- Blind-sysadmins - lists.hodgsonfamily.org

What's Wrong With This Answer File?
by Don Urquhart 02 Jul '12

02 Jul '12

Good evening all, I have a weekend job, first crack at it fresh out of the college exam, with a sick laptop. After an assessment and discovering that the owner's avg Internet security trial has expired, I decided to do a wipe and clean Windows 7 32 bit install. I chose a 32 bit Windows, because that is what he originally had on it, and,though technically the processor is 64 bit capable, it only runs at 2.3 ghz, and my understanding is that 3 ghz is recommended for win 7 64. The hard disk is partitioned three ways. The installer stops at the selection screen where you choose Starter, Basic, Premium, etc. When we choose Premium, it then balks at a screen asking which partition to install to. I added two "modify partition" elements, with action remove, thinking that would remove the secondary and tertiary partitions and allow the install to proceed in partition 1, same result. Is it possible the answer file is not being read at all? I think the first partition was named "rv bios"; are there cases where you can't repartition except via special non-microsoft tools? I am using the Windows Automated Installation Kit, with the autounattend.xml being placed on a flash drive. I insert the flash drive about two seconds after hearing the cd being read. One possibly important fact about the cd: it did not come with the laptop. I downloaded an iso of Windows 7 32 bit, as I wasn't sure if my store-bought Windows 7 64 bit cd would work, and with the understanding that such a download is legal, provided you have a licence key. Fortunately I have the owner's key noted down in a text file. Below is the content of the answer file. Would much appreciate any suggestions what could be wrong with it, or what I might have to do specially re the partitioning skeme. Thank you in advance. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend"> <settings pass="oobeSystem"> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Deployment" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <Reseal> <Mode>Audit</Mode> </Reseal> </component> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <OOBE> <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage> <ProtectYourPC>3</ProtectYourPC> </OOBE> </component> </settings> <settings pass="windowsPE"> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <SetupUILanguage> <UILanguage>en-us</UILanguage> </SetupUILanguage> <InputLocale>en-us</InputLocale> <SystemLocale>en-us</SystemLocale> <UILanguage>en-us</UILanguage> <UILanguageFallback>en-us</UILanguageFallback> <UserLocale>en-us</UserLocale> </component> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <DiskConfiguration> <Disk wcm:action="add"> <CreatePartitions> <CreatePartition wcm:action="add"> <Order>1</Order> <Type>Primary</Type> <Extend>true</Extend> </CreatePartition> </CreatePartitions> <ModifyPartitions> <ModifyPartition wcm:action="add"> <Active>true</Active> <Format>NTFS</Format> <Label>system</Label> <Letter>C</Letter> <Order>1</Order> <PartitionID>1</PartitionID> <Extend>true</Extend> </ModifyPartition> <ModifyPartition wcm:action="remove"> <Order>2</Order> </ModifyPartition> <ModifyPartition wcm:action="remove"> <Order>3</Order> </ModifyPartition> </ModifyPartitions> <DiskID>0</DiskID> <WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk> </Disk> <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI> </DiskConfiguration> <ImageInstall> <OSImage> <InstallTo> <DiskID>0</DiskID> <PartitionID>1</PartitionID> </InstallTo> <InstallToAvailablePartition>false</InstallToAvailablePartition> <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI> </OSImage> </ImageInstall> <UserData> <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula> <FullName>Trevor & Family</FullName> </UserData> </component> </settings> <settings pass="specialize"> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <BlockPopups>no</BlockPopups> <Home_Page>www.google.com</Home_Page> </component> </settings> <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:c:/win732_files/sources/install.wim#Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" /> </unattend>

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OCR From Screen
by Don Urquhart 28 Jun '12

28 Jun '12

Hi all, I am testing the concept of using camera-based ocr to scan a computer screen, which could be a good backup in cases where something weird happens and a process, such as boot or unattended install, gets stuck in an unexpected spot where no reading software is available. I have had some promising results with screens of basic text scanned with ZoomReader on my iPhone 4. I am thinking I may get more reliable and faster processing using my laptop in combination with a higher resolution camera, as the iPhone cam is only 5 MP. Have any of you had reliably usable results with either a phone or laptop-based setup to ocr an otherwise unreadable screen? I know there are a few very specialized devices that may serve this purpose, but I have only around $600.00 to spend, not a couple thousand, and with practicum starting in two weeks, waiting for agency funding is not a very satisfactory option. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. I'm running a MacBook Pro with Lion, and it runs Windows 7 in its bootcamp partition.

