World Magazine 2023
98/95/NT SETUP SWITCHES
If you try to install Windows 95/98 from a DOS prompt, SETUP allows several command line switches, also available to their Windows based counterpart.
Run this the following command for available parameters:
| SETUP /? | |
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“Setup Options: SETUP [/C] [/IL] [batch] [/T:TMP] [/IM] [/ID] [/IS] [/IQ] [/IN] |
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/C |
Instructs Setup not to load the SmartDrive disk cache. |
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/IL |
Loads the Logitech mouse driver instead of the Microsoft mouse driver. Use this option if you have a Logitech Series C mouse. |
| [batch] |
Specifies the name and location of the file that contains Setup options. |
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/T:TMP |
Specifies the directory where Setup will copy its temporary files. If the directory doesn’t exist, it will be created. WARNING: Any existing files in this directory will be deleted. |
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/IM |
Skips the memory check. |
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/ID |
Skips the disk-space check. |
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/IS |
Doesn’t run ScanDisk. |
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/IQ |
Skips the check for cross-linked files. |
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/IN |
Runs Setup without the Network Setup module. |
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Note: |
The /a and /n switch options are no longer valid. |
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New documented Setup switches included with Windows 98/98 SE: |
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| /IE | Bypasses Startup Disk Wizard. The %windir%\Command\EBD folder and the Emergency Boot Disk (EBD) are not created. |
| /IH | Skips Registry check. |
| /IV | Skips billboards display during upgrade Setup from within Windows. |
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Undocumented Setup Switches: |
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/ip |
Bypasses detection of unsupported plug and play devices. |
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/ir |
Bypasses detection of system CMOS/BIOS and does not update the Master Boot Record (MBR). |
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/iw |
Bypasses Microsoft EULA licensing screens/dialog boxes. |
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Example: |
[EULA = End User License Agreement] “SETUP /iw“ |
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/NTLDR |
Bypasses existing Operating System detection. |
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Note 1: |
By default OEM/VAR Win95/NT full releases can be installed only on a new PC, without any previous OS, but this switch allows Setup to circumvent this issue. |
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Note 2: |
Also, you can also create a new file in the root directory of your boot drive, size is irrelevant, and name it NTLDR, with no extension. |
| Note 3: |
You may need to reconfigure the printer port in your BIOS to have ACPI work properly on your Windows 98 system. |
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Use of Additional Install Switches |
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| /P |
The /P switch allows additional switches to be used after those noted above. To use additional switches, you first include the “/P” switch, then a space and then the additional switches thereafter, separated by semicolons (;). |
| Example: | /P b;f;g=;i;p |
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Valid Values |
b |
Enables the “Prompt Before” mode, allowing step-by-step manual device detection. Default is disabled. |
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f |
Enables “Clean Registry” mode: Builds a new Registry from scratch before starting hardware detection. Ignored if SETUP runs in GUI mode. Default is disabled. |
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g= |
0 – 3 Controls the level of progress bar display. Maximum level is 3, showing all detected devices resources. Default is 0. |
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i |
Bypasses detection of plug and play BIOSes/devices not listed in MACHINE.INF. Default is disabled. |
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j |
Installs ACPI support. (Windows 98 only) |
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p |
Enables performance timing logged in DETLOG.TXT. Default is disabled. |
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These value are preceded by a slash “/” |
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/N |
Runs SETUP without mouse support. |
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/nm |
Bypasses internal processor detection, to allow Win95/98 install on systems that do not meet Microsoft minimum requirements (i.e. 386, 486SX etc). This is important especially for Windows 98! |
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/d |
Bypasses usage of installed Windows configuration and ignores existing settings in System.ini and Win.ini. |
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/ia |
Skips Setup.inf “AfterProvider” section. |
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/ib |
Skips Setup.inf “BeforeProvider” section. |
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/ic |
Win98 boots without 16-bit real mode drivers. |
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If “KeepRMDrivers=1” setting absent from the Registry, 16-bit drivers are not run from Config.sys or Autoexec.bat. |
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/if |
Performs quick Setup. |
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Uses CacheFindFirst for filenames and speeds up DOS Setup. Verify for copied files is off. |
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/ich |
Keeps Scandisk window visible during Setup. This is useful if Setup halts during Scandisk operation. |
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/ix |
Skips codepage checking. Allows usage of different codepages for DOS and Windows. |
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/iy |
Skips language conflicts. |
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/nr |
Skips Registry check. |
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/S:inffile |
Loads custom Setup.inf. Allows unknown drivers to install. |
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/T:directory |
Specifies directory used by temporary setup files. |
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/nostart |
If Setup runs from DOS or Windows/WfWG 3.11 on necessary DLL’s are copied. This permits Setup to run on non-working Windows/WfWG 3.11 systems. |
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/domain: |
Automatic notification to NT domain. Win98 asks for network notification upon first load. Works only in server based networks with NT controlling usernames. |
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/SrcDir: |
Creates custom directory for Win98 Setup files. New components are installed from this location. |
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The corresponding Registry key: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup |
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/m |
Bypasses playing of Setup sounds (.WAV). |
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/na |
Bypasses Windows/MS-DOS program check. Valid values: 0 = Default. 1 = Windows programs not checked, MS-DOS programs blocked. 2 = MS-DOS programs not checked, Windows programs blocked. 3 = Windows and MS-DOS programs not checked. |
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/nd |
Bypasses Migration.dll settings and forces Windows 98 to overwrite newer files (Use with caution!). Files that use .INF file “,,,32” flag force Windows 98 SETUP to keep newer versions. |
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/nf |
Bypasses prompt to remove floppy disk from the drive. Used for bootable CD-ROMs. Same as: 1. BootCD file present in the cabinet folder. 2. “BootCD=1” line present in MSBATCH.INF. |
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/nh |
Bypasses running HWINFO.EXE at 0 percent files and RunOnce. |
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/nx |
Bypasses SETUPX version check. |
The following Microsoft Knowledge Base Articles explain the majority of the documented Windows 95, 98 and NT Setup switches.
Note: Not all these SETUP parameters work with all Windows releases. You will need to test them to determine which are valid for your individual situation.
