FIX: Unattended Setup Is Unable to Invoke External Program (169884)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
This article was previously published under Q169884

SYMPTOMS

When you use the /e switch to automatically run a program at the end of Windows NT Setup, you may receive the following error message at the end of the Setup process:
One or more minor errors occurred installing Windows NT. The errors will not prevent Windows NT from running.

After Windows NT starts, you can check the Setup log file (%SystemRoot%\setuplog.txt) for more information.

Would you like to view the log file now?
The Setuplog.txt file contains the following text:
Warning:
Setup was unable to invoke external program <drive>:\<directory>\<program> because of the following error: CreateProcess returned error 3.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs if the drive letter you specified with the /e switch was mapped to a network drive. The network drive no longer exists after Windows NT Setup reboots your computer during the Setup process.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, specify a local drive letter from which to run the external program.

STATUS

MORE INFORMATION

The Windows NT Workstation Deployment Guide to Automating Windows NT Setup cites the following command line on page 121 as an example of using the /e switch to install a Service Pack automatically after an unattended Setup:

WINNT.EXE /U:UNATTEND.TXT /S:X:\ /E:"X:\SP\UPDATE.EXE /U /Z"

However, it does not specify that the "X:" following the /E switch must represent a local drive and cannot be a network drive. In this example, the Service Pack would need to be copied to the local hard drive prior to using the command, and the "X:" must be replaced with the local drive letter.

The Windows NT Workstation Deployment Guide to Automating Windows NT Setup is available for download from the following location:

http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/info/deployguide.htm

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/9/2001
Keywords:kbbug kbSBK kbsetup KB169884
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