Windows 7 Installation package

[Skilgannon]

Hi All

I am new to this forum, so hello to all.

I have come here as I need some advice on a issue I am not sure how to tackle. I need to create a Windows 7 package with certain applications already preinstalled like Office 2007 , Adobe etc.

So what needs to happen is I need this packaged to be sent to someone, they put the disk in the new machine, boot up and then the installation start with most interactions required by the user during installation already automated and they end up with a pc set up with Windows 7, most applications already set up and also joined to the domain. I am also looking into the possibility to have this package on the network and then have PXE compliant machines boot striaght to the network and select a package to start installing.

I have read through creating unattended installs, but this is just pointing towards having just the OS set up for a uninterrupted install without any apps.

So it would be much appreciated if anyone has any views on this. Thanks. :-)

[AlanHo]

Seems a bit ambitious.

If it can be engineered - are you able to legally send others proprietary software in that way. I would have thought that software by Microsoft has to be activated for each machine or official multi-user network. Surely you need a license for each machine.

As I understand it - this forum cannot help you to get around software licensing.

[Skilgannon]

Seems a bit ambitious.

If it can be engineered - are you able to legally send others proprietary software in that way. I would have thought that software by Microsoft has to be activated for each machine or official multi-user network. Surely you need a license for each machine.

As I understand it - this forum cannot help you to get around software licensing.

Hi there AlanHo and thanks for the reply.

No, licensing is not a problem. As a company we have a Microsoft volume license agreement for all OS and Office applications. Distribution of the software will only take place within the company boudaries, so would not dream of doing anything illegal. I am just after way to easily deploy Winds 7 and apps configured for different requirements to our branches.

[Hb_Kai]

I don't know much of this type of thing but, aren't things like this usually operated by an .ini file inside the package which then executes a batch file to silently run the setup.exe of the specified software package(s)?

That's how I always thought it was done anyway.

[MANEMAN]

I need to create a Windows 7 package with certain applications already preinstalled like Office 2007 , Adobe etc.

No big problem for you, - because as you say, -

As a company we have a Microsoft volume license agreement for all OS and Office applications.

Stay close to source (Microsoft) because not only have you paid for certain things within that licence, but also we have excellent forums dealing with specifics.

Developments within Microsoft have seen virtual roll-outs across networks, and customers not unlike the efforts that "Altiris" - (now Symantec) have offered in the past. ( http://www.symantec.com/business/theme.jsp?themeid=altiris )

So it would be much appreciated if anyone has any views on this.

As a small, medium, or even large company it is worth having a Microsoft MVP aboard, if only in a consultative position.

You get on and run your business and they find and deal with things like this for you:

http://www.microsoftvolumelicensing.com/

http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en/categories