Default Source Path Is Incorrect

ID: Q211175

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

If you install Windows 2000 from a local hard disk, Windows 2000 defaults to the first installed CD-ROM drive letter when you make any changes to your installation that require files from the installation source.

For example, if you install Windows 2000 from D:\Flat\I386 (a local hard disk), Windows 2000 default to E:\Flat\I386 when the source files are needed (where E is the first CD-ROM drive letter).

NOTES:

  • The source folder on the local hard disk is retained, even though the source path points to the CD-ROM drive after the installation.


  • This behavior does not occur if you install from a network share. Setup retains the correct network path as the default source path.


Or, after installing and running Windows 2000 you decide to either remove or add a hard disk, this changes the CD-ROM drive letter from the letter assigned during the Windows 2000 installation. If you then need to add anything from the CD-ROM it, does not have the correct location because the CD-ROM drive letter has changed. Although you can manually change the source path to the new drive letter and continue the installation, this article describes how to change the default source path to the new drive letter of the CD-ROM.


CAUSE

This behavior occurs because Setup sets the source path entry in the registry to the first CD-ROM drive letter, rather than to the letter of the local hard disk containing the source files.


RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

To resolve this issue, modify the Sourcepath value in the following registry keys to point to the correct drive:

NOTE: You must use Regedt32.exe to make these changes.
HKEY_Local_Machine\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

HKEY_Local_Machine\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion
HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup
Installation Sources


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

Additional query words: flat

Keywords : kbenv kbsetup
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: December 29, 1999
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