How to Run a Program Only Once During an Unattended Setup

• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.51
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.51

SUMMARY

The unattended setup mode of Windows NT 3.51 does not offer a way to run a program once the setup is complete. Nevertheless, this could be very useful if you want to set up other components on your system after the completion of the unattended setup (in order to run a batch file or install some other products, for example).

This article describes how to run any kind of program during an unattended setup.

MORE INFORMATION

Running any kind of program during an unattended setup is not normally possible. The following steps explains how to run a program only once after an unattended setup.

The system must be installed with AutoLogon enabled so that the first time the system is booted after setup, a session is automatically opened and a specific program can be launched.

The following steps explain how to set up Windows NT and to run a program automatically after the setup:

1. Save the USERDEF hive.

   Prepare a standard setup of Windows NT (for example, not unattended) and save the file %SystemRoot%\System32\Config\UserDef as x:\userdef.def (Drive X is a network share from which the automated setup of Windows NT will be run).

2. Copy the I386 directory from the Windows NT distribution compact disc to the network drive X.

3. Copy the resource kit utility Regini.exe to Drive X.

4. Modify Initial.inf to enable AutoLogon:

   a. Type the following commands:

           Expand -r Initial.in_
   
           Del Initial.in_
   
      b. Change Initial.inf to read as follows:
   
           [Install-Win-Ini-Alter-1]
           ReplaceIniKeyValue "Win.ini", Winlogon, DefaultUserName,
           administrator
           ReplaceIniKeyValue "Win.ini", Winlogon, DefaultPassword, ""
           ReplaceIniKeyValue "Win.ini", Winlogon, AutoAdminLogon,"1"
   
      For more information, please see the following article in the
      Microsoft Knowledge Base:
   
         ARTICLE-ID: Q136327
         TITLE     : How to Enable AutoLogon During an Automated Setup
   
   

5. Edit Registry.inf to modify the run registry entry:

   a. Type the following commands:

           expand -r x:\registry.in_
   
           del x:\ registry.in_
   
      b.    Edit Registry.inf and search for the section [MakeStartupEntry].
   Just
         above the line 'set Status = STATUS_SUCCESSFUL', insert the following
         lines:
   
           set KeyPath   = { +
                          {SOFTWARE,          $(NoTitle), $(MaskAllAccess)}, +
                          {Microsoft,         $(NoTitle), $(MaskAllAccess)}, +
                          {"Windows NT",      $(NoTitle), $(MaskAllAccess)}, +
                          {CurrentVersion,    $(NoTitle), $(MaskAllAccess)}, +
                          {"Windows",         $(NoTitle), $(MaskAllAccess)}, +
                         }
           set KeyValues = { +
                          {run, $(NoTitle), $(!REG_SZ), "runonce.bat"} +
                         }
           shell "" CreateKey $(!REG_H_CUSER) $(KeyPath) $(KeyValues)
           ifint $($ShellCode) != $(!SHELL_CODE_OK)
             goto end_MakeStartupEntry
           endif
           ifstr(i) $($R0) != STATUS_SUCCESSFUL
             goto end_MakeStartupEntry
           else
             CloseRegKey $($R1)
           endif
   
   

6. Write a regini script by writing the x:\autolog.ini file to read as follows:

        \registry\machine
             Software
               Microsoft
                 Windows NT
                   CurrentVersion
                     Winlogon
                       AutoAdminLogon = REG_SZ 0
   
        user:Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
           run = REG_SZ
   
      This will disable AutoLogon and remove the running of Runonce.bat when
      the administrator logs on.
   
   

7. Create a Runonce.bat batch file.

   Write a batch file and save it as x:\runonce.bat. This batch file can include any command and will be executed only once after the unattended setup.

   The two last lines of the Runonce.bat batch file must be as follows:

1. Modify Dosnet.inf.

   During the first phase of unattended setup, all system files are temporarily copied to C:\$Win_nt$.~ls and C:\$Win_nt$.~bt. Dosnet.inf lists the files that have to be copied to the system.

   Edit x:\Dosnet.inf and add the following lines to the end of the [Files] section:

         d1,RUNONCE.BAT
         d1,USERDEF.DEF
         d1,REGINI.EXE
         d1,AUTOLOG.INI
   

2. Modify Txtsetup.sif.

   Txtsetup.sif is used during the text-mode phase of the unattended setup. It tells the setup process which files have to be copied to the hard disk.

   Add the following lines to the end of the [Files] section:

         runonce.bat = dx,d7,,2,0,0
         userdef.def = dx,d7,,2,0,0
         regini.exe  = dx,d7,,2,0,0
         autolog.ini = dx,d7,,2,0,0
   

   The files above are copied to the System32 directory.

3. Run the following command:

   x:\winnt32.exe /u:<path>\unattend.txt /s:x:\