The directory name is invalid

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?

Which program is this? Right click the programs executable and click "Run as
Administrator".
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"Possum" <> wrote in message
news:...
> 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?

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.



"Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Which program is this? Right click the programs executable and click "Run
> as Administrator".
> --
> Andre
> Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
> My Vista Quickstart Guide:
> http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
> "Possum" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> 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?
>
>

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







"Possum" <> wrote in message news:...
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.



"Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Which program is this? Right click the programs executable and click "Run
> as Administrator".
> --
> Andre
> Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
> My Vista Quickstart Guide:
> http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
> "Possum" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> 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?
>
>

Possum wrote:
> 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.
>
>
>
> "Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Which program is this? Right click the programs executable and click
>> "Run as Administrator".
>> --
>> Andre
>> Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
>> My Vista Quickstart Guide:
>> http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
>> "Possum" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> 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?
>>
>>
>

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
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

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" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Possum wrote:
>> 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.
>>
>>
>>
>> "Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> Which program is this? Right click the programs executable and click
>>> "Run as Administrator".
>>> --
>>> Andre
>>> Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
>>> My Vista Quickstart Guide:
>>> http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
>>> "Possum" <> wrote in message
>>> news:...
>>>> 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?
>>>
>>>
>>
>
> 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
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Possum wrote:
> 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
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

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.


"Malke" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Possum wrote:
>> 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
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

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.
--
Greg H.


"Possum" wrote:

> 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?
>
>

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


"Greg" <> wrote in message
news:02B2106B-961E-4F66-B1D5-...
>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.
> --
> Greg H.
>
>
> "Possum" wrote:
>
>> 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?
>>
>>