Solved the folder path '?program files' contains an invalid character

[ziadmario54321]

hello everyone from this forum,
every time i install/uninstall a program which uses the windows installer (example: microsoft visual basic 2008 express edition), i get this error message:

any fixes?
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[samuria]

Welcome to the forum. First run a disk check in case it has corruption then can you rename the folder which may get rid of the problems I would rename to something else than change it back

 

[ziadmario54321]

i already did this before, no problems.
and, i pretty much can't rename the "program files" folder. is that what you meant?
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[Ranger4]

Hi ziadmario54321, welcome to the Forum.

This MS website might help you & it does suggest a registry edit, so it would be a good idea to back up the registry first. It also mentions changing or renaming hard drives, so fi that applies to you you may need to take note of that.

Error 1324 The path Program file Contains an Invalid Character. - Microsoft Community

 

[ziadmario54321]

the program files directory is "c:/program files", which is correct.

​

 

[samuria]

If its invalid it can have hidden charectersyou can see it must also be Program Files NOT program files

 

[ziadmario54321]

uh, i type in lowercase letters. and it is indeed "Program Files".
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[ziadmario54321]

???
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[Megahertz07]

On your first post it says ?Program Files
Open explorer. What name you have, Program Files or ?Program Files ?
On register search (F3) for ?Program Files

 

[Ranger4]

I think Megahertz is on the right track, you should not have the "?" in front of Program files. The question mark (?) is an invalid character & can't use used in naming files.

So try removing the ? & see if it now works.

 

[samuria]

It was suggested a couple of times to rename

 

[samuria]

It was suggested a couple of times to rename

 

[ziadmario54321]

it's named "Program Files".

 

[ziadmario54321]

????
​

 

[iko22]

Hi ziadmario54321, welcome to the Forum.

This MS website might help you & it does suggest a registry edit, so it would be a good idea to back up the registry first. It also mentions changing or renaming hard drives, so fi that applies to you you may need to take note of that.

Error 1324 The path Program file Contains an Invalid Character. - Microsoft Community

Then try either of these two approaches :

[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]Remove Invalid Character from the Registry[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]You can search the Windows registry for the invalid character that is displayed in the 1324 error message and replace all instances of the invalid character with the correct character. For example, if the 1324 error message refers to "system32/", you should search for "system32/". If you find any instances in the registry, modify them, so that the registry values correctly reference the System32 folder.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]1.[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot]ClickStart, and then click Run. In the Open box, typeregedit, and then click OK.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]2.[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot]On theEdit menu, click Find.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]3.[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot]In theFind What box, type the character string reported in the 1324 error message, and then clickFind Next.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]4.[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot]If you find the problematic string, make any necessary changes, and then press F3 to find the next occurrence.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]5.[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot]Repeat step 4 until you locate and change all incorrect references.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]6.[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot]On theRegistry menu, click Exit.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]7.[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot]Re-run Office Setup.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]Important[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot] This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]322756[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot] [FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot](http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/ ) [/FONT][/FONT]How to back up and restore the registry in Windows[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]

Or:

[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]Also, this behavior can occur if you type an invalid destination in the [FONT=&quot]Folder name[/FONT] box on the [FONT=&quot]Change Current Destination Folder[/FONT]screen.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot][FONT=&quot]To resolve this issue, specify a destination that resides on a local hard-disk drive in the [FONT=&quot]Folder name[/FONT] box on the [FONT=&quot]Change Current Destination Folder[/FONT] screen.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]

Source: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...d/ed3e5ac3-a7a5-481b-aa19-258a293e4c3b?auth=1

 

[torchwood]

Oh the joys of Ultimate.

Take it this a pretty new install of W7.
have a look at this MS blog, its an explanation and a fix re Iko's 2nd quote.
Basically its redirecting the installer to the wrong place.

Error 1324. The folder path s Blog

Roy

 

[ziadmario54321]

tried before i've posted this thread, still.

 

[ziadmario54321]

update: i used regscanner to find all of these registries which includes "?Program Files", and deleted all of them, the installer worked. even every other installer that uses the windows installer thingy.

 

[Ranger4]

Thanks for getting back & glad to hear it's now fixed. Well done.

 

[behutchins]

Click on the windows icon on the bottom left, search for cmd, right click on cmd and run as admin. Type in chkdsk /f /r and let it run check disk. Then after that's done, type in sfc /scannow and check for problems with the operating system. get back to us if need be.

And glad you found the issue. A bit of advise though, don't play around with the registry files too much without knowing what you're doing, if you corrupt your registry, look forward to reinstalling windows. I am a computer tech, I have an AAS in computer maintenance, and trust me, messing with the registry too much can kill your computer.