"Path Specified in Setup Is Invalid" Error Message When You Try to Install Windows XP from a Flat
This article was previously published under Q315349 On This PageSYMPTOMS
When you copy the files contained in the i386 folder on the Windows XP CD-ROM to a folder on your computer's hard disk and then attempt to upgrade your computer to Windows XP (also known as installing from a flat), you may receive one of the following error messages.
CAUSE
This behavior occurs because Windows Setup requires additional files and folders to be present in the installation directory.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, copy the entire contents of the i386 folder (including subdirectories) from the Windows XP CD-ROM to a folder on your computer's hard disk, and then restart the installation. To copy the i386 folder from the CD-ROM while in Windows, open your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, right-click the i386 folder, click Copy, and then paste the folder to a partition that has enough hard-disk space. To copy the entire i386 folder if you are not able to start Windows, use a Windows 98 or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me) Startup disk to start your computer, and then use the Xcopy utility. To do this, use one of the following methods, as appropriate to your operating system. Using a Windows 98 Startup Disk and CD-ROM
Using a Windows Me Startup Disk and CD-ROM
MORE INFORMATIONFor additional information about how to install Windows XP, click the article numbers below
to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
307848 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307848/EN-US/) HOW TO: Start Setup from MS-DOS in Windows XP
286463 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/286463/EN-US/) Release Notes for Windows XP Setup Contained in the Pro.txt File
306824 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306824/EN-US/) Release Notes for Windows XP Setup Contained in Home.txt File
292607 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/292607/EN-US/) Windows XP Supported Upgrade Paths
278104 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/278104/EN-US/) "This Program Cannot Be Run in DOS Mode" Running Windows XP Setup
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