Installing office software using answer file

[ACE007]

I had been running Windows Xp on my machine. I would like to know that is it possible for me to install office software in Windows using answer file? I mean to say that by installing same software on multiple computers. Is it possible for me to do so? Kindly provide me the correct information on the above issue. Thanks.

[Eric B]

According to me, yes i think it's possible. An answer file serves the following purposes when you are installing the Windows Small Business Server 2008 server software (Windows SBS 2008). RIPrep images allow a network administrator to clone a standard corporate desktop configuration, complete with operating system configurations, desktop customizations, and locally-installed applications.

[Glenny]

Provides information that is automatically entered into the Windows SBS 2008 installation pages. You can use an answer for either a new installation or a migration to Windows SBS 2008. RIPrep-based images generally use more hard disk space than CD-based images because they contain an uncompressed copy of the client system's hard disk stored on the server. CD-based flat images still contain the compressed installation files that the CD contains.

[JonathanD]

Each program is unique. Is there a specific software package that you want to automate on your machine. Similarly, programs removed in this process cannot be brought back since they are removed from source setup files. Also it is not easy to install them afterwards if you have installed XP with CD that have programs removed. The Windows Installer (previously known as Microsoft Installer[1]) is an engine for the installation, maintenance, and removal of software on modern Microsoft Windows systems.

[Macarenas]

You need to add the registry keys for User Shell folder for HKey Current User and HKey Local Machine from another computer with the same Operating System. Desktop Central automatically puts in the default installer options that are required to install an application. The installation information, and often the files themselves, are packaged in installation packages, loosely relational databases structured as OLE COM Structured Storages and commonly known as "MSI files", from their default file extension.

[kattman]

Office 2003 came with an MSI installer so you could deploy it with a GPO. Windows Installer contains significant changes from its predecessor, Setup API. An answer file automates the configuration of the Windows SBS 2008 installation in either attended or unattended mode for both a new installation and a migration to Windows SBS 2008. By using the Windows 2000 Software Installation and Maintenance features, you can install and manage key software in a RIPrep image by using the same methods you use to install the software on other computers in the organization. Other option was to install Office onto a Sever SHARE using the a switch.