Help! grub4dos perform an unattended windows installation. External links Options

[go3ven]

Based on the ISO of Windows XP professional SP3 VOL edition, I've made an Unattended Windows XP SP3 Installation CD(ISO), integrated with office 2003,common applications and some optimizations etc. The ISO tested perfect in Vmware 6.5 .

I decided to make a multi-boot DVD, so the DVD can not only install windows but also boot to DOS/WinPE/LiveCD Linux, ghost for backup and some other usefull functions.
I in all used three method to boot while failed one by one.
I chose grub4dos to do such DVD. Can anyone help to solve this problem? With many thanks!
To make a multi-boot medium, there may be many boot-manager, but I'm only familiar with grub4dos and trust it's so strong and easy to get started.

Method 1.

The easiest way called to mind is just to do an ISO mapping with grub4dos. So add the unattended windows installation ISO file to the grub4dos-boot ISO, then add a menu:

CODE

title Unattended install Windows sp3
map /GRTMPVOL_CN.iso (0xff)
map --hook
chainloader (0xff)

Setup launched but several seconds later after "Setup is loading files" it breaks with a blue screen:


------------------------

Method 2.

I found somewhere that said the file "setupldr.bin" is the loader of the WINDOWS installation CD.

I extract the ISO files to the root of the grub4dos boot ISO, so the catalog structure of the original windows installation ISO and the grub4dos-boot ISO are the same. the grub4dos menu is:

CODE

title Unattended install Windows sp3
chainloader /i386/setupldr.bin

At last I boot the ISO in Vmware, I'm so happy that the installation successfully launches. But unfortunately that's not unattended, it needs user's interaction by every step.

The file "/i386/winnt.sif", to make installation unattended, needn't to be specify anywhere, the installation will automatically load it and perform an unattended install.
But how it doesn't automatically load it when i use grub4dos to load setupldr.bin?

------------------------
Method 3.

I have no idea for a long time. These days I tried another way, use grub4dos to boot into a DOS image, and then launch the windows installation by winnt.exe, because I can specify the answer file by /u: switches to the winnt.exe

First I should add NTFS and CD-ROM support to MSDOS 7.1b, with NTFSDOS PRO 5 and ref. CD-ROM drivers.But when start the installation it immediately breaks displaying "Setup is out of memory and cannot continue. Setup cannot continue, press ENTER to exit."



Then I found resolution in this page:http://www.bootix.de/support/problems_solutions_en.html So I edit the two commandlines but still not work.

The AUTOEXEC.BAT:

CODE

@ECHO OFF
PROMPT $P$G
PATH=A:\;..
LFNFOR ON
LH KILLER
LH SHSUCDX /D:IDE-CD /Q /~+
LH DOSKEY
LH DOSLFN
ntfspro.exe
mscdex.exe /D:mscd000 /l:x
smartdrv.exe
x:\i386\winnt.exe /u:a:\unattend.txt /s:x:\i386

The config.sys:

CODE

DOS=HIGH,UMB
device=himem.sys /testmem:off /numhandles=128
device=emm386.exe h=128 highscan noems
device=oakcdrom.sys /D:mscd000
DEVICEHIGH=gcdrom.sys /D:SATA-CD
DEVICEHIGH=USBCD.SYS /D:USB-CD
FILES=30
FCBSHIGH=4,0
BUFFERSHIGH=20
LASTDRIVEHIGH=26
STACKSHIGH=9,256

I press "ENTER" to exit, and check the mem info:

CODE

  MSCDEX      28,032   (27K)     28,032   (27K)          0    (0K)
  FREE       385,696  (377K)    385,696  (377K)          0    (0K)

Memory summary:

  Type of Memory       Total    =     Used    +     Free
  Conventional          641,024       255,328       385,696
  Upper                       0             0             0
  Reserved               79,872        79,872             0
  Extended (XMS)    1,066,729,4   1,065,680,8     1,048,576
  ----------------  -----------   -----------   -----------
  Total memory      1,067,450,3   1,066,016,0     1,434,272

  Total under 1Mb       641,024       255,328       385,696

  Total Extended (XMS)                1,066,72    (1,041,728
  Free Extended (XMS)                   1,048,576   (1,024K)

  Largest executable program size         385,440     (376K)
  Largest free upper memory block               0       (0K)
  Available space in High Memory Area       5,392       (5K)
  MS-DOS is resident in the high memory area.

I'm a newbie to DOS, so I have no idea yet.

I like method 2, it's easy and can install windows ,but only cannot unattended install.
Can anyone help me solve the problems? It's OK if you have another method, but I'll be glad if using grub4dos as the multi-boot DVD's boot manager. Because I don't know like CD Shell, BCDW, ISOLINUX etc, these are another hard work to learn.

