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Q170846: Computer or Workgroup Name Not Set Properly Using Msbatch.inf

Article: Q170846
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): 95
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbsetup win95
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows 95 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you attempt to use an Msbatch.inf file to set the computer name or
workgroup name during a batch installation of Windows 95 and you specify the
name using a variable, the name may be set to the variable itself instead of the
value the variable is intended to represent.

CAUSE
=====

This problem occurs because the values assigned to the ComputerName and
WorkGroup parameters in the Msbatch.inf file do not need to be enclosed in
quotation marks and because the percent character (%) is a valid character in
workgroup and computer names in Windows 95. Therefore, when you use an
Msbatch.inf file to set the computer name or workgroup name, the Windows 95
Setup program cannot distinguish between percent characters used to enclose
variable names and percent characters intended to be included in the computer
name or workgroup name.

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

When you use an Msbatch.inf file to set the computer name or workgroup name, the
name must be unique for each computer on the network and should be no more than
15 characters in length. It cannot contain spaces, but it can contain the
following characters:

  ! @ # $ % ^ & ( ) - _ ' { } . ~

If you define a variable in an Msbatch.inf file and then use the variable with
the ComputerName or WorkGroup parameter, the Windows 95 Setup program assumes
that the percent characters should be included in the computer name or workgroup
name. For example, an Msbatch.inf file may contain lines similar to the
following:

  [Network]
  ComputerName=%cname%

  [Strings]
  cname="MyComputerName"

If you use this Msbatch.inf file during a batch installation of Windows 95, the
computer name is set to %cname% instead of MyComputerName.

REFERENCES
==========

For additional information about using an Msbatch.inf file for batch
installations of Windows 95, see Appendix D in the Microsoft Windows 95 Resource
Kit.

Additional query words: automate assign

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Keywords          : kbsetup win95 
Technology        : kbWin95search kbZNotKeyword3
Version           : 95

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