Summary

Symptoms

Error Message looks like this:

Cause

Resolution

Verify that registry entries do not contain network paths that might be causing this error:

Important: The following steps require you to modify the Windows registry. Modifications to the Windows registry, if not done correctly, can cause serious problems to a Windows system. Before editing the registry, see How Do I Back Up Registry Keys on My Computer?

1. Click Start, and then click Run. The Run dialog box opens.
2. In the Open field, type regedit, and then click OK. The Registry Editor opens.
3. In the Registry Editor, locate the following registry key:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

4. In the right pane, note the values in the Data column of each entry. If any value contains a drive that is not correct for your computer, right-click the entry and select Modify.
5. Type the correct drive letter in the Value data field, and click OK. For example, if one of the values is "X:\Documents and Settings\Administrator", the drive letter should be changed to a valid drive on the system, such as ?C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator".
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each entry whose Data value contains an incorrect drive.
7. Repeat steps 3 through 6 for each of the following registry keys:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

8. Close the Registry Editor and run the installation again.

If you have upgraded your computer from Windows 98 Second Edition to Windows XP or from Windows Millennium Edition to Windows XP check the following registry entry:

Important: The following steps require you to modify the Windows registry. Modifications to the Windows registry, if not done correctly, can cause serious problems to a Windows system. Before editing the registry, see How Do I Back Up Registry Keys on My Computer?

1. Click Start, and then click Run. The Run dialog box opens.
2. In the Open field, type regedit, and click OK. The Registry Editor opens.
3. In the Registry Editor, locate the following registry key:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders\
4. In the right pane of the Registry Editor window, double-click Common Administrative Tools.
5. In the Value data box of the Edit String dialog box that appears, type the following line, and then click OK:
   %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools
6. On the File menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.
7. Restart the computer.

Related KB Articles