OEM Preinstallation Most Frequently Asked Questions
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Question |
Answer |
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1. Where can I obtain my
Microsoft® Windows® XP OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK) tools and the Windows
Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) CD-ROM? Are these available for download? |
The OPK tools—such as Setup Manager, the System
Preparation Tool (SysPrep), and WinPE—are located on a separate CD in the
3-packs and available only through Microsoft Authorized Distributors. The
tools are not available for download. Please contact your nearest distributor
to order Microsoft products at http://oem.microsoft.com/worldwide/500330.asp. |
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2. How do I get prepared for
preinstallation of Windows XP? Is there a quick guide for preinstalling
Windows XP? |
Refer to the “Quick Guide to Preinstalling Windows
XP Using the OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK)” on the Microsoft System Builder
Web site at http://oem.microsoft.com/worldwide/512505.asp. |
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3. I keep getting a “Cannot
Authenticate to Server” error. What should I look for? |
Ensure that the OPK Tools folder is shared with
administrator rights. Also verify that the \\computer_name\user_name
and password are correct for the technician computer. Make sure that
you have connectivity to the technician computer by pinging it from the
master computer using the CMD from the OPK CD in a WinPE session. |
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4. If I want to do a
preinstallation using static Internet Protocol (IP) addresses in a workgroup
and not DHCP, how do I do this? What is the syntax? |
First make sure that all of the computers are in
the same workgroup. Then change the technician computer to have a static
address in the TCPIP configuration as: ipconfig=169.172.0.1 On the master
computer’s WinBOM.ini on the floppy disk, add a static address with the
syntax in the [WinPE.net] section of the WinBOM.ini file add: ipconfig=169.172.0.2 |
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5. Do the Deploy.cab file
tools on the Windows XP Professional retail product include the same version
of Setup Manager and Sysprep as the OPK CD? |
No. The Deploy.cab tools are a subset of the OPK
tool set. To get the full set of OPK tools, you must purchase OEM product
from your local distributor. If you would like to make a SysPrep. INF file or
a file for Remote Installation Services (RIS) server, then the Setup Manager
that comes with Deploy.cab is your best bet. To have OEM tools for branding
and customizations, please use the OPK tools. |
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6. Where do I get the latest
patches and fixes for Windows XP? |
You can find support for preinstallation of
Windows XP on the Microsoft OEM System Builder Web Site newsgroup found at http://oem.microsoft.com/worldwide/500330.asp.
OEM System
Builder Support Team e-mail sbst@microsoft.com
System Builder
site: http://www.microsoft.com/oem/
System Builder
newsgroups: http://oem.microsoft.com/general/bbs/
Microsoft Product
Support Services: http://www.microsoft.com/support/ |
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7. Where do I get the latest
patches and fixes for preinstallation of Windows XP? |
Go to the Windows Update page at http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp. |
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8. I want to install
applications using the Guest Account. How can I do this? |
Copy and stage the application on a network server
or locally, and then share the folders and make sure you add the appropriate
user name and password. Because the Guest Account is not enabled by default,
you will need to enable this on your technician computer. However, we do
not recommend using Guest. A better solution is to create a limited user that
is used only for installations (called OPKUSER, for example) and then give
that user access to install. |
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9. I want to copy my
WinBOM.ini file to the root of the CD for preinstallation. Does this work? If
so, how? |
Example:
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10. When I’m using Mkimg.cmd,
does the drive path or fully qualified paths need to be correct? |
When using Mkimg.cmd, you must use fully qualified
paths such as C:\Winpe.tmp and C:\Winpe.iso rather than \Winpe.tmp and
\Winpe.iso. The drive letter and colon are required as well as the absolute
path. Relative paths are not allowed. |
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11. If I change the
permissions to the folder that I’m sharing, do I need to make any changes to
my WinBOM.ini file? |
No, unless your effective permissions are Read or
better. |
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12. How do I set up a Windows
2000 Server RIS and at the same time as the Windows XP installation? |
You must use a Pre-boot Execution Environment
(PXE)–enabled network interface card (NIC) on the remote workstation or a
PXE-compliant card (which most PCI NICs are). See Microsoft Knowledge Base
article ID Q242920
for a list of compliant cards. |
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13. How do I modify an
existing image once I’ve resealed it without activating it? |
Start with an original image and add your hardware
in audit mode. Configure the image just the way you like it, and then reseal,
image, and apply to other computers. Use SysPrep to reseal the image after
you have added your custom applications and hardware. You can then use the
image on multiple computers of the same configuration. |
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14. Can I still press
CTRL+SHIFT+F3 to enter audit mode during Windows Welcome? |
Yes, during the first screen of Windows Welcome
where Qmark, the question mark character, appears, you can enter audit mode
by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+F3. However, this does not work on any other screen
after this. Click Back to return to the first screen. |
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15. How do I configure Setup
Manager to build configuration sets that use a user name and password that is
different from the user name and password that I used when I first installed
the OPK? |
If a different account has been set up on your
technician computer to complete preinstallation (different from what was used
when you first installed \OPKtools), then proceed to the \OPKtools folder,
open Setupmgr.ini, and change the account name and password. This will input
the proper account information into any of the new accounts you may create. |
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16. If DiskPart fails, can I
use WipeDisk to clean the drive? |
You should use WipeDisk by adding the following
entries in the [DiskConfig] section of the WinBOM.ini file, where N is the
partition number to be activated: WipeDisk=Yes The [DiskConfig] section should appear as follows:
[DiskConfig] Refer to Knowledge Base article Q310820. |
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17. Where do I find corporate
downloads? |
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18. How do I install the
Windows Recovery Console? |
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q216/4/17.asp |
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19. I would like to
prepopulate the product Key number off of the Certificate of Authenticity
(COA) label and preactivate Windows in my factory. How can I do this? |
This has to be done on a per-machine basis. Open
the Oobeinfo.ini file on the finished computer, and add the product key in
the following section: [Version] You must activate the product key on the finished
computer immediately before you run SysPrep. The end user will not be asked
for their product key. You must prepopulate the product key separately on
each computer to ensure that the genuine product key and activation has taken
place before you reseal and ship the computer. You will not be able to make
an image of this if you preactivate. |
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20. I want to do a
preinstallation using a 1394 FireWire/USB hard drive that I can move from
computer to computer. Can I do this? |
You can install your OPK tools to a FireWire/USB
hard drive, create your configuration sets on this hard drive, and then
remove the hard drive from the technician’s computer. Then you can connect
the drive to your target computer, boot the computer using WinPE, and install
your configuration set. When you first install the OPK tools, the
FireWire/USB hard drive must be connected to a computer running Windows 2000
or Windows XP. All you need to do is modify the following line in
your WinBOM.ini file: SourceRoot=D:\opktools (You are changing this line from whatever was
there before—e.g., \\server\opktools.) |
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21. Can I put my logo on the
splash screen at startup? If so, how do I do this? |
No, you cannot brand the BIOS startup page. This
is not supported. However, you can have your logo appear during Windows
Welcome. This is done using the Oobeinfo.ini file created by Setup Manager. |
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22. How do I create a custom
WinPE CD with my own set of network drivers on it? |
Follow the steps outlined above for replacing the
WinBOM.ini file. Please see http://oem.microsoft.com/worldwide/512502.asp.
