Microsoft KB Archive/69972

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Automating Network Setup Shell Via SETUP.INF

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Q69972

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a

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SUMMARY
When Windows 3.00 is set up on a network workstation via the SETUP /N command, the first program that is run on the workstation when Windows is started is the shell Program Manager (PROGMAN.EXE). It is the Windows default shell for controlling items on your desktop.

It is possible to have all of the workstations use a different shell by editing the SETUP.INF before running the SETUP /N command on the individual workstations.

For example, to change the Windows shell from PROGMAN.EXE to WINFILE.EXE (File Manager), do the following:

  Edit SETUP.INF with a standard ASCII text editor and locate the lines:      [shell] progman.exe, &quot;Windows Program Manager&quot;   Change the lines to:      [shell] winfile.exe, &quot;Windows File Manager&quot; 

This causes all workstations to use File Manager as the Windows shell. It is also possible to set the shell to MS-DOS Executive (MSDOS.EXE located in Windows directory) or a third-party Windows 3.0 program shell.

MORE INFORMATION
The SETUP.INF file is a comma-delineated text file, formatted for 160 columns, that supplies customized directions to the SETUP.EXE (the Windows 3.0 installation program).

Preferred Workstation Setup Method
Install Windows 3.0 on a network (see pages 543-556 of the &quot;Microsoft Windows User's Guide&quot;), and then run the SETUP /N command on each workstation. In some instances (for example, large workstation groups) it may not be efficient to do this and then customize each workstation individually. By editing the SETUP.INF file with a text editor, it is possible to enhance the SETUP /N command so that it customizes each workstation to a company standard.