Windows 2000 Disk Partition Command-Line Setup

During automated or command-line installations, Microsoft Windows 2000 manages disk partitioning primarily through text-mode setup directives defined in an unattended answer file (unattend.txt). By launching the setup routine via winnt.exe (16-bit) or winnt32.exe (32-bit) with automation switches, administrators bypass the interactive partition manager. The operating system reads predefined configuration keys to determine whether to wipe existing drive structures, automatically select an available partition, or format the target drive with a specific file system.

Automation via Answer Files

Windows 2000 does not use modern dynamic scripting tools like the modern Windows PE diskpart utility during initial installation. Instead, partition handling is configured under the [Unattended] section of the setup script. Two primary directives dictate partition behavior:

  • Repartition: When set to Yes (Repartition = Yes), Setup automatically deletes all existing partitions on the first hard drive and creates a single, clean partition spanning the entire disk. If set to No, Setup leaves existing partition structures intact.
  • AutoPartition: Setting AutoPartition = 1 directs the installer to automatically choose the first drive with adequate unpartitioned space or install onto the first available existing partition without prompting the user. Setting this value to 0 halts the automation at the text-mode phase, requiring manual user intervention to create, resize, or select partitions.

File System Configuration

Once the target partition is established, Windows 2000 configures the file system using the FileSystem key in the answer file:

  • FileSystem = ConvertNTFS: Formats the selected partition as FAT/FAT32 initially (or leaves existing FAT intact) and converts the volume to NTFS during the graphical phase of setup.
  • FileSystem = LeaveAlone: Preserves the existing file system without alteration, provided it meets minimum installation requirements.

Recovery Console Diskpart Handling

Outside of the unattended winnt.exe installer, command-line partition management in Windows 2000 is available through the Windows 2000 Recovery Console. The Recovery Console provides a rudimentary version of the diskpart utility:

  • Creating Partitions: Administrators enter diskpart /add [device_name] [size] to manually carve out a partition on a designated physical drive, specifying the volume size in megabytes.
  • Deleting Partitions: Entering diskpart /delete [device_name] removes the selected volume.

Unlike newer Windows deployment environments, Windows 2000 executes these actions strictly in a sequential, pre-boot text environment, committing partition table modifications immediately to the Master Boot Record (MBR) before proceeding to file copying.