Designing Unattended Installations
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2
Unattended installation is the most flexible and versatile automated method of deploying the Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional operating system and the Microsoft® Windows® Server 2003 operating system. You can automate both clean installations and upgrades, and you can automate the installation and configuration of a wide range of system settings and system components without running batch files or scripts. Unattended installations also speed up the deployment process, minimize user involvement during installation, and ensure consistency throughout your organization, which lowers support costs.
In This Chapter
Overview of Unattended Installation
Evaluating Hardware and Software for Unattended Installations
Deciding Whether to Perform an Upgrade or a Clean Installation
Choosing a Distribution Method
Designing Preinstallation Tasks for Unattended Installations
Designing Answer File and Setup Settings for Unattended Installations
Creating Startup Media, Answer Files, and Distribution Shares
Performing Unattended Installations
Additional Resources for Designing Unattended Installations
Related Information
For more information about automated installations, see "Choosing an Automated Installation Method" in this book.
For more information about image-based installations, see "Designing Image-based Installations with Sysprep" in this book.
For more information about Remote Installation Services (RIS), see "Designing RIS Installations" in this book.