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Computer Names - If you plan to use your name as a user on this computer it can’t be the same as the name here. You can also have the setup automatically generate the name by ticking the box at the bottom. If you plan to use the exact same setup on multiple computers then you would add their names here as well. If you’re willing to accept computer names that follow no pattern, you can allow Setup to create each computer’s name on the fly by appending seemingly random letters and numbers to the first few letters of your organization’s name.
When you enter multiple names during the setup process, Setup Manager automatically generates the Uniqueness Database File (UDF) that is required to add those unique names to each computer during setup. If the administrator imports names from a text file, Setup Manager converts each name to a Uniqueness Database File. The administrator can also set an option to generate unique computer names.
You can find more information on Using Uniqueness Database Files at Microsoft TechNet.
Administrator Password - If you don’t want someone to look at your answer file to figure out what it is tic the Encrypt password box. You can also specify the number of times it allows the computer to auto logon as the Administrator. I choose “1” because there are certain settings I change that can only be done by being logged on as “Administrator”. Let me stress that a user with administrative rights is not the same.
*Note - Automatic Logon does not work if the local administrator password is encrypted in the answer file. More information on this can be found at Microsoft’s Knowledge Base Article - Q312394
Networking Components - By default the Setup Manager includes the Microsoft Networks Client, File and Printer Sharing, and TCP/IP. If you rather set this up later, leave it at the typical settings. I like to have my network up and going when it boots the first time, so I made some changes here. For one, I added the QoS Packet Scheduler. This way I can control the Bandwidth that the other computers on my network tie up. Also notice that I have TCP/IP highlighted. Now click on the “Properties” button.
TCP/IP Settings - This is not necessary but like I said before, I like my network to be ready to go when the computer boots for the first time. Since I am on Dial-up and have to use ICS (Internet Connection Sharing), this is an example of the TCP/IP settings I could use on a computer that has to connect to the internet through another computer.
*Note - If you choose to configure TCP/IP properties in your answer file, you must create a unique answer file for each computer you are setting up on your network.
Workgroups and Domains - Here you just need to add the name of the workgroup or server domain your computer is going to be on if any.
Dial-Up Settings - I don’t feel I need to explain this to much. If you need to set up dialing options, do so here. Since I am going to be connecting over a LAN, I will not need to set this option up.
Regional Settings - By default this is set to English (United States). Well at least my version of XP is this way. Again, I don’t think this is too painful of a decision. So make a choice and let’s move on.
Language Support - If you need Language support, do so here and click next.
Browser and Shell Settings - Here we have three choices. For the method we are using now, we really only have one choice. Default Internet Explorer settings is the only one we can use because the other two require a distribution folder to be made. We chose to install from the CD instead. Even though you can set the others up here, it will not work without creating a distribution folder.
Installation Folder - I usually like to stick with the Windows folder but you can do what ever you like.
Install Printers - Here’s an example of how you would install a network printer if it was not hooked directly to the machine you are going to install the OS on. If the computer that my printer was on was named “Jeramie”, I would use \\Jeramie\Printer as my “Network printer name”. In order for it work you would have to make sure that Printer sharing is enabled on that computer. To do this, go to that computer and go to Start/Control Panel. Then open Printers and Faxes. Right Click on Printer and select sharing from the menu. In the Sharing Tab make sure you have Share this Printer ticked and make sure the “Share Name” is the same as in the answer file. For example I used “Printer” which is what Windows uses by default. Name it what ever you want but make sure the names match. You could do the same for a fax machine. In the answer file it would look like this \\Jeramie\Fax.
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