[cdob]

Method 1:
grub4dos map at BIOS level.
Textmode windows boot use BIOS calls. This works so far.
There are windows driver loaded, but there is no driver for the mapped ISO file.
Windows installation dosn't detect installation media: BSOD

A missing windows driver should map the ISO file to a CD-ROM drive at boot time.
No, i don't know such a driver.

Method 2:
File case is importand:
Setupldr.bin does search file /I386/WINNT.SIF by default.

I addition there is a size limit:
Setupldr.bin access first 4GB of DVD only.
Setupldr.bin won't find a WINNT.SIF at end of DVD media.
You may use a double layer DVD, sort boot files in front of media.

How do you create the ISO image?

[go3ven]

Thanks for your quick reply.

I used the grub4dos recommended method to create the ISO, command like this:

CODE

mkisofs -R -b grldr -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 -o grubcd.iso grubcd

Then use UltraISO to add the files needed.

I originally just cared about the categary structure about the ISO. But after reading your suggestion, I think maybe the LBA addresss of files in ISO also affect the result. Maybe my file "winnt.sif" is far away behind in the loggical address, so my ISO couldn't find and load it while I use the original ISO it works.

I'll test that when I have free time.

-------------
I remember, the ISO size doesn't matter. Because my designed unattended ISO works well, about 1.7GB. I think it's the boot method affecting the result.

[was_jaclaz]

Then use UltraISO to add the files needed.

WHY?

Create a "source" directory and then create the .iso with mkisofs.

Editing an existing .iso is like playing Russian Roulette, sometimes the result is booting/working, most of the times it is not.

jaclaz

[go3ven]

WHY?

Create a "source" directory and then create the .iso with mkisofs.

Editing an existing .iso is like playing Russian Roulette, sometimes the result is booting/working, most of the times it is not.

jaclaz

I think the method how making an ISO only reflects if the ISO is BOOTABLE, and now it's bootable. That can boot an windows installation but not an unattended, it shows it's the grub4dos reflects the result.
So I pick up the origninal XP ISO's booting file as "sp3.bin", and "chainloader /sp3.bin", then grub4dos prompt that "Error13: Invalid or unsupported executable format". Then I chainloader the file "w2ksect.bin", it's the same result.

So I think grub4dos supports the loader not very well. I can do nothing but turn to another boot manager, and succeed. I used EasyBoot with a command "run w2ksect.bin", and it performed an unattended installation.

Very good, but I didn't want to further study EasyBoot, I think of how to add a menu and that load grub4dos. That's very esay just with command "bcdw /grldr".

It's done, with EasyBoot to perform an unattended windows installation, and let all the other function grub4dos do.

[was_jaclaz]

I think the method how making an ISO only reflects if the ISO is BOOTABLE, and now it's bootable.

If you are happy thinking that, that's the only important thing.

However, just for the record, post-editing the .iso is NOT recommended as it can create problems (files placed where the bootloader or the system files cannot reach them).
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=16802
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=20248

Additionally, to have a faster working CD, a sorting method is advised in order to have files written to CD in the "right" order:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=6869



jaclaz

[rnkantan]

hi
probably the thread is not being viewed regularly as the last post was more than a month back;
let me add some info and some questions (obviously!)
1) as grub4dos has been used, it means that dos is OS for booting; then why use an iso? why not an extracted I386 folder?
2) g4d iso emulation is valid as long as the original OS is running, once the new OS is started, the original location of the ISO becomes unknown. either a ram disk is needed or pre-copying is needed to access the files for continuing theinstallation (see below)
3) i have tested LiveCD ISOs (for PCLINUX) in two different ways: i) by using the ISO and ii) using the extracted folders. option ii) worked very well; even the livecd.sqfs can stay inside a folder - need not beed the root! But option i) of using the iso starts loading the kernel and initrd but as the sqfs is not copied, kernel panic occurs.
4) Same is the case with xp installation; when i386 is extracted and grub4dos starts with the I386/SETUPLDR.BIN it links to the winnt.sif and even does the unattended installation; (note that nlite created the WINNT.SIF and unattended.txt; check the lower and upper case of the file name!) i tried to use xp-sp3.iso for installation, and the famous bsod on 0x00007b error appears as the iso location is a virutal CD which is now lost!)
5) i have got some progress using win98SE.img for starting the machine with grub4dos in an usb, but though the machine starts for the second time, the third time start for drivers loading fails (rahter the machine simply keeps telling 34 min left!). i shall revert if i can install xp from iso on a real machine (no VMware!) that is the main PC should be preferably with only DOS and no xp; or main pc with blank hdd with dos and iso in usb;
cheers!

[was_jaclaz]

hi
probably the thread is not being viewed regularly as the last post was more than a month back;
let me add some info and some questions (obviously!)

Viewed or posted in are different things.

You seem like trying to throw "everything in".

Not the best idea IMHO, each of the 5 points you made go in "different directions.

1) as grub4dos has been used, it means that dos is OS for booting; then why use an iso? why not an extracted I386 folder?

