Windows NT 3.1 Setup Screens

ID: Q103939

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server, version 3.1

SUMMARY

This article lists screens that appear during the Windows NT version 3.1 setup process. The primary screens and dialog boxes are listed sequentially for the setup from CD-ROM process, which begins with the startup from the disk labeled "Setup Disk for CD-ROM Installation." Every possible setup screen or event is not listed. Variations in screen events may occur because of system differences and the different choices you make during setup. The following list assumes you used the Custom setup option. The sequence of setup events and screens documented here are presented only as a guide to help establish your location in the setup process for troubleshooting purposes.

NOTE: Phrases appearing in quotation marks are taken verbatim from the actual screens. Other phrases are paraphrased for brevity.

Setup Events

  1. Start the computer from the disk labeled "Setup Disk for CD-ROM Installation."


  2. "Windows NT Portable Bootloader" appears on the screen followed by a blank screen and then the message: "Setup is inspecting your computer's hardware configuration..."


  3. The "Welcome to Setup" screen appears with the following options:

    • To setup, press ENTER.


    • To repair, press R.


    • To quit, press F3.


    You are prompted to prepare a high-density floppy disk for drive A. This disk doesn't need to be a formatted disk. Label the disk "Emergency Repair Disk."


  4. Setup offers the choice of Express (by pressing ENTER) or Custom (by pressing C) setup types. It is assumed for the sake of this article that you chose Custom.


Custom Setup (continued)

  1. Setup scans for SCSI devices.


  2. Setup displays a list of recognized SCSI devices, if any are detected. You then have the option to configure additional SCSI devices by pressing S, or to skip this step if there are no additional devices, by pressing ENTER.


  3. Setup displays the default system information. This allows you to change the following settings:

    • Computer


    • Display


    • Mouse


    • Keyboard layout


    Press ENTER for No Changes.


  4. Setup attempts to detect if a previous version of Windows is installed. If you have Windows 3.1 (versus Windows NT) installed on the system, Setup will ask to install Windows NT in the existing Windows directory (press ENTER to accept) or to install to an alternate path (press "N" to change). If you choose to install to an alternate path, the partition information screen will appear.


  5. Setup configures the hard disk drive and checks it for errors.


  6. After the hard disk drive is checked, Setup copies the appropriate files to your drive and the following screen appears:
    "Setup has successfully configured your computer for Windows NT.
    • Remove any disks in drive A.


    • Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to restart."




  7. When you restart your computer, you should see the following screens:

    1. "NTDETECT v.1.00 Checking Hardware OS Loader..."


    2. The blue setup screen with the Microsoft trademark and the system memory count, followed by a check of the file systems on the various hard disk drive partitions.


    3. The Windows NT Setup screen.




  8. Once in Setup, you have the option of which language to use.


  9. Setup offers a choice of the following optional tasks:

    • Set up only the components you select.


    • Set up the network.


    • Set up printers locally.


    • Set up applications already on the hard disk drive.


      • NOTE: The optional Windows components are:

    • READMEs


    • Accessories


    • Games


    • Screen savers


    • Wallpapers, misc.




  10. You can then set up a local printer(s).


  11. Setup provides a choice for the network adapter card detection. The detection choices are: automatic detect, or do not detect (manual detection).


  12. If you choose to manually select the network adapter, or if the network adapter detection fails, you will have an option for selecting the appropriate network adapter.


  13. Setup begins copying the appropriate files. A gray dialog box appears in the upper left of the screen with helpful information about the various features of Windows NT, such as File Manager, Print Manager, Event Viewer, and so on.


  14. The network settings dialog box appears and offers the following options:

    • Add software


    • Add adapter


    • Configure


    • Update


    • Remove




  15. Network configuration (binding) occurs.


  16. You have the option to join a workgroup or domain, and to create an account on the domain (if a domain is joined).


  17. Setup then loads Program Manager and the default groups (Main, Accessories, Administrative Tools, Games, and Startup).


  18. Setup prompts you to create the Administrator Account for the local computer.


  19. Setup prompts you to create a local user account.


  20. The virtual memory settings dialog box appears with the following configuration options:

    • Drive: (user option to select)


    • Space available (MB)


    • Minimize size (MB)


    • Resources size (MB)


    • Size chosen (MB)




  21. You have the option of choosing a time zone and setting the time and date. You can also choose to have Windows NT automatically adjust for daylight savings time.


  22. You are prompted to insert the disk (prepared in step 3 above) labeled "Emergency Repair Disk."


  23. Setup formats the disk and saves the default configuration.


  24. Windows NT is now installed. Setup displays the Restart Computer button to restart the computer to Windows NT.


Additional query words: prodnt install process boot

Keywords :
Version : winnt:3.1; :3.1
Platform : winnt
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: January 11, 2000
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