However, in step 2 (step 4 in the example), place the INF for the Network
Interface Card in the C:\Winpe.tmp\i386\INF directory and the driver file(s)
in the C:\Winpe.tmp\i386\System32\Drivers directory. |
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23. Are there localized
versions of the OPK? If so, where do I obtain them? |
Localized versions of the Windows XP Professional OPK are available from the OEM Distributor in your region. |
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24. How do I build a Windows
XP–based peer-to-peer network for small businesses? |
You can find more information about peer-to-peer
networking at http://oem.microsoft.com/worldwide/513212.asp. |
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25. I had my configuration set
working before, but now that I have shared the OPK tools directory it does
not work. What might be the issue? |
Go to the sharing properties and make sure that
“Files can be changed by users” is selected. Also make sure that you do not
have “Internet Firewall” enabled if working in a peer-to-peer workgroup,
because this will make the two computers unable to connect with each other. |
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26. Why am I getting “Windows
was unable to determine which Network Connection to use for Internet Access”
during Windows Welcome? |
The Windows XP OOBE Cannot Determine Your Network
Configuration screen shows up during Windows Welcome if you have two NICs or
a NIC card and a 1394 card in the computer (or onboard components). For a resolution to this problem, see http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q307/9/79.asp. |
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27. How do I capture error
logging using my WinBOM.ini file? |
To assist in troubleshooting errors that occur
while WinPE is processing your WinBOM.ini file, you can enable error logging
in your WinBOM. Under [Factory] in your WinBOM.ini file, add the
following lines: Logfile = a:\winbom.log This will create a WinBOM.log file on your floppy
disk. |
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28. If I change my password in
WinBOM.ini on the floppy disk, do I need to change the WinBOM.ini file that
resides in the \cfgsets folder? |
Yes. If you change the password that is used to
connect to the server, you definitely should change it on your existing
WinBOM.INI files as well. You easily can change it in Setupmgr.ini, and the
new password will be propagated to all subsequently created configuration
sets. |
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29. I want to preinstall
Microsoft Office XP during my installation. Any samples or ideas on how to do
this? |
You can use Setup Manager to point to the
Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path, such as \\servername\sharename, and
then copy the Office XP setup.exe file to this location. Make sure you share
it with a user name other than the one you are using for the configuration
set, such as office installer. Then copy all of the Office XP files to
your network share. In your Setup Manager configuration set in the
Application Preinstall wizard page, add the network share pointing to the Office
XP Setup.exe file, using /q for quiet installation. |
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30. The preinstallation
process begins but then stops with the command prompt window open and the
cursor at the D:\i386\System32> prompt. What’s happening? |
Incompatible hardware. The most common cause of
this problem is a NIC that is not on the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL)
for Windows XP. Test for possible NIC failure by verifying that the
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) has been bound to
the NIC. At a command prompt, type Ipconfig /all and then press ENTER.
This should list all IP configuration information. If no information is
listed or an error message is displayed, then the NIC probably is not on the
HCL. |
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31. The preinstallation
process begins but then stops with the command prompt window open and the
cursor at the D:\i386\System32> prompt and I have confirmed that TCP/IP is
bound to the NIC. What else could be wrong? |
There are several possibilities. You have a network connectivity error. The technician computer was not available. The UNC path in the WinBOM.ini file is not correct. The user account specified in the WinBOM.ini file is not valid or
does not have access to the Distribution folder. |
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32. I have a device that fails
or I have replaced a driver and get a failure. What can I do? |
The driver is not signed. Run Sigverif.exe from a command prompt to verify
that all the drivers are signed. If a device fails and its driver is not
signed, replace the driver with the original and retest. If you determine
that the problem is the result of a recent driver or hardware change to the
system, undo that change. For more information about the File Signature
Verification tool, see article Q259283 at http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q259/2/83.asp. |
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33. How do I preinstall the
Step by Step Interactive (SBSI) training program? Do I have to do this
manually in audit mode or is this preinstalled automatically? |
In the English version of Windows XP, SBSI is
installed automatically by default. For other languages, it must be run
manually using the localized CD in your OEM 3-pack from the local
distributor. The Application Preinstallation page is a good place to run this
if you need to install a localized version. |