The fact that grub4dos is used does NOT imply that any particular OS is used.
Why NOT use a .iso?

2) g4d iso emulation is valid as long as the original OS is running, once the new OS is started, the original location of the ISO becomes unknown. either a ram disk is needed or pre-copying is needed to access the files for continuing theinstallation (see below)

Actually yes, but NO.
grub4dos needs NOT any OS running.
However whatever grub4dos does is "passed" to a "real mode" OS (please read DOS), while it isn't necessarily "hooked" by the "protected mode" OS (please read Linux or NT)

3) i have tested LiveCD ISOs (for PCLINUX) in two different ways: i) by using the ISO and ii) using the extracted folders. option ii) worked very well; even the livecd.sqfs can stay inside a folder - need not beed the root! But option i) of using the iso starts loading the kernel and initrd but as the sqfs is not copied, kernel panic occurs.

EACH single Linux distro has it's own way and/or needs modifications to be booted from a .iso mapping.
Some work "as is".
Some work "as is" but specific parameters need to be passed to the kernel by grub4dos.
Some need simple modifications in the .iso.
Some need profound modiifcations in the .iso.
Some won't simply work without a complete rebuild/recompile.

It simply makes no sense talking "generically" of "LiveCD ISOs" saying they won't work.

4) Same is the case with xp installation; when i386 is extracted and grub4dos starts with the I386/SETUPLDR.BIN it links to the winnt.sif and even does the unattended installation; (note that nlite created the WINNT.SIF and unattended.txt; check the lower and upper case of the file name!) i tried to use xp-sp3.iso for installation, and the famous bsod on 0x00007b error appears as the iso location is a virutal CD which is now lost!)

Sure, but we have some news, namely:
SOLUTION, thanks to cdob :
http://www.msfn.org/board/install-xp-lite-...sb-t135083.html
Firadisk by karyonix (experimental):
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...ic=8804&hl=
the unnamed thingy by Andy Tim Sha0 (again experimental):
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...ic=8168&hl=

5) i have got some progress using win98SE.img for starting the machine with grub4dos in an usb, but though the machine starts for the second time, the third time start for drivers loading fails (rahter the machine simply keeps telling 34 min left!). i shall revert if i can install xp from iso on a real machine (no VMware!) that is the main PC should be preferably with only DOS and no xp; or main pc with blank hdd with dos and iso in usb;

NO comment (I simply cannot understand what you mean .



jaclaz

[rnkantan]

hi
1)no comments on "posting or viewing" issue!; now that people are viewing AND posting! (because without someone posting, i dont know if someone really viewed it!)

2) i know the original topic is about CD with grub4dos as multiboot option; what i meant was if G4D is invoked from a running machine ( means probably the machine is booted with DOS already) then it is a simple step to install xp using winnt.exe; precisely Method3 originally mentioned;

as far as iso is concerned, IT IS NOT possible to simply use ONLY G4D and invoke the iso for installation; again what i meant as original OS is not for G4D as looder for a multibootCD but for running pc;

3)yes i know different distros have different kernel options; that is why i mentioned pclinux (what is meant as livecd isos are 2007, mini2008 and 2009KDE or 2009 gnome)
4) and 5) practically same as my attempt; and cdob has done it beautifully after his short vacation by using the wrap iso.

i started the machine with win98se floppy image; console mode; and then added a virutal cd and mounted the iso to start; XP starts copying the files to HDD (C:$WIN_NT$.~LS) and reboots to resume the loading; but hangs as some file is probably written to the temporary (A: drive); i didnot elaborate as i am still trying it out;
let me revert once it is done;

cheers
rnkantan

[was_jaclaz]

hi
1)no comments on "posting or viewing" issue!; now that people are viewing AND posting! (because without someone posting, i dont know if someone really viewed it!)

It's easy.

You go here:

And you read in the row "Help! grub4dos perform an unattended windows installation." what is in columen "Views", right now 1502.

After a few hours/days/weeks, you do the same and compare the number to the one you jolted down before.

4) Same is the case with xp installation; when i386 is extracted and grub4dos starts with the I386/SETUPLDR.BIN it links to the winnt.sif and even does the unattended installation; (note that nlite created the WINNT.SIF and unattended.txt; check the lower and upper case of the file name!) i tried to use xp-sp3.iso for installation, and the famous bsod on 0x00007b error appears as the iso location is a virutal CD which is now lost!)

You might have missed this part:

Sure, but we have some news, namely:
SOLUTION, thanks to cdob :
http://www.msfn.org/board/install-xp-lite-...sb-t135083.html
Firadisk by karyonix (experimental):
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...ic=8804&hl=
the unnamed thingy by Andy Tim Sha0 (again experimental):
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?...ic=8168&hl=

We have now a solution, and two differnt new, experimental, but already reported to be working -at least partially - alternatives.



jaclaz