(Winbom)
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2
[description.config]
The [description.config] section contains entries for configuring partitions located on the physical disk DiskN.
Answer File Entries for the [ description .config] Section
| Entry | Description |
|---|---|
FileSystemN |
Specifies the type of file system to use when formatting partition N. |
ForceFormat |
Specifies whether Setup prompts the user before formatting Disk1 with the same file system. |
PartitionTypeN |
Specifies the type of partition for partition N. |
QuickFormatN |
Specifies whether to use Quick Format when formatting partition N. |
SetActiveN |
Specifies whether partition N is the active partition. |
SizeN |
Specifies the size of partition N in megabytes. The partitioning logic adjusts this size to align the partitions on the disk and allow for future conversion to dynamic disks. |
WipeDisk |
Specifies whether to erase all partitions on the physical disk before configuring the disk with the remaining configuration options. |
FileSystemN
Specifies the type of file system to use when formatting partition N.
Syntax
FileSystemN = NTFS | FAT32
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
NTFS |
Uses the NTFS file system. |
FAT32 |
Uses the FAT32 file system. |
Example
[DiskConfig]
Disk1 = Primary.config
Disk2 = Extended1.config
Disk3 = Extended2.config
[Primary.config]
FileSystem1 = FAT32
FileSystem2 = NTFS
[Extended1.config]
FileSystem1 = NTFS
[Extended2.config]
FileSystem1 = NTFS
FileSystem2 = FAT32
FileSystem3 = FAT32
Comments
The default value is NTFS.
ForceFormat
Specifies whether Setup prompts the user before formatting Disk1.
Syntax
ForceFormat = Yes | No
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
Yes |
Does not prompt the user before reformatting Disk1. |
No |
Prompts the user before reformatting Disk1. |
Example
[DiskConfig]
Disk1 = Primary.config
Disk2 = Extended1.config
Disk3 = Extended2.config
[Primary.config]
ForceFormat = Yes
[Extended1.config]
ForceFormat = No
[Extended2.config]
ForceFormat = No
Comments
The default value is No.
The ForceFormat entry is valid only for Disk1 under the following conditions:
You already formatted Disk1, and it contains files.
The value of the WipeDisk entry in the [description.config] section is No.
PartitionTypeN
Specifies the type of partition for partition N.
Syntax
PartitionTypeN = EFI | Extended | Logical | MSR | Primary
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
EFI |
Configures PartitionN on DiskN as a GPT disk that you format with the FAT file system, and that contains the files necessary to start the computer. The EFI system partition serves the same purpose as the system volume found on x86-based computers. |
Extended |
Configures PartitionN on DiskN as an extended partition. A physical disk can contain only one extended partition. |
Logical |
Configures PartitionN on DiskN as a logical drive. An extended partition can contain one or more logical drives. |
MSR |
Configures PartitionN on DiskN as a GPT partition reserved for Windows system components. The Microsoft Reserved (MSR) partition varies in size based on the size of the GPT disk. For disks smaller than 16 GB, the MSR partition is 32 MB. For disks larger than 16 GB, the MSR partition is 128 MB. The MSR partition is not visible in Disk Management, and you cannot store data on the MSR partition or delete it. |
Primary |
Configures PartitionN on DiskN as a primary partition. An MBR physical disk can contain only four primary partitions; a GPT physical disk can contain up to 128 primary partitions. The Windows operating system must be installed on a primary partition. |
Example
[DiskConfig]
Disk1 = Primary1.config
Disk2 = Primary2.config
Disk3 = Extended.config
[Primary1.config]
PartitionType1 = Primary
[Primary2.config]
PartitionType1 = Primary
PartitionType2 = Primary
[Extended.config]
PartitionType1 = Extended
PartitionType2 = Extended
PartitionType3 = Extended
Comments
The default value is Primary.
QuickFormatN
Specifies whether to use Quick Format when formatting partition N.
Syntax
QuickFormatN = Yes | No
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
Yes |
Removes files from the disk without scanning the disk for bad sectors. Use this option only if you previously formatted the disk and you are sure the disk is not damaged. |
No |
Scans the disk for bad sectors. |
Example
[DiskConfig]
Disk1 = Primary.config
Disk2 = Extended1.config
Disk3 = Extended2.config
[Primary.config]
QuickFormat1 = Yes
[Extended1.config]
QuickFormat = No
[Extended2.config]
QuickFormat = No
Comments
The default value is Yes.
SetActiveN
Specifies whether partition N is the active partition.
Syntax
SetActiveN = Yes | No
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
Yes |
Sets partition N as the active partition. |
No |
Does not set partition N as the active partition. |
Example
[DiskConfig]
Disk1 = Primary.config
Disk2 = Extended1.config
Disk3 = Extended2.config
[Primary.config]
SetActive1 = Yes
SetActive2 = No
[Extended1.config]
SetActive1 = No
SetActive2 = Yes
[Extended2.config]
SetActive1 = No
SetActive2 = No
SetActive3 = Yes
Comments
The default value is No.
A disk can contain only one active partition. If you do not explicitly specify a partition as active, the first partition becomes active by default.
SetActiveN is valid only for 32-bit hardware. It does not apply to GPT disks.
SizeN
Specifies the size of partition N in megabytes. The partitioning logic adjusts this size to align the partitions on the disk and allow for future conversion to dynamic disks.
Syntax
SizeN =partition_size_in_MB | *
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
partition_size_in_MB |
Specifies the size of partition N in megabytes. |
* |
Uses all available free space on the disk for this partition. |
Example
[DiskConfig]
Disk1 = Primary.config
Disk2 = Extended1.config
Disk3 = Extended2.config
[Primary.config]
Size1 = 5000
Size2 = 2000
[Extended1.config]
Size1 = *
[Extended2.config]
Size1 = *
Comments
If the value of partition_size_in_MB is larger than the available size of the disk, partition N becomes the maximum size available. For example, if the physical size of the disk is 5,000 MB and you use the entry Size1 = 10000, Setup creates one large partition on the disk.
WipeDisk
Specifies whether to erase all partitions on the physical disk before configuring the disk with the remaining configuration options.
Syntax
WipeDisk = Yes | No
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
Yes |
Erases all existing partitions before configuring the disk. |
No |
Does not erase any existing partitions. |
Example
[DiskConfig]
Disk1 = Primary1.Config
Disk2 = Primary2.Config
[Primary1.Config]
WipeDisk = Yes
Size1 = *
PartitionType1 = Primary
FileSystem1 = NTFS
QuickFormat1 = Yes
[Primary2.Config]
Size1 = 4000
Size2 = 4000
Size3 = *
PartitionType1 = Primary
FileSystem1 = NTFS
FileSystem2 = FAT32
QuickFormat2 = Yes
Comments
The default value is No on hard disks of 32-bit systems and Yes on hard disks of 64-bit systems.
The entry WipeDisk = Yes is equivalent to the Clean command of the DiskPart tool. Both commands remove all partition and volume formatting, including master boot record (MBR) and hidden sector information.
In the entries of the [description.config] section, N is the (1-based) index of the partition on the physical disk. You must specify partition indices in numerical order; you cannot skip a given partition in the [description.config] section.