Windows Deployment Service, Server 2009

[Mike]

I have successfully created a Windows XP image and was able to automatically
load the image to Windows Deployment Service. I am also able to successfully
re-deploy the image back to another computer. The image was also imbedded
with the sysprep.inf file performing the inital answers for such things as
licence keys, regional settings, SkipWelcome etc. So far so good.

Where I am having difficulty is in creating an unattend.xml file so I can
add additioanl customizations and especially more drivers so I do not need to
create a separate image for every hardware confiuration we have (30+
configurations). Note, I have worked with RIS deployments and have no
problem with additional drivers.

I have tried the earlier version of WAIK and the latest version of WAIK with
no success. I continually error out on the WIM catalog process no matter how
I try it.

1) How can I get WAIK to create the unattend.xml I need?
2) Is there a utility that will convert unattend.sif to unattend.xml?
3) Ohter suggestions????

Thank you for your assistance.
Mike

[Dusko Savatovic]

AFAIU, unattend.xml and other xml files are only for Vista and later
operating systems.
XP still relies on sysprep.inf and unattend.txt files.
Also, XP does not have catalog.
Catalog comes with componentized OS, ie Vista and later.

Post by Mike
I have successfully created a Windows XP image and was able to
automatically
load the image to Windows Deployment Service. I am also able to successfully
re-deploy the image back to another computer. The image was also imbedded
with the sysprep.inf file performing the inital answers for such things as
licence keys, regional settings, SkipWelcome etc. So far so good.
Where I am having difficulty is in creating an unattend.xml file so I can
add additioanl customizations and especially more drivers so I do not need to
create a separate image for every hardware confiuration we have (30+
configurations). Note, I have worked with RIS deployments and have no
problem with additional drivers.
I have tried the earlier version of WAIK and the latest version of WAIK with
no success. I continually error out on the WIM catalog process no matter how
I try it.
1) How can I get WAIK to create the unattend.xml I need?
2) Is there a utility that will convert unattend.sif to unattend.xml?
3) Ohter suggestions????
Thank you for your assistance.
Mike

[Mike]

So how do I install additional drivers for other hardware platforms for
Windows XP using Windows Deployment Service?

Post by Dusko Savatovic
AFAIU, unattend.xml and other xml files are only for Vista and later
operating systems.
XP still relies on sysprep.inf and unattend.txt files.
Also, XP does not have catalog.
Catalog comes with componentized OS, ie Vista and later.

Post by Mike
I have successfully created a Windows XP image and was able to automatically
load the image to Windows Deployment Service. I am also able to successfully
re-deploy the image back to another computer. The image was also imbedded
with the sysprep.inf file performing the inital answers for such things as
licence keys, regional settings, SkipWelcome etc. So far so good.
Where I am having difficulty is in creating an unattend.xml file so I can
add additioanl customizations and especially more drivers so I do not need to
create a separate image for every hardware confiuration we have (30+
configurations). Note, I have worked with RIS deployments and have no
problem with additional drivers.
I have tried the earlier version of WAIK and the latest version of WAIK with
no success. I continually error out on the WIM catalog process no matter how
I try it.
1) How can I get WAIK to create the unattend.xml I need?
2) Is there a utility that will convert unattend.sif to unattend.xml?
3) Ohter suggestions????
Thank you for your assistance.
Mike

[unknown]

You can add MDT as deployment platform to WDS... MDT has a good
drivers repository that allows you to (quite) easily work with
universal images.

The current WDS version doesnt have any real driver handling.. next
version will...

Regards

Johan Arwidmark
Microsoft MVP - Setup / Deployment
http://www.deployvista.com


On Thu, 5 Mar 2009 13:03:01 -0800, Mike

Post by Mike
So how do I install additional drivers for other hardware platforms for
Windows XP using Windows Deployment Service?

Post by Dusko Savatovic
AFAIU, unattend.xml and other xml files are only for Vista and later
operating systems.
XP still relies on sysprep.inf and unattend.txt files.
Also, XP does not have catalog.
Catalog comes with componentized OS, ie Vista and later.

Post by Mike
I have successfully created a Windows XP image and was able to automatically
load the image to Windows Deployment Service. I am also able to successfully
re-deploy the image back to another computer. The image was also imbedded
with the sysprep.inf file performing the inital answers for such things as
licence keys, regional settings, SkipWelcome etc. So far so good.
Where I am having difficulty is in creating an unattend.xml file so I can
add additioanl customizations and especially more drivers so I do not need to
create a separate image for every hardware confiuration we have (30+
configurations). Note, I have worked with RIS deployments and have no
problem with additional drivers.
I have tried the earlier version of WAIK and the latest version of WAIK with
no success. I continually error out on the WIM catalog process no matter how
I try it.
1) How can I get WAIK to create the unattend.xml I need?
2) Is there a utility that will convert unattend.sif to unattend.xml?
3) Ohter suggestions????
Thank you for your assistance.
Mike

[Erik Droszcz]

Johan, would that be the version of WDS in Windows Server 2008 R2? Or is it
even a later version that will have driver handling?

