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Setting up Windows 2003 Unattended Network Based Install via bootdisk

I am trying to automated a Windows 2003 install for our environment. This is to provide,
consistency accross our new server infrastructure.

I have created a netbootdisk from netbootdisk.com

I have mapped a drive to a distribution share

I run NTFSDOS.exe which I located on the distriubtion share (system drive mounts to d:)

But when I attempt to install the OS using my unattend.bat file, it says Could not find a place for the swap file

This happens whether or not I run NTFSDOS. This also happens whether or not I run the unattend or winnt.exe directly

Any idea how to fix this?

Sinder255248

Is the Array configured at the time you're trying to boot and is there logical partition on there?

bbcac

ASKER

The partition is already configured.... is that the best way to do it or can you automated the creation of the logical array too?

bbcac

ASKER

once I mount the drive using NTFSDOS.exe I am able to see the drive and the existing files

Sinder255248

If using NTFSDOS.exe it's read-only. Are you using NTFSDOS.exe to mount an NTFS partition on the disk you want 2003 on? What about creating a FAT32 partition on the system, and then converting it to NTFS during installation using the unattend script.

bbcac

ASKER

Ok... where can I read more about it?

Should I have to do that if the NTFS partition is in place already?

Is it realistic that I I have to setup the RAID and create the FAT partition before every starting the install?

jimmymcp02

if what you are trying to accomplish is cloning your server to multiple servers you could use the following program http://www.clonezilla.org/

You can set up a master server then you can replicate your image accross multiple computer and its pretty fast.... and best of all its free.

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Sinder255248

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bbcac

ASKER

Thanks for your help....
jimmymcp02:
The hardware will change which means that I can't use one image

Sinder255248:
You suggestion is a good one. I will look into it. Thanks,

bbcac

ASKER

Thanks for you help