Attended Installation of XP
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[edit section] Installing Windows
Exam 70-270 covers “Installing, configuring, and administering Windows XP.” Since we like to keep things relatively simple, we will try to cover the study guide content in a similar order. Our first order of business is thus the business of installing Windows XP. Of course, installing Windows XP alone is no major feat – in fact, new computer users probably do it every day – but understanding how to prepare specialized, managed, or unattended installations of Windows XP is truly an MCSE task, and therefore we will cover this in some detail.
[edit section] Attended and Unattended Installations
The difference between an attended and an unattended installation is in the user intervention required in the installation process. An attended installation requires the user to attend the installation while an unattended installation does not require the user to act. There are advantages to each type of installation that we will cover. For the exam, make sure that you thoroughly understand the difference between an attended and unattended installation.
[edit section] Performing an Attended Installation
Running an attended installation is probably a process you are already familiar with. However, you will be expected to understand and recall in some detail the process of installing Windows XP “manually.” First, let’s go over some of the reasons why you may perform an attended installation of Windows XP:
- Low number of installations to perform (why create an installation file when you can run through a single installation “by-hand”)
- Need to individualize each installation at the time of installation (new users with unknown information)
- Ease of running an attended installation
The first step of performing an attended installation is finding a way to enter the setup program. There are several ways of doing so, including:
- Starting from an Existing Windows OS: If you have 98 or 2000 installed on your PC, it is likely that you can perform an upgrade installation directly from the operating system. Read more on upgrade installations in the next guide
- Starting from a Floppy Boot Disk Set: If the PC that you wish to install XP on does not feature a CD-ROM drive (or you cannot boot from CD for whatever reason), use the six-disk set provided by Microsoft online to start installation
- Starting from a CD-ROM: The simplest option – Stick the CD in the drive before boot and watch Windows do its wonders!
Once you have entered what many people call the “low-level” setup, you will see a blue screen with instructions for installation. This is actually a condensed copy of Windows that has been stored in your memory in order to allow you to install the real Windows XP. Run through the setup with these steps:
1. Agree to Licensing Agreement
2. Partition Drives: Make sure that the partition that you have selected to install Windows on is indeed free or free to destroy and also has enough space to support a Windows installation
3. Format the Drives: You will be given the choice between NTFS, NTFS (Quick), and possibly FAT to format the drives. The difference between NTFS and the quick format is that the quick format does not scan the volume for bad sectors. Generally, it is better to perform a full format, but on a known good drive, a quick format should do.
4. Allow setup to copy installation files and restart
5. Take boot disks/CD’s out of drive
After these steps, you should be in what is the next level of setup, with a fully-functional, Windows-like GUI. This level of setup is where the bulk of install configuration occurs. Once you have reached this stage, you will watch setup install some components and then you will be prompted with your first set of dialogue boxes:
1. Regional and Language Options: Make sure that you choose the relevant language and regional options on the computer you are installing Windows XP
2. Name, Licensing Information: Obvious, but enter relevant names!
3. Computer Naming: Note that to communicate with legacy (NT) networks, your computer name should be eight or fewer alphanumeric characters
4. Modem Information: Installation requires you to enter at least an area code in the US
5. Date and Time Settings: The time should already be correct, but be sure to select your correct time zone
6. Network Setup: We will cover Windows XP networking at a later time, but here are some basic points:
- Typical v. Custom Settings: Windows will try to auto-detect appropriate network configuration in the Typical Settings mode. If you choose Typical, you will not be asked to install or implement protocols
- Protocols: If you choose a custom setup, you will need to select the protocols to install. Some typically installed protocols include: TCP/IP, File and Print Sharing, and Client for Microsoft Networks
7. Workgroup or Domain: You must choose to either join a workgroup or a domain. A domain must already exist in order to join it, and a workgroup is an informal association of Windows-networked computers
8. Setup now will install start menu items, register components, remove temporary files, and reboot
Upon your first installation of Windows XP, you will be prompted for different user information. Note that the first “user name” you configure will become a password-less, administrative user by default. You should change this later.
[edit section] Moving Forward
In our next guide, we’ll look into the more intimidating world of unattended installations of Windows XP and the various tools you need to use to create a successful unattended installation. For now, read the guide, and if possible, run through an installation of XP on a spare computer.
[edit section] Quick Review
1. You are an administrator for a small network. After performing attended installations on ten computers, the users report that the installations work fine. After thirty days, however, the users complain that they cannot use their computers. What action should you likely perform?
a. Use the product activation wizard to activate the products using the Microsoft Clearing House system
b. Restart each computer in safe mode and change account policy so that users’ passwords last longer than thirty days
c. Restart each computer in safe mode and perform a system restore
d. Use the Microsoft registration wizard to clear out the caches
2. Which of the following format options will result in the creation of a partition that is scanned for bad sectors and is not compatible with Windows 98?
a. FAT
b. Quick FAT
c. NTFS
d. Quick NTFS
3. You need to install Windows XP on a computer without the ability to boot from the CD-ROM drive. The computer currently has Windows 2000 installed and functions well. Which of the following options would not work?
a. Booting from floppy drive
b. Upgrading from Windows 2000 to Windows XP
c. Using a DVD-ROM drive
d. Installing via RIS
[edit section] Answers:
1. After an attended installation, you must active the product (Windows XP) within 30 days. After this time period has elapsed, the computers will not be usable until activation occurs. The answer is A.
2. The NTFS file system can only be used on Windows 2000 and XP operating systems. A quick format implies that the volume will not be scanned for bad sectors. Therefore, the answer must be C.
3. There is no difference between booting from CD-ROM and DVD-ROM in terms of BIOS settings. The answer is C.
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