MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-270): Installing ...

3 Deploying Windows XP
Professional
Exam Objectives in this Chapter:
■ Perform and troubleshoot an unattended installation of Microsoft Windows XP
Professional
❑ Install Windows XP Professional by using Remote Installation Services
(RIS).
❑ Install Windows XP Professional by using the System Preparation Tool.
❑ Create unattended answer files by using Windows Setup Manager to
automate the installation of Windows XP Professional.
■ Manage applications by using Windows Installer packages
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter prepares you to automate the process of installing Microsoft Windows
XP Professional. Automated deployments can be done in three ways. The
decision to use a specific method instead of another is usually determined by the
resources, infrastructure, and deployment time required. The three automated
deployment methods include the following:
■ Small deployments or situations involving many different hardware configurations
often use an unattended installation, in which the Winnt32 and
Winnt commands are used along with an unattended answer file to script the
installation. This file is created with Windows Setup Manager.
■ Many larger enterprise deployments use disk duplication to deploy systems,
a process in which you use the System Preparation Tool to create an
image from a computer running Windows XP Professional, and then clone
that image on other computers. Using disk duplication usually requires thirdparty
software.
■ Microsoft provides Remote Installation Services (RIS) for use in environments
in which Active Directory service is available. The RIS server software
(which resides on a server computer running Windows 2000 Server or Windows
Server 2003) stores images of Windows XP installations and makes
those images available over the network. A client computer boots from the
network (or by using a special RIS boot disk), contacts the RIS server, and
then installs an image from that server.
3-1