Automated windows 98 install

Fortunately, the Windows 98 CD contains the Batch utility, which automates process of creating a script file and simplifies the task of setting up Windows Talainia Posey learned to handle PCs the old fashioned way: by reading manuals and doing on-the-job troubleshooting. Her experience also includes installing networks for several small companies. When she's not working on computers, Talainia loves to shop for toys, watch cartoons, or spend time with her cat, Beavis.

If you manage a network of any size at all, you know what a pain that it can be to manually install Windows 98 on each computer. Even after Windows 98 has installed, you still have to configure options such as network settings and desktop options. This automatic process is even cooler if you think about how many hours the process would take to perform the old fashion way. An overview As with Windows 95, the process of automating Setup involves creating a script file.

Windows 98 can then refer to the options listed within the script file every time Setup normally requires user intervention. Build one PC manually with Windows 98, configure the drivers and install whatever software is required, boot from a Ghost floppy or a CD and copy the drive to an image. Ghost will help you to create a bootable CD that contains this image. To build a new PC, simply boot from the CD that you have created and choose the image and the destination drive.

It'll do the rest for you. This avoids all installation issues as it literally replaces the current drive with an identical image of one that you've already tested. I can post more detailed methods of how to do this if it would be satisfactory as an official answer.

Ive posted this questions in a number of places around the web and a few people seem to be pointing to ghost. Will it be ok for an installation on any hardware? Plus, sysprep needs to be run first. Providing that the above isnt a problem, then please post a few more details step by step isnt necessary - im sure it comes with instructions and ill accept it as an answer.

Thanks again. Unfortunately there are no ways round some things. I can see three different scenarios here. Scenario One: Identical Hardware This is common for many large companies because they often buy in large amounts of identical hardware.

If this is the case Ghost will do the job without any trouble at all. Scenario Two: No Identical Hardware If your PCs are all different makes and models with very few duplicates, Ghost is not going to be the answer for you and I think you're going to be stuck with manual installations. Scenario Three: Some Identical Hardware If the range of PCs you deal with includes a few different makes and models, Ghost is still going to work fine but you'll have a few issues to deal with. Windows NT is especially problematic with different hardware and the corporate sites I've worked at tend towards an NT ghost image per hardware platform.

For instance, you'd need to have one image for a Compaq Deskpro but an entirely separate image for a Dell Optiplex. During a Windows installation based on a script, Setup consults the script for each piece of required information instead of prompting the user. This allows unattended installation of Windows 98 at full speed with standardized settings, including networking. Windows 98 Batch. And its Gather Now command further automates the process by using information directly from the registry of the host machine.

In addition to Windows installations, Batch. For example, Internet security settings and proxy settings could be set for all machines. Its automatic registry examination is supported only under Windows 98 and not Windows NT. When run from a Windows 98 machine, Batch. Gather Now scans for settings in the following areas:. In addition, the powerful customization ability of the Optional Components section allows administrators to limit certain choices and include new components that might not usually be provided with Windows The Batch.

The Windows 95 version does not include the Gather All command. To run the Windows 98 Setup with the script, use the setup command followed by the path and filename for the. This file is named Msbatch. For example, type the following at the command line:. You can load an. For example:. Automating Windows 98 Setup using a script During a Windows installation based on a script, Setup consults the script for each piece of required information instead of prompting the user.

Restrict user choices during setup, insuring that each new machine has the same optional programs installed Insure that all Windows 98 installations are identical, making support simpler Some things that Batch.