing, is as effective as having the drivers available during setup. (RIS)
However the redistributable MS tool DPInst.exe is the best 'Software First' option there is...
DPInst is the Core of SAD

as far as how you took my comments... if you would have substituted your second reply with the third... wink
My time here is free but that does not mean you (anyone) have a right to waste it, and if i feel that you (someone) are...

I don't normaly apologize (In fact I don't think I ever have on this forum)... But I like your style... I am sorry.

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  • Registered: 2007-03-30
  • Posts: 10

Re: Help with Network Installation

I'm assuming all these machines run XP... I think your better option would be to use Windows Steady State. That way instead of having to rebuild these machines all the time, whenever they reboot, they will be exactly as they were when they first started up. That will still allow your users to do whatever they need and install anything they want while saving you a huge amount of work.