So there are two main setupmethods. 1. Boot from CD (setupldr ..), Partition ,create MBR-Bootcode ,copy files listed in dosnet.inf (Section root boot files in ~bt ? and section files in ~ls ) to the partition then Create directory tree (txtsetup.sif) and boot.ini ntldr ... GUI Mode is then a real windows ( standard Windows boot procedure) . The files in ~bt were also unnecessary and for GUI mode no CD is required ? OR start winnt from a dos ? 2. Start winnt32 from a windows pc, copying files listed in dosnet,inf to the ~ls and ~bt. Create new entry in boot.ini which starts the setupldr (renamed to bootsect.dat?) in ~bt . Setupldr won't partition the drive because there are now the ~ls an ~bt dirs ? on the drive, instead everything apart from ~ls and ~bt will be deleted. Creating directory system (txtsetup). replace the bootsect line in boot.ini with a kernel . GUI Mode is then a real windows ( standard Windows boot procedure) .