Article ID: 285933
Article Last Modified on 3/1/2007
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
This article was previously published under Q285933
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry
SYMPTOMS
When you use the OEMPnpDriversPath entry in the Sysprep.inf file to install Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) drivers during a Windows installation, the drivers may not be installed during the mini-Setup portion of Windows Setup.
CAUSE
This behavior may occur if the length of the DevicePath registry value that is located in the following registry key is 1,024 characters or greater:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
When this registry value is 1,024 characters or greater, Sysprep does not append the data that is provided by the OEMPnpDriversPath entry of the Sysprep.inf file. Because of this, Plug and Play detection searches the paths that are referenced in the DevicePath registry value and does not install the OEM drivers that are referenced in the OEMPnpDriversPath entry.
WORKAROUND
WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. To work around this issue, manually type the path that is provided in the OEMPnpDriversPath entry in the DevicePath registry value, and then remove the OEMPnpDriversPath entry from the Sysprep.inf file before you run Sysprep. To type the path in the DevicePath registry value:
- Start Registry Editor.
- Click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
- Double-click the DevicePath value.
- Append the
new path entries to your OEM driversto the string in the Edit box.
Note When you type the path entries, use the %SYSTEMDRIVE% and %SYSTEMROOT% variables instead of the relative path entries that you use in the Sysprep.inf file. Separate multiple entries with a semi-colon (;). - Click OK, and then quit Registry Editor.
STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
MORE INFORMATION
For additional information about how to add OEM drivers to Windows installations, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
254078 How to add OEM plug and play drivers to Windows installations
Keywords: kbpending kbprb kbbug KB285933