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godaddy cloud (potential job)
by David Mehler 26 Jun '12

26 Jun '12

Hello, Does anyone have any experience with godaddy cloud servers pro or conn? My last experience with godaddy was not good, but I might have a referal who might want to use their cloud server services. I have also never set up a cloud server and am not sure how accessible it is. I'm hoping they want to use LInux as they want a cpanel install, mail, wordpress and a custom app of some kind. Any suggestions or advice appreciated. Thanks. Dave.

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godaddy cloud (potential job)
by David Mehler 26 Jun '12

26 Jun '12

Hello, Does anyone have any experience with godaddy cloud servers pro or conn? My last experience with godaddy was not good, but I might have a referal who might want to use their cloud server services. I have also never set up a cloud server and am not sure how accessible it is. I'm hoping they want to use LInux as they want a cpanel install, mail, wordpress and a custom app of some kind. Any suggestions or advice appreciated. Thanks. Dave.

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talking Win7 PE diso
by John Heim 25 Jun '12

25 Jun '12

Has someone on this list been talking about a talking Windows 7 PE disk? If so, where can I get it?

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autounattend.xml
by Don Urquhart 24 Jun '12

24 Jun '12

Hello friends, I am trying Win 7 unattended installs, only on a single machine, for practice, and without a key as they will not be activated, just thrown away after experimentation. The first issue has been that the installation stops at the selection screen where it lets you choose Basic, Home Premium, etc. After some research, I added this section to my answer file: <WindowsDeploymentServices> <ImageSelection> <InstallImage> <Filename>install.wim</Filename> <ImageGroup>ImageGroup1</ImageGroup> <ImageName>Windows 7 Home Premium</ImageName> </InstallImage> </ImageSelection> </WindowsDeploymentServices> Now the installation gets past the OS selection, but hangs with an error indicating that it cant find required files. I am working with Windows System Image Manager (MS WAIK), and boot with my Windows 7 dvd and the answer file on a flash drive. What else could be going wrong? Much appreciate any assistance, as I'm starting a practicum in a week, and it's at a shop where all are very busy, so would like to have this debugged and not have to query someone to read install screens. On a related note, have any of you had success, even limited, with getting some useable text via OCR and digital camera, from a computer screen when it is not possible to use a software application screen reader? By useable, I just mean to be able to tell the progress of a process, or where it is stuck, to use a memorized key sequence to get to the right choice to get it going again. I have had some promising results using ZoomReader IPhone app on my Mac screens, and will try this on a screen at the college Monday. Thanks in advance for all comments.

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Winbuilder Help Please
by Don Urquhart 13 Jun '12

13 Jun '12

Hello friends, I have just completed the theoretical portion of the ITNR diploma program at a local career college, and am now a third of the way through a practicum. Here is the obstacle I 'm up against: The bulk of the work my practicum host has for me to do involves repairs to Windows [i.e] troubleshooting and fixing virus/malware issues, general software repair. He would like to have a live boot cd of Windows XP and another of Windows 7, as he would find these more useful than conventional safe mode. This is a tool I would need as well, unless the same things can be acomplished with Linux. I was able to make one bootable win 7 cd with something called make_pe3, but it has no audio support and no way to let you inject drivers. I have bashed away at WinBuilder for a week with various "ready-to-build" projects, and have had zero success and wasted 9 dvds. Either the resulting cd fails to boot, as if the boot loader is missing, or, when I try to burn the ISO by right-clicking on it and choosing "Burn Disk Image", Windows indicates that the ISO is invalid. I am using NVDA 2012.1 and SAToGo for screen reading. My test system is a MacBook Pro with Windows 7 running in the bootcamped partition. Any light on this would be tremendously appreciated, as I have lost much sleep, mealtime and normal living time :-] to intense research not counted as practicum hours. Is a Windows live boot worth persuing, or might I be better off concentrating on Linux? Thank you in advance for any and all input.