Regards Erik

Post by unknown
You can add MDT as deployment platform to WDS... MDT has a good
drivers repository that allows you to (quite) easily work with
universal images.
The current WDS version doesnt have any real driver handling.. next
version will...
Regards
Johan Arwidmark
Microsoft MVP - Setup / Deployment
http://www.deployvista.com
On Thu, 5 Mar 2009 13:03:01 -0800, Mike

Post by Mike
So how do I install additional drivers for other hardware platforms for
Windows XP using Windows Deployment Service?

Post by Dusko Savatovic
AFAIU, unattend.xml and other xml files are only for Vista and later
operating systems.
XP still relies on sysprep.inf and unattend.txt files.
Also, XP does not have catalog.
Catalog comes with componentized OS, ie Vista and later.

Post by Mike
I have successfully created a Windows XP image and was able to automatically
load the image to Windows Deployment Service. I am also able to successfully
re-deploy the image back to another computer. The image was also imbedded
with the sysprep.inf file performing the inital answers for such things as
licence keys, regional settings, SkipWelcome etc. So far so good.
Where I am having difficulty is in creating an unattend.xml file so I can
add additioanl customizations and especially more drivers so I do not
need
to
create a separate image for every hardware confiuration we have (30+
configurations). Note, I have worked with RIS deployments and have no
problem with additional drivers.
I have tried the earlier version of WAIK and the latest version of
WAIK
with
no success. I continually error out on the WIM catalog process no
matter
how
I try it.
1) How can I get WAIK to create the unattend.xml I need?
2) Is there a utility that will convert unattend.sif to unattend.xml?
3) Ohter suggestions????
Thank you for your assistance.
Mike

[unknown]

WDS in Windows Server 2008 R2

Regards

Johan Arwidmark
Microsoft MVP - Setup / Deployment
http://www.deployvista.com

Post by Erik Droszcz
Johan, would that be the version of WDS in Windows Server 2008 R2? Or is it
even a later version that will have driver handling?
Regards Erik

Post by unknown
You can add MDT as deployment platform to WDS... MDT has a good
drivers repository that allows you to (quite) easily work with
universal images.
The current WDS version doesnt have any real driver handling.. next
version will...
Regards
Johan Arwidmark
Microsoft MVP - Setup / Deployment
http://www.deployvista.com
On Thu, 5 Mar 2009 13:03:01 -0800, Mike

Post by Mike
So how do I install additional drivers for other hardware platforms for
Windows XP using Windows Deployment Service?

Post by Dusko Savatovic
AFAIU, unattend.xml and other xml files are only for Vista and later
operating systems.
XP still relies on sysprep.inf and unattend.txt files.
Also, XP does not have catalog.
Catalog comes with componentized OS, ie Vista and later.

Post by Mike
I have successfully created a Windows XP image and was able to automatically
load the image to Windows Deployment Service. I am also able to successfully
re-deploy the image back to another computer. The image was also imbedded
with the sysprep.inf file performing the inital answers for such things as
licence keys, regional settings, SkipWelcome etc. So far so good.
Where I am having difficulty is in creating an unattend.xml file so I can
add additioanl customizations and especially more drivers so I do not
need
to
create a separate image for every hardware confiuration we have (30+
configurations). Note, I have worked with RIS deployments and have no
problem with additional drivers.
I have tried the earlier version of WAIK and the latest version of
WAIK
with
no success. I continually error out on the WIM catalog process no
matter
how
I try it.
1) How can I get WAIK to create the unattend.xml I need?
2) Is there a utility that will convert unattend.sif to unattend.xml?
3) Ohter suggestions????
Thank you for your assistance.
Mike

[Mike]

I have spent many hours going in circles. Who can I contact in Microsoft for
further support on this matter. Paid support at this point would be
worthwhile all things considered. (I am a Microsoft Certified Partner in
Canada if that helps)
Thanks....
Mike

Post by Erik Droszcz
WDS in Windows Server 2008 R2
Regards
Johan Arwidmark
Microsoft MVP - Setup / Deployment
http://www.deployvista.com

Post by Erik Droszcz
Johan, would that be the version of WDS in Windows Server 2008 R2? Or is it
even a later version that will have driver handling?
Regards Erik

Post by unknown
You can add MDT as deployment platform to WDS... MDT has a good
drivers repository that allows you to (quite) easily work with
universal images.
The current WDS version doesnt have any real driver handling.. next
version will...
Regards
Johan Arwidmark
Microsoft MVP - Setup / Deployment
http://www.deployvista.com
On Thu, 5 Mar 2009 13:03:01 -0800, Mike

Post by Mike
So how do I install additional drivers for other hardware platforms for
Windows XP using Windows Deployment Service?

