You receive an "Error 1606" error message when you try to install or remove a Microsoft program

This issue may occur if there is an incorrect setting in one of the following registry subkeys:


HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
 
 
Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:


322756 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/ ) How to back up and restore the registry in Windows



To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

Click Start, click Run, type Regedit.exe, and then click OK.

Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

In the right pane, verify that the values are the same as the values in the following table. If each value matches the table, go to step 7. For Windows XP and for Windows Server 2003, see the following table.Collapse this tableExpand this tableValue name Type Value data

AppData REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Application Data

Cache REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files

Cookies REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Cookies

Desktop REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Desktop

Favorites REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Favorites

History REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\History

LocalAppData REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data

Local Settings REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings

My Pictures REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\My Documents\My Pictures

NetHood REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\NetHood

Personal REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\My Documents

PrintHood REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\PrintHood

Programs REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs

Recent REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Recent

SendTo REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\SendTo

Start Menu REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu

Startup REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\programs\Startup

Templates REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Templates

For Windows Vista, see the following table.Collapse this tableExpand this tableValue name Type Value data

{374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B} REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Downloads

AppData REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming

Cache REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files

Cookies REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies

Desktop REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Desktop

Favorites REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Favorites

History REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\History

LocalAppData REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local

My Pictures REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Pictures

My Music REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Music

My Video REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Videos

NetHood REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts

Personal REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\PrintHood

PrintHood REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Documents

Programs REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

Recent REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent

SendTo REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo

Start Menu REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu



Startup REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Templates REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates



If any Name, Type, or Value does not match the table in step 3, right-click the Value name, and then click Delete.

In the left pane, right-click User Shell Folders, point to New, click Expandable String Value, type the Name value that you want from the table in step 3, and then press ENTER.

Right-click the value that you created in step 5, click Modify, type the value in the Value data box for the Value name, and then click OK.

Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

In the right pane, verify that the values are the same as the values in the following table. If each value matches the table, go to step 12. Collapse this tableExpand this tableValue name Type Value data

Common AppData REG_EXPAND_SZ %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data

Common Desktop REG_EXPAND_SZ %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Desktop

Common Documents REG_EXPAND_SZ %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents

Common Favorites REG_EXPAND_SZ %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Favorites

Common Programs REG_EXPAND_SZ %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs

Common Start Menu REG_EXPAND_SZ %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start menu

Common Startup REG_EXPAND_SZ %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Common templates REG_EXPAND_SZ %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Templates



If any Name, Type, or Value does not match the table in step 8, right-click the Value name, and then click Delete.

In the left pane, right-click User Shell Folders, point to New, click Expandable String Value, type the Name value that you want from the table in step 8, and then press ENTER.

Right-click the value that you created in step 10, click Modify, type the value in the Value data box for the Value name, and then click OK.

Exit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.