Can I install an operating system from a network file.?

Question

If I have the install files for the operating system stored in a network folder, is there any way to install the OS onto a computer on the network from the network drive?

Answer 1

Yes you can. You need to setup an "Answer file" Here are the directions.

Installing IIS 6.0 with the Operating System (IIS 6.0)

Use the Winnt32.exe command-line utility to install IIS 6.0 by using an unattended answer file that includes a [Components] section with the unattended setup parameters listed in Table B.1 and — optionally — an [InternetServer] section with the parameters listed in Table B.2.

Important

You must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer to run scripts and executables. As a security best practice, log on to your computer by using an account that is not in the Administrators group, and then use the runas command to run your script or executable as an administrator. At a command prompt, type runas /profile /User:MyMachine\Administrator cmd to open a command window with administrator rights and then type cscript.exe ScriptName (include the script's full path and any parameters).

To use the Winnt32.exe command-line utility
1.
At a command prompt, type:

winnt32 /unattend:AnsweFile /s:InstallSource
where AnswerFile is a file that contains answers to questions that should be automated during installation, and InstallSource is the location of the Windows 2000 installation files.

John
A+ Certified

Answer 2

sure if you can connect to that network drive then yes you can..but if your system is down then you won't have access to network drive...

Answer 3

Which OS? Most have a way to do this.