Post by Dusko Savatovic
AFAIU, unattend.xml and other xml files are only for Vista and later
operating systems.
XP still relies on sysprep.inf and unattend.txt files.
Also, XP does not have catalog.
Catalog comes with componentized OS, ie Vista and later.

Post by Mike
I have successfully created a Windows XP image and was able to automatically
load the image to Windows Deployment Service. I am also able to successfully
re-deploy the image back to another computer. The image was also imbedded
with the sysprep.inf file performing the inital answers for such things as
licence keys, regional settings, SkipWelcome etc. So far so good.
Where I am having difficulty is in creating an unattend.xml file so I can
add additioanl customizations and especially more drivers so I do not
need
to
create a separate image for every hardware confiuration we have (30+
configurations). Note, I have worked with RIS deployments and have no
problem with additional drivers.
I have tried the earlier version of WAIK and the latest version of
WAIK
with
no success. I continually error out on the WIM catalog process no
matter
how
I try it.
1) How can I get WAIK to create the unattend.xml I need?
2) Is there a utility that will convert unattend.sif to unattend.xml?
3) Ohter suggestions????
Thank you for your assistance.
Mike

[unknown]

If you plan to use the current version of WDS alone, you only have two
options...

1. Include all drivers for all models in your image
2. Create a custom solution that will inject the correct drivers as
part of the deployment process...

Bullet 2. Is exaclty what MDT does... and MDT is a free download from
Microsoft that works perfect together with WDS....

If you want a good deployment silution for XP, use WDS and MDT
together... www.microsoft.com/deployment

Regards

Johan Arwidmark
Microsoft MVP - Setup / Deployment
http://www.deployvista.com


On Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:02:01 -0700, Mike

Post by Mike
I have spent many hours going in circles. Who can I contact in Microsoft for
further support on this matter. Paid support at this point would be
worthwhile all things considered. (I am a Microsoft Certified Partner in
Canada if that helps)
Thanks....
Mike

Post by Erik Droszcz
WDS in Windows Server 2008 R2
Regards
Johan Arwidmark
Microsoft MVP - Setup / Deployment
http://www.deployvista.com

Post by Erik Droszcz
Johan, would that be the version of WDS in Windows Server 2008 R2? Or is it
even a later version that will have driver handling?
Regards Erik

Post by unknown
You can add MDT as deployment platform to WDS... MDT has a good
drivers repository that allows you to (quite) easily work with
universal images.
The current WDS version doesnt have any real driver handling.. next
version will...
Regards
Johan Arwidmark
Microsoft MVP - Setup / Deployment
http://www.deployvista.com
On Thu, 5 Mar 2009 13:03:01 -0800, Mike

Post by Mike
So how do I install additional drivers for other hardware platforms for
Windows XP using Windows Deployment Service?

Post by Dusko Savatovic
AFAIU, unattend.xml and other xml files are only for Vista and later
operating systems.
XP still relies on sysprep.inf and unattend.txt files.
Also, XP does not have catalog.
Catalog comes with componentized OS, ie Vista and later.

Post by Mike
I have successfully created a Windows XP image and was able to automatically
load the image to Windows Deployment Service. I am also able to
successfully
re-deploy the image back to another computer. The image was also imbedded
with the sysprep.inf file performing the inital answers for such things as
licence keys, regional settings, SkipWelcome etc. So far so good.
Where I am having difficulty is in creating an unattend.xml file so I can
add additioanl customizations and especially more drivers so I do not
need
to
create a separate image for every hardware confiuration we have (30+
configurations). Note, I have worked with RIS deployments and have no
problem with additional drivers.
I have tried the earlier version of WAIK and the latest version of
WAIK
with
no success. I continually error out on the WIM catalog process no
matter
how
I try it.
1) How can I get WAIK to create the unattend.xml I need?
2) Is there a utility that will convert unattend.sif to unattend.xml?
3) Ohter suggestions????
Thank you for your assistance.
Mike