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Using Winbatch to Install Software

Keywords:    install

Question:

We are in the process of purchasing WinBatch, but I have a couple of questions.
  1. Can I do a mass install of the program from a network (i.e. onto 200 machines at once) or do I have to install it individually?

  2. Is there a way to set up a program written in WinBatch to run automatically from a login on the network? I don't want to give my users the possiblity of making a decision.
Thanks again for all the help. I've never been in a conference where the answers are so quick!

Answer:

Maybe this will help.

I support 2000 machines in a diverse environment consisting of laptops and desktop pc's. We have over 110 Netware servers and at least 30 NT servers and a whole host of mainframes and as/400's. We have a VERY non-standard environment where each machine is totally different running any one of 200 applications, most of which are internally written by someone who is dead or no longer with the company.

I use WinBatch to roll out new applications or update current ones. Each machine must run the script.

How I do most of my installs is to run a DOS batch file which will do some preliminary testing on the pc. (Do they need the update, do they have enough space, etc...) I then have the DOS batch file copy a .LNK file into the startup group (on Win95 machines).

I also have put an executable name in the load line of the WIN.INI and so on. That .LNK file points to a SMALL EXE compiled WinBatch on the server. The WInBatch then removes itself from the Startup group and performs the install of the application and any changes or registry entries needed. I then use a small TXT marker file on the C: drive that the FIRST batch file checks for so it doesn't install every time the user logs in.

I have listed pieces of some installs below. Sorry for the long message, I have just been experimenting for 2 years and these are some of the hard lessons I have learned. Hope it helps.

Snippets of Code:(this is only about half, but you get the idea...)

Novell Netware Login Script:
If MEMBER of "Group Name" then
#command.com /c z:\public\autoinst\install.bat
DOS batch file:
@ECHO OFF
If exist C:\Comdisco.Inf goto end
If not exist C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\*.* goto end
If not exist C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI goto end
If not exist C:\WINDOWS\MSMAIL.INI goto end
REM Program to install Quick View Plus 16 bit.
REM Any questions - Contact Todd Thorson 
REM
REM
CLS
ECHO *******************************************************
ECHO *******************************************************
ECHO *******************************************************
ECHO ***** *****
ECHO ***** *****
ECHO ***** Now preparing for Quick View Plus Install *****
ECHO ***** Please be patient... *****
ECHO ***** *****
ECHO ***** *****
ECHO *******************************************************
ECHO *******************************************************
ECHO *******************************************************
ATTRIB C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI -S -H -R
ATTRIB C:\WINDOWS\MSMAIL.INI -S -H -R
Z:\PUBLIC\AUTOINST\MAINTINI C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI
Z:\PUBLIC\AUTOINST\QVP1RMV.CMD >NUL
Z:\PUBLIC\AUTOINST\MAINTINI C:\WINDOWS\MSMAIL.INI
Z:\PUBLIC\AUTOINST\QVP2RMV.CMD >NUL
Z:\PUBLIC\AUTOINST\MAINTINI C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI
Z:\PUBLIC\AUTOINST\QVP1RMV.CMD >NUL
If not exist C:\OIWIN\ADDON\*.* goto NO_OI
ATTRIB C:\OIWIN\*.* /S -S -H -R
:NO_OI
If not exist C:\QVP\ADDON\*.* goto NO_Q1
ATTRIB C:\QVP\*.* /S -S -H -R
:NO_Q1
If not exist C:\QVP16\ADDON\*.* goto NO_Q2
ATTRIB C:\QVP16\*.* /S -S -H -R 
:NO_Q2
DELTREE /Y C:\OIWIN >NUL
DELTREE /Y C:\QVP >NUL
DELTREE /Y C:\QVP16 >NUL
Z:\PUBLIC\AUTOINST\MAINTINI C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI
Z:\PUBLIC\AUTOINST\QVP1RMV.CMD >NUL
rem md c:\windows\temp

:DONE
Copy Z:\PUBLIC\AUTOINST\QVP16.LNK "C:\WINDOWS\START
MENU\PROGRAMS\STARTUP" >NUL
ECHO.
ECHO.
ECHO ******************** THANK YOU ********************
:END
Sample WinBatch to go with it:
BoxOpen("Comdisco Software Distribution Utility","Quick View Plus 16 Bit Installing")
Delay(2)
RunWait("Z:\PUBLIC\AUTOINST\QVP16\SETUP","QVPSETUP.INI")
BoxShut()
Message("Comdisco Software Distribution Utility","All Software successfully installed.%@CRLF%
Please re-boot your pc now...") 

Article ID:   W13412
Filename:   Using Winbatch to Install Software.txt
File Created: 1999:04:15:16:53:50
Last Updated: 1999:04:15:16:53:50