WAIK (Windows Automated Installation Kit)

[Xander]

I'm thinking of giving this little gadget a try but I'm a complete n00b to messing with OS installs. I usually install the vanilla and then spend weeks tweaking.

As a starter for ten, if I get my head around this kit am I going to have to buy the new version/ learn again from scratch/ be disappointed in some other way if I'm thinking of modifying my Win7 install when I get my hands on the retail version?

 

[mickey megabyte]

have you looked at vlite?

zidane24 has done an excellent tutorial.

 

[zigzag3143]

have you looked at vlite?

zidane24 has done an excellent tutorial.

OF Course he has. He always does

Ken

 

[Xander]

have you looked at vlite?

zidane24 has done an excellent tutorial.

Errm, no. Well not yet.

Give me the morning and I'll have read half of it. Work's boring anyway

 

[Xander]

Additional question, if I do all this and modify the RC version of Windows 7 I'm presuming that upon receipt of the retail Windows 7 I can apply the same processes as I've gone through with the RC or would I require a new WAIK version too?

 

[mickey megabyte]

i would assume the same WAIK would still work.

i'm sure someone will correct me if i'm wrong?

 

[dmex]

i would assume the same WAIK would still work.

i'm sure someone will correct me if i'm wrong?

There will be a new WAIK for obvious reasons

 

[Xander]

i would assume the same WAIK would still work.

i'm sure someone will correct me if i'm wrong?

Wait, I just down to the bit where people tell you that were you to do this then you can't apply service packs... which is a bit of a swine.

Surely this eats up any time you may have saved initially? Surely then you have to redo your entire custom install and start from scratch? This can't be ideal.

Edit -
Hang on.. people use this for corporate deployment right? So basically they don't receive the service packs until the IT department can be bothered to clean install all the machines? It's no wonder most large businesses are working on archaic OSs.

 

[Antman]

The WAIK creates a file set. That file set includes the OS installation files, drivers, apps and customization instructions. To update the OS, you will replace the OS installation files within the WAIK generated file set.

When a service pack is released, you can extract and incorporate the SP into the OS installation files, inside the WAIK set. You can also apply the SP to the OS installation files in a separate directory and then place the updated files in the WAIK set. This is a long standing methodology.

While online information regarding WAIK methods may be difficult for some to find, check out the numerous articles available on Windows XP slipstreaming. Try ElderGeek.

 

[dmex]

Wait, I just down to the bit where people tell you that were you to do this then you can't apply service packs... which is a bit of a swine.

Surely this eats up any time you may have saved initially? Surely then you have to redo your entire custom install and start from scratch? This can't be ideal.

WAIK is only really usefull if you have 1000 or so machines that need updating, a System Administrator does not want to have to manually install each update onto each machine and that's why WAIK was created.

Its also how WAIK works, if you customize your installation CD then your removing components from the system, the ServicePack installation can not guarantee the updates/security fixes will be successfully applied because you removed half the Windows Components its going to update and trying to install a ServicePack onto a customized installation will fail for this reason.

Once a service pack is released you will need to use your original non-customized install disk to create a new customized WAIK setup that the service pack can use to apply all fixes and updates, after the ServicePack is integrated with that non-customized WIAK installation you can then once again customize the installation.

 

[Xander]

The WAIK creates a file set. That file set includes the OS installation files, drivers, apps and customization instructions. To update the OS, you will replace the OS installation files within the WAIK generated file set.

When a service pack is released, you can extract and incorporate the SP into the OS installation files, inside the WAIK set. You can also apply the SP to the OS installation files in a separate directory and then place the updated files in the WAIK set. This is a long standing methodology.

While online information regarding WAIK methods may be difficult for some to find, check out the numerous articles available on Windows XP slipstreaming. Try ElderGeek.

Roger. I'll go research a bit. I knew my ignorance would be a hindrance, hence I thought I'd ask some dumb questions before trying to walk.

Thanks for the directions.

WAIK is only really usefull if you have 1000 or so machines that need updating, a System Administrator does not want to have to manually install each update onto each machine and that's why WAIK was created.

Its also how WAIK works, if you customize your installation CD then your removing components from the system, the ServicePack installation can not guarantee the updates/security fixes will be successfully applied because you removed half the Windows Components its going to update and trying to install a ServicePack onto a customized installation will fail for this reason.

Once a service pack is released you will need to use your original non-customized install disk to create a new customized WAIK setup that the service pack can use to apply all fixes and updates, after the ServicePack is integrated with that non-customized WIAK installation you can then once again customize the installation.

Pardon my n00bness but are you implying that if certain areas of the install are kept as stock then you CAN apply service packs?

The reason I ask is that I'd like to mess about with custom installs so I can do things like moving user files onto other drives and get services set the way I'd like as default. That way when I cock something up, crash a few dozen times and have to reinstall it takes less time....

I may be barking up the wrong tree entirely but my initial look at WAIK seemed promising.

 

[dmex]

Pardon my n00bness but are you implying that if certain areas of the install are kept as stock then you CAN apply service packs?

The reason I ask is that I'd like to mess about with custom installs so I can do things like moving user files onto other drives and get services set the way I'd like as default. That way when I cock something up, crash a few dozen times and have to reinstall it takes less time....

I may be barking up the wrong tree entirely but my initial look at WAIK seemed promising.

No, Once the installation is customized and installed on a machine then that machine can not install any service pack's untill its reinstalled with a new customized install containing that service pack

VLite will probably be updated to support Windows 7, It might be more what your looking for but the same rule apply's to VLite customized installs as with WAIK installs

Steven

 

[Xander]

No, Once the installation is customized and installed on a machine then that machine can not install any service pack's untill its reinstalled with a new customized install containing that service pack

VLite will probably be updated to support Windows 7, It might be more what your looking for but the same rule apply's to VLite customized installs as with WAIK installs

Steven

Brief summary of response = "Arse".

I was kinda hoping that some bright spark would have created a windows service pack customiser or some such. From what I've read so far the only reason it doesn't work is because you've customised the basic setup of windows and so screwing with it by applying a service pack would probably be really bad. However you can screw with the service pack, add it to windows and then install both so surely it should theoretically be possible to apply the service pack if you customised it's install to suit your OS install no?

I'm not saying I know how to do this kind of stuff but as with most computer based things, it's interesting to tinker with a few ideas... and then break my PC..then swear lots.. have people taking the mick... then fix it. I mean that's what life is all about isn't it?

 

[Zidane24]

No, Once the installation is customized and installed on a machine then that machine can not install any service pack's untill its reinstalled with a new customized install containing that service pack

VLite will probably be updated to support Windows 7, It might be more what your looking for but the same rule apply's to VLite customized installs as with WAIK installs

Steven

Actually nuhi has went on to report that more than likely vlite will not be updated to support Windows 7...but there is still a chance