Contents
Overview 1
Introduction to Automating an
Installation of Windows 2000 Professional 2
Creating an Answer File 5
Lab A: Creating an Answer File by Using
the Setup Manager Wizard 15
Configuring Additional Answer File
Parameters 22
Creating a UDF 29
Performing an Automated Installation
of Windows 2000 Professional 33
Lab B: Automating an Installation
of Windows 2000 Professional 38
Review 42

Module 2: Automating an
Installation of Microsoft
Windows 2000 Professional

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Module 2: Automating an Installation of Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional iii Instructor Notes
This module provides students with the knowledge and skills to automate
a Microsoft
®
Windows
®
2000 Professional installation by using an answer
file and a Uniqueness Database File (UDF). Students will learn how to create
an answer file and a UDF by using the Setup Manager wizard, configure
additional answer file settings, and perform an automated installation of
Windows 2000 Professional.
There are two labs for this module. In the first lab, students create an answer
file by using the Setup Manager wizard. In the second lab, students perform an
unattended, fully automated installation of Windows 2000 Professional.
At the end of this module, students will be able to:

Describe the purpose of answer files and UDFs.


Web site by registering at http://www.microsoft.com/oem/. Review the
Technical section of the Web site and the preinstallation process of other
operating systems.
Presentation:
75 Minutes

Labs:
60 Minutes
iv Module 2: Automating an Installation of Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional 
Read the following technical white papers located on the Trainer Materials
compact disc:
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Guide to Unattended Setup Release Notes
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Guide to Unattended Setup
• Deployment Guide: Automating the Windows 2000 Upgrade
• Plug and Play for Windows 2000
• README for Windows 2000 Beta3 Setup Manager Wizard
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 Corporate Deployment Guide
• Automated Deployment Options
• Deployment Guide: Automating the Windows 2000 Upgrade
• Planning, Deploying and Managing Microsoft Windows 2000 with
Systems Management Server 2.0

Module Strategy
Use the following strategy to present this module:

Introduction to Automating an Installation of Windows 2000 Professional
Introduce the process and benefits of automating an installation of Windows

Describe how to use an answer file during Setup.
Describe how to use a UDF during Setup.
Explain how answer file and UDF settings are substituted during Setup.

Customization Information
This section identifies the lab setup requirements for a module and the
configuration changes that occur on student computers during the labs. This
information is provided to assist you in replicating or customizing Microsoft
Official Curriculum (MOC) courseware.

The labs in this module are also dependent on the classroom
configuration that is specified in the Customization Information section at the
end of the Classroom Setup Guide for course 1567B, Preinstalling and
Deploying Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional.

Lab Setup
There are no lab setup requirements that affect replication or customization.
Lab Results
Performing the labs in this module introduces the following configuration
changes:

Creation of the C:\Deploy folder.

Addition of the files from the Deploy.cab file on the Microsoft Windows
2000 Professional compact disc to the C:\Deploy folder.

Creation of the Winnt.sif file in the C:\Deploy folder.

Modification of the screen area display setting to 800x600 pixels.


Describe the structure and syntax used in answer files.

Create a basic answer file by using the Microsoft
®
Windows
®
2000 Setup
Manager wizard.

Configure the preinstallation settings of an answer file by using a text editor.

Create a UDF to automate installation of Windows 2000 Professional on
multiple computers that have different configurations.

Perform a fully automated installation of Windows 2000 Professional.

Slide Objective
To provide an overview
of the module topics
and objectives.
Lead-in
In this module, you will
learn about automating an
installation of Windows 2000
Professional by using an
answer file and a UDF.
2 Module 2: Automating an Installation of Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional 

Database FileAutomating an installation of Windows 2000 Professional means creating and
using an answer file that supplies the settings the user would otherwise need to
provide during Setup. In addition, the answer file determines how
Windows 2000 Setup interacts during preinstallation with the files at the
software distribution point.
An answer file can supply some or all of the settings required by Setup during
the installation. By providing all of the answers, you can prepare an unattended,
fully automated installation of Windows 2000 Professional.
Two types of files are used to automate a Windows 2000 Professional
installation:

Answer file. A text file containing configuration settings that provide
answers to setup questions (answers that a user would otherwise need to
provide). By changing or adding settings in an answer file, you can
automate an installation for multiple computers that require the same
configuration.

Uniqueness Database File. Provides replacement settings for the settings
configured in an answer file. You use a UDF to configure the unique
settings, such as computer name, for each computer. By using an answer file
and a UDF, you can automate the installation for multiple computers that
require different configurations.

Slide Objective
To provide an introduction to
automating an installation of
Windows 2000 Professional.

