You receive a "cannot open the device or file specified" error message when you try to install a Windows Installer package (834549)

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install a Microsoft Windows Installer package, you may receive the following error message:

The system cannot open the device or file specified

CAUSE

This problem occurs if the folder where the Windows Installer package is located is encrypted or if the folder where you want to install the Windows Installer package is encrypted.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, save the Windows Installer package to a folder that is not encrypted or install the Windows Installer package to a folder that is not encrypted.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to reproduce the behavior

In your system root folder, create a new folder that is named msiTest.
Copy the Setup file of the Windows Installer package that you want install to the msiTest folder.
Encrypt the msiTest folder:
1. Right-click the msiTest folder, and then click Properties.
  
  The msiTest Properties dialog box appears.
2. In the msiTest Properties dialog box, click the General tab.
3. On the General tab, click Advanced.
  
  The Advanced Attributes dialog box appears.
4. In the Advanced Attributes dialog box, click to select the Encrypt contents to secure data options, and then click OK.
5. Click OK.
In the msiTest folder, double-click the Setup file of the Windows Installer package.

REFERENCES

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

307364 How to install the Windows Installer by using Visual Studio .NET

For more information, visit the following Microsoft Web sites:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/msi/setup/windows_installer_start_page.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/encryptdata.mspx