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