Vista MSI installs fail with error 1327 after redirecting Documents folder

Question

I have my personal profile's Documents folder redirected to a network drive H:\ . This was done by right clicking on Documents, Properties, choosing Location, and selecting H:\ .

I have a problem where some (I am not sure whether it is all) MSI installers will fail with an "Error 1327 Invalid Drive H:\" when I attempt to install them.

As a workaround, I can edit the registry at

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

and set the registry key "Personal" temporarily back to "%USERPROFILE%\Documents", do the install, and then change it back. I don't know why this needs to be done though, as nothing is actually installed into that directory.

Does anyone have a more elegant solution?

Does this belong on Superuser.com? – kbyrd Jun 08 '09 at 01:30 — kbyrd, Jun 08 '09 at 01:30
Considering that site doesn't exist, no. – Neobyte Jun 08 '09 at 01:47 — Neobyte, Jun 08 '09 at 01:47
...yet. [random rubbish to fill 15 chars requirement] – Neobyte Jun 08 '09 at 01:48 — Neobyte, Jun 08 '09 at 01:48
Is the MSI being installed through group policy? – Joseph Jun 08 '09 at 02:19 — Joseph, Jun 08 '09 at 02:19
No I am running it manually. – Neobyte Jun 08 '09 at 02:20 — Neobyte, Jun 08 '09 at 02:20

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 08 '09 at 23:49

1

Instead of mapping to the network drive "H:\", use the full UNC path: i.e. "\\server\user\docs"

This worked for me when I ran into the same issue~

answered Jun 08 '09 at 23:49

As stated below, permissions could also be an issue if your are "Run As..."'ing the install. – Jun 16 '09 at 04:06

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 28 '09 at 20:49

In Vista when installing a .msi package it's handled by Windows Installer which runs as the TrustedInstaller account. When it tries to access the msi package there's no such thing as H:.

The HKCU registry fix works because then the file will exist on your physical drive and thus be reachable by Windows Installer.

To avoid this type of issue you should never redirect a folder to a mapped drive, always use UNC paths when redirecting folders.

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 08 '09 at 02:13

0

Is the MSI running as a different user, so it doesn't have H: mapped?

answered Jun 08 '09 at 02:13

Steven

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No it's not running as a different user (hence the HKCU fix working). – Neobyte Jun 08 '09 at 02:17

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 10 '09 at 16:59

0

This is occurring because the msi is using your home directory as temporary file storage. I would check to see if the permissions on your H drive are the same.

answered Jun 10 '09 at 16:59

MathewC

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Vista MSI installs fail with error 1327 after redirecting Documents folder

4 Answers4