Winnt32.exe Command Syntax

Article
07/18/2012

Winnt32 [ /checkupgradeonly ] [ **/cmd:**command_line ] [/ cmdcons ] [ **/copydir:**folder_name ] [ **/copysource:**folder_name ] [ /debug [ level ][ **:**file_name ]] [ **/m:**folder_name ] [ /makelocalsource ] [ /noreboot ] [ **/s:**sourcepath ] [ **/syspart:**drive_letter ] [ **/tempdrive:**drive_letter ] [ **/udf:**ID [, UDB_file ]] [/ unattend ] [ /unattend [ seconds ][ **:**answer_file ]]

/checkupgradeonly

Checks the current operating system for upgrade compatibility with Windows 2000. This is simply a verification and does not install Windows 2000.

/cmd: command_line

Specifies a command to be carried out after the graphical user interface (GUI) portion of Setup finishes. The command will occur before Setup is complete and after Setup has restarted your computer and has collected the necessary configuration information. For example, this option can run Cmdlines.txt, which usually specifies the applications to be installed immediately after Setup completes.

/cmdcons

Adds a Recovery Console option for repairing a failed installation.

/copydir: folder_name

Creates a subfolder within the folder that contains the Windows 2000 files. For example, if the source folder contains a Private_drivers folder that has modifications just for your site, you can type /copydir:private_drivers to copy that folder to your Windows 2000 folder. You can use the /copydir option multiple times.

/copysource: folder_name

Temporarily creates a subfolder within the folder that contains the Windows 2000 files. For example, if the source folder contains a Private_drivers folder that has modifications just for your site, you can type /copysource:private_drivers to have Setup copy that folder to your Windows 2000 folder and use its files during Setup. Unlike the /copydir option, folders created by using /copysource are deleted when Setup finishes.

/debug[ level ][: file_name ]

Creates a debug log at the level specified. When you use the default setting, the program creates a log file (% windir %\Winnt32.log) that has a warning level of 2. The warning levels for the log file are as follows: 0 = severe errors, 1=errors, 2 = warnings, 3 = information, and 4 = detailed information for debugging. Each level also includes the levels below it.

/m: folder_name

Instructs Setup to copy replacement files from an alternate location. It directs Setup to look at the alternate location first and to copy the files from that location (if files are present) instead of from the default location.

/makelocalsource

Instructs Setup to copy all installation source files to your local hard disk. Use /makelocalsource to obtain installation files if you begin installation from a CD and the CD becomes unavailable later in the installation.

/noreboot

Instructs Setup to not restart the computer after the file copy phase of Winn32 is complete so that you can execute another command.

/s: sourcepath

Specifies the source location of the Windows 2000 files. The default is the current folder. To copy files simultaneously from multiple servers, you can specify up to eight sources. For example:

winnt32 /s: server1 ... /s: server8

Windows 2000 can use up to eight /s switches to point to other distribution servers as source locations for installation to the destination computer. This functionality helps to speed up the file copy phase of Setup to the destination computer and provides additional load balancing capability to the distribution servers from which Setup can be run. For example:

path to distribution folder 1 \winnt32 [/unattend] [: path \answer.txt] [/s: path to distribution folder 2 ] [/s :path to distribution folder 3 ] [/s: path to distribution folder 4 ]

/syspart: drive_letter

Specifies that you can copy Setup startup files to a hard disk, mark the disk as active, and install the disk in another computer. When you start that computer, Setup automatically starts with the next phase. Remember the following points when you use this switch:

You must always use the / syspart option together with the / tempdrive option.
Both / syspart and / tempdrive must point to the same partition of a secondary hard disk.
You must install Windows 2000 on the primary partition of that secondary hard disk.
You can use the /syspart switch only from a computer that is running Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 4.0, or Windows 2000. You cannot use this switch from a computer that is running a Windows 95 or Windows 98 operating system.

/tempdrive: drive_letter

Directs Setup to place temporary files on the specified partition and to install Windows 2000 on that partition. Remember the following points as you use this switch:

You must always use the / tempdrive option together with the / syspart option.
Both / tempdrive and / syspart must point to the same partition of a secondary hard disk.
You must install Windows 2000 on the primary partition of that secondary hard disk.

/udf: ID [, UDB_file ]

Indicates an identifier (ID) that Setup uses to specify how a Uniqueness Database File (UDB) modifies an answer file (see the /unattend option, which follows). The .udb file overrides values in the answer file, and the identifier determines which values in the .udb file are used. For example, /udf:Roaming_user,Our_company.udb overrides settings specified for the identifier Roaming_user located in the Our_company.udb file. If you do not specify a .udb file , Setup prompts you to insert a disk that contains the $ Unique $.udb file.

/unattend

Upgrades your previous version of Windows by using unattended Setup mode. All user settings are taken from the previous installation so that no user intervention is required during Setup.

important-icon Important

Using the /unattend switch to automate Setup affirms that you have read and accepted the End User License Agreement (EULA) for Windows 2000. Before using this switch to install Windows 2000 on behalf of an organization other than your own, you must confirm that the end user (whether an individual or a single entity) has received, read, and accepted the terms of the Windows 2000 EULA. OEMs may not specify this key on machines being sold to end users.

/unattend[ seconds ][: answer_file ]

Installs Windows 2000 without using prompts that require user interaction; instead, Setup obtains the information it needs from an answer file that you prepare in advance. For more information about answer files, see Appendix C, "Sample Answer Files for Unattended Setup ," in this book.

Include seconds only if you are upgrading from Windows NT 4.0. Seconds specifies the delay, in seconds, between when Setup finishes copying the files and when system setup begins.