FIX: MSDN Library Does Not Support CD Server Installation

RESOLUTION

There are four ways to resolve this problem.

Obtain the April 1999 or Greater Version of the MSDN Library

1. This problem has been corrected in the April 1999 MSDN Library.

Option 2: Copy All of the CD Bits the Local Machine or a Network Location

For additional information how to create a network installation, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Option 3: Share CD 2 and CD 3 on a CD Server

1. Insert CD 1 into the workstation and install the product.
2. Run the product. When you are prompted to insert CD 2, enter the UNC for CD 2, and do the same when you are prompted for CD 3.
   
   NOTE: When you use this option, each customer must have CD 1 on his or her local computer, available for access.

Option 4: Modify the HhColReg.dat File (UNSUPPORTED and NOT recommended)

1. Create share points for all CDs. For example, you can use the following share points: \\ABC\CD1, \\ABC\CD2, \\ABC\CD3.
2. On the Start menu, click Run, type \\ABC\CD1 in the Open: text box, and run the Setup.exe for MSDN.
3. Open the HhColReg.dat file (in the %WinDir%\Help directory). You will see the following sections:

         <Locations>
         <Location>
            <LocColNum value=1/>
            <LocName value="98OCT-1033-Local"/>
            <TitleString value="Local"/>
            <LocPath value="C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual
                            Studio\MSDN98\98OCT\1033\"/>
            <Volume value="ABCS300"/>
         </Location>
         <Location>
            <LocColNum value=1/>
            <LocName value="98OCT-1033-CD3"/>
            <TitleString value="MSDN October 1998 CD3"/>
            <LocPath value="\\ABC\CD1\MSDN\"/>  **NEED TO CHANGE**
            <Volume value="dnq830enu1"/> **NEED TO CHANGE**
         </Location>
         <Location>
            <LocColNum value=1/>
            <LocName value="98OCT-1033-CD2"/>
            <TitleString value="MSDN October 1998 CD2"/>
            <LocPath value="\\ABC\CD1\MSDN\"/>  **NEED TO CHANGE**
            <Volume value="dnq830enu1"/> **NEED TO CHANGE**
         </Location>
         <Location>
            <LocColNum value=1/>
            <LocName value="98OCT-1033-VC Samples"/>
            <TitleString value="MSDN October 1998 CD1"/>
            <LocPath value="\\ABC\CD1\MSDN\"/>
            <Volume value="dnq830enu1"/>
         </Location>
         </Locations>
         ...
   
         <DocCompilation>
            <DocCompId value="vsintro"/>
            <DocCompLanguage value=1033/>
            <LocationHistory>
               <ColNum value=1/>
         **NEED TO CHANGE**<TitleLocation
                            value="\\ricks266\CD1\MSDN\vsintro.chm"/>
               <IndexLocation value="C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual
                                     Studio\MSDN98\98OCT\1033\vsintro.chi"/>
         **NEED TO CHANGE**<QueryLocation
                            value="\\RICKS266\CD1\MSDN\MSDN830.CHQ"/>
               <LocationRef value="98OCT-1033-CD2"/>
               <Version value=29200603/>
               <LastPromptedVersion value=0/>
               <TitleSampleLocation value=""/>
               <TitleQueryLocation value="98OCT-1033-CD2"/>
               <SupportsMerge value=0/>
            </LocationHistory>
         </DocCompilation>
   						

You need to change the items marked **NEED TO CHANGE**. The following changes to these items enable you to view the Visual Studio Start Page topic from a shared CD server.

      ...
      <LocPath value="\\ABC\CD3\MSDN\"/>
      <Volume value="13"/>
      ...
      <LocPath value="\\ABC\CD2\MSDN\"/>
      <Volume value="14"/>
      ...
      <TitleLocation value="\\ABC\CD2\MSDN\vsintro.chm"/>
      ...
      <QueryLocation value="\\ABC\CD2\MSDN\MSDN830.CHQ"/>
      ...
				

You need to make the changes mentioned previously, for all DocCompilations. In the example above, the path for the VSIntro.chm file has been corrected. Also, please note that "Volume value=" needs to be a unique value.

The HhColReg.dat file contains many DocCompilations that must be corrected to provide a fully functional MSDN Viewer. All the DocCompilations require the same type of changes.