Disabling WinNT 3.51 Video Drivers to Enable Unattend Install

Last reviewed: March 13, 1998
Article ID: Q180647
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51 and 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51 and 4.0

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information on how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" online Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" online Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

A system running Windows NT 3.51 and using Windows NT 3.51 OEM video drivers may be unable to complete an unattended upgrade to Windows NT 4.0. Specific entries must be made to the Windows NT 3.51 registry using the utility Regini.exe, located in the Windows NT resource kit.

MORE INFORMAION

The procedure below creates registry entries not normally found in a Windows NT 3.51 installation. These keys are necessary to complete an unattended installation upgrade from a computer running Windows 3.51 and using OEM video drivers to a base VGA (16 colors and 640x480 resolution) installation of Windows NT 4.0. If an unattended installation of Windows NT 4.0 is not required, you may manually switch video drivers from the OEM version to a default VGA setting, through Control Panel, and begin the upgrade process.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, perform the following steps:

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" online Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

  1. Create a text file including the following lines of text and save it as 35vidoff.ini. The spacing must be exactly as shown below.

          \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\XXXXXXXX
    
                   Start=REG_DWORD 0x4
    
       NOTE: Replace XXXXXXXX with the Registry subkey associated with your
       currently loaded OEM video driver.
    
    

  2. Create a second text file including the following lines of text and save it as 35addreg.ini. The spacing must be exactly as shown below.

          \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Hardware Profiles
          \0001\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\VGASave\Device0
          
    
                      DefaultSettings.BitsPerPel=REG_DWORD 0x4
                      DefaultSettings.XResolution=REG_DWORD 0x280
                      DefaultSettings.YResolution=REG_DWORD 0x1e0
                      DefaultSettings.VRefresh=REG_DWORD 0x1
                      DefaultSettings.Flags=REG_DWORD 0x0
                      DefaultSettings.XPanning=REG_DWORD 0x0
                      DefaultSettings.YPanning=REG_DWORD 0x0
    
    
       NOTE: The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for
       readability.
    
    

  3. From a Windows NT 3.51 command line, run "Regini.exe 35vidoff.ini" and "Regini.exe 35regadd.ini" (without the quotation marks).

  4. Immediately begin your Windows NT 4.0 unattended installation upgrade. Do not restart prior to beginning this upgrade.

  5. After the upgrade is completed, you may make changes to the Display properties by using the Display tool in Control Panel.
Keywords          : ntsetup NTSrvWkst kbsetup
Version           : WinNT:3.51,4.0
Platform          : winnt
Hardware          : x86
Issue type        : kbprb


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Last reviewed: March 13, 1998
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