Enabling Emergency Management Services during an upgrade (x86-based systems)

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Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Enabling Emergency Management Services during an upgrade (x86-based systems)

During an upgrade, you can enable Setup on an x86-based system by using Winnt32.exe. After inserting the Windows Server 2003 operating system CD into your computer, map a network drive connection to the path containing the installation files. At the command prompt type:

Drive**\i386\winnt32.exe**

Drive represents the drive letter assigned to the CD-ROM drive or shared folder. Follow this with one or any combination of the command-line parameters listed in the following table:

[Data] Parameter Possible values

EMSPort={com1|com2|usebiossettings}
  • com1 or com2 (where the numeral 1 or 2 specifies serial port 1 or 2).

    This option is valid for x86-based systems only.

  • usebiossettings

    This is the default value. This parameter instructs the operating system to detect and use Serial Port Console Redirection (SPCR) settings. If you use this parameter and an SPCR table is not present, Emergency Management Services is not enabled.

EMSBaudRate=value

The default value is 9600 baud, with other values of 19200, 57600, and 115200 possible, depending on the capabilities of the serial port. This must be used with EMSPort= or the parameter is ignored.

Winnt32.exe copies setup files to your system and then prompts you to confirm a restart. After restarting the system, text-mode Setup begins, followed by GUI-mode Setup. During text-mode Setup, you can view setup messages through Emergency Management Services console redirection. During GUI-mode Setup, you can access Special Administration Console (SAC), but you cannot view Setup prompts.

Important

  • Winnt32.exe is a GUI-based tool and does not support Emergency Management Services; you cannot start or monitor Winnt32.exe by using the out-of-band port. For this purpose, you must use a GUI-based tool, such as Terminal Services Remote Desktop for Administration.

For more information about using Winnt32.exe to enable Emergency Management Services, see "Emergency Management Services" at the Microsoft Windows Resource Kits Web site.