Version one is only partially successful. WMP11 and IE 7 were not installed/slipped and the Java addon didn't make it in either. Notepad++ is installed, but does not show up in the Start>Programs menu.
Install itself went fine. The DriverPacks system uses a rather time-consuming first-run installer to get the drivers in. It has a non-interactive GUI that I don't like. I'll try Method 2 next time.
Slow work this.
Slipstreamed WMP11, Hotfixes and so forth, creating zip packages at each stage before proceeding.
Created initial build with nLite. Next step is to integrate the Driver Packs. Then I'll have an ISO to test.
The appealing part of all this is that I can potentially create a *Universal* install disk, install it in VMware, spruce it up with apps and so forth, then export it for use on a *real* computer. With all the drivers there already it shouldn't be too big a deal. Documentation exists for doing this (V2P) at the VMware site.
Also, found an interesting tool called "Windows Updates Downloader" here. It does what it says.
Another attempt to create a universla install disk for XP which is both up-to-date and includes a variety of extra functionality. I'm using the following apps:
nLiteOS
RyanVM Integrator and integrator packs
WMP11Slipstreamer
DriverPacks has an app for backing up/slipstreaming drivers in existing installs as well as provides a series of downloads of driver packs that can be used to slip in to an install disk. I've downloaded all of the available packs as of today.
DriverGrabber - see previous
Windows Post-Install Wizard is an app to run after the install is done. It is a user driven menu-ed app that runs a series of installers.
Some cool extensions are available at http://ryanvm.net/ . I'm adding some to my initial attempt, including CD/DVD burning apps, hardware monitoring apps and so forth.
To do:
1) slip WMP11 in to source tree (ripped XP SP2 disk)
2) slip IE7 in to source
3) Run RyanVM Integrator to integrate the update and custom packs
4) integrate the driver packs in to tree
5) run nliteos to create the ISO
6) do test installs in VMware,VirtualBox, Paralles, Mac mini, lab machines etc. (get Ehsan and DCST to try it, too)
follow-up task: if needed, run drivergrabber on all machines to get any custom drivers that the driver packs may not have in them
NOTE: I found a wrapper app called AutoImage that apparently sequences the operations of the above apps in a handy way. I'm trying to make it work now, but Casper is becoming flaky
Rebuilt Lab B with OOo 2.3, new QuickTime, Firefox etc. and added Chinese PRC/MS IME for Karen Tang. As time permits I'll rebuild Lab C.
I'm also working on a new build using VMware. The intent is to create builds in a virtual environment and then do a V2P conversion to export it to the labs.
Lab C teacher station seemed to lose its marbles today; the teacher reported that he could not listen in to any of his students, and All Call didn't work. It seemed to be stuck in a Cassette Transfer mode, but cancelling that only worked for a short while before the problem recurred; restarting the ICM was the solution that finally worked.
Called into Lab C at the end of the day by an instructor trying to use Praat; it wouldn't run because of a permissions problem. Checked the permissions on the executable, and only administrators had any, so I added UVic Domain Users, and then it would run for her.
Checked Lab B, and found the same situation there, so I fixed that too.
This took quite a while to fix because you can't log off either of these machines; you have to restart every time. I wonder if there's a way around that?
I've sent in a request to dispose of a bunch of old equipment:
4 AOpen computers - the last of the old lab machines
One of the old CRT televisions
Sony Remote Commander - from Lab B
Sanyo digital projector - non-functional
Sharp VCR - from Lab B. Works, but not well
sundry computer parts (DVD-ROM drive, keyboard etc.)
Also moved a bunch of spare monitors and other bits and pieces to get them out of the way.
I've completed the build on the new lab machines and will set them up in Lab C this afternoon.
A teacher reported no audio when playing back a DVD in lab B. I went in and tried everything I could think of, but no joy -- followed exactly my own instructions from a few weeks ago, which are still available in the lab for teachers, so presumably still current -- nothing. Tried using RealPlayer instead: nothing there either. Tried restarting the machine and logging in as me (an admin); no change. I searched the blog for any more recent documentation from Greg, and found a couple of posts, this one describing a problem, and this one suggesting it's fixed, but no detail. I'm going to email Greg to see if there's anything he remembers changing, but failing that, I'm not sure what to do; there are too many urgent projects for us to embark on a long troubleshooting gig right now.