How to Change the Setup Source Path in Windows

This article describes how to change the path from which Windows Setup obtains source files. If, for example, you originally installed Windows from floppy disks, but later obtained a Windows CD-ROM, you might want to change the Setup source path to retrieve files from the CD-ROM instead of from the floppy disks.

You can edit the registry by using System Policy Editor (Poledit.exe) or Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Check with your network administrator before you make any changes to the registry. System Policy Editor (Poledit.exe) is available in the Admin\Apptools\Poledit folder on the Windows 95 compact disc. Use the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel to install System Policy Editor.

NOTE: If you are using the Microsoft Office 97 system policy templates that are included in the Microsoft Office 97 Resource Kit, you must use the version of System Policy Editor that is included in the Microsoft Office 97 Resource Kit or the Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Resource Kit.

You can download Policy.exe, a self-extracting file that contains Poledit.exe, from online services. Download this file from the following Microsoft Web site: Use the following steps to edit the registry with System Policy Editor:

1. Click the Start button, click Run, type poledit, and then click OK to start System Policy Editor.
2. On the File menu, click Open Registry, and then double-click Local Computer.
3. Click the plus sign (+) next to System.
4. Click Network Path For Windows Setup, then type the new source path.
5. Save the changes to the registry, quit System Policy Editor, and then restart Windows. To modify the Setup source path with Registry Editor, modify the following registry value:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\SourcePath
6. After you update the registry with System Policy Editor or Registry Editor, extract a new copy of the Layout.inf file from the Precopy2.cab file on your new Windows media to the Windows\Inf folder on the hard disk.
   
   For example, if you are changing the Setup source path because you switched from Windows disks to a Windows CD-ROM, extract the Layout.inf file from the Win95 folder on the Windows 95 CD-ROM to the Windows\Inf folder on the hard disk. For information about using the Extract tool, type extract at a command prompt, or see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
   129605  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/129605/EN-US/ ) How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files
   
   

Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95

If you have installed Microsoft Plus! and you want to change the source path for the Microsoft Plus! files, open the Program Files\Plus!\Setup\ Setup.stf file and modify the Source Directory line to indicate the correct source path. For example, change "Source Directory C:\" to "Source Directory D:\." If you use WordPad to edit the Setup.stf file, make sure to save the file as a text document.