Creating answer files for your Windows 2000 Server

by Jim Boyce | Mar 12, 2007 8:00:00 AM

Tags: Servers, server, Jim Boyce, Microsoft Windows 2000, wizard, Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Microsoft Windows, Windows 2000 Server Tips Newsletter

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Takeaway: Answer files can be useful for setting up Windows 2000 Server automatically. Learn about the powerful Windows 2000 Setup Manager Wizard and the Deploy.cab file, which are invaluable tools for automating Windows 2000 setup and modification.

One option for automating setup of a Windows 2000 Server or client is to create an unattended setup file (also called an answer file) that includes answers used by the setup program. Creating this setup file can take quite a long time, especially if you want to automate the setup of multiple machines. Deploy.cab (in the \support\tools directory on your Windows 2000 CD) includes a special tool that can help, called Windows 2000 Setup Manager Wizard.

Before you can run the wizard, you have to expand Setupmgr.exe and Setupmgx.dll files from the Deploy.cab archive. After you run Setupmgr.exe, a special wizard will guide you through the options. You'll be able to create a new answer file, modify an existing file, or create an answer file that duplicates the settings of the local computer from which you are running the wizard. The wizard can also create universal disc formats (UDFs), automate the installation of network printers, and run special commands when a user logs on for the first time.