DOS command for NT4.0 setup!! Help!

[drdoug26]

DOS command for NT4.0 setup!! PART2

I'm trying to set up a NT4.0 Server. I've done this many times on this particular server but for some reason this time the floppy disk setup is not working.

I was told to try using a win98 boot disk in order to see the scsi cdrom. This did work but I can not get the cd to start the setup!

I've tried these dos commands at the d:\ prompt [run], [setup], [setup.exe], [start], [startup]. If I type d:\dir I get a list of stuff so I know I can see the cdrom but maybe not the NT4.0 disk.

I do not know anymore dos command.

I used fdisk to make the partitions and set active, as usual. I did not fromat cause I wanted NTFS. (maybe I'll try to format through fdisk and see if that helps)

Any help would be greatly appreciated as usual.

Doug

 

[Fraggle]

Try this

Boot from that Win98 startup, so you can get to the cd. browse it, should be a folder called i386. Inside that folder should the exe. I think actually that you need to launch Winnt.exe.

sorry about the vagueness, but it's been a while since I messed w/ 4.0

 

[Xaotic]

I think that's right. Winnt.exe for start from a dos environment or winnt32 from an NT 32 bit environment.

 

[drdoug26]

I cant really 'browse' the cd. There is no OS installed at all.

All I have is a D:\ where i can type commands.

In addition to the already tried commands I also tried the following: d:\i386 , d:\winnt , d:\winnt.exe

Any other ideas.

doug

 

[drdoug26]

tried some more: all that I try give me a "Bad command or file name" message:

d:\winnt32 , d:\winnt32 /run, d:\run /winnt32,

Thanks for the efforts

doug

 

[Fraggle]

try this


At yer D: prompt type (without quotes) "dir *.exe"

so you should get a list of files, find the WinNT one.

At yer D: prompt type "winnt"

 

[Fraggle]

ahhhh. I lied


it's in an i386 directory

at yer D: prompt type "CD i386"
now yer at D:\i386 type "dir *.exe"
proly Winnt.exe so at yer D:\i386 prompt type "winnt"

 

[drdoug26]

Okay, were getting somewhere i think.

I typed: d:\cd i386> . That gave me the d:\i386 prompt.
next I typed D:\i386>dir *.exe . Which gave me the a list of all .exe file.

Next I typed [D:\i386>winnt] which looked like it was going to start the set up. It loaded a blue guey which asked where the setup files were. The default was i386 so I hit enter.

I next took me to the CREATE THREE SETUP FLOPPYS program. I have already tried the floppy method and it does not work.

I need to run setup from that CD!!!

Maybe the 'setup files are else where'.

Anyother ideas

doug

 

[Fraggle]

there is a command line switch to force NT to copy it's install files to yer HD. think you can use the /? switch with winnt to get a list of valid switches.


at yer d:\i386 type "winnt /?"

 

[Fraggle]

got it. it's "/x" checkthis link for more information.


At yer d:\i386, type "winnt /x"

 

[drdoug26]

Here's the swithches:

/X Do not create the setup boot floppies
/B Floppyless operation (requires /s)
/R specifies optionla directory to be installed
/RX Specifies optional directory to be copied

Thanks for all your help.

How do I proceed????

doug

 

[Xaotic]

You should be able to use these commands starting from the a: prompt.

d:
cd i386
winnt /x

and setup should start. There are other methods, but this should be easiest.

 

[drdoug26]

Thanks so much for all the help!!

Thanks all for taking the time to help me out. That last post did the trick for me. I did not see Fraggle's last post in time.


It was the /x switch that started the install corectly!!!!

Thanks again

Doug

 

[drdoug26]

NOT AGAIN!!! More Problems

Sorry to bug again: The NT4.0 install still is not complete!

After I ran the D:\i386>winnt /x command the CD started coping file to the hard drive. I thought that was it BUT: after it finished I got a message that said:
{The DOS portion of setup is complete. Setup will now restart you Computer. Ensure that the floppy you provided as winnt server setup boot disk is inserted.}

Well remember I used a win98 boot disk so I left it in and now I'm right back where I started.

I tried to get the i386 to initiate from the C: drive but no go.
(I'm assuming the DOS portion of setup copied i386 to the hard drive but my dos Illiteratcy can not get it to start.

Please get me through this so I can go home!!!!

Doug

 

[Fraggle]

you should just boot from the HD now. once the dos portion completes, you shouldn't need the floppy

 

[drdoug26]

Hey Fraggle,

Welcome back. I've been messing with this for waaayyyy too long. But now Its personal.

Anyway, I've went through a lot over the last 6 hours. The latest guru told me, besides I was an idiot, to do the following:
1) create a 2000mb partition (fat16 only - non large disc support)
2) format it with f-disk
3) use these commands: [d:], [cd i386], and the most important one[winnt /x /b /s:d:\i386] and that should do it. Another guy said to do the same only the main command was [winnt /b /s:d\i386]

Neither have worked: I get this message: [windows has disabled direct disk access to protect your long file names. To over ride see LOCK /?. I tried using unlocking both the c: and the A: and it excepted the unlock. But I got the same result.

I've about had it, any other thoughts????

doug

 

[Fraggle]

Honestly doug?? Nope I dont' have any other ideas. If running that Winnt /x then rebooting off the Harddrive didnt' work then I just dunno.

as to the other commands you were given, I'm not familiar with them, however looking at the list from that link I left earlier it seems like they should work. Fat16 (no large disk support on that 200mg partition) is proly causing the error about long file names.

 

[Fraggle]

I'm a dork. FDisk won't format a drive, only defines partitions. After you use FDisk to make that 200mg partition you'll have to format it

so assuming thats the only partition on any HD in the system you should be able to "format c:" from an A: prompt. Make sure that this is the right parition or you'll wipe all of your data. Verify the name of the volume is the same as the name you put on that 200mg partition in FDisk.

Sorry if I sound condesending, not my goal. FORMAT WILL WIPE OUT ANY INFORMATION ON A DRIVE. Believe me, I've formatted drives that had no business being formatted and have regretted it. Triple check yourself

 

[drdoug26]

SUCCESS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks so much for all your help and patients! The install went smoothly this time. Server is up and running. Even got IE6.0 in already.

Here's the final fix for me:

Create primary partition w/ FDISK from win 98 boot disk
NO large disk support & use intire disk and set active
Reboot (#3 no cd support) to an A:\
A:\format C:
Reboot (#2 with cd support) still get an A:\
A:\LOCK C: Say yes to the warning it gives
A:\D:
D:\ cd i386
D:\i386>winnt /b (that all I needed)
SetUp now copies file from d: to c:
Completed: tells you to remove and floppies (I was glad to see that)
Hit enter and computer reboots and setup runs.
Remember to hit F6 and install your scsi drivers via the s prompt.

Happy Happy Happy!!!!!!!!

Special thanks to Myne_h (overclockers AU), Aiken (overclockers AU, and Fraggle (overclocker USA) for all their help and patients with me. I sure learned a lot today and No one on these forums should ever have trouble installing NT4.0 Server from a non-bootable CD again! (if they find this thread)

Thanks again

Doug San Jose California USA

 

[Fraggle]

no problem. glad to be able to help