"Invalid Destination Folder" Error Performing Admin Install

ID: Q136091

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Access 97 for Windows
Microsoft Access version 7.0
Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
Microsoft Office for Windows 95, version 7.0
Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows
Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 95, version 7.0
Microsoft Project 98 for Windows
Microsoft Project for Windows 95, version 4.1
Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0

SYMPTOMS

When you run an administrative installation (Setup /a) of one of the programs listed at the beginning of this article, you may receive the following error message when you change the destination folder for the program

   The specified folder:

   '<path>'

   is invalid, incomplete, too long, or write-protected. Enter a full
   path with the drive letter; for example 'C:\APPS'.

where <path> is the location on the server in which you are installing the program.

CAUSE

This error message appears when you change the destination for the administrative installation to one of the following:

a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path
-or-
a path that contains a long folder name
-or-
a path with a folder name that contains a space character

For example, this error message appears if you enter the following destination for an administrative installation:

   \\server\share\Msoffice

   -or-

   f:\Office 95

When you perform an administrative installation, you must install the program to a path using a drive letter (such as f:) and you must use 8.3 folder names.

RESOLUTION

To avoid receiving this error message when you perform an administrative installation, enter a destination that uses a drive letter and 8.3 folder names. The following examples are valid destinations for an administrative installation:

   f:\Msoffice

   -or-

   f:\Word95

Additional query words: 2.00 3.00 4.10 7.00 8.00 OFF7 xl7 95 97 off97

Keywords          : projwin offwin offwinsetup xlwin ppt95 ppt97 
Version           : 2.00 3.00
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: May 6, 1998