You Receive the "The Location You Specified Does Not Exist or Cannot Be Reached" Error Message When You Try to Update a Driver (819586)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Datacenter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Premium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Standard Edition

Notice

SYMPTOMS

When you try to update a driver, you receive the following error message:
The location you specified does not exist or cannot be reached. Please enter another location or uncheck the 'Include this location in the search' box.
This problem occurs when you use the Hardware Update Wizard to update the driver for a device that is installed on your Windows Server 2003-based computer and you configure the wizard to locate driver files in the root folder on drive A or drive C.

Note This message appears only if you clicked Install from a list or specific location (Advanced) and then you clicked the Click to clear the Search removable media (floppy, CD-ROM...) check box.

RESOLUTION

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows Server 2003 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel. 
   Date         Time    Version	     Size     File name    Platform
   -----------------------------------------------------------------
   15-May-2003	23:51   5.2.3790.25  249,856  Newdev.dll   i386
   15-May-2003	23:38   5.2.3790.25  367,616  Newdev.dll   ia64
   15-May-2003	23:51   5.2.3790.25  249,856  Wnewdev.dll  ia64

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, do one of the following:
  • Do not specify an installation location for the driver files.

    -or-
  • Move the driver files to a subfolder, and then configure the wizard to look for the files in the subfolder.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a bug in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/27/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbfix kberrmsg kbbug KB819586 kbAudITPRO
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