'The system cannot find the file specified' error.

[DrACR]

I have just upgraded to X2 (Studio). There is an odd behavior I can't figure out. When I first create and install a package, it works just fine. When I re-compile the same install, the install package is created but when I try to install it I almost immediately get an error message 'The system cannot find the file specified'.

This is repeatable with other program installs (I'm trying to get 6 different programs back to an installable state after the shit to X2). This happens whether or not I use an .exe or an .msi. The installs all worked just fine under the previous version of InstallAware. I've searched the net and the forum and can't find anything that applies, except for others who've had that error message but not under the same conditions. I'm running Windows 7 with all patches up to date. I have tried re-starting InstallAware a bunch of times, and I've tried re-booting my whole system several times. I've scrubbed the folder holding my data several times. I've re-created the program I'm trying to install several times. I created the programs I'm trying to install with Delphi XE3 just like I've been doing for the older InstallAware version.

I have one other data point. I have unzipped several of the installation .exes created by X2. I noticed that after the FIRST compile of a brand new install package, the package puts the msi, exe and so on right below the .exe like ususal. However, after the SECOND compile, they are buried several layers down. It seems to put them in a cascade of folders that duplicates where I put the files. I've attached a screen shot. You'll see that there is a repeating sequence of folders. The top set is the workspace I'm using, but the duplicate set below it did not initially exist - it is what was created when I unzipped the .exe. And when I double click directly on the .exe at the bottom of all these folders after I've unzipped the top .exe, it installs just fine. So I suspect some added folders are causing the installer to lose its ability to find the .exes. However, I'm sure you folks will know better than I do what is happening.

I figure I must be doing something wrong. The thing is, as far as I know I'm doing what I've done for the past several versions of InstallAware with no problem. Hopefully you'll be able to spot somewhere I've slipped up pretty easily. But I can't find it, after a lot of looking.

Thanks for your help!

[DrACR]

Here is the folder sequence I mentioned:

FolderSequence.png (31.8 KiB) Viewed 14631 times

[FrancescoT]

Dear DrACR,

really really ... strange!

does it exist any possibility for me to test your package?

are you able to replicate the issue with any project? did you try with a creating a new test project from scratch?

which IA version are you using (the version is listed under Add Remove Program).

Let me know.

Regards

[francis.harvey]

I have the same issue with a brand new project,

Uncompressed setup works but others doesn't.

InstallAware X2 19.05.0.2014

I'm testing the setup on the same server the IDE is installed,

It's a Windows server 2012 R2 machine,
not working on my Windows 7 machine either...

Thanks
Francis Harvey

[FrancescoT]

Dear Francis,

did you check if any Anti Virus is at the root of your issue?

Regards

[francis.harvey]

Hi Francesco,

I just figured out what was the problem,

InstallAware project name with special character like accent (é for sure, maybe É è à î....) cause the setup.exe to crash with this error...

It's sad because I lost countless hours of troubleshooting, re-creation of project, searching for logs, antivirus issue, environment issue, on different server/workstation...

Francis Harvey

[FrancescoT]

Dear Francis,

thanks for sharing your results ... I'll check it and if the case, I'll send a note to our dev team.

regards

[DrACR]

Francesco,

Thanks for your earlier reply and apologies for the delay at this end. It is not that my problem is not urgent. Demands at work pushed me into shelving this and solving the problem with another product for the time being. But I really want to get things working properly with InstallAware. Added information is as follows:

1. I reinstalled Installaware (redownloaded this p.m.) with minimum settings. I created an install project from scratch. It worked fine.
2. I added the dialog editor to my installation. I re-ran the same project from step 1 after tweaking one of the dialogs. I got the same 'system cannot find the file' error as before when I tried to run it.
3. I reinstalled Installaware again, with minimum settings. I re-ran the install project from step 2 with no changes. It worked fine.
4. I again added the dialog editor to my installation. I re-ran the install project from step 3 with no changes. I got the same 'system cannot find the file' error as before when I tried to run it.

I did notice that the files were set up differently in the case where it works and where it does not. Below is what I see when I unzip the install set after step 3 (i.e. this one works).

This is the working version after step 3.

FoldersFromWorkingVersion.png (43.13 KiB) Viewed 13654 times

Below is what is in the install set after step 4 (i.e. this one does not work).

This is the non-working version after step 4.

FoldersFromNonWorkingVersion.png (40.06 KiB) Viewed 13654 times

I would be happy to send you my files if it would help.

There are no odd characters in the file name.

Thanks for taking another look at this.

regards,
Charles

[FrancescoT]

Dear Charles,

there a couple of things not fully clear to me.

Why you don't install the dialog editor with your first installation of the product?

then, did you run your personal activation file after you added the dialog editor to your product installation?

did you use a re-generated license file to activate the product?
- this due the fact that you downloaded our latest trial and and your current license file may have been generated for a different version.

Are you able to replicate the issue with leaving the product installation in trial mode?

Regards

[DrACR]

Hi, Francesco

In my latest post I only described the most recent, most concrete results. I actually went through a long list of attempts beginning with the original issue in this thread.

For example, the first of the most recent attempts was to pull down the whole 2.1 G single file, and do an install with a lot of the options; I then re-generated the license and used that. I got the bug I mentioned. I then uninstalled that attempt, and did a minimum install, which did not include the dialog editor. That worked. However, I needed the dialog editor so I added that. This did not work, and it is what gave me a clue as to what might be happening. I did apply the license in these iterations, but after the first attempt did not re-generate the license file.

I then pulled down the web installer, to speed things up, and proceeded to do the sequence of tests I outlined above.

In answer to your post, I just did two more uninstall/installs. First, I used the web installer and did an uninstall and a clean install of the minimum feature set plus the dialog editor, but did not add the license. That worked. I then did another uninstall and a clean install of the minimum plus the dialog editor, and generated a new license file and added that. It now works. So I have a minimum set of capabilities, but I am at least able to function.

Go figure. I have no idea what is going on. I'm happy that it seems to be working, but my confidence is shaken. I guess I'll take it and run, but it leaves me feeling kind of uncertain. Any thoughts you have would be welcome. I'd be happy to do some tests if you can suggest anything that might be useful.

[FrancescoT]

Dear Charles,

I really suspect that all your problems was caused by the use of a not synchronized license file.

Each InstallAware version requires, including updates, a specific personal license file to activate the product.

Using different versions of license installers and trial version can wreak havoc with the IDE and the setup engine. Out-of-sync versions will cause a lot of random issues with your setups purely due to engine/compiler/script version mismatches.

Regards

[DrACR]

I hope so. Perhaps I did something wrong on the first iteration, where I thought I downloaded the single file install and a new license. Or so I thought. Let's chalk this up to user error, and I'll move on. If it happens again, I'll let you know.

Thanks for your help.

Charles

[DrACR]

I have a brief update. The same problem plagues me. I have lost a lot of time to this. I have one added insight into what might be happening. It seems that I can get an installable result when I move the Installaware project directory to My Documents. The identical Installaware project files work just fine in My Documents, but not in my usual location. Up until now, my compile and install files have been in a directory where I hang all my development activity. That is F:\Data\... I have a sense that Installaware may be getting confused by the use of Data as the bottom folder. This has never been a problem in the past, but seems to be a result of the most current update I did. This is only speculative - but I'm hoping I'm right because, at least for now, I'm getting installable results by working in a different directory. Your thoughts on this would be appreciated, since this whole thing feels kind of sloppy as a solution.

[FrancescoT]

Dear Charles,

It seems that I am able to replicate the same finally and the "data" folder seems to be the cause indeed.

At the moment I can only send a note about the problem to our dev team.

Regards