SourcePath Value Set Back to the First CD-ROM Drive Letter with Sysprep.exe

When you use the System Preparation tool (Sysprep.exe) to create images of systems, the installation source path is set back to the first CD-ROM drive letter during the mini-Setup wizard.

At the end of the mini-Setup wizard, Setup searches all mounted devices and drive letters to locate a CD-ROM. Setup sets the source path to the first drive letter it finds. If a CD-ROM is not detected, the SourcePath value is left intact. The following registry location is being modified:

There may be situations when you want all installation sources to point to distribution servers if the source files are ever needed. To work around this behavior, use either of the following methods:

• Method 1: In the Sysprep.inf file, add the InstallFilesPath value to the [Unattended] section of the answer file. This value should be the location of your distribution share (either the drive letter or universal naming convention (UNC) name).
• Method 2: Change the SourcePath value to the distribution share by creating a Regedit file and using the [GUIRunonce] section to import the file into the system at the first startup after the mini-Setup wizard runs. For example, create a Sysprep.inf file that contains the following line:
  [GuiRunOnce]
  Command0="regedit.exe /s c:\script\srcpath.reg"
  In the Srcpath.reg file, create the following line:
  [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup]
  "SourcePath"="C:\\"
  "ServicePackSourcePath"="C:\\"
  where C: is the path you want to point to. In this case it will look for the c:\I386 folder on the hard disk. The Servicepacksourcepath registry key is needed if you want to change the path to the service pack.

Changing the value using the Regedit file (method 2) is the preferred method. If you use the InstallFilesPath value, the following rules and restrictions apply:

• If a CD-ROM drive is present on the computer, the mini-Setup wizard still changes the SourcePath value to the first CD-ROM drive that is detected.
• If the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Plug and Play drivers are needed or if you need to use the Cmdlines.txt file during the mini-Setup wizard, the InstallFilesPath value must point to the location of these files.

This behavior is by design.