Is there a way to install Windows 2000 Pro over a LAN instead of using a local optical drive?

[IgoByte]

Is there a way to insert a Win2KP CD in one computer on a lan and have it install on another?

I thought of a couple of things just as I was writing this (sharing an optical drive on another machine, for example, or just transferring the OS setup files to a local partition and setting up from there), but the question still stands.

What's the proper way of doing something like this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[IgoByte]

subscribing

 

[singh]

Why don't you just copy the CD to the hard-drive, and then install?

 

[IgoByte]

That's one of the things I thought of...

I was just curious if there is a more "proper" way of doing it.

 

[Nothinman]

You can try RIS, but if it's like other MS products it requires AD and atleast 4 servers.

 

[IgoByte]

4 servers? Geez, I have one DC here at home.

 

[Nothinman]

I was exaggerating, but I've never really used it so who knows I could be right. Why don't you check out MS' site for the facts?

 

[stash]

You can use the deployment tools included on the Server disk to create a network distribution share, and unattended install files. Then you can either boot from a network boot disk to connect the distrib share and kick off the unattended install, or rename the unattend.txt file to winnt.sif and put it on a floppy. When you boot off the Win2k Pro disk, pop that disk in when setup starts, and it will do an unattended from the CD.

The deployment tools include a wizard for creating the unattended install files, and you can get into great detail, including 3rd party drivers, bookmarks, search page, proxy settings, languages, network settings, etc.

Also, its not documented by Microsoft, but google for ProductID=...or just ProductID. You add a line with that and your product key, and the install will truly be unattended.

Edit: There is also the previously mentioned RIS approach, which is very slick, but has steep requirements, such as DHCP, a separate NTFS 5 partition, active directory, etc. You also still need to (in most cases, unless you have a supported WOL card) use a floppy. Even if you have supported card, you would still have to log in as a valid user to kick off the RIS install. Unattended files can also be associated with RIS images, so you can customize like noted above.