You may be continually prompted to provide the correct media during the ASR restore operation on Windows Server 2003 or on Windows XP (887494)

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, modify the [InstallFiles] section of the Asr.sif file to include the information about the third-party device driver files. The Asr.sif file is available on the floppy disk that you created during the ASR backup process. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Copy the third-party driver files for the tape drive to the root folder of the floppy disk that you created during the ASR backup procedure (referred to as ASR Floppy).
   
   Note Tape driver files might be available on a manufacturer-supplied driver CD, or from the manufacturer's web site. Typically you need to copy the following 3 third-party tape driver files to the root folder of the floppy:
   • driver.inf
   • driver.sys
   • driver.cat
   The actual name of these files will vary depending on the manufacturer. In addition, third-party driver packages may contain a processor-specific driver.sys file in a I386, Ia64, or Amd64 sub-folder. Copy the driver.sys file that is appropriate for your processor to the root folder of the ASR Floppy.
2. Using a text editor such as notepad, open the ASR.SIF file
3. Insert the following lines under the [DISKS.GPT] section:

   [INSTALLFILES]
   1=1,"Volume label","%FLOPPY%","driver.sys","%TEMP%\driver.sys","Vendor name",0x00000026
   2=1,"Volume label","%FLOPPY%","driver.inf","%TEMP%\driver.inf","Vendor name",0x00000026
   3=1,"Volume label","%FLOPPY%","driver.cat","%TEMP%\driver.cat","Vendor name",0x00000026

   • The driver name of driver files that are used in this example is generic. The actual driver names will vary depending on the manufacturer.
   • During the ASR restore process, there are two folders available to copy these drivers to, %SYSTEMROOT% and %TEMP%. We recommend that you use the %TEMP% folder instead of copying these drivers to the Windows folder.
   • The volume label can be any string from 1 to 11 characters. For example, the volume label can be ASR.
4. Add a volume label to the ASR Floppy disk by using the Label.exe tool. This volume label must match the one that is used in the Asr.sif entries from step 3.
5. Create a new text file that is named Winnt.sif.
6. Add the following lines to the Winnt.sif file:

   [Data]
   AutoPartition = 1
   MsDosInitiated = 0
   UnattendedInstall = Yes
    
   [Unattended]
   OemPreinstall = YES
   OemFilesPath = a:\
   OemPnPDriversPath = TEMP
   

   Note The Winnt.sif file is required to establish the path that the Plug and Play Manager will use to locate and install drivers. By default, PNP only searches the %SYSTEMROOT%\INF folder.
7. Start your computer by using the Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 CD depending on the operating system that is being restored.
8. Insert the ASR Floppy disk immediately after you press a key to boot to CD ROM.
   
   Note This step is required for the Setup program to process the Winnt.sif file.
9. Select F2 for Automated System Recovery.

At the end of Text mode Setup, Windows Setup may repeatedly generate the following message:Insert the disk labeled: volume label you used in step 4 into drive A: If you receive this message, and the ASR floppy disk is in the drive, press ENTER to copy the file from the floppy disk to the hard disk. This message may appear for each file that is listed in the [InstallFiles] section of the Asr.sif file.

Additionally, during the PNP portion of the GUI mode ASR recovery, you may receive a Files Needed message that indicates that the driver.sys file is needed. This may occur if the third-party manufacturer used processor specific sub-folders for their driver installation. The path that is listed in this message would be referring to this sub-folder. For example, this message might refer to the c:\Temp\I386 folder. To work around this issue, change the path to c:\Temp, and then click OK.

If you also need to install SCSI or RAID drivers by pressing F6 key, ASR restore operation displays following message: Setup cannot copy the file: xxxxxxx.inf To retry, press ENTER. If you are installing from a CD, make sure the Windows CD is in the CD-ROM drive. To skip this file, press ESC.

Caution If you skip this file, Setup may not complete and Windows may not work properly.

To skip Setup, press F3. Winnt.sif "OemPreinstall = YES" causes this problem. SCSI or RAID drivers are loaded from A:\$OEM$\TEXTMODE directory in preinstall mode. When you have to install both tape driver and SCSI/RAID driver in ASR restore operation, make a disk that includes all the SCSI or RAID drivers (.inf, .sys, .cat) in the \$OEM$\TEXTMODE directory. Use the disk when the above message is displayed.

For more information about how to modify the [InstallFiles] sectio of the Asr.sif file, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: