How can I stop the 'Welcome to Windows NT' screen during setup?

John Savill

January 8, 2000

1 Min Read
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A. Normally when a user logs on for the first time a splash screen isdisplayed welcoming the new users. This can be disabled in a number of ways.

Method 1

  1. Copy the I386 directory structure from the Windows NT installation CD to adistribution server

  2. Create the Unattend.txt file as normal

  3. In the I386 directory on the distribution server rename the fileWelcome.ex_ to Welcome.bak
    C:> rename welcome.ex_ welcome.bak

  4. Create a backup of the file Txtsetup.sif file (which is also in the I386directory) to Txtsetup.bak

  5. Edit Txtsetup.sif and place a ; in front of the welcome.exe line, so theline
    welcome.exe=1,,,,,,,1,0,0
    becomes
    ;welcome.exe=1,,,,,,,1,0,0

  6. Save the modified file.

  7. Create a backup of Dosnet.inf (again in the I386 directory) to dosnet.bak

  8. Edit Dosnet.inf and again place a ; in front of the welcome.exe line, sothe link
    d1,welcome.exe
    becomes
    ;d1,welcome.exe

  9. Save the modified file

  10. Perform the unattended installation from the distribution share

The above just stops the installation of the welcome.exe image and sostopping it from executing. An alternative is to create a registry script thatruns during installation which disables the Welcome dialog.

Method 2

  1. As before copy the I386 directory from the NT CD to a distribution server

  2. Create an unattend.txt file as per normal

  3. Create a directory called $oem$ under the I386 directory on thedistribution server

  4. In the $oem$ directory create a file called cmdlines.txt and enter thefollowing lines:
    [Commands]
    ".regedit /s nowelcom.reg"

  5. Again in the $oem$ directory create a file called nowelcom.reg with thefollowing lines (keep the blank line):
    REGEDIT4

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion ExplorerTips]
    "DisplayInitialTipWindow"=dword:00000000
    "Show"=hex:00,00,00,00
    "Next"=hex:03,00

  6. Copy the file regedit.exe from the I386 directory into the $oem$ directory

  7. Perform the unattended installation from the distribution share

About the Author

John Savill

John Savill

https://savilltech.net

See more from John Savill
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