MSI Error 1320: "The specified path is too long" when installing on amapped drive

Hi,

I'm trying to install my product on a mapped drive on my test machine.
During the file copy operation the installation process is interrupted
by MSI error 1320: "The specified path is too long: ". The dialog
shows two options: Retry and Cancel.

The mapped drive was created using the subst command. So I substituted
my c:\tmp\installer_test\ folder by y:

subst y: c:\tmp\installer_test

So if I choose y:\program files\my product as destination I'll get
this MSI error 1320.

Does anyone have an idea what the problem might be? Is this a bug in
MSI? Does anyone know a workaround?

Any help would be appreciated.

Best regards,
Ralf

It may not be a problem with the path truly being to long once the
application file structure is calculated along with your map, or it wants to
install from a local drive
Two options you may try:
1) burn the install to CD
2) shorten the install map
if the install is located in c:\mystuff\installs\app
Map y: all the way to \app
now your "setup.exe" should be on the root of Y:\setup.exe


"Ralf Abramowitsch" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm trying to install my product on a mapped drive on my test machine.
> During the file copy operation the installation process is interrupted
> by MSI error 1320: "The specified path is too long: ". The dialog
> shows two options: Retry and Cancel.
>
> The mapped drive was created using the subst command. So I substituted
> my c:\tmp\installer_test\ folder by y:
>
> subst y: c:\tmp\installer_test
>
> So if I choose y:\program files\my product as destination I'll get
> this MSI error 1320.
>
> Does anyone have an idea what the problem might be? Is this a bug in
> MSI? Does anyone know a workaround?
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Best regards,
> Ralf
>

"Ralf Abramowitsch" <ralf.abramowitsch@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:58536fe2-c3a0-4b35-8e28-8600ef3f42dd@x14g2000yqk.googlegroups.com...
> Hi,
> I'm trying to install my product on a mapped drive on my test machine.
> During the file copy operation the installation process is interrupted
> by MSI error 1320: "The specified path is too long: ". The dialog
> shows two options: Retry and Cancel.
> The mapped drive was created using the subst command. So I substituted
> my c:\tmp\installer_test\ folder by y:
> subst y: c:\tmp\installer_test
> So if I choose y:\program files\my product as destination I'll get
> this MSI error 1320.
> Does anyone have an idea what the problem might be? Is this a bug in
> MSI? Does anyone know a workaround?
> Any help would be appreciated.
> Best regards,
> Ralf

You can't install using SUBST'd drives. Windows Installer does not recognize
dos names. Google for the exact reason if you are interested but otherwise
just don't try it.

Instead use:

net use y: \\YOURMACHINE\C$\tmp\installer_test

I've done this many times for simulating "first network drive" in
administrative image testing.

Sincerely,
Adrian Accinelli

Hi,
thanks for your reply!

> 2) shorten the install map
> if the install is located in c:\mystuff\installs\app
> Map y: all the way to \app
> now your "setup.exe" should be on the root of Y:\setup.exe

I tried to workaround but without success. I copied the setup.exe and
the MSI-file to the root of the mapped drive. After starting the
installer from the mapped drive, I'm getting the error message "Error
1305. Error reading from file y:\xxxx.msi. System error 1008. Verify
that the file exists and that you can access it." [Retry] / [Cancel].
(I copied the message from the logfile).

Any other idea?

Best regards,
Ralf

"Ralf Abramowitsch" <ralf.abramowitsch@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:ebc47bb8-1fed-4261-b4ae-3fe56fdae6a5@h5g2000yqh.googlegroups.com...
> Hi,
> thanks for your reply!
>> 2) shorten the install map
>> if the install is located in c:\mystuff\installs\app
>> Map y: all the way to \app
>> now your "setup.exe" should be on the root of Y:\setup.exe
> I tried to workaround but without success. I copied the setup.exe and
> the MSI-file to the root of the mapped drive. After starting the
> installer from the mapped drive, I'm getting the error message "Error
> 1305. Error reading from file y:\xxxx.msi. System error 1008. Verify
> that the file exists and that you can access it." [Retry] / [Cancel].
> (I copied the message from the logfile).
> Any other idea?
> Best regards,
> Ralf

Are you using net use or subst in order to create your "mapped" drive?

See my other post about subst not working.

If you are using net use then likely it's some form of ACL restriction - try
using process monitor during your MSI startup and see what accesses are made
at the file level. You can correlate that against ACL list to see what
could be wrong.

Sincerely,
Adrian Accinelli

Hi Adrian,
thanks for your reply.

Good idea! Maybe this afternoon I'll try to locate the subst problem
with the process monitor. Thanks for the hint!

I'll post my results here.

Best regards,
Ralf

Hi,

On Tue, 2 Dec 2008 02:21:39 -0800 (PST), Ralf Abramowitsch <ralf.abramowitsch@googlemail.com> wrote:

>Hi Adrian,
>Good idea! Maybe this afternoon I'll try to locate the
> subst problem

I think Adrian's point was if you are using subst then that IS your problem.

>with the process monitor. Thanks for the hint!

Very useful tool that.

Bye,
Dennis
Dennis Bareis [Microsoft MVP] (dbareis@KillSpam.gmail.com)
http://dennisbareis.com/
Freeware Windows Installer creation tool (+ "ORCA automation"):
http://makemsi.dennisbareis.com/