Windows system allows the users to install various types of applications on your system using executable/setup files. Recently many windows users started complaining that they are receiving an error called INTERNAL ERROR: cannot create temporary directory on their system while trying to install any application using an executable file. The problem is not only limited to this but also prevents the users to launch any existing applications also that were installed on the windows system.
Some of the possible reasons are listed below.
- No admin privileges are given while running the executable file for installation.
- Invalid or a different path is given to the TMP variable.
- Corrupted system files
- Control settings might have been changed for the Temp folder
Now let us see how this error can be fixed using the solutions given below in this article.
Workaround – Try restoring your system on your windows system to revert back to the last saved point.
Solution 1 – Check the Path of the TMP & TEMP variable
Sometimes, if the path is invalid or refers to some other directory instead of the temporary folder from your system for one of the environment variables called TMP & TEMP, then this error is expected to happen. So we recommend you check the path given to the TMP & TEMP variables using the steps given below.
Step 1: Open the System Properties window on your system by pressing the Windows and R keys to open the Run command box.
Step 2: Then type systempropertiesadvanced in the textbox and hit Enter key.
Step 3: This opens up the System Properties with the Advanced tab.
Step 4: Click the Environment Variables option at the bottom of the window as shown in the picture below.
Step 5: In the Environment Variables window that appeared on the screen, double-click on the TEMP variable under the User variables section.
Step 6: Now type the below line in the Variable value textbox and tap on OK.
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp
Step 7: Do the same for the TMP variable as well.
Step 8: Then click OK on the Environment Variables window to close it.
Step 9: Now close the system properties window and restart the system.
After the system starts, check if the problem got solved. If not, try other solutions below.
Solution 2 – Run the Executable File as Admin
When you are using an admin account while logging on to your system, it does most of the work smoothly and does not cause any problems. But certain issues appear when you have logged in with a user account on the system. So let us see how to run any executable file as admin while you are still with a user account.
Step 1: Go to the folder or desktop where you have got the executable file for installing the application.
Step 2: Now right-click on the executable file and select Run as administrator from the context menu as shown below.
Step 3: Next follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process without any errors.
Solution 3 – Perform CHKDSK on your system
Step 1: Open the Command Prompt on your system. Firstly, press the Windows and R keys together to open the Run command box.
Step 2: Then type cmd in the Run box and press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER keys all together at once which opens the command prompt window as admin.
NOTE: You should accept the UAC prompt by clicking Yes.
Step 3: Type the below line in the command prompt and press the Enter key to execute it.
chkdsk /x /f /r
Step 4: Here it throws a message on the command prompt window that says “Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)“.
Step 5: Now type Y and hit Enter key.
Step 6: You can close the Command Prompt window.
Step 7: Restart the system so that Chkdsk will start checking for errors and fixing them.
Step 8: After the system completes it and starts up, check if the issue got resolved.
Solution 4 – Assign a Newly Created Folder path to the TEMP & TMP Variables
Step 1: Open the C:\ drive on your computer.
Step 2: Create a new folder in C:\ drive by clicking the New dropdown menu and selecting Folder from the menu.
Step 3: Then rename it to Temp.
Step 4: Now you can close the C:\ drive folder.
Step 5: After this, you should open the Run command box by pressing the Windows + R keys together.
Step 6: Once the Run box appears, type systempropertiesadvanced in it and tap on the Enter key.
Step 7: This will open the System Properties window.
Step 8: Now open the Environment Variables window by clicking on Environment variables at the bottom of the window as shown below.
Step 9: Double-click on the TEMP variable which is in the User variables section at the top as shown below.
Step 10: Then, Enter the below line in the Variable value textbox and click OK.
C:\Temp
Step 11: Now you should repeat the same thing with the TMP variable under the User variables section.
Step 12: Then, close all the windows open by clicking OK.
Solution 5 – Change the Permissions Access to Full Control for the Temp folder
Step 1: Open the Windows folder through the Run box. First press the Windows and R keys together which opens the Run box.
Step 2: Then type C:\Windows in the textbox of Run and hit the Enter key.
Step 3: Next once the windows folder is open, look for the folder named Temp and right-click on it.
Step 4: Now select the Properties option from the context menu as shown below.
Step 5: In the Properties window, you should go to the Security tab by clicking on it.
Step 6: Then, to change the permissions you need to go to the Advanced Settings window by clicking the Advanced button at the bottom as shown below.
Step 7: Make sure you are on the Permissions tab in the Advanced Security Settings window.
Step 8: Double-click on the User from the list given under the Permissions tab to open its permissions window.
Step 9: Now check the Full control checkbox by clicking on it once and then automatically rest of the checkboxes like modify, read & execute, etc. will get checked as shown in the below image.
Step 10: Once done click OK.
Step 11: Then close the Properties window by clicking Apply and OK.