How to Map a Network Drive During an Unattended Setup

ID: Q171782

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

During an unattended setup of Windows NT 4.0, it may be beneficial to map a network drive in the of middle setup. Mapping drives during setup allows you to load balance your servers, have your distribution share on one server, and an application share on another.


MORE INFORMATION

An entry in the Cmdlines.txt will be used to map a drive during setup. This is possible because Cmdlines.txt is run after Machine Name is set and the Network is started. 


[Commands]
   ".\net use s: \\server\share /user:Domainname\Username /persistent:no"
   "s:\internet\msie30.exe /Q /R:N"
   "s:\sp\update -u -z -n"

NOTE: Use the /user: parameter because Windows NT setup is run using the System Account, which does not have a user account associated with it.

NOTE: Use /user:Domainname\Username Password - if the username has a password associated with it.

The /persistent parameter is used to ensure that the drive letter is not automatically reconnected when logging on. It is best to force a static drive letter than use a dynamic letter, which, by default, picks the next available drive letter. In the above example, it is assumed that an Internet Explore package has been built with the Internet Admin Kit and has been place on the distribution server in a directory called Internet.

Depending on the rollout of Windows NT 4.0, it may be beneficial to enable the Guest Account on the Application Share, and connect with a /user:Domainname\Guest. This will ensure that, if a computer can get on the network, but cannot be validated by a domain controller, setup can still be completed.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q168814 Installing NT 4.0 Service Packs During Unattended Installation
For additional information on Windows NT 4.0 deployment and unattended installation consult the Microsoft Knowledge Base at:
http://www.microsoft.com/kb
and download the Windows NT 4.0 Deployment Guide from:
http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation
NOTE: The deployment guide is valid for both Windows NT Workstation and Windows NT Server. 


Keywords          : kbsetup ntsetup NTSrvWkst 
Version           : WinNT:4.0
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: February 23, 1999