Microsoft KB Archive/252279

= PRB: Sysprep Shows Dialog Box Containing an Error Message After Running Mini Setup =

Article ID: 252279

Article Last Modified on 2/28/2007

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition

-



This article was previously published under Q252279



SYMPTOMS
Once you run Sysprep on a Windows 2000-based computer, to restore the computer to a ship-ready state for delivery to a customer, you must run the Mini Setup Wizard to complete the installation of Windows 2000. After completing the mini Setup, the computer automatically restarts and displays the Windows desktop. A modal dialog box is displayed that contains the following error message:

C:\sysprep is not accessible. This folder was moved or removed.

Note that "C:" represents the system drive, which can be a drive other than the C drive, depending on the installation command used for Windows 2000.



CAUSE
The %Systemdrive%\Sysprep folder is removed from the hard drive by design, because it contains original equipment manufacturer (OEM) tools that do not apply to customers.



RESOLUTION
To bypass this dialog box, do not run Sysprep by double-clicking the Sysprep.exe icon from an Explorer window. Instead, open a command-prompt window, browse to the Sysprep folder, and then run Sysprep.exe from the command line.

For example, if drive D is your system drive, which also contains the Sysprep folder, then after opening the command-prompt window, you should change to drive D by typing D: at the command prompt, and then change to the Sysprep folder by typing cd sysprep. Then, run Sysprep.exe, with the appropriate switch, by typing sysprep -quiet.

This method ensures that a dialog box containing an error message is not displayed when the customer first starts up the computer.



STATUS
This behavior is by design.



MORE INFORMATION
For information on preinstallation, please refer to the "Windows 2000 OEM Preinstallation Kit User's Guide" that is shipped with your OEM CD.

