Unattended Program Installer

[Nathan]

I have looked online and I couldn't find it, so I figure I will ask myself.

I am looking for a program that will make a CD (.iso) or an .exe or something that with install multiple programs at one time. As the title says, I want it to be unattended so the optimal finished program/.iso would have a list of programs with check boxes, I check the programs that I want to install, and maybe a browse button that is an installation destination (not necessary, destination being "Program Files" would be fine) and a button that says install. When the install button is clicked it will show a progress bar, and it installs all of the programs, nothing else is needed from the user.

Im not sure how the program would work, I know there are ways to do it with .bat files and such, but I want it to be easy, like a button that says "Add program to list" and then it walks you through the install wizard with the options that you want (so it will be later unattended)

I know there are programs like nlite that will make an unattended install of windows and patches, drivers and such, but I dont want anything that in depth. but it is kinda the same concept.

Thank you. Also, I am a poor college student, so it is a must that it has to be free!

Nathan

 

[Demon10000]

If you find something (that works), let me know! I've been automating software installs for years now and I've never seen anything that worked for general use. Your best bet is with batch files or vbScript. You can tie it all together with an HTA front end if you want something easy to use...

 

[gtg465x]

http://installpad.com/

 

[Nathan]

This program is a little more complicated than I would want (I have all of the install .exe's And i dont want to have to download them each time), but I guess you cant have the software you want, unless you are a programmer I will be trying this out shortly, has anyone used it before? Any comments about it?

Regarding the download part of it -

(This is taken from the installpad website)
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Editing applist.xml by hand

Editing applist.xml by hand is usually faster than through the InstallPad user interface, and some options are only available by editing the XML file itself. Applist.xml can be edited with Notepad or any text editor. Here is an example application list demonstrating the structure:

<ApplicationList>
<InstallationOptions>
<SilentInstall/>
</InstallationOptions>

<Application>
<Name>Gaim</Name>
<FileUrl>http://superb-west.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/gaim/gaim-1.5.0.exe</FileUrl>

<Options>
<DownloadLatestVersion/>
</Options>

</Application>

</ApplicationList>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Could <FileUrl>http://superb-west.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/gaim/gaim-1.5.0.exe</FileUrl> just be changed to the path of the install .exe? I will try it also when i get home =]

 

[gimp]

Could <FileUrl>http://superb-west.dl.sourceforge.net/sourceforge/gaim/gaim-1.5.0.exe</FileUrl> just be changed to the path of the install .exe? I will try it also when i get home =]

since it looks like it's wanting to use urls, I would assume you could use
<FileUrl>file:///D:/gaim/gaime-1.5.0.exe</FileUrl> but of course, that would only work if the cd is also the D drive. There may be some way to manipulate it to start at the root of the disc.