Problem: "Error 1606: Could not access the network location" encountered when attempting to add, remove, or change the installation of ArcGIS products

Description

When attempting to add, remove, or change the installation of ArcGIS products, the following error may occur:

Error:
"Error 1606: Could not access the network location."

Note:
There are many situations under which Error 1606 may be encountered. If a this error is returned, the best resource to find out why and to help remedy the issue is to provide a Windows Installer log file and analyze it. 

Cause

This issue may occur if there is an incorrect setting in one of the registry keys related to Shell Folders.

Solution or Workaround

Warning:
The instructions below include making changes to essential parts of your operating system. It is recommended that you backup your operating system and files, including the registry, before proceeding. Consult with a qualified computer systems professional, if necessary.

Esri cannot guarantee results from incorrect modifications while following these instructions; therefore, use caution and proceed at your own risk.

Verify that the values that correspond to user Shell Folders are set correctly and have a valid value.

1. Navigate to Start > Run, type regedit.exe, and click OK.
2. Navigate to
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
3. In the details (right-hand) pane of the Registry Editor, verify that the values are the same as the values in the following table. If each value matches the table, go to step 7.
   
   Windows XP and Windows Server 2003

   Value Name     Value Data
   ==============================
   AppData        %USERPROFILE%\Application Data 
   Cache          %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files 
   Cookies        %USERPROFILE%\Cookies 
   Desktop        %USERPROFILE%\Desktop 
   Favorites      %USERPROFILE%\Favorites 
   History        %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\History 
   LocalAppData   %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data 
   Local Settings %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings 
   My Pictures    %USERPROFILE%\My Documents\My Pictures 
   NetHood        %USERPROFILE%\NetHood 
   Personal       %USERPROFILE%\My Documents 
   PrintHood      %USERPROFILE%\PrintHood 
   Programs       %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs 
   Recent         %USERPROFILE%\Recent 
   SendTo         %USERPROFILE%\SendTo 
   Start Menu     %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu 
   Startup        %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\programs\Startup 
   Templates      %USERPROFILE%\Templates

   
   Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows 10

   Value Name     Value Data
   ==============================
   {374DE290-123F-
   4565-9164-
   39C4925E467B}  %USERPROFILE%\Downloads
   AppData        %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming 
   Cache          %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files 
   Cookies        %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies 
   Desktop        %USERPROFILE%\Desktop 
   Favorites      %USERPROFILE%\Favorites 
   History        %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\History 
   LocalAppData   %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local 
   My Pictures    %USERPROFILE%\Pictures
   My Music       %USERPROFILE%\Music
   My Video       %USERPROFILE%\Videos
   NetHood        %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts
   Personal       %USERPROFILE%\Documents 
   PrintHood      %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Printer Shortcuts 
   Programs       %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs 
   Recent         %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent 
   SendTo         %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo 
   Start Menu     %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu 
   Startup        %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup 
   Templates      %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates

4. If any Name or Data value does not match the table in step 3, right-click the Value name, and click Delete.
5. On the left side, right-click User Shell Folders, point to New, click Expandable String Value, type the Name value that was just deleted from the table in step 3, and press Enter to create the variable.
6. Right-click the value created in step 5, click Modify, type the value in the Value data field for the Value name, and click OK.

Note:
Repeat steps 5 and 6 for any of the values that were deleted.

7. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders.
8. On the right side, verify that the values are the same as the values in the following table. If each value matches the table, go to step 12.
   
   Windows XP and Windows Server 2003

   Value name        Value data 
   =============================
   Common AppData    %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data 
   Common Desktop    %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Desktop 
   Common Documents  %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents 
   Common Favorites  %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Favorites 
   Common Programs   %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs 
   Common Start Menu %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start menu 
   Common Startup    %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup 
   Common templates  %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Templates

   
   Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and Windows 10

   Value name        Value data 
   =============================
   {3D644C9B-1FB8-
   4f30-9B45-
   F670235F79C0}     %PUBLIC%\Downloads
   Common AppData    %ProgramData% 
   Common Desktop    %PUBLIC%\Desktop 
   Common Documents  %PUBLIC%\Documents 
   Common Programs   %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs 
   Common Start Menu %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu 
   Common Startup    %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup 
   Common templates  %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Templates
   CommonMusic       %PUBLIC%\Music
   CommonPictures    %PUBLIC%\Pictures
   CommonVideo       %PUBLIC%\Videos

9. If any Name or Data does not match the table in step 3, right-click the Value name, and click Delete.
10. On the left hand side, right-click User Shell Folders, point to New, click Expandable String Value, type the Name value that was removed from the table in step 3, and press Enter.
11. Right-click the value created in step 5, click Modify, type the value in the Value data field for the Value name, and click OK.

Note:
Again repeat steps 10-11 for each of the values that was removed.

12. Close the Registry Editor, and restart the computer.

Related Information

• Microsoft KB Article 886549