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Don Davidson
Network Engineer
http://www.insight-media.co.uk

In short, yes, maybe, and no. It depends on what you are trying to install and how you are trying to install it. It can be done. Do you want a hands off installation? If so (and this is the choice I usually make), you'll have to find out if the program you are installing has this option. Some software is just to complicated to install from a script and is better left to some other method.

Set up a test computer and try your installations there. If I am going to install some software from the startup script, I also display a self-timed message box that tells the user what is going to happen and that his/her computer may reboot itself. I make it a timed message because many people sign-on and walkaway.

Hope this helps some.

------------------
Regards,

Brad
Consultant
Net InfraStructure, Inc

Many Thanks for your reply. We had guessed it depended on the software's options we wanted to install. Most MS products will install in "quiet" mode without interaction from user.

The timing idea is a good one any tips on script you are using?

Thanks again.

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Don Davidson
Network Engineer
http://www.insight-media.co.uk

Here is a piece of the code I use for a client when updated their McAfee virus definition files.

code:

---

               ? "Updating virus definitions.  The version being installed is: $newversion."
               $selection=Messagebox("The virus definitions on your computer are being updated.  As a result, your system may reboot itself.  If it does, just login again.", "Important Notice",4160,7)
               Shell "$comd $newversion /logfile %TEMP%\mcafeedat.txt /silent /reboot"
               ; The system may reboot here.

---

If you look in the manual at the messagebox definition, the fourth parameter controls how long to keep the message window open (I also don't display the desktop and make sure all other windows are closed before this so the user can't change the focus).

Hope that helps some.

------------------
Regards,

Brad
Consultant
Net InfraStructure, Inc

Rgds

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Don Davidson
Network Engineer
http://www.insight-media.co.uk

There is another scripting tool called scriptit that you can use to send key strokes to deferent windows in the GUI Setup process. Vary handy little tool do do GUI task automation.

You can get more info on www.winntmag.com

Regards

There is another scripting tool called scriptit that you can use to send key strokes to deferent windows in the GUI Setup process. Very handy little tool to do GUI task automation.

You can get more info on www.winntmag.com

Regards

Thanks I will check it out asap.

Brad had given me enough info to solve my issue. We were installing MDAC on all systems and Kixtart handled it perfectly.

Thanks Again.

------------------
Don Davidson
Network Engineer
http://www.insight-media.co.uk