Getting Win XP to install S/W

I've successfully managed to sysprep and deploy my image to whichever workstation I want it installing on. However, when the machine is rebuilt and boots up it does not apply any of the software from GPO and simply ignores it and goes straight ahead to 'Running Startup Scripts' before I get the login box.

I have to reboot the machine several times before it starts installing the software.

Anyone know what I should do to force the machine to install the software from GPO?

This is working fine when using RIS.

Add a script after the domain join to do a gpupdate /force maybe.

Logon as domain admin, gpupdate /force from the command prompt, shutdown machine completely for a min or so and power it back on

I've tried gpupdate to no avail. I keep getting event ids 101 and 103.

Here's what ID 101 says:

Quote:

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...The group policy framework should call the extension in the synchronous foreground policy refresh.

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In a GPO I have under Administrative Templates\System\Logon\Always wait for the network at computer startup and logon enabled, but this hasn't worked either. It's so frustrating when I'm so near to perfecting this darn thing.

I think you need to set Always wait for the network at computer startup and logon in the local policy of the machine that you used to make your sysprep image. If you define this setting via Group Policy it's too late for it to make a difference on the first boot.

The other thing that I've found to affect this is using a sysprep image that was created before a daylight savings change. This will also not install not software on the first boot as the timezone doesn't match the domain. So everytime the clocks change you have to redo your image to keep installing software on the first boot.