hi peeps, i am asking if anybody knows of any downloads or instructions on how to make a image cd or do an unmanned install on a machine of windows 2000 pro, e.g. i put cd in and i dont need to press a thing until its booted in. thanks

How to Install and Run the Windows 2000 Setup Manager Wizard The Windows 2000 Setup Manager Wizard is not installed by default. To install and use the Windows 2000 Setup Manager Wizard: Using a win2k running PC do the following 1. Start Windows Explorer, and then open the Support\Tools folder on the Windows 2000 Professional or Server CD-ROM. 2. In the right pane, double-click the Deploy.cab file to open it. 3. On the Edit menu, click Select All. 4. On the Edit menu, click Copy. 5. Create a new folder on your local hard disk. To do this: a. Click Local Disk (C:). b. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Folder. c. In the New Folder name box, type the name that you want, and then press ENTER. 6. Right-click the new folder that you created, and then click Paste. 7. Double-click the new folder to open it, and then double-click the Setupmgr.exe file. The Windows 2000 Setup Manager Wizard starts. Follow the instructions in the wizard to create an answer file. If you use the answer file to install Windows from a CD-ROM, you may need to add the Windows 2000 product key information. To do this: 1. Use Notepad to open the Unattend.txt file that you created. 2. On a new, blank line under the [UserData] section, type the following line, where AB123 is a 5-character portion of the 25-character alphanumeric Windows 2000 product key: ProductID="" 3. On a new, blank line under the [Unattended] section, type the following line: Repartition=Yes WARNING: This command instructs Windows Setup to remove all partitions on the first physical disk, and to create one partition that uses the NTFS file system on which to install Windows. This command deletes all data on the target hard disk. 4. On the File menu, click Save. 5. Quit Notepad. Preparing the Computer for an Unattended Installation from a CD-ROM 1. Create an unattended answer file using the Setup Manager tool included with the Microsoft Windows 2000 Resource Kit. 2. Add a [Data] section with the following entries to the unattended answer file: • UnattendedInstall=Yes - Value must be set to "yes" • MSDosInitiated=No - Value must be set to "no" or Setup stops during the graphical portion of Setup • AutoPartition=1 - If the value is set to 1, the installation partition is automatically selected. If the value is set to 0 (zero), you are prompted for the installation partition during the text portion of Setup. 3. Save the unattended answer file as winnt.sif on a floppy disk. 4. Insert the Windows CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive and the floppy disk into the disk drive. 5. Change the boot order in the CMOS so that the CD-ROM is first in the list. For information about how to do so, refer to the documentation included with your computer, or contact the manufacturer. 6. Restart your computer. When Setup is started from the CD-ROM, the Winnt.sif file located on the floppy disk is used for the unattended installation. Do not forget to remove the floppy disk before the PC restarts and sit back and enjoy berhaps watching good movie!!!!!!

Hi A site I have been frequenting lately is: http://unattended.msfn.org/ It is for Windows XP and Server 2003, but most of the tutorials work when applied to W2k. The really neat part of doing an unattended install is you can install DirectX, IE6 Sp1, and all the hotfixes and recommended updates with the GuiRunOnce command in your winnt.sif file. I run the batch file manually, but it is way quicker and safer to update this way as your kit can be kept off the internet until updated. joey