Lesson #12 - Distribution Folders
A distribution folder is a folder containing the necessary files to install Windows 2000 over the network. A distribution folder allows you to install Windows 2000 on a remote computer without having the Windows CD in the computer, and without transferring all the files to the computer. They allow for a consistent, up-to-date image file that ensures that you are always installing the proper operating system. Because your image file is in a centralized location, it is easier to update the folders and maintain a standard operating system installation.
A distribution folder normally resides on a server computer. You can create individual distribution folders with multiple answer files for each possible implementation of the operating systems used in order to have the widest variety of installations at your disposal. You can also create distribution folders on multiple servers to help balance the load and allow for faster file access. Up to 8 distribution folders can be used simultaneously, as long as each copy contains a full set of Windows 2000 installation files and all the necessary driver files needed for the installation.
Creating Distribution Folders
In order to create a distribution folder, create a folder named \W2Kdist the network share. (You can use other names for the folders, especially if you have multiple distribution folders or need multiple language versions, but use this name for this installation process.) Copy the contents of the \i386 folder on the appropriate Windows 2000 CD to the distribution folder.
** Note - You can also use Setup Manager to create and share a distribution folder. **
The distribution folder will contain a total of 10 directories. Each of these directories contains specific information for the installation. Each folder is discussed below;
| Folder Name | Directory Path | Description |
| \i386 | \i386 | This is the main content folder, housing the basic installation files and acting as the root directory. |
| \$OEM$ | \i386\$OEM$ | Contains all the supplemental files to be used during setup, including drivers, utilities, applications, and any other optional files. Also contains the Cmdlines.txt file, which contains any commands to be run during the GUI setup mode. |
| \Text mode | \i386\$OEM$\Text mode | Contains any files related to newer HALs and mass storage devices above what Microsoft provides. (All files to be used in the installation must be listed in the [OEMBootFiles] section of the answer file.) |
| \$$ | \i386\$OEM$\$$ | Contains the files that have to be copied to the subdirectories of the system root directory. For example, if your installation folder is \WinNT, it contains the files and folders that are placed in \WinNT during installation. |
| \Help | \i386\$OEM$\$$\Help | |
| \System 32 | \i386\$OEM$\$$\System 32 | |
| \$1 | \i386\$OEM$\$1 | Points to the installation drive. For example, if you are installing on E:, $1 points to your E: drive. This allows for installations on partitions other than C: |
| \drivers | \i386\$OEM$\$1\drivers | Allows you to add device drivers not present on the Windows 2000 installation CD-ROM. If you have newer device drivers or devices not supported at the time of the Windows 2000 release, you can put these drivers in this folder and have Windows 2000 look for them during installation. (You must use the OemPnPDriversPath parameter in your answer file to point to this directory) |
| \Sysprep | \i386\$OEM$\$1\Sysprep | Contains the files necessary to run Sysprep. You must include the Sysprep.inf, Sysprepcl.exe, and Sysprep.exe files for the utility to run. |
| \drive_letter | \i386\$OEM$\drive_letter | Copies the files to the drive_letter partition during installation. For example, \i386\$OEM$\E copies the contents of this directory to the E: drive. |
| \Misc | \i386\$OEM$\drive_letter\Misc | Same as above for folders within drive_letter. Any structure created inside the drive_letter directory is created on the drive_letter drive. |
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