OEM Preinstallation with a Driver-Based Modem Uses Incorrect Path to the Modem.sys File (252667)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

This article was previously published under Q252667

SYMPTOMS

While in the GUI-mode phase of Setup, you may receive an error message that prompts you to provide the location of the Modem.sys file.

CAUSE

This problem can occur if a new or updated modem driver is added to the distribution folders and the path location to the new driver is specified in the OemPnpDriversPath parameter of the answer file (Unattend.txt) for Windows 2000 Setup. The modem class installer (Mdminst.dll) is able to locate the updated driver, but the version of the Mdminst.dll file that is included with Windows 2000 expects the Modem.sys file to be located in the same location as the updated driver.

NOTE: Modem.sys is a unimodem driver and should not be located in the folder with the new or updated modem driver. Copying this file to the location of the newer driver would generate driver signing warning messages instead.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows 2000. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

260910 How to Obtain the Latest Windows 2000 Service Pack

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Windows 2000 Service Pack 1.

MORE INFORMATION

The modem class installer has been modified to ensure it looks to the correct location in the operating system to find the Modem.sys file, and prevent a user from receiving a prompt for this file.

This issue is resolved only if this hotfix is integrated (slipstreamed) to the distribution server location that is used for the installations. This does not address issues if it is installed after Windows 2000, unless you are recreating images by using the Sysprep or Riprep tools and the new driver is not required for the base (master) image. For additional information about adding a hotfix to your distribution server location, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

249149 Installing Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 Hotfixes

Modification Type:	Minor	Last Reviewed:	9/23/2005
Keywords:	kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbbug kbenv kberrmsg kbfix kbQFE kbsetup kbWin2000SP1Fix KB252667