Using System Policies for Push Installations

You can create a push installation by using system policies. A push installation using system policies has the benefit of being simple to implement. You can install Windows 98 from a central location, without actually going to the computer being upgraded. However, consider the following issues if you are implementing a push installation using system policies:

• The user can stop Setup while it is in progress.
• Unless you make sure to check for the operating system version in a batch file, Windows 98 Setup will run every time the user logs onto the computer, even if the computer is already running Windows 98. You cannot prevent this by creating a special user account for upgrades, as you can with logon scripts, because the policy is computer-based rather than user-based.

The general steps for a push installation using system policies are as follows:

1. Create a batch file that checks to see your operating system version and conditionally runs Setup. For a sample batch file, see "Implementing Version Checking for Automated Installations," later in this chapter.

   At minimum, the batch file you create must include the UNC path for Setup, and it must check your operating system version before running Setup. You can also add Setup switches and other commands to the batch file.

2. Set the Run Once system policy and add a path to the batch file.

To set the Run Once system policy

1. In System Policy Editor, click the File menu, click New Policy if you have no existing policy file, or Open Policy if you have an existing policy file.
2. Double-click Default Computer.
3. Click the plus sign to expand the Windows 98 System section, and then click the plus sign to expand the Programs section.
4. Select the check box for the policy named Run Once, and then click Show.
5. In the Show Contents dialog box, click Add.
6. In Type the name of the item to be added, type a name for your batch file (not the file name).
7. In Type the value of the item to be added, type the UNC path for the batch file that installs Windows 98 only if it is running the proper operating system. For example:

   \\Server\Share\Directory\Batch_file.bat

8. Click Enter, click OK, and then click OK again.
9. In the File menu, click Save, enter a name for your policy file, and then click Save again.

After you have set this policy, Windows 98 Setup runs automatically when the user logs on, as long as they are not already using Windows 98.