Posted on Tuesday, 11th December 2007 by Casey
The other day I showed you how to create a Windows XP unattended installation CD using a program called nLite. Today I would like to show you how to create an unattended installation CD for Windows Vista using a program called vLite. This unattended installation CD works the same way as the one for Windows XP and allows you to automate the whole process of installing Windows, drivers, updates, as well as configuring Windows just the way you like it.
For this tutorial, you will need a Windows Vista installation DVD and a product key if you don’t want to be prompted to enter one during the installation. You will also need a blank CD or DVD if you would like to burn your unattended installation when you are finished.
Step 1: Download and install vLite. When you are finished run the program.
Step 2: You will be asked to locate your Windows Vista installation files. Click “Browse” and choose your Windows Vista installation DVD. You will then be asked where you would like to save your Windows Vista installation files. Create a new folder, name it whatever you like, and click “OK”. vLite will now begin to copy the installation files from the DVD to the folder you created. When it is finished, click “Next”.
Step 3: Here you will be able to select which options you would like to configure. Click “All” and then click “Next”.
Step 4: Here you will be able to add all of the needed Windows updates to your unattended installation so you don’t have to install them later. Before you can add them, you will need to download the updates manually and save them to your computer. The easiest way to do this is by using Windows Updates Downloader. Once they are downloaded, click “Insert” and select them all. You can also set specific drivers to install when Windows installs by clicking on the “Drivers” tab and adding them. You can do the same thing with language packs by clicking on the “Language Pack” tab. When you are finished, click “Next”.
Step 5: Next you will be able to remove components that you don’t want installed during the installation process. When you are finished click “Next”.
Step 6: Here you will be able to tweak some additional security, system, and explorer settings. When you are finished click “Next”.
Step 7: Now you will be able to configure the unattended installation settings. If you have a product key, enter it in so you aren’t prompted for it later. When you are finished, click “Apply”.
Step 8: You will be prompted with a window asking you to choose an apply method. The “Just Apply The Changes” radio button will be clicked by default which is fine. The “Apply And Rebuild” method takes a lot longer but saves you more space. Don’t use this setting if your image contains more than one version of Vista. Click “OK” and vLite will now begin building your unattended Windows installation.
Step 10: You will now be able to burn your unattended Windows installation to a CD or DVD. You can also create an ISO file that you can burn later.
You are now ready to install Vista using your unattended installation CD. If you have any experience with vlite or unattended Windows installations, please feel free to post comments.
Related Posts
- How to Create a Windows XP Unattended Installation CD
- How to Manually Download and Install Windows Updates
- How to Create a Windows Offline Update CD
- How to Find and Change a Windows Vista, XP, and 2003 Product Key
- How to Disable Windows Vista Permission Security Prompts
Posted in How To, Windows | Comments (6)
January 13th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Can you upgrade with this automated instilation?
January 14th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I haven’t tried an upgrade using vLite yet but my understanding is that it should work.
April 9th, 2008 at 7:20 am
Is there a way to change the \user folder from C:\ to a different partition. It could be done in XP unattended install.
April 19th, 2008 at 12:40 am
it is giving a error (image mounting error) code 2147024894 plz do me a favour.
May 30th, 2008 at 6:41 am
havent tested it yet, but i am supposebly trying to make FULLY automated unattended cd for my client.
What it should o is basicly when you insert the dvd onto a drive upon reboot, it would basicly automatically repartition the partition wiping all data, create a partition of 50 gigs, and do a partition that is the size of the rest of the drive. If not secondary partition table is unable to be done, it only makes a partition worth full partition.
the secondary partition would not maybe even be needed to be made, as vista can nowdays do it too easy.
But, can i set the size of the partition that the vista sets, and fully skip the first step of the installation, leaving my client with no choises to be made?
August 29th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
works fucking brilianty Works fucking brilliantly. Heres what to do
1) download
2) use magiciso to imgburn to burn at the slowest speed 1X or 2X
3) Set the BIOS to boot from CD
4) When it prompts for you to hit any key. Hit anykey
5) Now this is what made me burn this twice, it will have the mouse on a pretty coloured screen, IT HAS NOT FROZEN ITS JUST TAKING ITS TIME DO NOT EXIT.
6) After about 5-6minutes or more of no responce, it will come up with the instalation options.
7) install and be happy with this amazingly fast vista (never thought i would say that) ^_^
ps, this is in english only, but it has differnent keyboard options. You can get more language packs via the windows update. any problem email me