PRB: "Invalid command-line parameters" Error Installing Application (248887)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Basic Standard Edition for Windows 3.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 3.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows 6.0
This article was previously published under Q248887

SYMPTOMS

When attempting to install a Microsoft Visual Basic 3.0 application onto a target computer where a Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 application is installed, one or more error messages are displayed and the installation fails. The specific errors may vary, but can include the following:
Invalid command-line parameters. Unable to continue.
Setup was not completed successfully.
Also, the window displaying the message, "Initializing Setup ..." may be left on the screen. If this is the case, you must use Task Manager to kill the "SETUP.EXE" task.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because distributions created using the Visual Basic 6.0 Package and Deployment Wizard (PDW) leave behind some files, including Setup1.exe. When a Visual Basic 3.0 distribution package finds a copy of Setup1.exe on the target system, it will use it instead of overwriting it with it's own copy of Setup1.exe. The Visual Basic 3.0 Setup cannot use the Visual Basic 6.0 version of Setup1.exe and it fails with the preceding error(s).

NOTE: Other application installations can also leave behind a file called Setup1.exe, causing the same problem.

RESOLUTION

To avoid this problem, delete the Setup1.exe file that is left on the target system before running the Visual Basic 3.0 setup.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Visual Basic 6.0 typically leaves Setup1.exe in the operating system folder, (that is, C:\Windows) but it may also be found in a Temp folder.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. Install a Visual Basic 3.0 installation package onto a computer that has no Visual Basic products or applications installed. Confirm that the installation completes successfully.
  2. Install a Visual Basic 6.0 application distribution package created using the PDW onto the same computer. Confirm that the installation completes successfully.
  3. Install the same Visual Basic 3.0 installation package from Step 1 (or a new Visual Basic 3.0 package) onto this same computer. Instead of completing successfully, you will receive the error described in the Symptoms section of this article.

Steps to Resolve Problem

  1. On the same computer as above, locate and delete the file Setup1.exe.
  2. Install the same Visual Basic 3.0 installation package from the preceding steps (or a new Visual Basic 3.0 package) onto this same computer. It will complete successfully.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/12/2003
Keywords:kbAppSetup kbDeployment kbprb kbsetup kbwizard KB248887
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.