KB142633 - How to Run a Program Only Once During an Unattended Setup

Article ID: 142633

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51

This article was previously published under Q142633

SUMMARY

The unattended setup mode of Windows NT 3.51 does not offer a way to run a program once the setup is complete. Nevertheless, this could be very useful if you want to set up other components on your system after the completion of the unattended setup (in order to run a batch file or install some other products, for example).

This article describes how to run any kind of program during an unattended setup.

MORE INFORMATION

Running any kind of program during an unattended setup is not normally possible. The following steps explains how to run a program only once after an unattended setup.

The system must be installed with AutoLogon enabled so that the first time the system is booted after setup, a session is automatically opened and a specific program can be launched.

The following steps explain how to set up Windows NT and to run a program automatically after the setup:

Save the USERDEF hive.

Prepare a standard setup of Windows NT (for example, not unattended) and save the file %SystemRoot%\System32\Config\UserDef as x:\userdef.def (Drive X is a network share from which the automated setup of Windows NT will be run).

Copy the I386 directory from the Windows NT distribution compact disc to the network drive X.

Copy the resource kit utility Regini.exe to Drive X.

Modify Initial.inf to enable AutoLogon:
1. Change Initial.inf to read as follows:
  
  [Install-Win-Ini-Alter-1]
  ReplaceIniKeyValue "Win.ini", Winlogon, DefaultUserName,
  administrator
  ReplaceIniKeyValue "Win.ini", Winlogon, DefaultPassword, ""
  ReplaceIniKeyValue "Win.ini", Winlogon, AutoAdminLogon,"1"
  
  For more information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
  
  ARTICLE-ID: 136327
  TITLE : How to Enable AutoLogon During an Automated Setup

Edit Registry.inf to modify the run registry entry:

Type the following commands:

expand -r x:\registry.in_

del x:\ registry.in_

Edit Registry.inf and search for the section [MakeStartupEntry]. Just above the line 'set Status = STATUS_SUCCESSFUL', insert the following lines:

>
        set KeyPath   = { +
                       {SOFTWARE,          $(NoTitle), $(MaskAllAccess)}, +
                       {Microsoft,         $(NoTitle), $(MaskAllAccess)}, +
                       {"Windows NT",      $(NoTitle), $(MaskAllAccess)}, +
                       {CurrentVersion,    $(NoTitle), $(MaskAllAccess)}, +
                       {"Windows",         $(NoTitle), $(MaskAllAccess)}, +
                      }
        set KeyValues = { +
                       {run, $(NoTitle), $(!REG_SZ), "runonce.bat"} +
                      }
        shell "" CreateKey $(!REG_H_CUSER) $(KeyPath) $(KeyValues)
        ifint $($ShellCode) != $(!SHELL_CODE_OK)
          goto end_MakeStartupEntry
        endif
        ifstr(i) $($R0) != STATUS_SUCCESSFUL
          goto end_MakeStartupEntry
        else
          CloseRegKey $($R1)
        endif

Write a regini script by writing the x:\autolog.ini file to read as follows:

     \registry\machine
          Software
            Microsoft
              Windows NT
                CurrentVersion
                  Winlogon
                    AutoAdminLogon = REG_SZ 0

     user:Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
        run = REG_SZ

This will disable AutoLogon and remove the running of Runonce.bat when the administrator logs on.

Create a Runonce.bat batch file.

Write a batch file and save it as x:\runonce.bat. This batch file can include any command and will be executed only once after the unattended setup.

The two last lines of the Runonce.bat batch file must be as follows:

copy %SystemRoot%\System32\Userdef.def SystemRoot%\System32\config\userdef. regini %SystemRoot%\System32\autolog.ini

Modify Dosnet.inf.

During the first phase of unattended setup, all system files are temporarily copied to C:\$Win_nt$.~ls and C:\$Win_nt$.~bt. Dosnet.inf lists the files that have to be copied to the system.

Edit x:\Dosnet.inf and add the following lines to the end of the [Files] section:

d1,RUNONCE.BAT d1,USERDEF.DEF d1,REGINI.EXE d1,AUTOLOG.INI

Modify Txtsetup.sif.

Txtsetup.sif is used during the text-mode phase of the unattended setup. It tells the setup process which files have to be copied to the hard disk.

Add the following lines to the end of the [Files] section:

runonce.bat = dx,d7,,2,0,0 userdef.def = dx,d7,,2,0,0 regini.exe = dx,d7,,2,0,0 autolog.ini = dx,d7,,2,0,0

The files above are copied to the System32 directory.

Run the following command:

x:\winnt32.exe /u:<path>\unattend.txt /s:x:\

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Keywords: kbnetwork kbsetup KB142633