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Q191602: INFO: Bypassing Display Adapter Autodetect during Unattended Set

Article: Q191602
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbOPK kbSBK
Last Modified: 09-AUG-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

This article explains how to disable the detection of the display adapter during
an unattended setup, to install the default VGA driver.

When a system is installed in unattended mode, the [Display] section of the
unattended text file provides the screen resolution. In some cases, you may want
to use the default VGA driver (because of monitor limitations, for example) and
not the graphics adapter's driver, which is automatically detected by the
system.

MORE INFORMATION
================

To bypass the detection of the display adapter, and to install the default VGA
driver, modify your answer file as follows:

1. Set the OEM flag:

     [Unattend]
     OemPreinstall = Yes

2. Modify the display section as follows

     [Display]
     InstallDriver = 1
     ConfigureAtLogon = 0
     BitsPerPel = 4
     XResolution = 640
     YResolution = 480
     VRefresh = 60
     AutoConfirm = 1

     [DisplayDrivers]
     "Standard VGA (640x480, 16 colors)" = "RETAIL"

The string above identifies the driver to be installed. RETAIL means that the
driver is provided by default. OEM means that the driver comes from a third
party manufacturer.

WARNING: For localized versions of Windows NT, you can find the identification
string for VGA mode in Txtsetup.sif. Search for the following line in
Txtsetup.sif:

     forcevga = "Standard VGA (640x480, 16 colors)",files.none

Use the identification string above in the [DisplayDrivers] section.

For more information about unattended setup, please refer to the following
article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q155197 Unattended Setup Parameters for Unattend.txt

Additional query words: Unattended Setup

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Keywords          : kbOPK kbSBK 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400
Version           : winnt:4.0
Issue type        : kbinfo

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