Woohoo!! Wh00t! etc.
Right.. lets get right into the technical thing...
Laptop kit includes a busload of software, most of which I will not be using, except for the Norton Antivirus, and the DVD Burning/Viewing Software. I am looking forward to comparing Norton with Mcafee, as I have always been a Mcafee user, but have been somewhat dissapointed of late with their latest software versions (massive CPU overhead, locked file problems, lack of admin features).
Laptop was suppose to come pre-loaded with Windows XP Home edition, with both Dutch and English versions included. Indeed there where, but to my suprise, I did not get the famous HP/Compaq welcome and install screens, but the laptop contained a pre-installed Dutch version, completely default, no extra drivers (so nothing worked). Also, the installation was not set up for OOBE (Out of the Box Experience), so I did not get the OOBE Wizzard (and the cool music).
This means someone had already booted into the system once in user mode. Now this is rather dissapointing, not that I really care much for the Wizzard, but as I have a good undersanding of how OEM's are suppose to preload windows, and how you set up the OOBE, first startup, first login, and the associated script work. I always like to see how these auto-install and configure systems are evolving. But no such luck here. Doesn't matter, I was gonna renstall everything anyhow.
Made a new RIS installation image (on my Windows Server 2003), Windows XP Professional English with slipstreamed SP2, and added all the HP drivers from the included CD to the $oem$ folder. Tricked out the ristndrd.inf file with the relevant information, generated a VLE key in the 640 series, and booted from the network. Here is what the inf file looked like (sensitive information changed, so neener neener):
[data]
floppyless = "1"
msdosinitiated = "1"
OriSrc = "\\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%"
OriTyp = "4"
LocalSourceOnCD = 1
DisableAdminAccountOnDomainJoin = 0
[SetupData]
OsLoadOptions = "/noguiboot /fastdetect"
SetupSourceDevice = "\Device\LanmanRedirector\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%"
[Unattended]
OemPreinstall = Yes
OemSkipEula = Yes
FileSystem = ConvertNTFS
ExtendOEMPartition = 0
TargetPath = \WINDOWS
OemSkipEula = yes
InstallFilesPath = "\\%SERVERNAME%\RemInst\%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%"
LegacyNIC = 1
OemPnPDriversPath=hp\network;hp\modem;hp\video;hp\audio;hp\wlan1;hp\misc1;hp\misc3
[UserData]
FullName="Me"
OrgName="me Inc."
ComputerName=melap-1
ProductKey = "go-generate-your-own"
[TapiLocation]
CountryCode=31
[GuiUnattended]
OemSkipWelcome = 1
OemSkipRegional = 0
TimeZone=110
AdminPassword = "*"
[Display]
BitsPerPel = 16
XResolution = 800
YResolution = 600
VRefresh = 60
[Networking]
InstallDefaultComponents=Yes
[RemoteInstall]
Repartition = Yes
UseWholeDisk = Yes
[OSChooser]
Description ="Microsoft Windows XP Professional - Service Pack 2 RTM"
Help ="Default Install"
LaunchFile = "%INSTALLPATH%\%MACHINETYPE%\templates\startrom.com"
ImageType =Flat
Version="5.1 (0)"
Now often enough, Windows Setup over RIS will fail on a lack of proper network drivers. This was for instance the case with HP D530 type pc's, and their Broadcom Gbit network drivers. This would cause the text mode portion of Windows setup to fail. Thankfully, probably because the installation included the complete driver support of SP2, it worked in 1 try.. and that is very very rare for an ad-hoc RIS image and new hardware with drivers I am not familiar with yet.
At this writing, installation is almost done. I will spend the rest of the day configuring it and downloading stuff for it, like all the usual usefull tools (I will give you a list later). I cant wait to turn on the Wifi (802.11b/g) and see what other wireless networks I can pick up around here! ;)
Looking forward to finally getting into the Wifi scene, as I dont know half as much about it all as I should. I know one thing for sure... Maximum security is essential! Expect me to start working with certificate based incryption, MAC filtering, etc.