Msbatch.inf Parameters: Installing with PCI Network Adapters

This article describes how to install Windows 95 using a PCI network adapter and an Msbatch.inf file for batch installations of Windows 95.

Microsoft does not encourage or support changes to .inf files; therefore, Microsoft Technical Support does not support the procedure in this article. Although we have tested the following procedure and it appears to function as described, make a backup copy of your .inf file before you proceed.

When you are installing Windows 95 over the network using a PCI network adapter, the network adapter is not recognized until after the first reboot. Therefore, you have no network connectivity to finish copying all the necessary drivers. However, using an Msbatch.inf file, you can specify the network adapter on the "netcards=" line in the [Network] section of the file. When you do this, all of the necessary drivers are copied at the first reboot, but you receive the following error message: When you click OK, Setup proceeds normally. This occurs because the driver is installed, but the PCI bus has not been enumerated. Once the bus has been enumerated, the adapter functions correctly and this error message does not occur.

This error message can interrupt an automated network installation. To work around this error message, follow these steps:

In the Msbatch.inf file, modify the [Install] section to include the following line: Also, add the following section and key to the Msbatch.inf file: NOTE: If you are installing Dial-Up Networking, this procedure is not needed because the error message does not occur.