Command-line options for installing Windows Server 2003 R2

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

You can define the way Windows Server 2003 R2 is installed by using the following command-line options when you run Setup2.exe. These options are not case-sensitive.

Option Description

/q

or

/quiet

Specifies that Windows Server 2003 R2 will be installed in quiet mode, without a user interface. When you use this option, no prompts appear during the installation process.

/p: ProductKey

or

/productkey: ProductKey

Specifies the Product Key that should be used to install Windows Server 2003 R2. This parameter is required if you have not yet entered a Windows Server 2003 R2 Product Key.

ProductKey must be specified in the AAAAA-AAAAA-AAAAA-AAAAA-AAAAA format.

/a

or

/accepteula

Specifies that you accept the EULA. This parameter is required if you did not use Disc 1 to install Windows Server 2003.

By using this option you are agreeing that you have read and accepted the terms of the applicable End User License Agreement (EULA) for Windows Server 2003 R2. You can find the following files in the \Cmpnents\R2 folder of Disc 2.

  • If you have received this product from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), the applicable EULA is Eula_oem.txt.

  • If you have acquired the product in a retail store, the applicable EULA is Eula_retail.txt.

  • If you have an evaluation copy of Windows Server 2003 R2, the applicable EULA is Eula_eval.txt.

    ImportantImportant
    If you are not the end-user of this computer, before you use this option you will need to first verify that the end-user (whether an individual or an organization) has received, read, and accepted the terms of the Windows Server 2003 R2 EULA.

/cs

or

/createshortcut

Creates a shortcut on the desktop to a document that describes the new Windows Server 2003 R2 components.

/sr

or

/suppressreboot

Suppresses restart after the installation of Windows Server 2003 R2 is complete.

/?

Displays the command-line options that you can use to install Windows Server 2003 R2.

Note

If you are using Setup2.exe in a script or answer file, you should start your command with cmd /c. This ensures that Windows Server 2003 R2 Setup is complete before executing the next command, for example:cmd /c setup2.exe /q /a /p:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /cs

Note

For information about how to create and modify the Unattend.txt file and to perform an unattended installation of Windows Server 2003 R2, see "Automating Windows Server 2003 R2 Setup" in Deploy.chm located in the \Docs folder of Windows Server 2003 R2 Disc 2.