Sorting some loose papers which had come out of storage I came across a single-page print-out, ‘Preinstalling Windows NT 4.0 with SP6.’ It may make the work done on SETCPUID redundant, but such is life. The document I think is from a MSDN (Microsoft Developer Network) CD.

A “distribution share folder” is just a directory, though one often shared over a network. A number of queries arise from these instructions. Most pressingly, is SP6 integrated into NT4 before the fatal CPUID check? From what I remember, an $oem$ directory is created and used during a normal NT4 install. Plus, are there circumstances in which unattended installation requires two optical drives? Present circumstances do not permit me to resolve these questions so the Microsoft document is reproduced verbatim below. I have indented the Alpha-based parts for clarity.

Introduction

This document provides the information and instructions necessary for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) system builders to complete the following processes:

• Preinstall Microsoft Windows NT(R) 4.0 with Service Pack 6 (SP6)
• Preinstall Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 with SP6 and Microsoft Internet Explorer 5

For more information about installing Windows NT 4.0, see the Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Resource Kit.

Preinstalling Windows NT 4.0 with SP6

By using the standard Windows NT 4.0 OEM preinstallation tools and methods, you can preinstall Windows NT 4.0 with SP6. This process automatically installs SP6 during Windows NT 4.0 Setup. If you want to preinstall Windows NT 4.0 with both SP6 and Internet Explorer 5, see “Preinstalling Windows NT 4.0 with SP6 and Microsoft Internet Explorer 5,” later in this document.

When SP6 is preinstalled, the following events occur:

• The Windows NT 4.0 Setup wizard begins.
• When the Windows NT 4.0 Setup wizard completes and SP6 is installed, your computer restarts.
• After selecting Windows NT 4.0 from the boot loader menu, Windows NT 4.0 loads, and the user can now log on.

• To preinstall Windows NT 4.0 with SP6
1. Create a distribution share folder named Nt4
2. To create the necessary directories within the new distribution share folder directory, at the command prompt, type:

   mkdir C:\Nt4\$oem$
   mkdir C:\Nt4\$oem$\C
   mkdir C:\Nt4\$oem$\C\SP6

3. Copy the SP6 installation program from the Windows NT 4.0 SP6 compact disc (CD) to the SP6 directory.

   For an Intel-based computer, at the command prompt, type:

   Copy D:\SP6i386.exe C:\Nt4\$oem$\C\SP6

   where D is the letter of your CD-ROM drive.

   For an Alpha-based computer, at the command prompt, type:

   Copy D:\SP6alpha.exe C:\Nt4\$oem$\C\SP6

   where D is the letter of your CD-ROM drive.

4. Create a Cmdlines.txt file using a text editor program, such as Notepad, with the following content:

   For an Intel-based computer:

   [Commands]
   "C:\SP6\SP6i386 /n /u /o /z"
   

   For an Alpha-based computer:

   [Commands]
   "C:\SP6\SP6alpha /n /u /o /z"
   

5. Save the Cmdlines.txt file in this distribution share folder in the $oem$ directory.

6. Create or update an existing Unattend.txt file that contains the following line in the [Unattended] section:

   [Unattended]
   OemPreinstall = Yes
   

7. By using the Unattend.txt file you created or updated in Step 6, run Windows NT 4.0 Setup in unattended mode.

Limitations and Notes

The following limitations and notes apply to preinstalling Windows NT 4.0 with SP6:

• This preinstallation is not a slipstream of a Service Pack. You must reapply SP6 when the system state changes.