Windows Admin Scripting Little Black Book- P2 pot

Other Free FDISK Options Here are some of the most common options: /ACTIVATE:partition# drive#—Sets the specified partition active /C—Checks marked bad clusters /DELETE—Deletes indivi

Free FDISK provides the same functionality as Microsoft FDISK while adding more useful features Tasks like deleting, creating, and auto-sizing partitions are just as simple to perform as any other FDISK option

Creating Auto-Sized Partitions

To create partitions to the maximum size, enter the following:

FDISK /AUTO

Tip

You can create individual partitions by following the above command with a partition number

Deleting All Partitions

To delete all existing partitions (physical, extended, and logical), enter the following:

FDISK /CLEAR

Tip

You can delete individual partitions by following the above command with a partition number

Other Free FDISK Options

Here are some of the most common options:

/ACTIVATE:partition# drive#—Sets the specified partition active

/C—Checks marked bad clusters

/DELETE—Deletes individual partitions

/FS:filesystem—Specifies the file system to format with

/ONCE—Formats a floppy disk without prompting

/REBOOT—Reboots the machine

Scripting Disk Formats

The main purpose of scripting is to streamline a process Manual disk formats contain user prompts and pauses Scripting a disk format allows you to control how much, if any, prompting is allowed

Scripting a Hard Disk Format

To perform a completely hands-free drive format and label, enter the following:

FORMAT drive /AUTOTEST /V:label

Here, drive is the drive you want to format, and label is the label you want to give the drive

The /AUTOTEST switch causes the FORMAT command to run while suppressing any prompts The /V switch is

used to assign a label to a disk Disk labels can contain a maximum of eleven characters

Tip

You can follow this command with a /S to format the drive as a system drive

Scripting a Floppy Disk Format

Combining the /AUTOTEST switch with the /V switch does not create labels on floppy disks Instead, you can use

two separate commands:

FORMAT drive /AUTOTEST

LABEL drive alabel

Here, drive is the drive you want to format, and alabel is the label you want to give the disk

Scripting a Faster Disk Format

If the disk has already been formatted, you can run a quick disk format that simply erases the disk address tables (not the disk data) To perform a faster disk format, start the command prompt and enter the following:

FORMAT drive /Q /U

Here, drive is the drive you want to format; /Q indicates a quick format; and /U indicates an unconditional format

Other Format Options

The other commonly used options are:

/BACKUP—Identical to /AUTOTEST except prompts for disk label

/C—Checks for bad clusters

Suppressing Output When Shell Scripting

Although scripting does suppress most prompts, sometimes it does not suppress the command output You can

suppress the output of a shell command by sending the output to a NUL device To suppress the output of a drive

format, enter:

FORMAT drive /AUTOTEST > NUL

Creating Boot Disks

Any good administrator has a collection of boot disks ready and waiting in time of need Boot disks are used when you need to bypass or perform a task before system bootup Not only can you use scripting to create boot disks, but you can also use powerful scripts within them

Creating a Hard Drive Setup Boot Disk

Follow these steps to create a boot disk that will automatically FDISK and format a hard disk:

1 Make a bootable DOS diskette On Windows 9x, this can be done by formatting a floppy disk with the /S switch

This switch copies boot files to the floppy

2 Copy FREE FDISK to the diskette

3 Copy FORMAT.COM to the diskette

4 Copy the script below to a file and save it as A:\AUTOEXEC.BAT:

@ECHO OFF

IF EXIST "A:\FORMAT.TXT" GOTO FORMAT

IF NOT EXIST "A:\FORMAT.TXT" GOTO FDISK

:FDISK

ECHO This system will reboot when complete

ECHO

ECHO Deleting all current partitions …

FDISK /CLEAR > NUL

ECHO Creating new partitions …

FDISK /AUTO > NUL

ECHO > A:\FORMAT.TXT

GOTO REBOOT

:REBOOT

FDISK /REBOOT

:FORMAT

ECHO Formatting drive …

FORMAT drive /AUTOTEST /V:label /S

DEL A:\FORMAT.TXT

GOTO END

:END

CLS

ECHO FINISHED FDISK AND FORMAT

Here, drive is the drive you want to format, and label is the label you want to give the disk

Warning

This disk will automatically FDISK and format all partitions You should clearly mark this disk and store it in a secure area TRUST ME, I KNOW!

