PRB: Setting the Frame Type for IPX During Unattended Setup (159837)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
This article was previously published under Q159837
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the ?Restoring Registry Key? Help topic in Regedit.exe or the ?Restoring a Registry Key? Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When you use the unattended setup feature in Windows NT 4.0 and install the NWLINK/IPX protocol, the !AUTONETIPXFRAMETYPE = variable is ignored and, instead, defaults to autodetect. !AUTONETIPXFRAMETYPE can have the following values: 
   0 = Ethernet II
   1 = Ethernet_802.3
   2 = 802.2
   3 = SNAP
   4 = ArcNet
   ff = Autodetect (default)

The following is a section of an Unattended.txt answer file and shows how this value would appear in the file: 
   [Network]
   DetectAdapters = ""
   JoinWorkgroup = OPK-GRP
   InstallProtocols = InstallProtocolsSection
   InstallServices = InstallServicesSection

   [InstallProtocolsSection]
   NWLNKIPX = NwlinkParams

   [NwlinkParams]
   !AUTONETIPXFRAMETYPE = 0  ;For ethernet II

RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the ?Changing Keys and Values? Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the ?Add and Delete Information in the Registry? and ?Edit Registry Data? Help topic in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

To workaround this problem, complete the following steps:
  1. On any computer running Windows NT 4.0 that has the same network card and NWLINK/IPX protocol installed, use the Regedit.exe command to export the following key:
    HKey_Local_machine\system\CurrentControlSet\Services \NwlnkIpx\NetConfig\%Netcard

    NOTE: The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for readability.

    Where X = the number of the netcard installed.
  2. Save the key out as any file name (for example Frame.reg).
  3. In your I386 share create a directory called $oem$.
  4. Use a text editor to create a Cmdlines.txt file with the following commands:

    .\regedit /s .\Frame.reg
  5. Place a copy of Frame.reg and Regedit.exe in the $oem$ directory.
  6. In your unattended answer file, make sure the OemPreinstall = yes is set in the [Unattend] section.
  7. Run unattended setup.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/9/2001
Keywords:kbprb kbSBK KB159837
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.