Windows 95/98/NT Setup Switches
December 10, 2001
by Chris Pun
By setting up Windows from the command prompt, there are tons of short keys and commands you can use to make the setup faster
and customizable right from the beginning! Run this command for available parameters (Win95 Setup screen shown below): 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 (Note: The /a and /n options are no longer valid. Use
NETSETUP.EXE instead.)
NEW documented SETUP switches added by 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.
Note that not all these parameters work with all Windows releases. Give them a try and see which ones are suitable in your case.
