How to Move Windows Me Installation (.cab) Files to Another Drive (266735)

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

SUMMARY

This article describes how to move the Windows Millennium Edition (Me) .cab files to another drive. This procedure may be useful if you want to create more free space on the drive that contains the Windows Me .cab files. The Windows Me .cab files are copied to the drive or partition on which you installed Windows Me. This uses approximately 150 megabytes of space on the installation drive. The .cab files are located in the C:\Windows\Options\Install folder.

The .cab files are copied to the installation drive if Windows Me is installed from one of the following locations:

The CD-ROM drive
A network share
A flat folder (a copy of the Win9x folder from the Windows Me CD-ROM) on a drive or partition other than the installation drive or partition

If Windows Me is installed from a flat folder on the same drive or partition as the installation drive or partition, the .cab files are not copied.

NOTE: This article is for informational use only. It does not contain any troubleshooting information. If you are searching for troubleshooting information that is not mentioned in this article, search the Microsoft Knowledge Base again by using keywords that are listed in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

242450 How to Query the Microsoft Knowledge Base Using Keywords

MORE INFORMATION

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 move the Windows Millennium Edition (Me) .cab files to another drive:

Scenario 1

You installed Windows Me from a flat folder on a different drive or partition than the installation drive or partition. Change the SourcePath value in the following registry key to the location of the flat folder:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

For example, if you copied the contents of the Win9x folder from the Windows Me CD-ROM to E:\Win9x, you would change the SourcePath value to "E:\Win9x."

IMPORTANT: Use the Network tool in Control Panel to add a network component and determine if the procedure was successful. This always copies files and prompts you to restart the computer. If you are not prompted for the Windows Me CD-ROM, the C:\Windows\Options\Install folder may have been deleted.

Scenario 2

You installed Windows Me from a network share, the Windows Me CD-ROM, or a flat folder on the same drive or partition as the installation drive or partition.

Use Windows Explorer to copy the C:\Windows\Options\Install folder, (or the flat folder) to another drive or partition.
Change the SourcePath value in the following registry key to the new location of the Install folder:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup
For example, if the folder was moved to drive D, edit the SourcePath value to "D:\Install" (or to the flat folder name).

IMPORTANT: Use the Network tool in Control Panel to add a network component and determine if the procedure was successful. This always copies files and prompts you to restart the computer. If you are not prompted for the Windows Me CD-ROM, the C:\Windows\Options\Install folder may have been deleted.