The directory name is invalid

[Possum]

When I try to install a program, I get the error message "The directory name
is invalid". I remember seeing a post saying that this error has to do with
UAC but I cannot find the post again.

Does anyone have a solution to this problem other than to disable UAC?

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

Which program is this? Right click the programs executable and click "Run as
Administrator".

 

[Possum]

Thank you for replying.

This happens with any program I try to install. "Run as Administrator" won't
work either. I have tried logging in as administrator - still get the same
error. I can disable UAC, reboot the computer, and install the program(s).
Then I must re-enable UAC and reboot again.

I cannot think of anything that I have done that could have caused this.

Any possible solution will be appreciated.

 

[mikeyhsd]

how about letting us in on the name of a couple that you are having problems with.



(e-mail address removed)



Thank you for replying.

This happens with any program I try to install. "Run as Administrator" won't
work either. I have tried logging in as administrator - still get the same
error. I can disable UAC, reboot the computer, and install the program(s).
Then I must re-enable UAC and reboot again.

I cannot think of anything that I have done that could have caused this.

Any possible solution will be appreciated.

 

[Malke]

Thank you for replying.

This happens with any program I try to install. "Run as Administrator"
won't work either. I have tried logging in as administrator - still get
the same error. I can disable UAC, reboot the computer, and install the
program(s). Then I must re-enable UAC and reboot again.

I cannot think of anything that I have done that could have caused this.

Any possible solution will be appreciated.

In addition to what Andre Da Costa and mikeyhsd asked you, when you go
to install the program(s), where is it trying to install? Give the full
path as shown in the installer. What hard drives and partitions do you
have in your system?

Malke

 

[Possum]

This occurs with ANY downloaded exe file. I haven't tried from a CD/DVD yet.
The error pops up immediately after the Run option so there is no install
path shown. I know I saw a post and reply about this a couple of weeks ago
but I don't think a fix was posted at that time.

Sorry I don't have more details but this is all I have.

At least I have a drive image from before this problem developed. It is too
much of a hassle to turn off UAC every time I want to install a program.

Thank you to all who took an interest.

 

[Malke]

This occurs with ANY downloaded exe file. I haven't tried from a CD/DVD
yet. The error pops up immediately after the Run option so there is no
install path shown. I know I saw a post and reply about this a couple of
weeks ago but I don't think a fix was posted at that time.

Sorry I don't have more details but this is all I have.

At least I have a drive image from before this problem developed. It is
too much of a hassle to turn off UAC every time I want to install a
program.

I am sorry that I don't have an answer for you. The problems I read
about were that people were having a hard time downloading. It would
seem to me that the permissions on a temporary directory are wrong, but
I really don't know. Perhaps your idea of just restoring the drive image
is the best solution.

Malke

 

[Possum]

Thanks, Malke.

I think you may be correct about Temp folder. Can you post the default
Environment Variables, both User and System, so that I can check mine. I
seem to remember trying to change User and then changed back to what I
thought was default.

This information would be much appreciated.

 

[Guest]

I recently got a solution by accident while on the phone with Microsoft about
this problem. It appears that the Administrator file that your name is
currently working on had been corupted. I was told to make a new
Administrator and try to install the program I was trying to install. It not
only installed the program under the new Administrator but when I went back
to my original Administrator the problem was cured. I was told that by doing
this it did a shadow copy and corrected the problem. Now I'm able to to
install under my original Administrator. Give it a try.

 

[Possum]

Thank you. I will give it a try and keep this tip in my "library".

 

[Guest]

Hi,
I had the problem after recovering my Vista installation with "Complete-PC
restore s.th." When it first occurred I switched of UAC, installed, switched
on UAC. I do not exactly remember if the error was gone directly after this
UAC switching, but two days later installing another program again worked
fine. In between a Windows update happened - maybe this update did it for me.
Yesterday I had the same problem again (after restoring with Complete-PC
s.th.). I switched off UAC, installed, and switched UAC on again. I did not
try to install another program ...
The solution of creating a second Admin account sounds reasonable.

But now the question: Is this Feature related to the Complete-PC restore?
Why is the administrator file corrupted?

Regards,
Ralf

 

[dman]

I found this information on Technet and it seems to explain this
problem.

User Account Control: Only elevate UIAccess applications that are
installed in secure locations
There are two possible values:

· The system will only give UIAccess privileges and user rights to
executables that are launched from under %ProgramFiles% or %windir%.
The ACLs on these directories ensure that the executable is not user-
modifiable (which would otherwise allow elevation of privilege).
UIAccess executables launched from other locations will launch without
additional privileges (i.e. they will run "asInvoker").

· Disabled - The location checks are not done, so all UIAccess
applications will be launched with the user's full access token upon
user approval.

Default = Enabled

Supposedly this option is access via the secpol.msc snap-in. I do not
know how to access or get to that but I think I could and then change
that option to disabled it would solve the problem.

Please reply if you know how to get to this option.

Thanks,
Donovan