Windows Tips

Automated Setup Options
If you plan to install Windows XP on one or two computers, running the Setup program from the CD is your best choice. But if you’re planning to upgrade an entire office full of computers, you can save a substantial amount of time by automating the installation. The two most popular options are

Unattended setup.
This option uses a batch file and a script (called an answer file) to bypass the Setup program’s prompts and fill in answers automatically. You can choose from five unattended modes.

Disk imaging (cloning).
In this option, you set up Windows on a sample computer and then run the System Preparation utility (Sysprep.exe), which removes the unique security identifier (SID). You can then use a disk cloning program such as Symantec’s Ghost (http://www.symantec.com/ghost)or PowerQuest’s DriveImage (http://www.powerquest.com/driveimage) to copythe entire partition to a new computer; when it starts up, it runs a Mini-Setup program that completes in 5–10 minutes instead of the hour or more that a full Setup requires.


Installing the Deployment Tools
The Windows XP Professional and Home Edition CDs include a selection of utilities and Help files that make it possible to use the automated installation processes described in this section. The Microsoft Windows Corporate Deployment Tools are located in a compressed Cabinet file (a compressed archive that is similar to a .zip file but uses the .cab extension). Before you can use these utilities, you have to copy them to your hard disk.
From Windows Explorer, open the \Support\Tools folder on the Windows XP CD, and double-click Deploy.cab. Select all files in this compressed folder, and copy them to a folder on your hard disk.

tip - Keep support files together
If you’ve already installed the Support Tools, why not keep the Deployment Tools in the same location? Create a new subfolder called Deploy in the %ProgramFiles%\Support Tools folder and use it to store the deployment utilities.

The following files are included in Deploy.cab:
Setupmgr.exe.
This executable file opens the Microsoft Setup Manager Wizard, which is used for creating answer files. It includes ahelp file (Setupmgr.chm), which is accessible only from within the Setup Manager Wizard.

Sysprep.exe.
This executable file runs the System Preparation Tool, which is used for creating and deploying disk images.
caution
Do not run Sysprep.exe on any system unless you intend to make an image of that system. Sysprep is a powerful tool that removes unique security identifiers from a Windows computer. If you run it by mistake on a working system, you will wipe out the security settings on that computer and may suffer unintended consequences, such as losing the ability to access files in your user profile.

Setupcl.exe.
A small program used by Sysprep.exe to create unique security identifiers (SIDs).
Deploy.chm. Microsoft Windows Corporate Deployment Tools User’s Guide, in Compiled HTML Help format, provides detailed instructions and technical information about the deployment process. You can double-click to browse its contents.

Ref.chm.
Compiled HTML Help file that contains reference information about the utilities and support files used in the deployment process. You can double-click to browse its contents.

In addition, three specialized utilities that are intended primarily for use by computer manufacturers are included within the Deploy.cab collection on the Windows XP CD:

Cvtarea.exe.
Used in conjunction with Convert.exe (the utility that converts a drive to NTFS format) to create an unfragmented placeholder file for NTFS system files. The file is overwritten by the Master File Table during the conversion to NTFS.

Oformat.com.
An enhanced version of the Windows 98 Format.exe program (an MS-DOS application) that creates a FAT32 volume with clusters that are aligned optimally for conversion to NTFS format.
Factory.exe.
Helper program used with Sysprep.exe to make changes to a standard configuration before delivering it to end users.
For more information about these files, read the descriptions in the Deployment Tools User’s Guide (Deploy.chm).