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Planning for unattended Setup

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

Planning for unattended Setup

This topic provides general information about unattended Setup. For detailed instructions on running unattended Setup (also called automated installation), see "Automating and Customizing Installations" at the Microsoft Windows Server System Web site. Also see the Windows XP Professional Resource Kit at the Microsoft Windows XP Resource Kits Web site. For information about the Windows Deployment and Resource Kits, see Using the Windows Deployment and Resource Kits.

To simplify the process of setting up a product in the Windows Server 2003 family on multiple computers, you can run Setup unattended. To do this, you create and use an answer file, a customized script that answers the Setup questions automatically. Then, you run Winnt32.exe or Winnt.exe with the appropriate options for unattended Setup. Choose the command according to the operating system that is running when you start unattended Setup:

  • To start unattended Setup on a computer running MS-DOS or Windows 3.x, use Winnt.exe (with the appropriate options).

  • To start unattended Setup on a computer running Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, or a product in the Windows Server 2003 family, use Winnt32.exe (with the appropriate options). With Windows NT 4.0, before starting unattended Setup, apply Service Pack 5 or later.

To learn about unattended Setup, see the following sources:

  • For detailed instructions on running unattended Setup (also called automated installation): See the Windows Deployment and Resource Kits listed in the first paragraph of this topic.

  • To view the command options available for Winnt.exe: On a computer running Windows 3.x or MS-DOS, insert the Setup CD for a product in the Windows Server 2003 family in the CD-ROM drive and open the command prompt. Then, change to the CD-ROM drive, change to the I386 directory, and type:

    winnt /?

  • To use an x86-based or x64-based computer to view the command options available for Winnt32.exe: On a computer running Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, or a product in the Windows Server 2003 family, insert the Setup CD for Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, in the CD-ROM drive, and open the command prompt (click Start, click Run, and then type cmd). Then, change to the CD-ROM drive, change to the I386 directory, and type:

    winnt32 /?

  • To use an Itanium-based computer to view the command options available for Winnt32.exe: On an Itanium-based computer running Windows XP 64-Bit Edition; the Itanium-based version of Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition; or the Itanium-based version of Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition, insert the Setup CD for the product in the CD-ROM drive and open the command prompt (click Start, click Run, and then type cmd). Then, change to the CD-ROM drive, change to the IA64 directory, and type:

    winnt32 /?

For information about using Winnt.exe or Winnt32.exe for interactive setup (not unattended Setup), see How to install and upgrade the operating system.