VirusScan Enterprise 8.8 fails to install if there are UNC shares included in the PATH environment variable

Technical Articles ID: KB71200
Last Modified: 6/23/2020

Environment

McAfee VirusScan Enterprise (VSE) 8.8

Problem

You see the following error when you try to install VSE 8.8:

McAfee VirusScan Enterprise does not function if there are UNC shares included in the PATH environment variable

Cause

One or more environment variable statements (User or System) contain UNC paths (for example, \\<computer_name>\<folder_name>). Usually, the UNC path is redundant or was added by an older application.

During startup, Windows automatically uses the runtime search PATH to locate modules that are required to run applications and services. If the location is not immediately accessible, Windows might not start certain services including VirusScan components such as McShield or vstskmgr.

Solution

UNC path statements are not supported in this context. The VSE 8.8, Patch 1 Repost addresses this issue.

NOTE: The Repost still blocks installation if this scenario is detected. But, the administrator is now able to override this behavior with the BYPASSUNCCHECK=1 option that can be specified through the command line. When specified at install time, this option bypasses the UNC check, allowing the installation to complete successfully. For example:

SetupVSE.exe BYPASSUNCCHECK=1 /q

(Where /q signifies a silent installation.)

VSE 8.8 Patch 16 is the latest patch available from the Downloads tab on the ServicePortal at https://support.mcafee.com/downloads.

NOTE: VSE 8.8 Patch 16 supports all supported Windows operating systems.

Workaround

Remove the UNC path statement from the Environment Variables statements. To access the Environment Variables, click Start, Settings, Control Panel, Advanced, Environment Variables.

For more information about supported Environment Variables in Windows, see: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd560744(WS.10).aspx.

NOTE: This action is not supported in Windows Server 2008; see Microsoft Knowledge Base article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978856.

Workaround

CAUTION:

McAfee does not endorse this workaround because it involves modifying the .MSI installation file in an untested and unsupported way.
Editing the .MSI table using the Orca tool is advisable only for people who are competent with the technology.

Download Orca, the Microsoft .MSI Editor.
Open the .MSI file in Orca and locate the row in the LaunchCondition table where the condition is UNC_PATH <> “TRUE”.
Change the field content to 1.

This value causes the condition to succeed every time and ignore the UNC_PATH variable.

Affected Products

Install/Uninstall
Known Issue/Product Defect
VirusScan Enterprise 8.8

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VirusScan Enterprise 8.8 fails to install if there are UNC shares included in the PATH environment variable

Environment

Problem

Cause

Solution

Workaround

Workaround

Affected Products

Languages:

Glossary of Technical Terms

Title

Title

Knowledge Center

VirusScan Enterprise 8.8 fails to install if there are UNC shares included in the PATH environment variable

Environment

Problem

Cause

Solution

Workaround

Workaround

Affected Products

Languages:

Glossary of Technical Terms

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