Below is a copy of the answer file that I use to perform an unattended setup of Windows 2000 Workstation. You can create an answer file in notepad, and choose any file name, as long as this name is specified during installation with this one caveat if using your answer file from a floppy disk. This is for a single user workstation with TCP/IP network access only, installing from DOS using a CDRom or files on a hard drive. Not all the sections shown here are required to perform an unattended installation. In most cases options can be toggled using on/off. For more details of how to create a more detailed answer file, I have placed a copy of the relevant Microsoft document here.

FILE

NOTES

[Data]

AutoPartition=1 

MsDosInitiated="0" 

UnattendedInstall="Yes" 

FileSystem=ConvertNTFS

Repartition=Yes

 

[RegionalSettings] 

LanguageGroup=1

Language=00000809

 

[Unattended]

UnattendMode=FullUnattended 

OemSkipEula=Yes 

OemPreinstall=No 

DriverSigningPolicy=Ignore

 

[GuiUnattended] 

AdminPassword=******

AutoLogon=Yes 

OEMSkipRegional=1 

TimeZone=85 

OemSkipWelcome=1

 

[UserData] 

FullName="Name"

OrgName="Company" 

ComputerName=Computer

ProductID=*****-*****-*****-*****-*****

 

[Identification] 

JoinWorkgroup=WORKGROUP

 

[Networking] 

InstallDefaultComponents=No

 

[NetAdapters] 

Adapter1=params.Adapter1

 

[params.Adapter1]

INFID=*

 

[NetClients] 

MS_MSClient=params.MS_MSClient

 

[NetProtocols] 

MS_TCPIP=params.MS_TCPIP

 

[params.MS_TCPIP] 

DNS=No 

UseDomainNameDevolution=No 

EnableLMHosts=No

AdapterSections=params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter1

 

[params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter1] 

SpecificTo=Adapter1 

DHCP=No 

WINS=No 

NetBIOSOptions=2

 

[Components]

accessopt=Off 

calc=Off 

cdplayer=On 

charmap=On 

chat=Off 

deskpaper=Off 

dialer=Off 

fp=Off 

freecell=Off 

hypertrm=Off 

LicenseServer=Off 

media_utopia=Off

minesweeper=Off 

msmq=Off 

netoc=Off 

paint=On 

pinball=Off 

rec=Off 

reminst=Off 

rstorage=Off 

solitaire=Off 

templates=Off

TSClients=Off

[Data]

Setup will automatically select a partition to install to. 

Tells setup that you are installing from CD. 

Informs setup loader that you are performing an unattended setup. 

Instructs setup to convert to NTFS file system

Instructs setup to repartition the first disk, and format with NTFS.

 

[RegionalSettings] 

See here .

This is for UK setup, for other options see here .

 

[Unattended]

UnattendMode=FullUnattended

OemSkipEula=Yes 

OemPreinstall=No 

Specifies how non-signed drivers are processed during unattended Setup.

 

[GuiUnattended] 

Enter Administrator Password

Log on automatically using Administrator password. 

Skips regional settings page in GUI setup.

85 is Greenwich Mean Time, other zones are here.

Skips welcome page in GUI setup.

 

[UserData] 

Enter your name.

Your Company

Your computer name.

Windows 2000 Serial key

 

[Identification] 

Specify name of Computer workgroup

 

[Networking] 

Prevents installation of default networking comp[onents.

 

[NetAdapters] 

Specifies a network adaptor. This is the configuration for a single adaptor.

 

[params.Adapter1]

Use this for a single adaptor.

 

[NetClients] 

Specifies network clients to be installed.

 

[NetProtocols] 

Installs TCP/IP

 

[params.MS_TCPIP] 

Prevents install of DNS, this is not needed for internet access.

Prevents install of DND, this is not needed for internet access..

Prevents install of LMH, this is not needed for internet access.

Specifies section below.

 

[params.MS_TCPIP.Adapter1]

TCP/IP configuration for specific network adaptor.

Prevents install of DHCP, this is not needed for internet access.

Prevents install of WINS, this is not needed for internet access.

Prevents install of NetBios, this is not needed for internet access.

 

[Components]

Accessibility wizard 

Calculator 

CD Player 

Character mapping 

Chat programme 

Desktop wallpaper 

Phone dialler 

Front Page server extensions 

Freecell game 

Hyperterminal 

LicenseServer

Utopia Sound Scheme

Minesweeper 

Microsoft Message Queuing 

Additional Networking Components 

MS Paint 

Pinball 

Sound recorder 

Remote Installation Services 

Removable Storage Service 

Solitaire

Document Templates

Terminal Services Client