Installing On Multiple Computers...?

[quinn_j_n]

Hello,

I work at a Computer store and we sell around 3 computers a day. We offer a free service to get your computer up and running and I was wondering if anyone can give me some pointers if I can make someing using VB6 too:

- Install a freeware Antivirus program
- Install a freeware Antispyware program
- Create Recovery DVD's
- Change settings (Unlock the taskbar is a prime example)

Is this possible? Sorry for the short post just posting this quickly on a lunch break.

[Hack]

Welcome to the forums.

1 and 2 seem like nothing more than executing an existing .EXE file - for that you can use the ShellExecute API

[Lord Orwell]

a recovery dvd is slightly more complicated but the function actually exists in windows already. you can run msbackup and tell it to backup EVERYTHING and it will. Then if you have a crash you reinstall OS and restore the backup file.

[Hack]

What kind of "change settings" (other than the taskbar) did you have in mind?

[Al42]

- Install a freeware Antivirus program
- Install a freeware Antispyware program

Put them both on the same CD and run a batch (on the CD) file to run them both. It will be even easier if they have unattended install modes.

- Create Recovery DVD's

Recovery in what way? The normal recovery CD is included by the OEM.

- Change settings (Unlock the taskbar is a prime example)

There should be code to do this somewhere in the forums. Write the program, make an install package and install it to the master CD image. Then include it in the batch file.

[quinn_j_n]

Sorry for taking so long to reply.

I dont have a sheet of exactly what we do but I will run you through it.

First of all Computers dont come with the recovery cd/dvd's any more so we create them for the customer free of charge.

The programs that we install for the customers are AVG Free Edition and Spybot Search and Destroy, during the install of AVG we can just keep clicking next till the end of it and its done and Spybot we tell it not to install Teatimer. There are settings inside AVG and Spybot we have to do later such as telling AVG to scan all files on the computer rather then infectable ones. Also doing updates for AVG and Spybot.

Settings we change in the computer are:
- Unlock the Taskbar
- uncheck Group Similar programs
- Enable Quick Launch
- Put a copy of My Computer, Documents, and Internet Explorer on the desktop (I know how i can do this in vb)
- Etc.


Is there anything i can do to make this fully automated? We will set this up for multiple computer brands as well (Toshiba, HP, Compaq, Acer, etc) so will it be universal?

Thanks for any feedback guys!

[Lord Orwell]

why do you unlock the taskbar and ungroup similar buttons? Those are the two most annoying things someone could do to my computer.

[quinn_j_n]

Haha Yea I know but the person that made these rules is our computer tech which she doesnt even know how to program a vcr, or get her gps working.

[Lord Orwell]

grab her by her blond hair and give a good shake.

[quinn_j_n]

Can anyone give me a few pointers? or is this too much of a program for a beginner to do?

[Al42]

why do you unlock the taskbar and ungroup similar buttons? Those are the two most annoying things someone could do to my computer.

I always have my taskbar unlocked and similar buttons not grouped.

[Lord Orwell]

you are in the minority. The screen will truncate them to a point they are too short to read if you open more than about 5 windows at a time, otherwise. And as for lock/unlock the taskbar, this is also an annoyance when the taskbar decides to not auto-hide.

[quinn_j_n]

You thread jacker's, haha. Back to the subject can anyone give me some tips in what I should look for or agian is this out of my skill range?

[Hack]

- Install a freeware Antivirus program
- Install a freeware Antispyware program
- Create Recovery DVD's
- Change settings (Unlock the taskbar is a prime example)

Do you still need all of these or just one or two?

[RobDog888]

I always have my taskbar unlocked and similar buttons not grouped.

Me too

Lock/unlock the taskbar per user profile (XP):
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
LockTaskbar = 0 (0 unlock, 1 lock)

All users:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\

[Lord Orwell]

well there you go, that's a start. API calls to change a registry setting.