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What GetCD.exe does
GetCD.exe scans the system’s logical drives, finds the first drive Windows identifies as a CD-ROM drive, and writes that drive’s letter followed by : to standard output. For example, the output is D:, not merely D.
That output format made the program useful inside installer scripts. Optical-drive letters can change when a machine has hard disks, partitions, removable media, or more than one optical drive. A batch file that hard-codes D: can therefore point at the wrong drive or fail entirely.
Capturing the result in a batch file
The documented batch-file pattern is:
for /f "Tokens=*" %%a in ('getcd.exe') do set cdrom=%%aAfter it runs, the variable %cdrom% contains the returned drive, such as D:. An installer can then use that variable in paths:
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copy "%cdrom%setupanswer.ini" C:InstallPlace getcd.exe somewhere Windows can execute it, such as the same directory as the batch file or a directory on PATH. The command’s for /f loop reads the program’s standard output and assigns the line to cdrom.
Running the command interactively
At an interactive Command Prompt, for uses a single percent sign for the loop variable:
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for /f "Tokens=*" %a in ('getcd.exe') do set cdrom=%aThe doubled percent signs in the first example are required only when the command is stored in a .bat or .cmd file.
Why unattended installations needed it
Windows installation media and post-install scripts often ran before a predictable drive-letter assignment could be assumed. A CD-ROM might be D: on one computer and E: on another. GetCD.exe let the script discover the location at runtime and reuse it for setup files, drivers, or configuration data.
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The utility was especially associated with unattended Windows 2000/XP-era deployments. It was not an installer framework or a disc-management tool; it supplied one value so another script could make the correct path.
How the program finds the drive
The Pascal source published in an MSFN discussion shows a Windows API-based approach:
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GetLogicalDriveStringsenumerates the logical drive roots visible to Windows.- Each root is passed to
GetDriveType. - The first root whose type is
DRIVE_CDROMis selected. - The program writes that drive letter and a colon, as shown by the source expression
writeln(getcd(getdisks)+':');.
This explains both the utility’s narrow scope and its output: it identifies a drive by Windows’ device type, not by the name of the disc inserted in it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Important limitations
It returns the first optical drive only
If a computer has multiple CD/DVD drives, GetCD.exe returns the first matching CD-ROM drive found during enumeration. It does not provide a list of all optical drives or a selector for a particular one.
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It does not identify a disc by label
The program checks the drive type. It does not search for a particular volume label, verify that media is inserted, or prove that the desired installation disc is present.
It is historical software
MSFN’s “Unattended Programs” listing was posted on November 23, 2004 and attributes GetCD to Willow Hayes. An associated “Optical drive variables & second CD install” discussion began on August 5, 2003 and includes the Pascal source. These records document the utility’s historical use, but they do not establish a current official download, active maintenance, or compatibility with current Windows releases.
For that reason, treat GetCD.exe as legacy deployment software. Test it in the exact Windows environment and boot process where you intend to use it, and do not assume that a binary found on an old mirror is trustworthy or supported.
When GetCD.exe is the right fit
- You are maintaining a Windows 2000/XP-era unattended CD installation.
- Your script needs the first optical drive’s letter in the form
D:. - You already have the executable and can verify its provenance in a controlled deployment environment.
When it is not enough
- You must choose among multiple optical drives.
- You need to locate media by volume label rather than device type.
- You require a supported solution for a current Windows release.
- You need reliable behavior when no disc is inserted or when the drive is networked, removable, or otherwise unusual.
In those cases, the script needs a method designed for that specific requirement rather than assuming GetCD.exe’s single “first CD-ROM” result is sufficient.
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