FullName = "Amy Jones"
OrgName = "Northwind Traders"
[section]
keys = value
[section]
keys = value
Answer File
Answer File
Answer File
Keys and values are separated
by = signs
Keys and values are separated
by = signs
Values with spaces must
be enclosed by double
quotation marks (" " )
Values with spaces must
be enclosed by double
quotation marks (" " )
Example
Example
ExampleYou can use the Setup Manager wizard or a text editor, such as Notepad, to
create or modify an answer file. Either way, it is helpful to understand the basic
structure and syntax of an answer file.
The settings in an answer file take the following format:
[section]
key=value

for the parameters in
the answer file.
Define the basic answer file
structure and syntax.
Describe the roles of section
headers, keys, and values.

Refer to the student notes
for supporting details.
Module 2: Automating an Installation of Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional 5 



Creating an Answer File
Windows 2000 Setup Manager Wizard
New or Existing Answer File
An answer file tells Setup how to install and configure Windows.
Do you want to create a new answer file or modify an existing one?
Create a new answer file
Create an answer file that duplicates this computer’s configuration
Modify an existing answer file
Enter the path and file name of the answer file:
Enter the path and file name of the answer file:
Browse...
Browse...
Windows 2000 Setup Manager Wizard
Product to Install

3. Click Extract, and then choose a folder in which to save these two files.
4. Click OK.

Slide Objective
To introduce the Setup
Manager wizard and how
students use the wizard to
create an answer file.
Lead-in
You can use the Setup
Manager wizard to create an
answer file.
Describe how to install the
Setup Manager wizard.
Describe how to configure
the New or Existing
Answer File and Product
to Install pages.

Refer to the student notes
for supporting details.
Delivery Tip
On the following pages,
demonstrate how to create
an answer file by using the
Setup Manager wizard.
Make sure that you select
Windows 2000
Professional on the
Platform page. Otherwise,

answer file
Modifies an existing answer file. Use this option to
open an existing answer file that you want to modify.

4. Click Create a new answer file, and then click Next.
5. On the Product to Install page, click Windows 2000 Unattended
Installation, and then click Next.
6. On the Platform page, click Windows 2000 Professional, and then click
Next.

Module 2: Automating an Installation of Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional 7 Configuring the User Interaction Level
Windows 2000 Setup Manager Wizard
User Interaction Level
Do you want users to provide information during Windows Setup?
< B
ack Next> Cancel
Select the level of user interaction during Windows Setup:
Provide Defaults
Fully Automated
Hide Pages
Read Only
GUI Attended
Description
Windows Setup does not prompt the user for any answers. You
supply all required answers in the answer file.
To explain how to configure
the user interaction level in
the Setup Manager wizard.
Lead-in
After you start the answer
file, you are prompted to
select the user interaction
level.
Describe the options for
configuring the user
interaction level.

Refer to the student notes
for supporting details.
8 Module 2: Automating an Installation of Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Configuring Identification Settings
Page
Page
Page
Provides
Provides
Provides
Customize the
Software
Customize the
Software
The default user name and organization name for the
installation

random series of characters.
If you are creating a UDF, you must specify computer
names manually
.

Administrator
Password
The password for the built-in Administrator account, and
the confirmation of the password.
If you begin the process of providing an administrator
password, but leave the password boxes blank, you create
the option of automatically logging on as Administrator. To
select this option, select the When the computer starts,
automatically log on as Administrator check box. You
can also specify the number of times to automatically log on
as Administrator.

Slide Objective
To explain how to configure
the basic answer file
settings used in an
automated installation.
Lead-in
The first few pages of the
Setup Manager wizard
help you configure a
basic answer file.
Describe the wizard
pages for configuring
identification settings.

target computer to join
Name of the workgroup or domain that you want the
target computer to join
Time Zone
Time Zone
The appropriate time zone
The appropriate time zoneSeveral pages in the Setup Manager wizard help you configure basic
computer settings.
The following table describes the wizard pages that allow you to configure
computer settings.
Page Provides

Display Settings Basic display settings that are compatible with the display
adapter on the target computer. Basic settings include colors,
screen area, and refresh frequency. You can configure custom
display settings for each setting, or you can use Windows
default settings if you choose not to customize the display
settings.
Network Settings Typical or custom settings with which to configure the
networking components. By selecting Typical settings, you
install Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP) configuration settings, enable Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol (DHCP), and install the Client for
Microsoft Networks service for each target computer. By
selecting Custom settings, you manually configure these
settings for each target computer. To configure multiple network
adapters, you must provide the Plug and Play ID for each

