Files and Folders Are Added to Your System After Service Pack Is Installed (271484)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
This article was previously published under Q271484
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 discusses the files and folders added to your computer after you install Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack.

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.

When you install Windows 2000 Service Pack (SP) onto your computer, it may create a folder with SP-updated files, which can be used if additional functionality is added to a server and/or a workstation. The new folder is used by the SetUpAPI call when additional functionality is added to an installation that already exists.

You can install Windows 2000 SP using either the Web to download the Spexpress.exe program or the network to install the Spnetwork.exe program. After this installation, a folder called ServicePackFiles is created in the %Systemroot% directory. This directory contains about 160 megabyte (MB) of data.

If the directory is deleted and additional components (such as DNS, WINS, or Terminal Services) are added to it, your computer system can prompt you for the files. You have the option to browse to a location where the files are available.

To set up this new location permanently, edit the registry by performing the following steps:
  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
  2. Locate the ServicePackSourcePath:REG:SZ value under the following key in the registry:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

  3. Double-click the ServicePackSourcePath value and click String Editor.
  4. Enter the new location of the files. The location can either be a local drive or a universal naming convention (UNC) path that points to a common share point.
The ServicePackSourcePath value must point to one level above the I386 directory because the SetUpAPI call attaches \I386 to the sourcepath.

If the files contained in the %Systemroot%\ServicePackFiles directory are deleted, they can be re-created by reinstalling the Service Pack.

NOTE:

  • This article does not apply to any products if the Service Pack is part of the installation image (slipstream).
  • If the Service Pack is installed by means of a CD-ROM or a distribution share, the ServicePackFiles directory is not created. The ServicePackSourcePath value in the registry is set to the installation sourcepath.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:7/20/2004
Keywords:kbenv kbinfo KB271484
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