win xp failed to install any .cab file from CD

Hi there,

I am getting a bit desperate here.. Really will like to have some help and advise..

I got 3 computers )workstation at home, all running winxp pro. 2 are sp1 and 1 just standard winxp and 1 server running windows server 2003.
From about a month ago, I start to receive error message whenever I install a software from a CD. No matter what software, if the installation consists of installing a .cab file, it will return an error:
"Error 1131 source file not found. Please make sure the file is ready and access is allow. "
That happens to autocad, max, viz, even games if there is a .cab file involved in the installation. I can work around it with putting all the files on the harddrive and install it from there. But now i had a software that can only allows me to install from a CD. if I placed the files on the harddrive and run setup, it will request to install from the CD.

I had nero 6 install, so i figure I can create an image drive (virtual CD) by firstly ripping the CD contents into an ISO file and mount it as a CD. However the result is exactly the same, still errors.

So I went on to another machine and install, exactly the same thing happens. ALL 3 WINDOWS XP MACHINES DID EXACTLY THE SAME THING.
I tried to install it on the server (win server 2003) and it works there... But I don't want to install it onto the server though..

Okei.. so i try to isolate down a few things:
1. Is not about which version of windows xp (sp 1 or standard) but it is something within windows xp.
2. Is not about nav (i had Nav 7.6 Corp Edition on server and clients installed on XP) as I had not installed the Nav client on 1 of the XP machines (the other 2 has it).
3. It is something about the CD drive, but it is not about the hardware, as I had tried to installed the same CD, from 4 different CD drives on 3 XP machines.
4. It is about the CD either. It is a brand new original CD, i just bought it.

The last common thing I can think of is that i got nero 6 on all 3 xp machines, I am not sure if that will create any problems.

In terms of windows services, I had turned on windows installer service but still no joy.

Personally I think the problem has to do with Windows XP unable to read the path or find the path that points to the .cab file when installing from a CD.

I am really stuck here. If anyone can help me, I will deeply appreciate it as currently I am stuck with looking at my new software CD instead of installing it..

Thanks heaps

Cheers
Winston

 

Welcome to the forum and hopefully we can get things set right for you.

For openers, you said if the installation consists of installing a .cab file, it will return an error. Cab files are simply compressed wrappers (think winzip here) that hold other files that will need to be expanded and installed. But you don't 'install' the cab file itself.

As to the specific answer to why you are having problems, I seem to remember this same basic question and a good answer in the not too distant past but for some reason, my brain is full of sludge this evening so I'll pass and let someone who is feeling sharper give you an answer. It's early enough that it may well happen tonight.