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What switches are available for Windows 2000 installation?
John Savill
January 8, 2000
3 Min Read
A. Some of the switches have changed for WINNT32.EXE in Windows2000 to make them more understandable and they are outlined below:
/s: | Source location for the Windows 2000 files |
/tempdrive: | The drive used for any temporary files |
/unattended | Upgrades in unattended mode if no answer file specified. If an answer file is used a new installation is installed./unattended: |
/copydir: | Creates an additional folder under %systemroot% with the name specified |
/copysource: | Creates a temporary additional folder within the folder in which the Windows 2000 files are installed. For example, if the source folder contains a folder called Private_drivers that has modifications just for your site, you can type /copysource:Private_drivers to have Setup copy that folder to your installed Windows 2000 folder and use its files during Setup. So then the temporary folder location would be C:WinntPrivate_drivers. Unlike the folders /copydir creates, /copysource folders are deleted after Setup completes. |
/cmd: | Runs the specified command after the second reboot but before setup is complete |
/debug: | Creates a debug file in %windir%. By default winnt32.log is created at level 2 but the other options are0 - Severe errors1 - Errors2 - Warnings3 - Information4 - Detailed information for debugging |
/udf:[,] | Uses to specify unique information. If no UDB file is named the user will have to insert a disk with file $Unique$.udb on it. |
/syspart | This copies the setup startup files to the hard disk, marks the disk as active and then allows you to move the disk to another computer. When the computer is then turned on it will start at the next phase of installation. Use /tempdrive switch as well. /syspart cannot be used if upgrading from Windows 9x. |
/checkupgradeonly | Used to check your machine for any upgrade issues in advance |
/cmdcons | Installs the recovery console |
/m: | Copy replacement files from this alternate location first and if not found then use the normal location |
/makelocalsource | Makes setup copy all installation source to the local hard disk. Useful if installing from CD and don't wish to use the CD for any further component installations on the machine. |
/noreboot | This will stop the automatic reboot after the file copy stage of setup |
WINNT.EXE is useful for installing from a DOS client or boot disk and fullhelp can be found with winnt /?
C:>winnt.exe /? Sets up Windows 2000 Server or Windows 2000 Professional. WINNT [/s[:sourcepath]] [/t[:tempdrive]] [/u[:answer file]] [/udf:id[,UDF_file]] [/r:folder] [/r[x]:folder] [/e:command] [/a] /s[:sourcepath] Specifies the source location of the Windows 2000 files. The location must be a full path of the form x:[path] or servershare[path]. /t[:tempdrive] Directs Setup to place temporary files on the specified drive and to install Windows 2000 on that drive. If you do do not specify a location, Setup attempts to locate a drive for you. /u[:answer file] Performs an unattended Setup using an answer file (requires /s). The answer file provides answers to some or all of the prompts that the end user normally responds to during Setup. /udf:id[,UDF_file] Indicates an identifier (id) that Setup uses to specify how a Uniqueness Database File (UDF) modifies an answer file (see /u).The /udf parameter overrides values in the answer file, and the identifier determines which values in the UDF file are used. If no UDF_file is specified, Setup prompts you to insert a disk that contains the $Unique$.udb file. /r[:folder] Specifies an optional folder to be installed. The folder remains after Setup finishes. /rx[:folder] Specifies an optional folder to be copied. The folder is deleted after Setup finishes. /e Specifies a command to be executed at the end of GUI-mode Setup. /a Enables accessibility options.
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