"Could not access network location \Hewlett-Packard\\" error

While installing some line-of-business software on Windows 7, we've gotten this error:

This is due to a bogus entry in the registry, and it's almost certainly crud left behind by HP's operating system imaging software. The fix is to go into the registry looking for these keys:

• HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
• HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\

In each case, look for a value named InstallLocation containing the string "\Hewlett-Packard\\": just delete this value and try running the installer again. The second key above (with Wow6432) might only be found on 64-bit versions of Windows.

When in the Registry Editor, it looks like this: the InstallLocation is on the right (be sure to check both locations):

What's happening is that the MSI installer is having its property INSTALLDIR set from this location (not sure why), and this breaks things.

I don't know why some installers have this problem while others do not: my hunch is that it has something to do with using Microsoft's WIX XML-based tools to create the installer - it may be that this is part of some default template. It's not clear that the installer is doing anything wrong, and it may well be that HP needs to just fix its images. I don't know.

This is almost certainly not a Windows 7 issue, as I can reproduce this on XP by planting the above bogus registry values: instead I think it's an HP problem. I've never seen it on anything but an HP-brand computer.

Those who have to deal with this in bulk may wish to create a small .REG file with codes that delete the locations having problems:

hpinstallfix.reg

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall]
"InstallLocation"=-

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall]
"InstallLocation"=-

Running this file (or double-clicking) will apply these values and clean up the registry directly, but it should only be run on systems that are known to have the problem: otherwise it may delete good InstallLocation values found in the registry.

Comments

[Stephen Clothier]

Excellent - saved me lots of time and blood.

[Keesp]

Tried it and it worked! I started a registry search from root location for \Hewlett-Packard\\ and found the same registry location posted by jeon on my HP machine.

Thanks

[Brett]

Thank you much for the tip! It saved me a bunch of time. I found it only under the following location:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall]
"InstallLocation"="\\Hewlett-Packard\\\\"

After removing the key, the install worked perfectly :)!

[Bob D]

Had the same problem on a new HP machine with the install of MySQL. Used the search, cleared the location; worked like a charm.

Thanks,

[Allan]

I followed the steps to locate [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall] but i can't even find the 'installlocation' directory.There is no such thing as a Hewlett-Packard directory...am using windows 7 64Bit. Is there another way to do this?

[Roy]

Thanks a lot for this information, it does solve my problem.

[Kjell Williams]

NO FRIGGIN' WAY!

I have been trying to install MySQL on and off since the beginning of the year and have given up every time, and for some reason decided to try again today. Searched for \Hewlett-Packard\\ and FOUND IT!

By the way, deleting something from the registry felt like doing brain surgery on my dog: Felt like I had no idea what I was doing, but it'd better work, or I'd have some explaining to do to my wife.

Thank you to Steve and everybody else contributing here. I can FINALLY start experimenting with MySQL.

Wow.

[Alex]

Thanks man! For me it works just fine: i've created hpinstallfix.reg with the info provided, double click and now i can install MySql Server 5.5

[eric]

Wow, thanks for the fix

[Felix]

Thanks so much! It solves my problem.

[Zee]

This information was extremely helpful, I have to agree with Wayne Fuller, you do not need to delete the value, only to clear the data in the string.

thanks,
ZK

[Pete]

Assisted me with an installation of Milestone xProtect, Thanks!!!

[Rita]

This resolved my issue-was not able to install mimecast ADD-in for Outlook. Thank you!

[Soumya Chatterjee]

Thanx a lot .....