Using an Answer File for an Unattended Installation

ID: Q136153

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51
Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51

SUMMARY

An answer file is a text file that is used in conjunction with Setup to bypass normal Setup prompts. An unattended installation is run by specifying the /U switch with Winnt.exe or Winnt32.exe. For example:

WINNT /U:{Answer File} /S:{Source Files}

Windows NT and Systems Management Server use different default answer files:


   Product                             Default Answer File
   -------------------------------------------------------
   Windows NT Resource Kit 3.5         Unattend.txt
   Windows NT Resource Kit 3.51        Unattend.txt
   System Management Server 1.0        Default.scr

MORE INFORMATION

The answer file can be modified with any text editor or by using Setup Manager, included in the Windows NT Resource Kit.

An answer file can also be created by using Uplodprf.exe, included with the Windows NT Resource Kit. Uplodprf.exe must be run from the system you intend to profile. UPLODPRF uses the following command line syntax:


   uplodprf -p:{AnswerFile} -b- -u- -n- -r- -x -i:{inffile}


   -p:AnswerFile  Output an answer file for use with unattended setup.


   -b-            The boot sector will not be copied (all other processing
                  is still performed.)

   -u-            Do not generate a user account definition file.


   -n-            Do not dump ACLs of files in the profile


   -r-            Do not dump the registry key ACLs


   -x             Do not copy files to sharedir.


   -i:inffile     INFFILE is the file containing the instructions for
                  processing the Windows NT computer for redistribution.

The following informational messages may result after running the above command. They can be ignored.

(5) Access is denied.

Unable to delete key HiveUpdateRoot from registry.

Timeout value in Boot.ini file has been set to 0.

Boot Sector was not copied from local drive.

No User account information dumped.

For a more complete explanation of UPLODPRF switches, type "UPLODPRF /?" (without the quotation marks) at the Windows NT Command Prompt.

Additional query words: prodnt

Keywords : kbsetup ntsetup
Version : WinNT:3.5,3.51
Platform : winnt
Issue type :