You cannot use the DevicePath registry entry to install drivers when you use the Sysprep tool to deploy Windows Vista

When you use the Sysprep tool to deploy Windows Vista, you cannot use the DevicePath registry entry to install out-of-box drivers.

Note The DevicePath registry entry is located in the following registry subkey:

This issue occurs because the Windows Vista Setup program does not use the DevicePath registry entry. Therefore, the drivers that you specify in this registry entry are not installed.

In earlier versions of Windows, the Setup program did use this registry entry.

To work around this issue, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Install the drivers after the Setup program is complete

Use the path that is specified in DevicePath registry entry to install the drivers after the Setup program is complete. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Log on to a deployed computer by using an account that has administrative credentials.
2. Click Start
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   , right-click Computer, and then click Manage.
3. Under System Tools, click Device Manager.
4. In Device Manager, locate the device for which you added driver information to the DevicePath registry entry.
5. Right-click the device, and then click Update Driver Software.
6. Click Search automatically for update driver software.
   
   Windows Vista uses the DevicePath registry entry to install the driver.

Method 2: Install the drivers during Setup by using an answer file

Use an answer file to install out-of-box drivers during Windows Setup. Specify the paths from which to install the drivers in the answer file. The drivers may be available locally or on a shared network resource. Also, specify the configuration passes in which to install the drivers.

You can add out-of-box drivers to the windowsPE, offlineServicing, or auditSystem configuration passes. By adding driver paths to the windowsPE configuration pass or to the offlineServicing configuration pass, you can add out-of-box drivers to the Windows image before the system starts. This lets you add startup-critical drivers to a Windows image. Adding drivers to the auditSystem configuration pass lets you add out-of-box drivers during audit mode. This lets you maintain a simple Windows image. You add only the drivers that are required for a specific hardware configuration.

For more information about how to add out-of-box drivers to an offline image, see the "Add Device Drivers to an Offline Windows Image" topic in the Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK) User's Guide. For more information about how to add drivers to the system in windowsPE or auditSystem configuration passes, see the "Add Device Drivers During Windows Setup" topic.

To obtain the Windows AIK User's Guide, visit the following Microsoft Web site: