Installing Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 Hotfixes

ID: Q249149

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 2000

SUMMARY

You can install Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 hotfixes at the same time by copying the Windows 2000 installation files and hotfix executable files to a common distribution folder. These hotfix executable files are named Q6-digit number.exe, where 6-digit number is the 6-digit number assigned to the hotfix. You can then add command lines to the Cmdlines.txt file to run the hotfixes and install the hotfixes during Windows 2000 Setup. Note that you do not need to perform separate installations of the Windows 2000 operating system or the Windows 2000 hotfixes unless you have already installed Windows 2000.

Before you run Windows 2000 Setup to install the Windows 2000 operating system and Windows 2000 hotfixes, you must complete the following preparatory steps:

  1. Create a distribution folder.


  2. Create an answer file by using the Setup Manager tool.


  3. Add command lines in the Cmdlines.txt file to run the hotfixes during Windows 2000 Setup.


  4. Copy the hotfix files to the distribution folder.



MORE INFORMATION

Creating the Distribution Folder

To install the Windows 2000 operating system and Windows 2000 hotfixes on multiple computers over a network, you must create at least one distribution folder. A distribution folder typically resides on a server to which your destination computers or master computer can connect. You can use the same distribution folder for all computers with the same processor platform. To create a distribution folder:
  1. Connect to the network or computer on which you want to create the distribution folder.


  2. Create an i386 folder on the network distribution share.


  3. Create a $OEM$ folder in the i386 folder you made in step 2. The $OEM$ folder contains any additional folders needed to satisfy the Microsoft Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) requirements and your own preinstallation needs. For more information about these additional folders, see the Microsoft Windows 2000 OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK) User's Guide, which is available on the Windows 2000 OPK Tools CD-ROM.


  4. If you plan to install any additional files (for example, device drivers, programs, or component files) on the user's computers, create a $1 folder in the $OEM$ folder you made in step 3. The $1 folder maps to %systemdrive%, the destination drive for the Windows 2000 installation.

    NOTE: The $OEM$ and distribution folders are deleted from user's computers after Windows 2000 Setup finishes.


Creating an Answer File by Using the Setup Manager

The Unattend.txt answer file identifies how Windows 2000 Setup should interact with the distribution folders and files you create and it provides information about your preinstallation requirements. The answer file also provides Setup with all of the information that the end user is prompted to provide during a typical Windows 2000 installation. For example, the Unattend.txt file contains a "FullName" entry in the [UserData] section. This entry instructs Windows 2000 Setup to prompt the user to provide a full name.

You can create or modify the Unattend.txt answer file by using a text editor or by using Setup Manager. The Setup Manager tool is available in the Tools folder on the Windows 2000 OPK Tools CD-ROM or in the Support\Tools\Deploy.cab file on the Windows 2000 CD-ROM. By using Setup Manager, you can add consistency to the process of creating or updating the answer file, the Cmdlines.txt file, or the distribution folder.

For information about using Setup Manager to create an Unattend.txt answer file, see the Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit or the Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Resource Kit. For a complete reference to answer file parameters and settings, see the Microsoft Windows 2000 Guide to Unattended Setup (Unattend.doc), which is located in the Docs\Unattend folder on the Windows 2000 OPK Tools CD-ROM or in the Support\Tools\Deploy.cab file on the Windows 2000 CD-ROM.

Adding Command Lines in the Cmdlines.txt File to Run the Hotfixes

The Cmdlines.txt file contains a list of the commands that must run during Windows 2000 graphical user interface (GUI) mode Setup. These commands can (for example), run a .inf file, a program set up command, Sysdiff.exe, or another executable file.

You can create the Cmdlines.txt file by using a text editor or by using Setup Manager. The Setup Manager tool is available in the Tools folder on the Windows 2000 OPK Tools CD-ROM or in the Support\Tools\Deploy.cab file on the Windows 2000 CD-ROM.

To install the hotfixes during Windows 2000 Setup, you must add a command line for each hotfix to the Cmdlines.txt file. To add a command line for each hotfix to the Cmdlines.txt file, create a Cmdline.txt file that contains the following command line for each hotfix:
Q6-digit number /q
where 6-digit number is the 6-digit number assigned to that hotfix. For example, to install the hotfix Q123456.exe, add the following command line to the Cmdlines.txt file:
[Commands]
"Q123456 /q"
For information about using Setup Manager to create a Cmdlines.txt file, see the Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit or the Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Resource Kit. For more information about adding commands to the Cmdlines.txt file, see the Microsoft Windows 2000 OPK Distribution Guide, which is available on the Windows 2000 OPK Tools CD-ROM.

Copying the Files Necessary for the Windows 2000 Installation

You must copy all the files needed for the Windows 2000 installation to your distribution folder. The distribution folder contains the Windows 2000 installation files, as well as any device drivers or other files that you want to install. Note that Windows 2000 Setup requires the 8.3 naming convention for all files and folders in the distribution folder. To copy the files necessary for the Windows 2000 installation:
  1. Copy the contents of the i386 folder on the Windows 2000 CD-ROM to the i386 distribution folder on your network distribution share.


  2. Copy the following files to the \i386\$OEM$ subfolder on your network distribution share:

    • The hotfix executable files.


    • The Unattend.txt and Cmdlines.txt files.


    • Any additional OEM preinstallation files.


    NOTE: For information about files contained in the i386\$OEM$ folder, see the Microsoft Windows 2000 OPK Distribution Guide, which is available on the Windows 2000 OPK Tools CD-ROM.


  3. Copy any folders that contain additional device drivers, programs, or component files that you want to install on the system drive to the i386\$OEM$\$1 folder on your network distribution share.

    NOTE: If you are using the $OEM$ folder to install any additional files to the user's computers, your Unattend.txt answer file must contain an OemPreinstall = Yes statement. For more information about the answer file, see the preceding "Creating an Answer File by Using the Setup Manager" section.


Deploying the Windows 2000 Installation

You can deploy the Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 hotfixes installation to your user's computers from the network distribution share. During the standard installation process, Windows 2000 Setup (Winnt.exe or Winnt32.exe in unattended mode) installs the operating system and applies the hotfixes. To deploy the installation:
  1. Verify that the Windows 2000 installation files and hotfix executable files exist in your distribution folder.


  2. As required, make any necessary customizations to Windows 2000 Setup.


  3. Run Windows 2000 Setup (Winnt.exe or Winnt32.exe in unattended mode) to install Windows 2000 and the Windows 2000 hotfixes from the network distribution share.


Additional query words:

Keywords : kbsetup kbtool
Version : WINDOWS:
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: February 1, 2000
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