HOW TO: Change the Location of the Installation Files in Windows 2000 (323003)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
This article was previously published under Q323003
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

IN THIS TASK

SUMMARY

This article describes how to edit the registry to specify a new location for the installation files for Windows 2000. You may want to do this, for example, if you want to copy the Windows 2000 installation files to your hard disk and then configure Windows to find the files on the hard disk, instead of prompting you to insert the Windows 2000 CD-ROM.

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To Change the Location of the Installation Files

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To change the location of the installation files to the hard disk:
  1. Copy the I386 folder structure from the Windows 2000 CD-ROM to the hard disk.
  2. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
  3. Locate and then click the Installation Sources value in the following registry key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

  4. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
  5. In the Value Data box, type the path to the Windows 2000 installation files on your hard disk. For example, type C:\I386.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Locate and then click the SourcePath value in the following registry key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

  8. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
  9. In the Value Data box, type the drive letter for the Windows 2000 installation files on your hard disk. For example, if the files are in the C:\I386 folder, type C:\.
  10. Click OK.
  11. Quit Registry Editor.
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Troubleshooting

Note that you cannot edit the Installation Sources value by using Regedit.exe (instead of Regedt32.exe). If you try to view the Installation Sources value, Regedit.exe displays the value as a binary data type.

This issue occurs because Regedit.exe does not support the REG_MULTI_SZ data type. To view or edit these data types, you must use Regedt32.exe.

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Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/20/2003
Keywords:kbhowto kbHOWTOmaster KB323003 kbAudITPro
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