Windows Post-Install Wizard (WPI for short) is a hypertext application designed for giving users choice. While Windows XP offers many ways of customizing the setup process out of the box, its major drawback is the lack of being able to select which applications an end user may install. In the past, end users and administrators needed to either download the files manually, or create overly complex scripts that could only be used once. WPI allows you to create one image, which can then be custom configured, and optionally, automated, so that end users can install any applications.
WPI Basics.
Suggested Folder layout:
With the above folder layout all your config entries should read like:
%wpipath%\Install\Blah.exe
I have separated the tools out from the main archive. You can download the
tools here:
Tools archive <-- Link!
Contents of the tools archive:
WPI Config Lister
CDSwitch
autorun.inf <-- Updated and fixed
wpi.ico New icon thanks to WolfX2
TaskKillS.exe from sadicq
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Here is a quick start package that will set your
Windows 2000, XP and 2003 disks up to use WPI with runonceex.
To make use of this archive all you need to do is unRAR
it and place the %oem% folder beside the I386 and WPI
folders.
%OEM% Folder <-- Link!
Contents of the %OEM%
archive:
cmdlines.txt
RunWPI.exe (Will make the needed runonceexe and MCE theme entries used for running WPI after a Windows installation)
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Here is a quick start package that will set your
Windows Vista (All versions) to run WPI after initial logon.
To make use of this archive all you need to do is unRAR
it and place the sources folder at the root of your Windows Vista
disk adding to the pre-existing sources folder.
sources folder <-- Link!
Contents of the sources
archive:
setupcomplete.cmd (This needs to be several folders deep so I already did that for you)
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1879 .png images for your pleasure to use in your
tooltips or whatever!
.PNG
Collection <-- Link!
Ok this is a sample (Very simple) configuration for CCleaner (A.K.A Crap Cleaner)
This assumes you have all of the WPI files either in the WPI folder at the root of your Windows cd or all of the WPI folders (Common, Graphics, WPIScripts, Tools, Install and Themes) and the file WPI.hta at the root of your cd.
Remember this is just the most basic and required entries for a program!
#1 Download the app and place it in the WPI\Install Folder. (CCleaner.exe in this example)
#2 Run WPI.hta and click on the “Config” button\Icon area.
#3 Choose the button at the very top above the config section that says “Add”
#4 Enter in the name section “CCleaner” <--No quotes! Then click on any other section of the config area to activate the rest of the wizard.
#5 You will notice the Unique ID section gets automatically configured for you.
#6 All apps are selected to be installed by default right from the start so if you don’t want it selected by default you must uncheck this box. Also you can decide if you want this app to be a "Forced Install" or not.
#7 Choose a category for your app to be displayed in. If you want the app to be displayed in a category you don’t see simply chose other and a box will appear that will allow the entry of you choice.
#8 In the Command 1 section click on the little folder icon and browse to the WPI\Install folder and select the CCleaner.exe installer, this will place the appropriate path in the commandline.
#9 Now Modify the entry to read "%wpipath%\Install\CCleaner.exe" for proper use assuming you have the whole WPI folder at the root of your cd or drive.
#10 Add the necessary switches for the program to run silently i.e. "%wpipath%\Install\CCleaner.exe" /s (This can be easily done for most standard apps by simply clicking on the USSF button on the far right of the commandline.)
#11 Select the Save and then the Exit buttons and you have now configured your first app!