An Error Message May Be Displayed When You Use the Sysprep 1.1 Tool on a Computer with McAfee VirusScan Software

After you run the Microsoft System Preparation (Sysprep) tool on computers that have Network Associates McAfee VirusScan version 4.5 or 4.5 Service Pack 1 (SP1) installed, you may receive the following error message when you attempt to access the VirusScan console (Avconsol.exe): Also, if you select the "Maximum Security" method during the McAfee software installation process, or you install the McAfee software before or after you run the Sysprep tool, you may receive the same error message.

This behavior can occur because the Sysprep tool adds a comma to the location of the Explorer.exe file in the Shell value setting in the following key in the Windows registry: For example, the incorrect value setting after you run Sysprep version 1.1 is: The correct registry key is:

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 resolve this behavior, install Windows 2000 SP1 or later on the computer before you run the Sysprep tool. (This behavior is corrected in Windows 2000 SP1.)

Or, if you do not want the image to be upgraded with Windows 2000 SP1 or later, you can edit the Sysprep.inf file to include a Cmdlines.txt entry that can remove the comma from the registry. This step is outlined in the following Microsoft article: The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.