Fix AutoCAD Installation Failure – Error 1606: Could Not Access Network Location

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

If you’re encountering the Error 1606: Could not access network location while attempting to install AutoCAD, especially when deploying it via SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager), you’re not alone.

This issue often arises due to misconfigured user profile settings, particularly in environments with split partitions. Here’s how to resolve the problem.

Understanding the Issue

This error typically appears when trying to install AutoCAD (or other applications) from a deployment share or software catalog, and it’s often caused by the location of the user profiles. If your machines have split partitions, where the user profiles are stored on the second partition (e.g., D:), AutoCAD may fail to access necessary registry locations during installation.

The Cause

After testing the installation on a machine without split partitions, I discovered the installation worked perfectly. This led me to investigate the registry settings related to the user profile location. The registry keys for the user’s folders need to be updated to point to the correct partition.

How to Fix the Error 1606

To fix this, follow these steps:

1. Update the Registry: You’ll need to modify the registry to point to the correct location for user profile folders. Specifically, update the registry entries for the “Shell Folders” path to reflect the user profile location (e.g., D: drive).

Open the Registry Editor (regedit). Navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

Modify the following values to point to the appropriate paths on your D: drive (or wherever your user profiles are stored):

"Common Desktop"="d:\\Users\\Public\\Desktop"
"CommonVideo"="d:\\Users\\Public\\Videos"
"CommonPictures"="d:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures"
"CommonMusic"="d:\\Users\\Public\\Music"
"Common Documents"="d:\\Users\\Public\\Documents"

2. Reboot the Machine: After applying the changes to the registry, reboot the machine to ensure the new settings take effect.
3. Test the Installation: Once the machine has rebooted, try running the AutoCAD LT 2014 installation from the Software Catalog again. The installation should now proceed without encountering the Error 1606.

Conclusion:

By updating the registry to reflect the correct profile locations, you can resolve the AutoCAD installation error and ensure that your users can install the software without desktop support intervention. If you continue to face issues, consider revisiting the partition setup or exploring other deployment methods.