Windows 95, 98 and NT Setup Switches

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 /?

“Setup Options: SETUP [/C] [/IL] [batch] [/T:TMP] [/IM] [/ID] [/IS] [/IQ] [/IN]

/C

Instructs Setup not to load the SmartDrive disk cache.

/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.

/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.

/IM

Skips the memory check.

/ID

Skips the disk-space check.

/IS

Doesn’t run ScanDisk.

/IQ

Skips the check for cross-linked files.

/IN

Runs Setup without the Network Setup module.

Note:  

The /a and /n switch options are no longer valid.
Use NETSETUP.EXE instead.

New documented Setup switches included with Windows 98/98 SE:

/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.

Undocumented Setup Switches:

/ip

Bypasses detection of unsupported plug and play devices.

/ir

Bypasses detection of system CMOS/BIOS and does not update the Master Boot Record (MBR).

/iw

Bypasses Microsoft EULA licensing screens/dialog boxes.

Example:

[EULA = End User License Agreement] “SETUP /iw

/NTLDR

Bypasses existing Operating System detection.

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.

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.

Use of Additional Install Switches

/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

Valid Values

b

Enables the “Prompt Before” mode, allowing step-by-step manual device detection. Default is disabled.

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.

g=

0 – 3 Controls the level of progress bar display. Maximum level is 3, showing all detected devices resources. Default is 0.

i

Bypasses detection of plug and play BIOSes/devices not listed in MACHINE.INF. Default is disabled.

j

Installs ACPI support. (Windows 98 only)

p

Enables performance timing logged in DETLOG.TXT. Default is disabled.

These value are preceded by a slash “/”

/N

Runs SETUP without mouse support.

/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!

/d

Bypasses usage of installed Windows configuration and ignores existing settings in System.ini and Win.ini.

/ia

Skips Setup.inf “AfterProvider” section.

/ib

Skips Setup.inf “BeforeProvider” section.

/ic

Win98 boots without 16-bit real mode drivers.

If “KeepRMDrivers=1” setting absent from the Registry, 16-bit drivers are not run from Config.sys or Autoexec.bat.

/if

Performs quick Setup.

Uses CacheFindFirst for filenames and speeds up DOS Setup. Verify for copied files is off.

/ich

Keeps Scandisk window visible during Setup. This is useful if Setup halts during Scandisk operation.

/ix

Skips codepage checking. Allows usage of different codepages for DOS and Windows.

/iy

Skips language conflicts.

/nr

Skips Registry check.

/S:inffile

Loads custom Setup.inf. Allows unknown drivers to install.

/T:directory

Specifies directory used by temporary setup files.

/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.

/domain:

Automatic notification to NT domain. Win98 asks for network notification upon first load. Works only in server based networks with NT controlling usernames.

/SrcDir:

Creates custom directory for Win98 Setup files. New components are installed from this location.

The corresponding Registry key: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

/m

Bypasses playing of Setup sounds (.WAV).

/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.

/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.

/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.

/nh

Bypasses running HWINFO.EXE at 0 percent files and RunOnce.

/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.

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