Creating an NT Boot Disk

Nothing’s worse than coming in bright and early, booting up your machine, and dealing with NTFS boot errors An NT boot disk can be an invaluable troubleshooting asset when you are experiencing hard disk boot problems To

automate the creation of an NT boot disk, copy the following script to a BAT file:

FORMAT floppy: /AUTOTEST

LABEL floppy: alabel

COPY drive:\ntldr floppy:

COPY drive:\ntdetect.com floppy:

COPY drive:\boot.ini floppy:

COPY drive:\bootsect.dos floppy:

COPY drive:\ntbootdd.sys floppy:

Note

A DOS or Windows 9x Startup disk will not work as an NT boot disk

Creating an NT Removal Boot Disk

To automatically remove NT from a FAT partition, proceed as follows:

1 Make a bootable DOS diskette This can usually be done by formatting a floppy disk with the /S switch

2 Copy RMDIR.EXE to the diskette You can obtain RMDIR.EXE from the NT Resource Kit

3 Copy the script below to a file and save it as A:\AUTOEXEC.BAT:

RMDIR /S /Q ntpath

DEL drive:\ntldr

DEL drive:\ntdetect.com

DEL drive:\boot.ini

DEL drive:\bootsect.dos

DEL drive:\ntbootdd.sys

DEL drive:\pagefile.sys

Here, ntpath is the full path to the Windows directory (e.g., C:\WINNT), and drive is the drive letter on which

Windows was installed

Tip

The best method of removing NT from an NTFS partition is to FDISK, format, and start over

Scripting Drive Image Pro

Drive Image Pro provides a command interpreter to allow complete control from the command line There are two requirements to script Drive Image Pro: a script file and a command line to run the script The script file is a basic text file with the custom commands that control Drive Image Pro The command line consists of various switches that control how the script will be executed Together, they provide a way to automate all the manual tasks of Drive Image Pro

Creating an Image

To store partition 1 on drive 1 to an image, enter the following:

SELECT DRIVE 1

SELECT PARTITION 1

STORE

To store all partitions on drives 1 and 2 to an image, enter the following:

SELECT DRIVE 1

SELECT PARTITION ALL

STORE

SELECT DRIVE 2

SELECT PARTITION ALL

STORE

Note

The SELECT command can select only one drive or one set of partitions from a drive at a time It cannot select two drives simultaneously, hence the need for two STORE commands

Restoring an Image

To delete all partitions on drive 1 and restore the first image to drive 1’s maximum size, enter the following:

SELECT DRIVE 1

DELETE ALL

SELECT FREESPACE FIRST

SELECT IMAGE 1

RESIZE IMAGE MAX

RESTORE

To resize the second image to 500MB and restore it to the free space on drive 1, proceed as follows:

SELECT DRIVE 1

SELECT FREESPACE LAST

SELECT IMAGE 2

RESIZE IMAGE 500

RESTORE

Running a Script

To run a script, enter the following:

PQDI /CMD=scriptfile /IMG=imagefile /LOG=logfile ERR=errorfile

Here, scriptfile is the name of the script file, imagefile is the name of the image used for the STORE and RESTORE commands, logfile is a file that records the results of the imaging process, and errorfile is a file that logs any errors

encountered while imaging

Note

If the /IMG switch is omitted, the STORE and RESTORE commands will produce an error.

Scripting Norton Ghost

Norton Ghost performs all its scripting from the command line Although it does support the use of script files, these files are nothing more than a list of switches that can be performed at the command line

Creating an Image

To create an image of drive 1 called image.gho on a remote drive Z, enter the following:

GHOST.EXE -CLONE,MODE=DUMP,SRC=1,DST=Z:\IMAGE.GHO

To create an image of the second partition of drive 1 called image.gho on a remote drive Z, enter the following: GHOST.EXE -CLONE,MODE=PDUMP,SRC=1:2,DST=Z:\IMAGE.GHO

Restoring an Image

To restore an image called image.gho on a remote drive Z to drive 1, enter the following:

GHOST.EXE -CLONE, MODE=LOAD, SRC= Z:\IMAGE.GHO, DST=1

To restore an image called image.gho on a remote drive Z to the second partition on drive 1, enter the following: GHOST.EXE -CLONE,MODE=PLOAD,SRC= Z:\IMAGE.GHO,DST=1:2

Performing a Drive Copy

To copy drive 1 to drive 2, enter the following:

