"Error 1324. The folder path 'Documents and Settings' contains an invalid character" error message when you install Office 2000 (325069)


The information in this article applies to:

  • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Office 2000 Premium
  • Microsoft Office 2000 Professoinal
  • Microsoft Office 2000 Standard
  • Microsoft Office 2000 Small Business
  • Microsoft Office 2000 Developer
  • Microsoft Access 2000
  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft FrontPage 2000
  • Microsoft Outlook 2000
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
  • Microsoft Word 2000
This article was previously published under Q325069
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install Office 2000, you may receive an error message similar to the following:
Error 1324. The folder path 'Documents and Settings' contains an invalid character.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur if both of the following conditions are true:
  • Your operating system is Microsoft Windows 2000.
  • Either Win31FileSystem or NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation is set to some value other than 0 (zero) under the following registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem follow these steps.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit32 in the Open box, and then press ENTER.
  2. Locate and click the following key in the registry:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem

  3. If either Win31FileSystem or NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation entries are set to some value other than 0 (zero), double-click the entry, change the value to 0, and then click OK.
  4. Quit Registry Editor.
  5. Restart the computer, and then install Office.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about how to enable long file name support on FAT partitions and how to disable the 8.3 name creation on all NTFS file system partitions, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

116342 How to Disable Long File Name Support on FAT Partitions

121007 How to Disable the 8.3 Name Creation on NTFS Partitions

237915 OFF2000: Windows Installer Error 1324 When You Run Setup

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/13/2006
Keywords:kbtshoot kbsetup kberrmsg kbprb KB325069
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