Prompted for Password When Using Add/Remove Programs Tool

ID: Q186889


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 98

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

When you attempt to add or remove a program or create a Windows 98 Startup disk using the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel, you may be prompted to type a network share name, drive letter, and password.


CAUSE

This behavior can occur if you installed Windows 98 from a password- protected shared network drive.


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.

To work around this behavior, use either of the following methods:

  • If you know the network share name, drive letter, and password of the shared network drive from which you installed Windows 98, type the information in the appropriate boxes, and then click OK.

    NOTE: You must be logged on to the network to gain access to the shared network drive.


  • If you have the original Windows 98 CD-ROM or if the Windows 98 source files are located on your hard disk, have your system administrator use Registry Editor to change the data value of the SourcePath string value to the full path to the Windows 98 source files in the following registry key:


    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup


    For example, if you have the original Windows 98 CD-ROM, change the data value to <drive>:\win98, where <drive> is the letter of your CD-ROM drive.

    NOTE: This changes the location of the Windows 98 source files for all operations that require Windows 98 files. For example, if you change the location of the Windows source files to your CD-ROM drive, you will always be prompted for the Windows 98 CD-ROM for operations requiring Windows 98 files.


Additional query words: start up emergency boot disk ebd

Keywords : kbenv kbsetup kbtool win98
Version : WINDOWS:98
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: February 4, 1999
© 2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.