WINNT.EXE Setup Option Can Only Use FAT Partitions (105192)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
This article was previously published under Q105192

SUMMARY

When you install Windows NT or Windows NT Advanced Server with the WINNT command, Setup is only able to copy the necessary files to a File Allocation Table (FAT) partition. WINNT.EXE cannot recognize an NTFS partition, an HPFS partition, or a raw unformatted drive. Also, WINNT will only check FAT partitions for available disk space, since it can only read this type of partition.

If there is not enough disk space on the FAT partition or if there is no FAT partition to store the temporary files for installation, you will receive the following error message:
Windows NT requires a hard drive volume with at least 85 megabytes (89128960 bytes) of free disk space. Setup will use part of this space for storing temporary files during installation. The drive must be on a permanently attached local hard disk supported by Windows NT, and must not be a DoubleSpace or other compressed drive.

Setup was unable to locate such a drive with the required amount of free space.

Setup cannot continue. Press ENTER to exit.
In order to install Windows NT using WINNT, there must be a FAT partition available with adequate disk space.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/20/2003
Keywords:kbsetup KB105192
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