Forum: EasyBoot
Topic: Is it possible to RUN an image after ...
started by: sirams
Posted by sirams on Apr. 12 2005,03:06
I make a multiboot CD for Winxp. I want to make a fully automatic installer that formats C: and then runs winXP install.
As I cannot find how to format C within Windows boot console before installation begins, I made an MSDOS boot image.
OK, I can format C from DOS (WinXP deploy tool oformat is quick and does not ask questions).
But after I have formated C I need to run WinXP boot image. Is it possible from EasyBoot to run an image that somehow lets EasyBoot loader know that it must unload the first image and load the second?
Of course, I could run Win install from DOS, but there is a weird thing: if I load without smartdrv.exe installed, WinXP installation stops and offers me to run smartdrv.exe. But if I use smartdrv.exe, WinXP installation freezes in the middle of copying preparation files to HDD.
Any ideas? Thanks.
Posted by eureka on Apr. 12 2005,03:52
Hello sirams

I quote: ” I want to make a fully automatic installer that formats C: and then runs winXP install”.

To achieve this I suggest you use unattended install. It’s possible to make “auto format” on C: (Note: NTFS) and then continue installing procedure. It’s also possible to make this unattended run completely bye it self.

Further on (if you are interested) I can show you how to use EasyBoot and create different options according to different unattended install. I mean start different types of unattended install. Like: “full auto”, “half auto” and maybe completely “normal” install (last one only to reach repair console).

eureka
Posted by sirams on Apr. 21 2005,06:40
Thanks for your response.
Yes, I would like to know more about choosing between various unattended installs. I have read Microsoft's "deploy.cab" help files, but everything seemed a bit messy. So now I have an unattended install which installs WinXP+SP2 integrated without any questions. But I still cannot handle preparing tasks. it would be nice if I could make a fully automatic installation which:
-if HDD is brand new, installation creates a C partition (FAT32 or NTFS formatted)
-if there is a C partition then installation offers a user to format it (to make a completely clean WinXP install)

It is problematic to do everything from DOS because I still have not found a free NTFS driver with read/write abilities. Only datapol ntfs4dos is OK, but it has that demo sreen (with Yes/no question) which spoils the idea of automatic install. So it would be great to do preparation within WinXP cinsole. But how to make it do the things I need automatically?
Thanks.
Posted by eureka on Apr. 21 2005,11:18
Hello sirams

First part:
About ” I still cannot handle preparing tasks”. Normally you create a NTFS partition when running WinXP, and I suggest you use this file system. To achieve this you have to insert some stuff in winnt.sif file. In [Data] Note: “AutoPartition=1”  and in [Unattended] Note: “Repartition=yes” and finally “Filesystem=ConvertNTFS”  This forces [C:] to have one full-sized partition formatted to NTFS.  

Attention: When using “Autopartition” and "Repartition”, every partition (on [C:]) will be wiped out and replaced with one single partition covering the whole hard disk (watch out for this, so you don’t “kill” data on other partitions!) Note: If having two or more hard disk units, only [C:] is touched bye changes, never [D:] or [F:] etcetera.

Delete line: “Filesystem=ConvertNTFS” and set “Autopartition=0” and “Repartition=no” to avoid auto partition (different winnt.sif).

I only show the first part of winnt.sif that handles questions according to partition and formatting hard disk, as you already have the rest of the stuff well working:

;SetupMgrTag
[Data]
   AutoPartition=1
   MsDosInitiated="0"
   UnattendedInstall="Yes"

[Unattended]
   Repartition=yes
   FileSystem = ConvertNTFS
   UnattendMode=FullUnattended
   OemSkipEula=Yes
   OemPreinstall=No
   UnattendSwitch="yes"
   TargetPath=\WINDOWS
   WaitForReboot = No
   Hibernation=No

---------------------------------------------
To achieve a kind of “half automated” install (using winnt.sif) which forces you to manually choose partition and what file system you want you only have to make this changes. Note changes in: “AutoPartition=0” and in “Repartition=No” and delete “FileSystem = ConvertNTFS”

;SetupMgrTag
[Data]
   AutoPartition=0
   MsDosInitiated="0"
   UnattendedInstall="Yes"

[Unattended]
   Repartition=No
   UnattendMode=FullUnattended
   OemSkipEula=Yes
   OemPreinstall=No
   UnattendSwitch="yes"
   TargetPath=\WINDOWS
   WaitForReboot = No
   Hibernation=No

-----------------------------------------
Second part:
This is another example that shows the power and capacity of EasyBoot.

There is at least two ways to achieve different unattended installation (using winnt.sif).
One way is to copy setup disks to different “setup-folders”. However, to avoid to many folders (to messy) I prefer this method. Are you ready? Here we go:

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Create two different folders: option1 and option2.
Copy the file "setupldr.bin" from the "i386" folder, to each folder above.
Do the same with W2ksect.bin, copy to each folder above (W2ksect.bin comes with EasyBoot).

In folder option1 rename “setupldr.bin” to “setupld1.bin” and rename “W2ksect.bin” to “install1.bin” (no quotes). Rename files in folder option2 to setupld2.bin and install2.bin.

We also need to hex edit this files. Use “EasyBoot>Tools>Replace text” to do this.
Start with install1.bin and find text  SETUPLDR.BIN  replace with  SETUPLD1.BIN
(Only one text string should be replaced in this file).
In folder option2, replace text in install2.bin from  SETUPLDR.BIN  to  SETUPLD2.BIN.
Attention: USE CAPS during process: “find and replacing text” inside this files.

In folder option1 find text winnt.sif   in  setupld1.bin  replace with  winn1.sif (at least five text strings should be changed, if you have done right).
In folder option2  find text  winnt.sif   in  setupld2.bin  replace with  winn2.sif
Attention: NO CAPS during process: “find and replacing text” inside this files.

Create different answer files (winnt.sif) in the way you want installation to behave and rename this to: winn1.sif and winn2.sif. Of course winn1.sif goes to folder  option1  and  winnt2.sif  goes to folder  option2.
If wanted (or needed) - it’s possible to create as many “option folders” you want (with different setupldr.bin , install1.bin and winnt.sif).
---------------------------------------------
Finishing up:
Copy winn1.sif, winn2.sif, setupld1.bin and finally setupld2.bin to i386 folder (EasyBoot\disk1\i386).
Copy install1.bin and install2.bin to EasyBoot\disk1\ezboot

(you may now delete folders option1 and option2)

In EasyBoot use different command:   run install1.bin    and/or    run install2.bin   to start this two different unattended installation of WinXP.
---------------------------------------------
Personally I have created four different install options (four different winnt.sif files). One “automated” one “half automated” one “half manually” and finally “completely manually” (last one only for the purpose to easily reach repair consol)

eureka.
Posted by sirams on Apr. 26 2005,11:45
Wow, thanks a lot!
That is exactly what I need. I'll try it and I am almost 100%sure it will work.
Posted by eureka on Apr. 26 2005,16:14
Be my guest…

Regards eureka