Symptoms
When trying to install or update an application, you receive an error message similar to the following:
I’ve encountered this error installing Google Earth and another application, and it also apparently happens with many others including Microsoft and Adobe applications.
Cause
These installers/updaters are failing to access the drive that one of your shell folders is on — probably your Personal folder, ‘My Documents’. This could be because:
- the hard drive is no longer attached or isn’t recognized by the system, or the drive was a mapped network drive that is no longer mapped,
- it’s a network folder / mapped drive on a computer or server that is not currently available, or
- it’s a network folder / mapped drive that the installer/updater doesn’t have access to.
Resolutions
Cause 1: the drive is no longer attached or mapped
Reattach the hard drive or map the folder back to the drive. If you need help with these, ask your administrator or local geek.
Alternatively, update the registry to point your shell folder to a location that exists on a drive that exists. You may follow the directions at either Microsoft or Adobe for updating your registry (they are essentially identical).
Cause 2: The network folder is on a computer or server that is not currently available
Try again when the server is available (or see #1 above).
Cause 3: The installer/updater doesn’t have access to the network folder / mapped drive
The drive that your shell folder (again, probably ‘My Documents’) is on is a mapped network drive and is connected using your own user account. However, the application installer/updater is running as the Administrative user, which does not have access to your mapped network drives (even if you are an administrative user).
The way to resolve this is simple, seamless, and temporary. Let’s say that the network folder is \user\Robert LaThanh
on a server named FileServer
(so the full path would be \\FileServer\user\Robert LaThanh
), and it’s mapped to the Z:
‘drive. We’ll confirm these first (step #2)…
- Run the Command Prompt as Administrator.
- Click on the Windows Logo (Start Menu)
- Type ‘Command Prompt’
- Right-click on the ‘Command Prompt’ shortcut and choose “Run as administrator”
- Click “Yes” in the User Account Control security dialog to allow the Command Prompt to run
- Let’s verify that the drive is mapped but unavailable to the Administrator by typing
net use
at the command prompt. If this is the case, your output will look like this:C:\Windows\system32>net use New connections will be remembered. Status Local Remote Network ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unavailable Z: \\FileServer\user\Robert LaThanh Microsoft Windows Network The command completed successfully.
- Remap the network folder as Administrator by typing
net use Z: "\\FileServer\user\Robert LaThanh"
. (The double-quotes aren’t necessary if the network path does not contain any spaces.)C:\Windows\system32>net use Z: "\\FileServer\user\Robert LaThanh" The command completed successfully.
That’s it!
Your installer/updater should now work. This won’t affect your ability to use that drive, and once you reboot, you’re back to normal.
Well done. Thanks so much.
Thank you very much! Why didn’t I find this on the Microsoft pages?
Wow, finally! Thanks man.
Finally somebody with a real solution to this problem. Thanks!
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Thank you! This worked! I was searching google
error 1327 invalid drive
so that I can uninstall Microsoft Office. After running cmd as administrator and following those steps I was able to uninstall it. I was also able to install office through ninite.com which was also giving me a 0x80070003 system cannot find the path error.
super helpful for solving issues with mapped drives over the network.
Well done, thanks!
If you’re getting that invalid drive E:\ warning while trying to load new programs, simply plug in a jump drive & use admin tools to rename it to “E:\” drive & leave it in while you download one file & it will correct the path.
Thank you so much. What a pain this was. I was just doing a shift-right-click and runas local admin account to resolve.
Thank you Rick. All I had to do was put the Flash Drive in and it became Drive E: and problems were solved!!! The program installed flawlessly.
My problem was “Cause 3” – you rock. Thanks for taking the time to figure this out and posting it.
Thanks for this,
we used to edit registry to get around this, but this is much easier!
Anyone had any issues deploying via sccm and getting the same error in event log? Can’t see a way around that :/
Here is helpful solution
The simple and quick resolutions to repair 1327 error are outlined below:
Enter Valid Path of My Documents in your Registry
Make Required Changes
Restore the Original Drive Letter
Temporarily Map a Folder to the Drive Letter
Taken from:
http://sorcim.com/knowledgebase/1327.html
Thanks for the tip! Quick question. If the fix is only temporary does that mean the error will happen again the next time a program or update tries to install?
If so, and if the fix doesn’t affect the ability to use the drive, why not add it to a batch file that runs on startup?
Hey Anthony,
For me, this only happens once or twice while installing programs on a computer during initial setup, and I’ve never had an update have an issue. So, adding it to a startup batch file wouldn’t be helpful to me.
Thank you for the solution
You don’t know how much your post helped me.
Thank you SO much!
Many thanks, this was driving me crazy.
Thank you for this gem of information!!
Thank you so much, this was really useful, fixed it straight away! All I need to do now is work out how to install it across the network! 😛
Perfect! This worked like a charm… Thank you so much…
Finally – someone with a real solution to this error. Thank you!
Please be sure to add /persistent:yes to teh end of the command for each drive so you dont have to re-enter on reboot. Thanks
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!