Microsoft KB Archive/189146

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HOWTO: Preinstall Windows 95 and Windows 98 Over a Network Using Mswgcn.exe

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Q189146

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft OEM Preinstall Kit (OPK), versions 95 OSR2, 95 OSR2.5
 * Microsoft Windows 98

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SUMMARY
This article describes explains how to preinstall Windows 95 over an existing network.

The following items are required:

 A reference computer, with an installed network card, an installed CD-ROM drive, and at least 5 MB of free hard disk space. Windows 9x or Windows NT must be installed and running properly, and must include all network functionality. A Target computer, with an installed network card, at least 120 MB of free hard-disk space, and one bootable floppy disk drive. Two blank floppy disks of the media type used by the bootable floppy disk drive on the target computer. Real-mode network drivers for the target computer's network card. The Windows 95 OSR 2.x CD-ROM. MSWGCN.exe on a separate floppy disk.  The OEM Preinstallation Guide. This is available from: "http://www.microsoft.com/oem."

MORE INFORMATION
Follow these steps to preinstall Windows 95 OSR 2.x:

<ol> Follow the OEM Preinstallation Guide. In the Real-Mode Lines for FACTORY screen of the OEM Preinstallation Wizard, edit the following lines in the Config.Sys and Autoexec.bat windows as follows:

Config.sys:

Device=c:\factonly\ifshlp.sys

Autoexec.bat:

Net Use Z: \\<Servername>\<Sharename> Set Source=Z:

For example:

Net Use P: \\OEM\OPK95

Set Source=P:

Proceed through the rest of OPK Wizard.</li> Copy the file Ifshlp.sys into the FACTONLY folder of your Configuration Set.</li> Follow the procedure in the OEM Preinstallation Guide for creating a preload boot floppy (PBF) and starting the preinstallation process on the target machine.</li>  Watch for the following to appear on the target machine: "Preparation for Preload is Complete. Remove the Microsoft Preload Boot diskette from drive A: and press a key to continue with Preload." Remove the PBF from the floppy drive and press CTRL+C to halt the preload process. </li> Create a directory named "TEST" on the target hard drive (in our case the C: drive)</li> Copy the file MSWGCN.exe (Microsoft Workgroup Connection) to this new directory.</li> Change to the TEST directory and run "MSWGCN" at the MS-DOS prompt to extract the Workgroup Connection files.</li>  In the TEST directory, run "SETUP" to configure the specific Network Card you have in your PC. In the "Setup for Workgroup Connection" screen, it will read: Setup will place your Workgroup Connection files in the following directory.

If this is where you want these, press ENTER.

If you want Setup to place the files in a different directory, type the full path of that directory and then press ENTER. By default it shows "C:\DOS". You need to type in "C:\Factonly", which already exists in the C Drive, so that you place the Workgroup Connection Files under "C:\Factonly". </li> Restart the computer when Setup is complete. This will take you through the rest of the Preload process.</li></ol>

NOTE: The user needs to have an account in the Windows NT Domain to preinstall over the network.

You need to know the exact real-mode network drivers that are required for the type of network card.

To download MSWGCN.exe, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

"Q108391 Microsoft Network Client - Workgroup Connection" Additional query words: netpreinstall overnet SBK Preinstall OPK

Keywords : kbOPK kbOSWin95 kbSBK

Issue type : kbhowto

Technology : kbAudDeveloper kbWin98search kbOPKSearch kbWin98 kbWin95OPKOSR2 kbWin95OPKOSR25