To change where NT expects to find the NT CD, edit: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\ CurrentVersion\Sourcepath and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows \CurrentVersion\Setup\Sourcepath If your CD drive is D: and you are working with an Intel-based machine, the values should be D:\I386 and D:\ respectively.
Install over the Network
Windows NT comes with a DOS-based character-mode installation program (WINNT.EXE) for over-the-network installation from a central shared CD or hard disk. To use it, share the CD-ROM on the network. Or, for better performance, copy the contents of the CD-ROM to a hard disk directory and share that on the network. Then install any DOS-compatible network access software (WFWG, LANtastic, NetWare or Microsoft's Workgroup Connection 5-pack) on the target machine that will let it access the shared installation files. Next, complete the appropriate configuration steps to gain access to the network, and you'll be able to run the DOS WINNT.EXE program directly from the DOS command line (don't run it from an Enhanced-mode Windows DOS prompt because the application wasn't designed to run within Windows). WINNT.EXE automatically copies over the files from the source CD or hard disk, boots NT and continues the installation from there. Be sure to install the necessary network software components so NT can use the network. To customize your installation, edit the DOSNET.INF file in the directory with WINNT.EXE and type WINNT /? to examine the possible control switches for remote installation.
Juggle Diskettes and CDs
Windows NT ships with both a single-CD and 23-diskette installation in the box, but you can't use the diskettes with a CD-based installation. To get around this (for instance, if you need to install additional drivers on a portable machine that was originally set up using a network-based installation from the CD), use the following procedure from a Windows NT Command Prompt:
1. Rename all .INF files in the \WINNT\SYSTEM32 directory (or \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 directory) to .ICD.
2. Copy all .IN_ (.IN$ in beta versions) files from the diskettes to the \WINNT\SYSTEM32 directory (or \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 directory).
3. Type expand *.in_.
4. Type rename *.in_ *.inf.
5. Compare a directory list of .ICD files with .INF files. Eliminate any .INF files that don't have .ICD equivalents (these most likely are .INI files).
You should now be able to use the diskettes to install drivers. To switch back to the CD-based installation, change the .INF files to a different extension and the .ICD files to .INF files.
Lost your Windows NT Setup Diskettes?
If you need to recreate the 3 Setup Floppies, run winnt32 /ox from the %windir% directory. If NT is not installed, run winnt /ox from the CD-ROM.
