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Error removing & reinstalling application?

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9 replies

by dufpl

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I several weeks struggling with the problem one of my applications. When I try to repair (Repair) during this process it pops up a window: "the folder path 'Documents and Settings' contains an invalid caracters". Before I decided to write this post I browsed the internet for this problem and have not found anything specific except MicrosoftFixit program, which did not help me. I made a disk defrag PerfectDisc and scan disk MHDD program. The environment variables are correct. I sense that this is caused by damage to the registry but I do not know how to check it out. I did restore the Registry First Aid but it did not help. I ran out of ideas and ask for a hint.

9 replies

by tony hopkinson

remove and add
You'd be better off on teh forum for the application that was used to make the installation

Wise, Installshield etc, even msi.
I've seen a fair few problems with things like really long paths, expansion failures with ~
and spaces in directory / file names.

by smartacew0lf

Definitely this is a program made for XP. If you are using Vista or Windows 7, it will be looking for that path to install there as well. Now here's the thing about that. Vista and 7 do not use that path for the user profiles any longer. What they have done is to setup a symbolic link that "should" automatically redirect calls to that folder to C:\Users\. This was changed to circumvent the problems Tony mentioned in the previous post. I do certainly hope that you have not somehow messed up the permissions to the Documents and Settings link. Again, it would help to no end if the name of the application were available as well as your operating system.

by oh smeg

Does this say [i]'Documents and Settings' contains an invalid caracters". [/i]

or C:/'Documents and Settings' contains an invalid caracters". ?

If the [b]C:/[/b] isn't there the installer is pointing to a place that doesn't exist. ;)

Also telling us the Name of the Application and the OS in use would be a tremendous help. :0

Col

by dufpl

Without letter C:. "Documents and Settings' contains an invalid character ".
Program: C++ Builder 2010 installed on E partition.
OS: XP, SP3, three partition C, E, F

by tony hopkinson

are you repairing it with the same user that installed it?
Documents and settings should point to a directory under C:\Users.
Also repair /uninstall uses a file (or sometimes the registry) created by the installer, includes what options you chose and stuff.
If some of that is no longer true it could trip it up.

If you are completely stuck, try Revo Uninstaller and totally remove it, then reinstall from scratch.
(Back up first would be a good idea. :( )

by dufpl

"are you repairing it with the same user that installed it ?" I think, I`m.
"Documents and settings should point to a directory under C:\Users." I only have: C:\Documents and Settings\Default User. ( Even in hidden files there is no C:\Users )
Uninstalling is the last thing I would like to do.
The error occurs at the moment when the installer computing space and requirments. When I close error window installer continuing process until uninstalling Data Base Pack. Next there is :"Fatal Error. Please check your settings and try again."

by tony hopkinson

Eh?
That doesn't sound right at all. Long time since saw XP but you should have a profile for each windows user.
Try adding another one, give it admin prvileges and see what happens.

by smartacew0lf

C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\
C:\Documents and Settings\Guest\
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\
C:\Documents and Settings\Specifically Named Users\ etc.

C:\Users\ wasn't implemented until Vista and is still the same in Windows 7.

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