Deploying Office 2003 over wan

[jas0n]

We have upto 1000 xp desktops spread over several sites all connected via a
wan. The larger sites have local domain controllers, file storage, etc.

Im looking at the options for deploying office 2003 with as little
disruption as possible and silenty without interaction from anyone.

Anyone have any pointers for a mixed group policy, customised install which
needs to remove previous versions of office 2000 and retain outlook
settings? It will be assigned to each computer.

Will probably stage the roll out and use geographical groups containing all
the computers at each location and a local installation source is looking
preferable but pointers to discussions or various methods are welcome. There
will be plenty to read on this one.

 

[Memphis Tom]

You can use Office 2003 resource kit
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ork2003/HA101494521033.aspx
after install , RUN "custom installation wizard"
Follow the wizard to create installation package.
Put the package to local domain server, and deploy installation
creating batch file and run batch file.
You can send instruction via e-mail.
It should do un-attendant installation

You can customize Product key, OUTLOOK,

If you have Office 2003 without SP2, I would slipstream the SP2 first and
create installation package
http://www.howto-outlook.com/otherprograms/slipstreamo2k3sp.htm


This is my example of batch file
deploy_office_2003.bat
==================

@echo off
echo start office 2003 deploy > c:\deploy_start.txt
N:\xDeployment\OFFICE2003\ENG\O2K3\SETUPPRO.EXE
TRANSFORMS=N:\xDeployment\OFFICE2003\ENG\o2k3sp2.MST /qb-
echo done office 2003 deploy > c:\deploy_end.txt
exit

================
You must put "exit" on last line.
N is just drive letter
echo command will generate time stamp file.
You can check when instollation strat and end.

Good luck