Performing an Unattended Upgrade Installation

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Before you perform an upgrade unattended installation, verify that:

  • Your answer file is saved on a floppy disk.

  • You have the product CD for the operating system you are installing.

  • If you are upgrading from Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition to Windows XP Professional, you have the following entries in your answer file:

    [Unattended]
Win9xUpgrade=Yes

  • If you are upgrading a server to Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition; Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition; or Windows Server 2003, Web Edition, you have the following entries in your answer file:

    [Unattended]
NtUpgrade=Yes

  • You do not have the following entries in your answer file. Theses entries cannot be used if you are performing an upgrade unattended installation:

    [Unattended]
OemPreinstall=Yes

Note

  • Setup only reads the following entries in an answer file during an unattended upgrade installation: Win9xUpgrade, NtUpgrade, OemPreinstall, ProductKey, AutoActivate, DuDisable, DuShare, and DuStopOnError.

After you perform these verification steps, you are ready to perform the unattended installation.

To perform an unattended upgrade installation

  1. Perform the tasks described in your user state migration plan (if you have one).

  2. Start the destination computer.

  3. Insert the floppy disk containing your answer file into the floppy drive.

  4. Insert the product CD into the CD-ROM drive.

  5. At the command prompt, run Winnt32.exe with the parameters listed on the "Unattended Installation Worksheet (ACIUI_1.doc).

After you complete this procedure, Setup starts, reads your answer file, and installs the operating system with the configuration settings specified in your answer file.