The WINNT.SIF File Created by WINNT and WINNT32

 Last reviewed: March 6, 1998
Article ID: Q123765

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0

When you run WINNT or WINNT32, a WINNT.SIF file is created and placed on disk two of the three boot floppy disk set. WINNT.SIF is not supplied with the disk set package of Windows NT version 3.5 and not created when you run WINNT /OX.

WINNT.SIF is a text file containing the following: 

   [Data]
   MsDosInitiated = 1
WINNT.SIF instructs Windows NT 3.5 Setup to look for installation files in a temporary directory on the hard disk instead of a CD-ROM. If it does not exist, Setup looks for installation files in either the CD-ROM or floppy disk drive.

If you try to use WINNT or WINNT32-created floppy disks to install Windows NT from a CD-ROM, one of the following error message appears: 

   Setup was unable to locate the hard drive partition prepared
   by the MS-DOS portion of Setup.

   Setup is unable to locate the hard drive partition prepared
   by the MS-DOS portion of Setup.
You can change source file direction of the WINNT or WINNT32-created floppy disks to be like the CD-ROM installation floppy disks by changing the entry in the WINNT.SIF file above to "MsDosInitiated = 0" (without the quotes) or by deleting the file. Similarly, you can modify the CD-ROM installation floppy disk to act like the WINNT or WINNT32-created floppy disk by creating and adding the WINNT.SIF file.

Additional query words: prodnt floppies
Keywords : ntsetup kbsetup
Version : WinNT:3.5,3.51,4.0
Platform : winnt

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: March 6, 1998
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.