Documentation Errors in the Ref.chm File (321945)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
This article was previously published under Q321945

SUMMARY

You can install Microsoft Windows XP by using an unattended installation. To do so, you must have a text file to specify the unattended installation parameters. Although this file may have any file name, typically the file is Unattend.txt, Winnt.sif, or Ristndrd.sif, depending on the details of the installation.

The Ref.chm file that is in the Support\Tools folder of the Windows XP CD documents the use of this file. The Ref.chm file that is included with Windows XP has a number of documentation errors. This article lists the errors and provides the correct information.

MORE INFORMATION

The Ref.chm file is a compiled HTML Help file that documents the use of the Unattend.txt file and other deployment strategies for Windows XP.

In the Unattend.txt section of the Help file, there is a category named [PCHealth] that contains the following errors:
  • The Display Parameter

    The Display parameter is included in the documentation. However, this parameter does not exist (and therefore has no effect) in Windows XP.
  • The Headlines Parameter

    The Headlines parameter is included in the documentation. However, this parameter does not exist (and therefore has no effect) in Windows XP.
  • The ER_ Parameters

    There are nine parameters in the documentation that start with "ER_":
    • ER_Display_UI
    • ER_Enable_Applications
    • ER_Enable_Kernel_Errors
    • ER_Enable_Reporting
    • ER_Enable_Windows_Components
    • ER_Exclude_EXE(n)
    • ER_Include_EXE(n)
    • ER_Include_MSApps
    • ER_Report_Path
    All of these parameters change the behavior of the operating system as the Ref.chm file documents. However, according to the documentation, these parameters are stored in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER hive of the registry, but in fact these parameters are stored in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE hive of the registry.
  • The RA_MaxTicketExpiry Parameter

    According to the documentation, the RA_MaxTicketExpiry parameter specifies the maximum time, in seconds, when a Remote Assistance invitation expires. This parameter does not work as documented. For additional information about this parameter and a workaround to configure the maximum time when a Remote Assistance invitation expires, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    323267 RA_MaxTicketExpiry Entry in the Unattend.txt File Does Not Work Correctly

In the Unattend.txt section of the Help file, there is a category named [Fax] that contains the following error:
  • The SkipConfigWizardDeviceSettings Parameter

    The documentation indicates that you can use the SkipConfigWizardDeviceSettings parameter in the [Fax] section of the unattended installation file to specify whether to display the service setting pages of the Configuration Wizard when you run Fax for the first time. This parameter does not exist in the product. Instead, the SuppressConfigWizard parameter performs this task. For additional information about this parameter, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    315750 The SuppressConfigWizard Parameter Is Incorrectly Named as the SkipConfigWizardDeviceSettings Parameter

Microsoft maintains the most current version of this and other documentation on the Web. For additional information about how to obtain the latest version of the Ref.chm file and other related files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

321880 Description of the Windows XP Corporate Deployment Tools and Documentation

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/10/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB321945
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