Setup Switches
Winnt.exe Syntax
winnt [/s:SourcePath] [/t:TempDrive] [/u:answer file][/udf:ID [,UDB_file]] [/r:folder] [/rx:folder] [/e:command] [/a]
Winnt.exe Parameters
/s: SourcePath : Specifies the source location of the Windows XP files. The location must be a full path of the form x:\[Path] or \\server\share[\Path].
/t: TempDrive : Directs Setup to place temporary files on the specified drive and to install Windows XP on that drive. If you do not specify a location, Setup attempts to locate a drive for you.
/u: answer file : Performs an unattended Setup using an answer file. The answer file provides answers to some or all of the prompts that the end user normally responds to during Setup. If you use /u, you must also use /s.
/udf: ID [ , UDB_file ] : Indicates an identifier (ID) that Setup uses to specify how a Uniqueness Database (UDB) file modifies an answer file (see /u). The UDB overrides values in the answer file, and the identifier determines which values in the UDB file are used. If no UDB_file is specified, Setup prompts you to insert a disk that contains the $Unique$.udb file.
/r: folder : Specifies an optional folder to be installed. The folder remains after Setup finishes.
/rx: folder : Specifies an optional folder to be copied. The folder is deleted after Setup finishes.
/e: command : Specifies a command to be carried out just before the final phase of Setup.
/a : Enables accessibility options.
/? : Displays help at the command prompt.
Winnt32.exe Syntax
winnt32 [/checkupgradeonly] [/cmd:command_line] [/cmdcons] [/copydir:{i386|ia64}\FolderName] [/copysource:FolderName] [/debug[Level]:[FileName]] [/dudisable] [/duprepare:pathname] [/dushare:pathname] [/m:FolderName] [/makelocalsource] [/noreboot] [/s:SourcePath] [/syspart:DriveLetter] [/tempdrive:DriveLetter] [/udf:id [,UDB_file]] [/unattend[num]:[answer_file]]
Parameters
/checkupgradeonly : Checks your computer for upgrade compatibility with Windows XP.
If you use this option with /unattend, no user input is required. Otherwise, the results are displayed on the screen, and you can save them under the file name you specify. The default file name is Upgrade.txt in the systemroot folder.
/cmd: command_line : Instructs Setup to carry out a specific command before the final phase of Setup. This would occur after your computer has restarted and after Setup has collected the necessary configuration information, but before Setup is complete.
/cmdcons : Installs the Recovery Console as a startup option on a functioning x86-based computer. The Recovery Console is a command-line interface from which you can perform tasks such as starting and stopping services and accessing the local drive (including drives formatted with NTFS). You can only use the /cmdcons option after normal Setup is finished.
/copydir: { i386 | ia64 } \ FolderName : Creates an additional folder within the folder in which the Windows XP files are installed. Folder_name refers to a folder that you have created to hold modifications just for your site. For example, for x86-based computers, you could create a folder called Private_drivers within the i386 source folder for your installation, and place driver files in the folder. Then you could type /copydir:i386\Private_drivers to have Setup copy that folder to your newly installed computer, making the new folder location systemroot\Private_drivers. You can use /copydir to create as many additional folders as you want.
/copysource: FolderName : Creates a temporary additional folder within the folder in which the Windows XP files are installed. Folder_name refers to a folder that you have created to hold modifications just for your site. For example, you could create a folder called Private_drivers within the source folder for your installation, and place driver files in the folder. Then you could type /copysource:Private_drivers to have Setup copy that folder to your newly installed computer and use its files during Setup, making the temporary folder location systemroot\Private_drivers. You can use /copysource to create as many additional folders as you want. Unlike the folders /copydir creates, /copysource folders are deleted after Setup completes.
/debug [ Level ] : [ FileName ] : Creates a debug log at the level specified, for example, /debug4:Debug.log. The default log file is C:\systemroot\Winnt32.log, and the default debug level is 2. The log levels are as follows: 0 represents severe errors, 1 represents errors, 2 represents warnings, 3 represents information, and 4 represents detailed information for debugging. Each level includes the levels below it.
/dudisable : Prevents Dynamic Update from running. Without Dynamic Update, Setup runs only with the original Setup files. This option will disable Dynamic Update even if you use an answer file and specify Dynamic Update options in that file.
/duprepare: pathname : Carries out preparations on an installation share so that it can be used with Dynamic Update files that you downloaded from the Windows Update Web site. This share can then be used for installing Windows XP for multiple clients.
/dushare: pathname : Specifies a share on which you previously downloaded Dynamic Update files (updated files for use with Setup) from the Windows Update Web site, and on which you previously ran /duprepare:pathname. When run on a client, specifies that the client installation will make use of the updated files on the share specified in pathname.
/m: FolderName : Specifies that Setup copies replacement files from an alternate location. Instructs Setup to look in the alternate location first, and if files are present, to use them instead of the files from the default location.
/makelocalsource : Instructs Setup to copy all installation source files to your local hard disk. Use /makelocalsource when installing from a CD to provide installation files when the CD is not available later in the installation.
/noreboot : Instructs Setup to not restart the computer after the file copy phase of Setup is completed so that you can run another command.
/s: SourcePath : Specifies the source location of the Windows XP files. To simultaneously copy files from multiple servers, type the /s:SourcePath option multiple times (up to a maximum of eight). If you type the option multiple times, the first server specified must be available, or Setup will fail.
/syspart: DriveLetter : On an x86-based computer, specifies that you can copy Setup startup files to a hard disk, mark the disk as active, and then install the disk into another computer. When you start that computer, it automatically starts with the next phase of Setup. You must always use the /tempdrive parameter with the /syspart parameter. You can start Winnt32 with the /syspart option on an x86-based computer running Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows XP. The computer cannot be running Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Millennium Edition.
/tempdrive: DriveLetter : Directs Setup to place temporary files on the specified partition. For a new installation, Windows XP will also be installed on the specified partition. For an upgrade, the /tempdrive option affects the placement of temporary files only; the operating system will be upgraded in the partition from which you run winnt32.
/udf: id [ , UDB_file ] : Indicates an identifier (id) that Setup uses to specify how a Uniqueness Database (UDB) file modifies an answer file (see the /unattend entry). The UDB overrides values in the answer file, and the identifier determines which values in the UDB file are used. For example, /udf:RAS_user,Our_company.udb overrides settings specified for the RAS_user identifier in the Our_company.udb file. If no UDB_file is specified, Setup prompts the user to insert a disk that contains the $Unique$.udb file.
/unattend : Upgrades your previous version of Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows NT 4.0, or Windows 2000 in unattended Setup mode. All user settings are taken from the previous installation, so no user intervention is required during Setup.
/unattend [ num ] : [ answer_file ] : Performs a fresh installation in unattended Setup mode. The specified answer_file provides Setup with your custom specifications. Num is the number of seconds between the time that Setup finishes copying the files and when it restarts your computer. You can use num on any computer running Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Windows XP.
Using the /unattend command-line option to automate Setup affirms that you have read and accepted the Microsoft License Agreement for Windows XP. Before using this command-line option to install Windows XP 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 Microsoft License Agreement for Windows XP. OEMs may not specify this key on machines being sold to end users.
More Information About Windows XP Professional Installation
If you’d like more information on how to upgrade or install Windows XP Professional, Microsoft has provided this knowledgebase item which could be helpful: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316941