Configuring Additional Settings
Page
Page
Page
Provides
Provides
Provides
Telephony
Telephony
The dial-up settings, including country code, dialing
type (tone or pulse), area code, and long distance
access code
The dial-up settings, including country code, dialing
type (tone or pulse), area code, and long distance
access code
Regional Settings
Regional Settings
The default settings for dates, times, currency,
number format, and keyboard layout
The default settings for dates, times, currency,
number format, and keyboard layout
Languages
Languages
The names of additional languages that Windows
2000 will support
The names of additional languages that Windows
2000 will support
Browser and Shell
Settings
Browser and Shell

format, and keyboard layout.
Languages The names of additional languages that Windows 2000 will
support.
Browser and Shell
Settings
The settings used to configure Microsoft Internet Explorer.
You can choose to use the default settings or a script created
by the Internet Explorer Administration Kit. You can also
choose settings that you configure, including proxy settings,
the default home page, and browser favorites.
Installation Folder The name of the folder where Windows 2000 Professional
will be installed. The default folder is Winnt.
Install Printers The name and network path of one or more network printers
to install on the client computer. Use the universal naming
convention format (\\server_name\printer_name) for the
printer name.

Slide Objective
To explain how to configure
additional settings in the
Setup Manager wizard.
Lead-in
After you have configured
basic user and computer
settings, you are prompted
to configure additional
settings in the Setup
Manager wizard.
Describe the wizard
pages for configuring
The Run Once page allows you to specify commands that will run only once
after a user logs on for the first time. You do this by specifying the name of an
application in the Command to run box. Alternatively, you can specify the
name of a document or a Web page that Windows 2000 Professional will
automatically display after the user logs on. Any printers that you install will
also appear on the Run Once page.
When an automated preinstallation takes place, options that are added on the
Run Once page are entered into the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\RunOnce
registry key. All commands will be deleted from the registry after they have
run.
Before you use the options on the Run Once page, consider the following:

Commands will be executed in the order in which they are added to the
answer file.

If you choose to display a document after the user logs on for the first time,
make sure that the document has a file name extension that Windows 2000
Professional or the installed application(s) recognize.

Any commands specified on the Run Once page will be executed in the
security context of the user who first logs on. As a result, it is possible that
those commands could fail if the user does not have the proper privileges to
install an application, or if the user does not have access to the specified
shared folder.

The desktop will not be presented to the user until each command in the
Run Once portion of the registry has been executed.

Windows 2000 Setup Manager Wizard
Distribution Folder
You can create a distribution folder to further customize
your installations.
The Setup Manager wizard can create a distribution folder on
your computer or network with the required Windows source files.
You can then add files to further customize your installations.
For example, you can install your own files or supply additional
device drivers for use with Windows.
Do you want to create or modify a distribution folder?
No, this answer file will be used to install
from a CD
Yes, create or modify a distribution folder
N
ext > Cancel<Back
Windows 2000 Setup Manager Wizard
Distribution Folder Name
You can create or modify a distribution folder.
N
ext > Cancel<Back
Would you like to create a new distribution folder or modify
an existing one?
Create a new distribution folder
Modify an existing distribution folder
Distribution folder:
Share as:
Browse...
C:\win2000dist
win2000dist


a distribution method for
preinstalling Windows 2000
Professional.
Lead-in
On the Distribution Folder
page, indicate whether
Windows 2000 Professional
will be preinstalled from a
compact disc or distribution
folder.
Describe the
configuration options.

Refer to the student notes
for supporting details.
Module 2: Automating an Installation of Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional 13 Configuring the Distribution Folder
Page
Page
Page
Provides
Provides
Provides
Additional Mass
Storage Drivers
Additional Mass
Storage Drivers
The mass storage drivers to copy and install

or Folders
Additional files and folders to be copied during Setup to
the user- specified subfolders on the target computer
Additional files and folders to be copied during Setup to
the user- specified subfolders on the target computerAfter the name and location of the distribution folder are provided, you must
configure some additional settings. These settings will control device drivers,
command-line commands, and OEM information that will be a part of
configuring the links to the distribution folder and the answer file.
The following table provides distribution folder settings that you can use the
Setup Manager wizard to configure.
Page Provides

Additional Mass Storage
Drivers
The mass storage drivers to copy and install. If these
drivers are not provided, Setup will detect the small
computer system interface (SCSI) devices on the
computer, and then load the retail drivers.
Hardware Abstraction
Layer
The Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) files, if you want
to replace the default HAL with a different one.
Additional Commands The commands that run at the end of Setup that do not
require the user to be logged on. These commands are run
from the Cmdlines.txt file.
OEM Branding A bitmap logo display in the upper-right corner of the
screen during the GUI-mode portion of Setup, and a