INSTALL WINDOWS XP PROFESSIONAL FROM A MASTER IMAGEIN THIS EXERCISE, Y...

Chapter Summary

Small deployments or situations involving many different hardware configurations

often use an unattended installation, in which the Winnt32 and Winnt commands

are used along with an unattended answer file to script the installation. This file is

created with Windows Setup Manager.

Many larger enterprise deployments use disk duplication to deploy systems, a pro-

cess in which you use the System Preparation Tool to create an image from a com-

puter running Windows XP Professional, and then clone that image on other

computers. Using disk duplication usually requires third-party software.

Microsoft provides RIS for use in environments in which Active Directory service

is available. The RIS server software (which resides on a server computer running

Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003) stores images of Windows XP

installations and makes those images available over the network. A client com-

puter boots from the network (or using a special RIS boot disk), contacts the RIS

server, and then installs an image from that server.

Windows XP Professional also provides tools that help make your deployment of

Windows XP Professional easier. These tools include the Files And Settings Trans-

fer Wizard, the USMT, and Windows Installer.

Exam Highlights

Before taking the exam, review the key points and terms that are presented in this

chapter. You need to know this information.

Key Points

An answer file is used to provide the common configuration settings for all com-

puters that are affected during an unattended installation. A UDF provides the

unique settings that each computer needs to distinguish it from other computers.

RIS requires an Active Directory environment so that RIS clients can locate RIS

servers. Active Directory requires that DNS be used on a network; DNS is used to

locate services in Active Directory. DHCP is also required for RIS because RIS cli-

ents must be able to contact a DHCP server to obtain an IP address so that they

can communicate with other devices on the network.

There are three ways that a RIS client can boot from the network and locate a RIS

server: by being compliant with the Net PC configuration, having a PXE-compliant

network adapter, or having a supported network adapter card and using a RIS

boot disk.

Key Terms

answer file A text file that supplies Windows XP Professional Setup with information

necessary during the installation process.

disk duplication An automated installation in which you use the System Preparation

Tool to create an image from a computer running Windows XP Professional, and

then clone that image on other computers. Using disk duplication usually requires

third-party software.

Files And Settings Transfer Wizard A Windows XP Professional wizard that simpli-

fies the task of moving data files and personal settings from your old computer to

your new one.

Preboot eXecution Environment (PXE) A standard for network booting that is

supported by some network adapters. Using a PXE-compliant network adapter is

one of three configurations that allow a RIS client to boot from the network and

locate a RIS server. (RIS clients can also be compliant with the Net PC specification

or use a RIS boot disk.)

Remote Installation Services (RIS) Software stores images of Windows XP installa-

tions and makes those images available over the network.

System Preparation A utility that allows you to prepare master images of an exist-

ing Windows XP installation for distribution to other computers by removing

machine-specific information from the computer.

unattended installation An automated installation in which the Winnt32 and Winnt

commands are used along with an unattended answer file to script the installation.

uniqueness database file (UDF) A text file that is used in conjunction with an

answer file and contains the settings that are unique to each computer.

User State Migration Tool (USMT) A utility that provides all the same functionality

as the Files And Settings Transfer Wizard plus the ability to fully customize specific

settings such as unique modifications to the Registry. The USMT is designed for

administrators to facilitate large-scale deployments of Windows XP Professional in

an Active Directory setting.

Windows Setup Manager A wizard-based program that allows you to quickly create

a script for a unattended installation of Windows XP Professional.

winnt.exe A command-line utility used to start Windows Setup from the MS-DOS or

Windows 3.1 command prompt.

winnt32.exe A command-line utility used to start Windows Setup from the Win-

dows 95 or later command prompt.