How would you create an answer file for windows xp?

Answer 1

You can create an answer file by using two tools:

• The Setup Manager wizard to create it automatically.
• A text editor such as Notepad to create it manually.

You can create the answer file from scratch or modify an existing one. Using the Setup Manager Wizard.The Setup Manager wizard is available on the Windows 2000 Professional operating system CD in the Deploy.cab file of the Support\Tools folder. The Setup Manager wizard helps you create and modify an answer file by providing prompts for the information that is required for the answer file and then creating it. The Setup Manager wizard can create a new answer file, import an existing answer file for modification, or create a new file based on the configuration of the computer on which it is running.

The following is a list of parameters that can be configured with the Setup Manager wizard in the order in which they are presented. The Setup Manager wizard then generates the results as answer file keys.

Set user interaction.

This sets the level of user interaction that is appropriate during the setup process.

Set default user information.

Specify an organization or user name.

Define computer names.

When an administrator enters multiple names during the setup process, Setup Manager automatically generates the UDF file that is required in order to add those unique names to each system during setup. If the administrator imports names from a text file, Setup Manager converts each name to a UDF file. The administrator can also set an option to generate unique machine names.

Set an administrator password.

The administrator can set an administrative password and hide it from users. The Setup Manager wizard can also be set to prompt the user for the administrative password during setup.

Display settings.

The administrator can automatically set the display color depth, screen area, and refresh frequency display settings.

Configure network settings.

Any custom network-setting option that can be configured from the desktop can be configured remotely using the Setup Manager Wizard. The interface for setting network settings in the wizard is the same interface that the user sees on their desktop. Using Setup Manager the administrator can also join computers to a domain or workgroup, or automatically create accounts in the domain.

Set time zone and regional options.

Set the correct time zone using the same property sheet that user would access to change the time zone locally. Specify regional options such as date, time, numbers, character sets, and keyboard layout.

Set Internet Explorer settings.

The administrator can use Setup Manager to carry out the basic setup for internet connections, such as connecting to proxy servers. If the organization wishes to customize the browser, the administrator can use Setup Manager to access the customization tool that is part of the Internet Explorer Administration Kit available from www.Microsoft.com/windows/ieak .

Set telephony settings.

Set telephony properties such as area codes and dialing rules.

Add Cmdlines.txt files.

These files are used to install additional components, such as applications. For example, the administrator can add the command line to run office setup by including the command line for office setup in the cmdlines.txt file.

Create an installation folder.

Use the default installation folder, \\winnt, to generate a unique folder during setup or to set a custom folder.

Install printers.

Set up multiple printers as part of the installation process.

Add commands to the Run Once section.

Set up commands that run automatically the first time a user logs on. These may include running an application setup program, running a resource kit tool, or changing security settings.

Run commands at the end of Setup.

Specify commands that run at the end of the setup process and before users log onto the system, such as launching an application setup file.

Copy additional files.

Specify additional files to be copied to the user's desktop, such as device-driver libraries. The administrator can also use Setup Manager to specify where these files are copied.

Create a distribution folder.

Create a distribution folder on the network that includes the required Windows source files. You can also add files that you want to copy or supply additional device drivers for use with Windows.

Setup Manager cannot perform the following functions:

• Specify system components, such as Internet Information Services.
• Create Txtsetup.oem files.
• Create subfolders in the distribution folder.

Answer File Specifications Created by Setup ManagerInstallation path

Specifies the desired path on the destination computer in which to install Windows 2000 Server.

Upgrade option

Specifies whether to upgrade from Windows 95 or Windows 98, Windows NT Workstation 4.0, or Windows 2000.

Destination computer name

Specifies the user name, organization name, and computer name to apply to the destination computer.

Product ID

Specifies the product identification number obtained from the product documentation.

Workgroup or domain

Specifies the name of the workgroup or domain to which the computer belongs.

Time zone

Specifies the time zone for the computer.

Network configuration

Specifies the network adapter type and configuration with network information protocols. Answer File FormatTo create the answer file manually, use a text editor such as Notepad. In general, an answer file consists of section headers, parameters, and values for those parameters. Although most section headers are predefined, you can also define additional section headers. Note that you do not have to specify all possible parameters in the answer file if the installation does not require them. Invalid parameter values generate errors or result in incorrect behavior after Setup. The answer file format is as follows:

[section1]

;

; Section contains keys and the corresponding

; values for those keys/parameters.

; keys and values are separated by ' = ' signs

; Values that have spaces in them usually require double quotes

; around them

;

key = value

[section2]

key = value

Answer 2

• How would you create an answer file for Windows XP? How would you create one for Windows Vista