"Adprep was unable to update" or "Windows cannot determine the local sysvol location" error message when you run Adprep.exe in Windows 2000 Server or in Windows Server 2003 (887435)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
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 run the Adprep.exe /domainprep utility on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows 2000 Server or Microsoft Windows Server 2003, you may experience the following issues:
  • You receive the following error message:
    Adprep was unable to update domain-wide information. Adprep requires access to existing domain-wide information from the infrastructure master in order to complete this operation.
  • The following error is logged in the Gpupgrad.log and Adprep.log files:
    Windows cannot determine the local sysvol location. Upgrade of Domain Group Policy Objects failed. (The system cannot find the file specified.)
    Note The Gpupgrad.log and Adprep.log files are stored in the following folder:

    C:\Winnt\System32\Debug\Adprep\Logs

CAUSE

This issue may occur on a computer that has a missing or incorrect registry entry.

RESOLUTION

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 resolve this issue, you must create the missing registry entry, or you must correct the incorrect registry entry. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
  2. In Registry Editor, locate and then right-click the following registry subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netlogon\Parameters

  3. If the SysVol registry entry is not present in the right pane, create it. To do this, follow these steps:
    1. In the left pane, right-click Parameters, point to New, and then click String Value.
    2. Name the new entry SysVol, and then press ENTER.
  4. In the right pane, right-click SysVol, and then click Modify.
  5. In the Value data box, type the path of the Sysvol folder. By default, this path is C:\Winnt\Sysvol\Sysvol.
  6. Quit Registry Editor.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/3/2004
Keywords:kbtshoot kbprb KB887435 kbAudITPRO
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