GHOST.EXE -CLONE,MODE=COPY,SRC=1,DST=2

Performing a Partition Copy

To copy the first partition on drive 2 to the second partition on drive 1, enter the following:

GHOST.EXE -CLONE,MODE=PCOPY,SRC= 2:1,DST=1:2

Logging Errors

Norton Ghost records all errors in a log file called ghost.err This file is normally stored in the program’s root

directory, but you can change the name and location of the file per use by using the -AFILE switch Here is an example of how to use the -AFILE switch:

GHOST.EXE -CLONE,MODE=PCOPY,SRC= 2:1,DST=1:2 -AFILE=filename

Using a Script File

Norton Ghost can also read a text file that contains all or additional command-line switches This file must be in text format, and each command-line switch must be on a different line Here is an example of a script file:

-AFILE=z:\errorlog.txt

-CLONE,MODE=PCOPY,SRC= 2:1,DST=1:2

To run the script file, enter the following

GHOST.EXE @filename

Here, filename is the name of the script file

More Switches

Different versions of Norton Ghost support different switches To see a brief description of the available switches,

type “GHOST -H” at the command prompt

Chapter 2: Scripting Installations and Updates

In Brief

In the previous chapter, you learned how to automate hard disk setups and images Throughout this chapter, you will use various scripting methods to create unique scripting solutions to common administrative installations and

updates You will start by learning how to script installations from the command line You will then learn how to use send keys to install windows and wizards using Microsoft ScriptIt

Scripting Methods

Not all of us have the luxury of working with a centralized management system such as Systems Management Server (SMS) or WinINSTALL With new programs, program updates, service pack updates, and hot-fixes constantly coming out, installing all of these manually can consume most of an administrator’s day Scripting provides a way to automate these tasks with little or no user intervention

Shell Scripting

Shell scripting is running a series of commands from within a command shell Although these commands can be run

from the command line individually, they are more often stored within a script or batch file Shell scripting has been around since the inception of MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) and is the easiest scripting method to learn

Microsoft Command-Line Switches

Microsoft installation and update executables support many different switches to allow for shell scripting and

installation customization Switches are not case-sensitive and, more often than not, they are not standardized To make matters worse, Microsoft tends not to document some of the most useful switches (as you saw in Chapter 1) Here are some of the most common, and possibly undocumented, switches for Microsoft installation and update executables:

/?—Displays unhidden switches and usage

/C—Extracts files to folder specified with /T switch

/C ID—Used to enter a 20-digit product ID

/F—Forces applications to close at shutdown

/K ID—Used to enter an 11-digit CD key

/N—Does not back up files for uninstall

/N name—Used to enter a username for registration

/N:V—Installs without version checking

/O—Overwrites OEM files without prompting

/O organization—Used to enter an organization name for registration

/Q—Runs in quiet mode, skips all prompts

/Q:U—Runs in user quiet mode, shows some dialog boxes

/Q:A—Runs in admin quiet mode, shows no dialog boxes

/R—Reinstalls the application

/R:A—Always reboots

/R:I—Reboots if necessary

/R:N—Does not reboot, even if necessary

/R:S—Reboots without prompting

/T:path—Specifies or extracts files to a temporary working folder

/U—Runs in unattended mode or uninstalls an application, prompts for shared file removal

/UA—Uninstalls an application and shared files, without prompting

/Z—Does not reboot when installation is complete

Windows and Wizards

Many of the tasks of an administrator involve navigating through interactive windows and wizards Whether installing

a new program or adding a new piece of hardware, these wizards guide the user through a complicated setup process This process involves scrolling through selections, clicking check boxes, selecting tabs, browsing, entering text, and more Although these wizards are helpful, they frequently do not support scripting

In the past, administrators used macro recorders to deal with these unscriptable windows and wizards The main problem with basic macro utilities is that they are great for performing linear tasks, but they choke when dealing with complex routines that require decisions The solution is to use a send-keys utility, such as Microsoft ScriptIt

Microsoft ScriptIt

Microsoft ScriptIt is an advanced macro utility used to send key commands to Windows objects ScriptIt detects window titles and text and sends commands to specific windows based on that information ScriptIt reads commands stored in a text-based script file and performs the commands on a line-per-line basis Although you can use other scripting send-keys methods, such as Windows Script Host (WSH) or KiXtart, Microsoft ScriptIt provides the easiest way to detect windows and send keys

