Administrator quiet mode Switch

[Annie]

Hi all,

I'm new to command prompt administration. I'm trying to
install Windows update file through command prompt. I'm
wondering is there anyway I can do automatically answering
dialog boxes without user intervention.

For example, when installing some of the windows hotfix
or any service packs, it will prompt you dialog boxes and
want you to agree to license agreement or click on next.
Is there anyway I can write the answer into a script so no
user clicking is required during installation process?

I tried /q:a switch(Administrator quiet mode), but it
only work for files Without Dialog boxes....

Help~~~~

Thank you very very very very much in advanced.

Annie

[Jerold Schulman]

From tip 1981 in the 'Tips & Tricks' at http://www.jsiinc.com

When you download a hotfix, you can expand it using HotfixName.exe /x. I expand
them to a a sub-folder that is the hotfix name, such as Qnnnnnn. HOTFIX.EXE is
in the Qnnnnnn sub-folder and supports:
-f Force applications to close at shutdown.
-m Unattended installation.
-n Do NOT create an uninstall folder.
-z Do NOT restart.
-q Quiet mode, no user interface.
-y Uninstall (only with -m or -q).
-l List installed Hotfixes.

Jerold Schulman
Windows: General MVP
JSI, Inc.
http://www.jsiinc.com

[Torgeir Bakken (MVP)]

Annie wrote:

> I'm new to command prompt administration. I'm trying to
> install Windows update file through command prompt. I'm
> wondering is there anyway I can do automatically answering
> dialog boxes without user intervention.
>
> For example, when installing some of the windows hotfix
> or any service packs, it will prompt you dialog boxes and
> want you to agree to license agreement or click on next.
> Is there anyway I can write the answer into a script so no
> user clicking is required during installation process?
>
> I tried /q:a switch(Administrator quiet mode), but it
> only work for files Without Dialog boxes....

Hi

Always run

<somehotfix>.exe /?

to get an indication on what command line switches are available (just note
that for installs built with IExpress, e.g. updates for Internet Explorer, the
help screen is not listing all options).

Also, you should look up each hotfix's knowledge base article, it also very
often tell you about the command line switches that are relevant, here is an
example for the 822925 update:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822925

Most OS hotfixes and service packs, the unattended install and suppress reboot
prompts is done e.g. like this:

q329115_wxp_sp2_x86_enu /u /q /z

See
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=329115
and

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/sp3/spdeploy.htm#command_line_switches_for_update_exe_and_w2ksp3_exe_nthj

for more on those type of command line switches.

All setup programs that supplies the message box below when run with the /?
switch, is built with IExpress, and supports many more switches than the help
screen
indicates, e.g. "/q /r:n" or "/q /c:"dahotfix.exe /q /n""

---------------------------
Some title
---------------------------
Command line options:

/Q -- Quiet modes for package,

/T:<full path> -- Specifies temporary working folder,

/C -- Extract files only to the folder when used also with /T.

/C:<Cmd> -- Override Install Command defined by author.

---------------------------
OK
---------------------------

Almost all setups of this type can be fully controlled with command line
switches when it comes to e.g. suppressing any dialog boxes to the user
and also controlling the reboot.

Using the /Q /R:N switches, you will suppress any messages, also reboots/reboot

messages as well.

/Q alone will be a silent install, but give the user the option to reboot if
necessary.

If you want to suppress some error messages as well, use /Q:A /R:N

You can also control or force restart with /R (you might have to change /q:a to

/q for some of the options below?):

a.. R = /R:A (Default)
b.. /R:= /R:A (Default)
c.. /R:N -- Never reboot, overrides INF settings in package
d.. /R:A -- Always reboot, prompt user with reboot choice
e.. /R:I -- Reboot if needed, prompt user with reboot choice
f.. /R:AS -- Always reboot, silent and don't prompt user
g.. /R:IS -- Silent reboot if needed, silent and don't prompt user

More information on available switches here:

Common Command-Line Switches for Self-Installing Update Files (Q197147)
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q197/1/47.ASP

- and here -

Message-ID: <#DxIcwcQ$GA....@cppssbbsa02.microsoft.com>
From: Mike Whalen (MS) (mwh...@microsoft.com)
Subject: Re: redistribution of Microsoft Scripting Engines 5.1
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.scripting.wsh
Date: 1999/12/08
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&selm=%23DxIcwcQ%24GA.236%40cppssbbsa02.microsoft.com

--
torgeir
Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of the 1328 page
Scripting Guide: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter

[Oli Restorick [MVP]]

Very comprehensive answer, Torgeir. Thanks.

"Torgeir Bakken (MVP)" <Torgeir.B...@hydro.com> wrote in message
news:3F5A2B5E...@hydro.com...