Choosing a Method for Automating Post-Installation Tasks

Choosing a Method for Automating Po...

Updated: March 28, 2003

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

You can perform automated post-installation tasks two ways: you can use a Cmdlines.txt file to run commands, programs, scripts, or batch files just after Setup finishes but before the computer restarts, or you can configure the [GuiRunOnce] section in an answer file to run commands, programs, scripts, and batch files after the computer restarts and a user logs on. Use the following guidelines to determine which method to use.

Using Cmdlines.txt

Use Cmdlines.txt when:

You are running commands, programs, scripts, or batch files from the $OEM$ folder on a distribution share.
You want to install applications or perform configuration tasks during GUI mode stage of Setup.
You want to install applications or perform configuration tasks under the Local System security account.
You do not need network connectivity to perform the installation or configuration task.
You are not using Windows Installer packages (.msi files) to install applications.
You want to install applications or perform configuration tasks while no user is logged on.

Using [GuiRunOnce]

Use [GuiRunOnce] when:

You need access to hard drives, CD-ROM drives, shared folders on the network, or other storage devices.
You want to install applications or perform configuration tasks under a specific user account.
You need network connectivity to perform an installation or configuration task.
You are using Windows Installer packages (.msi files) to install applications.
You need to control the order in which programs, scripts, or batch files run.

Important

You cannot use Cmdlines.txt if you are using an operating system CD and a Winnt.sif file to perform an unattended installation. You can use Cmdlines.txt only if you are installing from a distribution share.

For information about configuring Cmdlines.txt and [GuiRunOnce] to run programs, scripts, and batch files, see "Configuring Cmdlines.txt to Perform Tasks" and "Configuring [GuiRunOnce] to Perform Tasks" later in this chapter.