Specify the order in which Windows Installer searches for installation files

Policy ID
SearchOrder
Scope
User Configuration
Supported on
At least Windows 2000
Source
Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category
Windows Components › Windows Installer

Description

This policy setting specifies the order in which Windows Installer searches for installation files.

If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, by default, the Windows Installer searches the network first, then removable media (floppy drive, CD-ROM, or DVD), and finally, the Internet (URL).

If you enable this policy setting, you can change the search order by specifying the letters representing each file source in the order that you want Windows Installer to search:

-- "n" represents the network;

-- "m" represents media;

-- "u" represents URL, or the Internet.

To exclude a file source, omit or delete the letter representing that source type.

Options

  • Search order
  • n = network, m = media (CD), u = URL
  • A few valid examples: nmu, n, nu, mn

Registry

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