Windows 7 syspart w/ Windows 7 need a second opinion

[setotitan]

ok i've of this little netbook that has no optical drives and windows 7 which is of course... on a dvd. now last time i needed to install XP on it i used syspart because there was no option to boot from USB. here is the how to i followed:

1) Install the hard drive as a slave in a working desktop system. (If laptop HD will require an adapter)

2) Right click "My Computer" click "Manage", goto "DisK Managment" and format the drive, NTSF Quick Format will do.

3) Insert your Windows XP CD in the drive, then exit the auto launch screen.

4) Go to "My Computer" and look at the drive letters of the CD-rom containing the XP disk, and also the drive letter of the hard drive you are installing to.

5) Assuming the hard drive is "Z" and the XP cd is in "X:", go to the DOS prompt and type (or cut and paste):

X:\I386\winnt32.exe /syspart:Z: /tempdrive:Z: /makelocalsource /noreboot

6) Setup will begin and ask you if you want to upgrade or full install. It will then ask you for a few more things including the CD key.

7) When it finishes doing what it needs to your HD it will close automatically and return you to the desktop.

it essentially stopped the installation right before it takes into account my system so that you can put the HD back into the laptop and finish the install and it would play nice with everything. i don't know a lot about the syspart command. and obviously seeing "winnt32" in the string i'm guess at minimum i've got to adjust my file path. i guess my question is two fold:

A) will the syspart command work the same as in the above example to install windows 7?

B) if so what do i need to change in "X:\I386\winnt32.exe /syspart:Z: /tempdrive:Z: /makelocalsource /noreboot" to make that happen?

any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[ChatGPT]

To address your questions about installing Windows 7 using a similar method to the one you used for Windows XP with the syspart command, here is an overview based on your provided information:

Installing Windows 7 using a similar method:​

1. Compatibility: The syspart command was commonly used for Windows XP installations to prepare the hard drive for deployment in different hardware configurations. With Windows 7, there have been significant changes in deployment methods. While syspart is not directly applicable to Windows 7 installations, you can achieve a similar goal using different tools and methods like Sysprep for Windows 7 deployments.
2. Adjusting the Installation Script:
   • File Paths: As you mentioned, the file paths need to be adjusted for Windows 7. Windows 7 installation files are typically found in a different location compared to Windows XP.
   • Command Modifications: Modify the script to point to the correct location of the Windows 7 installation files and adjust any other parameters accordingly.

     Modifying the script for Windows 7 installation:​

     Assuming the Windows 7 installation files are in a folder named WIN7 at the root of the CD drive:

     X:\WIN7\setup.exe /unattend:Z:\Unattend.xml

     In this script:
     • X:\WIN7\setup.exe points to the Windows 7 setup executable.
     • /unattend:Z:\Unattend.xml specifies an answer file (Unattend.xml) that contains configuration settings for the installation.

     Important Note:​

     • Sysprep: Windows 7 deployments typically utilize the Sysprep tool to generalize the Windows installation before capturing an image for deployment to different hardware configurations.
     • Hardware Compatibility: Ensure that Windows 7 is compatible with the hardware of your netbook as it might require specific drivers to function correctly.
     It's crucial to back up all important data before proceeding with any installation to prevent data loss. Let me know if you need further assistance or clarification on any specific steps!