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#wsusoffline for making #offline #installs of #Windows #Office updates
by Barry Toner 03 Jun '12

03 Jun '12

Hi, Tried this tonight and it's beautiful! You select the platform and architecture. It downloads the files and you can select to either make an ISO, a USB installer or just leave the files in the folder you execute the app from. Copy it to a DVD and run the update.exe under the client folder and away it goes. Dead handy to carry the updates around with you, especially when dealing with clients with slow computers/connections. If they dont' have the latest SP installed you'll need to manually reboot after this installs. However, once that's done you can temporarily allow it to auto reboot/recall and it flys through. What it actually does is creates a temporary Admin user account for this. If you are using any form of A11Y you can start this up once it logs in to the temp account to monitor the install progresses. Find this piece of magic at http://t.co/7kgHpYK6 #FTW Regards, Barry.

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#wsusoffline for making #offline #installs of #Windows #Office updates
by Barry Toner 02 Jun '12

02 Jun '12

Hi, Tried this tonight and it's beautiful! You select the platform and architecture. It downloads the files and you can select to either make an ISO, a USB installer or just leave the files in the folder you execute the app from. Copy it to a DVD and run the update.exe under the client folder and away it goes. Dead handy to carry the updates around with you, especially when dealing with clients with slow computers/connections. If they dont' have the latest SP installed you'll need to manually reboot after this installs. However, once that's done you can temporarily allow it to auto reboot/recall and it flys through. What it actually does is creates a temporary Admin user account for this. If you are using any form of A11Y you can start this up once it logs in to the temp account to monitor the install progresses. Find this piece of magic at http://t.co/7kgHpYK6 #FTW Regards, Barry.

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Unattend 7 64 Bit
by Barry Toner 01 Jun '12

01 Jun '12

Hi folks, I'm hoping someone can offer help here. I'm pulling my hair out because no matter what I do I can't get my Unattended image to boot. I've tried using WAIK and SIM, but every single guide and reference .xml file I can find is for 32Bit and when I try and make changes for 64 it never, ever ever works. So I thought I'll take the lazy approach and used Vlite to create the uattend, the image and finally burn the .ISO to DVD. Fine everything looks grand. It's re-built the image I selected, the Autounattend XML file is on the disc. It will not boot! This is a 2 year old Toshiba . I don't believe for one second the BIOS Boot order doesn't have either CD or USB before HD. Vlite claims it makes the ISO Bootable and I cant' find anything online to say otherwise. I tried following the USB disk process here, http://onj.me/4eu and keep getting an error that Bootsec isnt' compatible with the version of Windows I'm using. I'm using 7 32Bit Ultimate to just make a USB stick Bootable. Is it because I'm writing toa 64Bit installer? I've also pasted below, (minus my key) the contents of my XML file if someone can please have a looksey and put me out of my misery. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend"> <settings pass="windowsPE"> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="NonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <SetupUILanguage> <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage> </SetupUILanguage> <InputLocale>0809:00000809</InputLocale> <UserLocale>en-GB</UserLocale> <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage> <SystemLocale>en-GB</SystemLocale> </component> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="NonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <UserData> <ProductKey> <Key>x</Key> <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI> </ProductKey> <FullName>Barry Toner</FullName> <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula> </UserData> <ImageInstall> <OSImage> <InstallFrom> <MetaData wcm:action="add"> <Key>/IMAGE/NAME</Key> <Value>Windows 7 ULTIMATE</Value> </MetaData> </InstallFrom> <InstallToAvailablePartition>false</InstallToAvailablePartition> <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI> </OSImage> </ImageInstall> </component> </settings> <settings pass="oobeSystem"> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="NonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <AutoLogon> <Password> <Value>vikkif223</Value> </Password> <Enabled>true</Enabled> <LogonCount>1</LogonCount> <Username>Administrator</Username> </AutoLogon> <OOBE> <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage> <NetworkLocation>Home</NetworkLocation> <ProtectYourPC>1</ProtectYourPC> <SkipMachineOOBE>true</SkipMachineOOBE> <SkipUserOOBE>false</SkipUserOOBE> </OOBE> <UserAccounts> <AdministratorPassword> <Value>vikkif223</Value> </AdministratorPassword> </UserAccounts> </component> </settings> <settings pass="specialize"> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="NonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <ComputerName>R2D2</ComputerName> </component> <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Security-Licensing-SLC-UX" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="NonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"> <SkipAutoActivation>true</SkipAutoActivation> </component> </settings> <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="wim:C:/Users/Barry Toner/Desktop/Win7 64Bit/sources/install.wim#Windows 7 ULTIMATE" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" /> </unattend> I'm going to pop that xml file on a usb disc and see if the process will run with the original Ultimate disk popped in the DVD drive. Cheers, Barry. Who's going batty!

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