SMS: Unattended Windows NT Upgrades Require Network Card Settings to Be Specified (201985)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.0
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.1
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.2
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.2 SP1
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.2 SP2
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.2 SP3
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 1.2 SP4
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 SP1
  • Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 SP2
This article was previously published under Q201985

SUMMARY

Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 has the ability to upgrade an operating system on any client computer just as if it were installing program software locally to the computer.

One caveat to this statement is that when you are upgrading 16-bit operating systems such as Microsoft Windows 3.1 or Microsoft Windows for Workgroups to Microsoft Windows NT, the administrator is responsible for specifying the network adapter settings during the setup process.

This Windows NT requirement may limit Systems Management Server's ability to perform an unattended installation. The administrator must specify the interrupt request line (IRQ) and port address of the network adapter during Windows NT setup.

MORE INFORMATION

This behavior is generally an issue only when Systems Management Server is used to upgrade 16-bit operating systems such as MS-DOS or Windows 3.x to Windows NT. When you are upgrading Microsoft Windows 95 or earlier versions of the Windows NT operating system to Windows NT, the settings are correctly ported over to the new operating system.

NOTE: Be sure, when you create any customized scripts for upgrading Windows 3.x to Windows NT, that they include specific network adapter setup information. For details on customizing unattended upgrades, refer to the Windows NT Resource Guide.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/14/2005
Keywords:kbAdvertisement kbBug kbClient kbinfo kbPackage kbsetup kbSoftwareDist KB201985
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