Detecting Windows and Text

Sometimes multiple windows can have the same title Luckily, Microsoft ScriptIt allows you to specify a combination

of window title and window text to specify the exact window you want Microsoft ScriptIt has two built-in functions to

determine window titles and text: /REVEAL and /REVEAL2

/REVEAL detects the currently active window in real time To run this command, enter:

SCRIPTIT /REVEAL

For example, suppose you wanted to script the Add New Hardware Wizard window (see Figure 2.1).The /REVEAL

switch would show the window title and text (see Figure 2.2)

Figure 2.1: The Add New Hardware Wizard window

Figure 2.2: Detecting window title and text with /REVEAL

Although this command is helpful, it does present problems when windows are hidden or forcibly maximized To work

around this, you can use the /REVEAL2 switch:

SCRIPTIT /REVEAL2

The /REVEAL2 switch creates a list of all window titles and text, and then refreshes the list when you click OK (see

Figure 2.3)

Figure 2.3: Detecting window title and text with /REVEAL2

By double-clicking on each entry in the list, you can see all the text that /REVEAL2 detected

Microsoft ScriptIt [SCRIPT] Section

A ScriptIt script file must contain a section called [SCRIPT] Any commands found under this section will be executed

in order Any text found above this section will be ignored, so you can comment your script by adding text above this section

Microsoft ScriptIt [ADLIB] Section

One of the advantages that ScriptIt has over using other send-key methods, such as KiXtart or WSH, is the ability to immediately intercept windows that may occur unexpectedly This is accomplished through an optional section called [ADLIB] When the [ADLIB] section detects an unexpected window, the script breaks out of the [SCRIPT] section, executes the [ADLIB] command, and then returns to the [SCRIPT] section

Microsoft ScriptIt Core Commands

Microsoft ScriptIt has five core commands: RUN, RUNWAIT, MKFILE, REM, and TITLE+TEXT The RUN command

executes the program specified:

RUN=program

The RUNWAIT command executes the program specified and pauses the script until the specified program closes:

RUNWAIT=program

For example, to start notepad, pause the script, and then start the script when notepad closes, you could enter: RUNWAIT=notepad

The MKFILE (Make File) command appends a line to an existing text file or adds a line to a new text file:

MKFILE file=line to add

For example, if you wanted to add a line to the autoexec.bat file that removes your C:\TEMP directory, you could enter:

MKFILE c:\autoexec.bat=DELTREE C:\TEMP

The REM (Remark) command allows you to add comments within your script:

REM comments

The title+text command allows you to send key commands to the specified window:

title+text=commands

Here, title is the window title, text is any text within the window, and commands are the key commands being sent

to the window

The title and text are case-sensitive In addition, both the window title and text are optional and neither needs to be typed in its entirety For example, if you wanted to start and work with Notepad, you could enter:

[SCRIPT]

RUN=NOTEPAD

Untitled - Notepad=This is the full title

Untitled=This is part of the title

Notice that both the full and partial titles will work

Microsoft ScriptIt Tilde Commands

Microsoft ScriptIt has nine commands that begin with a tilde (~):

~EXIT—Immediately exits the script

~WAIT—Pauses the script for 5 seconds

~WINWAITACTIVE—Pauses the script until the specified window receives focus

~WINWAITCLOSE—Pauses the script until the specified window closes

~WINWAITACTIVE—Closes the currently active window and its associated application

~WINHIDE—Hides the currently active window

~WINHIDE—Displays the currently active hidden window

~WINMIN—Minimizes the currently active window

~WINMAX—Maximizes the currently active window

Microsoft Windows Installer

Before Windows 2000, installing and managing applications was a complete mess Software companies created their own installation interfaces, each with its own set of rules, command-line options, and uninstall functions This

provided headaches for administrators who attempted to create common scripting solutions for application

installations To help reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) and provide a standardized set of installation rules, Microsoft created the Windows Installer

The Windows Installer is a new installation and configuration service for 32-bit Windows platforms that standardizes the way programs install and uninstall The Windows Installer is a Zero Administration Windows initiative and is required to conform to the “Designed for Microsoft Windows” logo standards Some of the advanced features of the Windows Installer are self-repair, rollback, and install on demand The Windows Installer comes packaged with

Windows 2000, and is available as a separate download for Windows 9x and Windows NT