Compaq Guide to PC Deployment

4

 

Preliminary

References to Microsoft Documentation

Use the following resources to help you deploy Microsoft Windows 95 on Compaq Armada Series client systems:

￿The Microsoft Windows 95 Resource Kit. This is very useful for understanding the deployment strategies described in this paper. It gives specific information on the options used to automate the installation of Windows 95. Sections of particular interest include: Chapters 1-6 (Deployment Planning Guide and Installation), along with Appendices C & D (INF files and MSBATCH.INF)

￿Microsoft’s Knowledge Base, located on the Web at http://support.microsoft.com/support, contains articles describing known installation issues and solutions.

￿SETUP.TXT from the Windows 95 CD provides useful information about setting up Windows 95 and describes some known issues.

Hard Drive and Hardware Preparation

You should make file system decisions before installing the operating system. Microsoft Windows 95 OSR2 supports both FAT16 and FAT32, however OSR1 and retail (OSR0) only support FAT16.

Ensure that all factory-installed Compaq hardware is properly connected in each target computer. Refer to the Guide to Features & Upgrades included with the Compaq Armada Series computers if you have any questions regarding how the hardware is installed in the system.

Base OS Layout

Operating System File Layout

The Microsoft Windows 95 setup files should be placed on a network share. The Compaq drivers and software should be integrated into this installation share. This will allow end users to boot their system from a network boot diskette and start the Windows 95 Setup program from the installation share. The installation will proceed as described in the MSBATCH.INF file that must be provided for automated installations.

Complete the following steps to configure the installation files:

1.Obtain the required device drivers for the systems you will be supporting. This can be done by downloading the appropriate SoftPAQs, located on the Web at http://www.compaq.com/support/. Each SoftPAQ should be stored and executed in its own directory. Refer to the following sections for specific information regarding individual device driver sets.

2.Copy the \Win95 directory from the Microsoft Windows 95 CD to the network share. Alternatively, if you are using OSR1 or the retail version (OSR0), you can use NETSETUP.EXE from the \ADMIN\NETTOOLS\NETSETUP directory to copy the files.

3.Use the “Batch INF Script Editor” from the Microsoft Windows 95 Resource Kit (also found on the Windows 95 CD in the \ADMIN\NETTOOLS\NETSETUP directory) to configure an MSBatch file to automate the installation. This file can be created manually. This paper will show you how to edit this file to add support for Compaq software.

4.Add any other software to the installation share. Additional software can be installed using the MSBATCH.INF file. Please see the Microsoft Windows 95 Resource Kit for more information on adding additional software to be installed via this process.

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