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

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Lesson 1 Creating Unattended Installations by Using Windows Setup Manager
Figure 3-1 Use Windows Setup Manager to create unattended answer files.
You can create or modify an answer file, typically named unattend.txt, by using Windows
Setup Manager. You can also create answer files with a simple text editor, such as Notepad,
but using the Windows Setup Manager reduces errors in syntax.
Windows Setup Manager does the following:
■ Provides a wizard with an easy-to-use graphical interface with which you can create
and modify answer files
■ Makes it easy to create UDFs (typically named unattend.udb)
Note A uniqueness database file (UDF) provides the ability to specify per-computer parameters.
The UDF modifies an installation by overriding values in the answer file. When you run
Setup with Winnt32.exe, you use the /udf:id[,UDF_filename] switch. The UDF overrides values
in the answer file, and the identifier (id) determines which values in the .udb file are used.
■ Makes it easy to specify computer-specific or user-specific information
■ Simplifies the inclusion of application setup scripts in the answer file
■ Creates the distribution folder that you use for the installation files
Note If you are upgrading systems to Windows XP Professional, you can add any application
upgrades or update packs to the distribution folder and enter the appropriate commands
in the Additional Commands page of the Windows Setup Manager Wizard so that these
upgrades or update packs are applied to the application as part of the upgrade.
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