Windows 98 SUNY Potsdam Labs

Fixing a Lab Machine

Overview | Configuration
 

Overview

Labs are not perfect, security is never good enough, 'system.ini' is TOO easy to delete.

So, what do you do when this happens? Step ahead to the Configuration to find out.

 
 
Configuration

STEP 1: What do I need?

You are going to need a Windows 98 boot disk (optional, if you do not want to boot from the CD), and a Windows 98 CD. (Reminder: Levitt, Flagg, and ResHall labs are Windows 98; Merritt is Windows 98 Second Edition). MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A CD-KEY WITH YOU! Win98 and Win98se use two different CD-Keys!

STEP 2: Installing Windows 98

Important note: when setting up windows, make sure to set the bios back so that it WILL NOT boot up to the CD-Rom or Removable media. This is essential for our lab security.

Assess the damage: does it need a full reinstall? I bet it does... don't try to install over the broken install, if you do this, you have to delete c:\windows\system.dat and c:\windows\user.dat (and even then, it is a bit iffy.).

The best bet is follow these steps:

  1. Format the drive
  2. Reinstall windows98
  3. Set up TCP/IP networking
  4. Set it to use DHCP
  5. Reboot
  6. Set it up to log into the POTSDAM Domain
  7. Reboot
  8. Clean up the desktop a bit:
    • Do away with the nasty "windows system agent" in the task tray.
    • Get rid of the "Quick Launch" toolbar.
    • Make sure none of that 'active desktop' stuff appears on the desktop. (These things can cause problems if they are left there and you run the script, the script doesn't always take care of it.)

 

STEP 3: PCRDisting the Machine

Once you are logged into the POTSDAM domain on this machine, you need to mount I: to "\\images\images" (please make sure you do not select the "reconnect at logon" checkbox)

Once you have mounted that drive, you will see that there are a bunch of links and .txt files. Please read "@@ !! Lab Download !! @@.txt" if you have not already done so. The script you want to run is the "@@ !! Lab Download !! @@" link. Double click on this, and it will set up the lab computer for you.

It is a good idea to be around for when the computer is running the script, or else someone may turn it off in the middle of the PCRDist and you will end up with a completely dead machine again, and will have to start right back at STEP 1.

Also: make sure you reboot the machine once after it has run the initial image. This is just to make sure things are REALLY set, some files do not get updated until the machine reboots again after an initial PCRDist.  
 

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