PRB: Error: Bad Source File Value in INF File Description line (134317)

SYMPTOMS

Running setup on any 16-bit Windows platform (such as Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups 3.11), from distribution disks that were created with the Setup Wizard, generates the following error:

Bad Source File value in INF File Description line

CAUSE

This error is caused by including files (or a single file) that have long file names for distribution. If the executable was developed on a platform that supports long file names, such as Windows 95 or Windows NT, it is fairly common to include files with the application that take advantage of the long file name capabilities of the operating system.

When the Setup Wizard creates the INF file that will be used in setting up the application, the long file names are written into the INF file description entries. When setup is run on a Windows platform that does not support long file names, the setup program does not know how to interpret these files, and the error occurs. After the error, a message is displayed stating that setup was unsuccessful.

RESOLUTION

To avoid this error when installing an application on Windows platforms that do not support long file names, ensure that all files included for distribution adhere to the MS-DOS 8.3 file-naming conventions.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Create an application in Visual FoxPro on Windows 95 or Windows NT.
Include a file that has a long file name.
Run the Setup Wizard to create distribution disks.
After the disks have been created, try and run setup on a Windows platform that does not support long file names. The error will occur when setup is run.