Microsoft Windows Registry Guide, Second Edition

Changing Source Location

If you build a Windows-based disk image in a lab and then install it on a production computer, Windows looks for the installation source files in their original location when users add or remove components. This isn't a huge problem, because Windows prompts users to specify a different path for the source files; however, will users know this path? Do you want to bother users with this step?

A better solution is to change the source file in the registry. Set the REG_SZ value SourcePath to the path of the Windows source files. This value is in HKLM\Software \Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\SourcePath. While you're at it, you should go ahead and reset the path of the service pack source files. This is the REG_SZ value ServicePackSourcePath in the same key.

TIP

You can automatically reset the source path when you deploy disk images. Set the value ResetSourcePath in the [Unattended] section of Sysprep.inf. If the path specified in this value doesn't exist, Windows automatically resets the source path to the first CD-ROM drive.