A-Z List


Pnpunattend

Published: June 30, 2010

Updated: April 17, 2012

Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista

Audits a computer for device drivers, and perform unattended driver installations, or search for drivers without installing and, optionally, report the results to the command line. Use this command to specify the installation of specific drivers for specific hardware devices. See Remarks.

Syntax
PnPUnattend.exe auditSystem [/help] [/?] [/h] [/s] [/L]
Parameters

 

Parameter Description

auditSystem

Specifies online driver install.

Required, except when pnpunattend is run with either the /Help or /? parameters.

/s

Optional. Specifies to search for drivers without installing.

Optional. Specifies to display the log information for this command in the command prompt.

/?

Optional. Displays help for this command at the command prompt.
Remarks

Preliminary preparation is required. Prior to using this command, you must complete the following tasks:

  1. Create a directory for the drivers you want to install. For example, create a folder at C:\Drivers\Video for video adapter drivers.

  2. Download and extract the driver package for your device. Copy the contents of the subfolder that contains the INF file for your version of the operating system and any subfolders to the video folder that you created. For example, copy the video driver files to C:\Drivers\Video.

  3. Add a system environment path variable to the folder you created in step 1.For example, C:\Drivers\Video.

  4. Create the following registry key, and then for the DriverPaths key you create, set the Value Data to 1.

  • For Windows® 7 navigate the Registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\, and then create the keys: UnattendSettings\PnPUnattend\DriverPaths\

  • For Windows Vista, navigate to the Registry path: HK_LM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\, and then create the keys = \UnattendSettings\PnPUnattend\DriverPaths.
Examples

The following example command shows how to use the PNPUnattend.exe to audit a computer for possible driver updates, and then report the findings to the Command Prompt.

pnpunattend auditsystem /s /l
Additional references

Command-Line Syntax Key

Tags :


Community Content

Drewfus
Behaviour of Pnpunattend
<p>Is the behaviour of Pnpunattend properly explained here? Consider this quote from the following article:<br /> http://dtmjedi.com/InsideVistaSetup_DtmJedi.htm<br /><br /><em>One way to force a specific driver to be installed is by running the PnP utility that comes with Vista:</em></p><pre>C:\Windows\System32\pnpUnattend.exe AuditSystem [/L]</pre><p><em>This utility is normally only run by Vista Setup during the AuditSystem phase when the Unattend.xml contains a DriverPaths section under the AuditSystem phase, but can also be run during AuditUser or OOBE or even completely outside of Setup.exe.  Note that this utility actively tries to install each driver in the path provided and any subfolders, so make sure only the specific drivers for the model you’re installing are present.  It does NOT rely on the normal PnP logic to detect the ‘right’ driver so this utility can be used to force the installation of a SoundMax Audio driver for the HP NC6320, for example. This works even though Vista normally insists on installing the ‘High Definition Audio Device’ that comes with Vista, but does not actually work consistently on that model.<br /></em><br /> This forum thread is a warning about what can happen when drivers are forcibly installed (in the auditSystem pass), and matching hardware is non-present:<br /> http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-CA/w7itproinstall/thread/59a9a1f4-15c9-4b2b-a7ae-8dd71dcc5e9e<br /><br /> If Pnpunattend is forcing the installation of drivers, and not using the Plug and Play driver ranking algorithm, the article should be making this clear.</p>
Tags :

Drewfus
This article needs a thorough review
<p>The empty cell in the table should have /L in it, right?<br /><em>/L    Optional. Specifies to display the log information for this command in the command prompt.<br /><br /></em>Step 3 states - <em>Add a system environment path variable to the folder you created in step 1.For example, C:\Drivers\Video.<br /></em>Is it really necessary to add an env var <em>and</em> a registry path value?<br /><br /> Step 4 states -<em> Create the following registry key, and then for the DriverPaths key you create, set the Value Data to 1.<br /></em>Are you sure? Windows forums indicate that what is required is something like this:</p><pre>HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\UnattendSettings\PnPUnattend\DriverPaths\1<br />Path="C:\Drivers\Video"</pre><p>Step 4 point 2 refers to <em><strong>HK_LM</strong>\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion<br /></em>What the...?</p>
Tags :

Page view tracker