LTSpice - The system cannot find the path specified.

Hi JAG72 ,

I believe the problem lies in the fact you are installing as "System", which is overly low level. If you are deploying, I would suggest using an admin account that enables access to generic appdata folders. 

I do not believe any app is allowed to access this path:

system32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\LTspice\examples.zip

mike 

Hi mike,

Sorry, but I don't need speculation; I need a developer to fix the bug. It's not because we use System to install software, which, by the way, is a method that has worked with every other piece of software for ages. At least LTSpice has the ALLUSERS=1 function, which was developed for this purpose and has worked until the current version.

Hello Mike,

I am running into the same issue. I believe this is a bug, as the install used to work as SYSTEM up until version 24.1.9.1, after that version installation as SYSTEM fails.

Additionally, this bug existed back in version 17, but was resolved some time later. I found this post where the problem was originally reported and eventually fixed before occuring again: MSI Installer fails silent installs as SYSTEM - Q&A - LTspice - EngineerZone

Most deployment software and RMMs for Windows will run installers as the SYSTEM context to install software for all users, and do not provide an option to run installers under another admin account.

Chiming in to mention that we're also experiencing this issue. Deployed to hundreds of higher education computer labs in the past using the SYSTEM account (since SCCM uses this by default).

Every AI bot I've fed logs into basically tells me exactly what OP is experiencing; system32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\LTspice\examples.zip is attempted to be created because a SYSTEM msi installer is monkeying with appdata locations, which is a big no no.

We're going to be installing previous versions until this is resolved; We don't give rights to students, and don't have an administrative domain user across every machine as that would compromise security. SYSTEM installation is required.

As @andrewatPMPC mentioned, it looks like this was resolved in the past. Let's get that intern back on the horn and get it fixed one more time.

EDIT:  I went ahead and used the WAYBACKMACHINE for this page [Download LTspice | Analog Devices] and chose the JUNE 7TH 2025 release [WayBack: Download LTspice | Analog Devices] which is the 24.1.9 version.  Absolutely no issue installing as admin. I've left notes for future engineers to validate against this webpage here to see if any fixes have been implemented in the future, otherwise, we're stuck on 24.1.9.

We are having the same issue and can confirm that the previous silent install parameters no longer work.
This is a serious issue, because we do not allow administrative elevation of users. 

Hi JAG72 , andrewatPMPC , MikeMiller , ReneWeibel ,

Version 26 has a third install option "On a Server", in place of ALLUSERS=1, to address this problem. I just need to find out what the msiexec.exe flag/parameter is for this (by asking the intern) and will report here. Maybe you can extract, reverse engineer, this yourselves in some clever way from the msi via verbose logging?

What does "On a Server" do? It will install LTspice on the machine without attempting to place any files in appdata, thus avoiding attempts to expand the LTspice library files into the liminal system appdata  folder. The library zip files are instead loaded with the app files. At some later time, when the local user first starts LTspice using a local user account, LTspice then expands the files into the user appdata folder.

mike
LTspice Intern Team
No AI was used in generating the above content

MikeMiller said:

Every AI bot I've fed logs into basically tells me exactly what OP is experiencing; system32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\LTspice\examples.zip is attempted to be created because a SYSTEM msi installer is monkeying with appdata locations, which is a big no no.

MStokowski said:

I do not believe any app is allowed to access this path:

system32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\LTspice\examples.zip

SOLVED.

Despite the tongue in cheek lack of answers floating around here, I've gone ahead and dumped the verbose log during the GUI installer and found the answers myself.

For future visitors, and perhaps in an effort to have a higher result on Google, I've included a snippet dump of the log as it appears between choosing "server installation (uncommon)" as the option in the GUI, and clicking next:

Code Pasting isn't working for me, so here's the wall of text with some notable highlights:

Action 9:46:51: WelcomeDlg.
Action start 9:46:51: WelcomeDlg.
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:46:51:468]: Note: 1: 2205 2: 3: AI_ControlEx
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:46:51:468]: Note: 1: 2228 2: 3: AI_ControlEx 4: SELECT `Dialog_`,`Control`,`Type`,`Parent`,`Attributes`,`Data` FROM `AI_ControlEx` WHERE `Dialog_` = 'WelcomeDlg'
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:46:56:562]: Note: 1: 2205 2: 3: AI_ControlEx
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:46:56:562]: Note: 1: 2228 2: 3: AI_ControlEx 4: SELECT `Dialog_`,`Control`,`Type`,`Parent`,`Attributes`,`Data` FROM `AI_ControlEx` WHERE `Dialog_` = 'LicenseAgreementDlg'
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:46:58:300]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying IAgree property. Its current value is 'No'. Its new value: 'Yes'.
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:47:00:104]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying AI_IA_ENABLE property. Its current value is '0'. Its new value: '1'.
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:47:00:129]: Note: 1: 2205 2: 3: AI_ControlEx
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:47:00:129]: Note: 1: 2228 2: 3: AI_ControlEx 4: SELECT `Dialog_`,`Control`,`Type`,`Parent`,`Attributes`,`Data` FROM `AI_ControlEx` WHERE `Dialog_` = 'ReadmeDlg'
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:47:04:253]: Note: 1: 2205 2: 3: AI_ControlEx
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:47:04:253]: Note: 1: 2228 2: 3: AI_ControlEx 4: SELECT `Dialog_`,`Control`,`Type`,`Parent`,`Attributes`,`Data` FROM `AI_ControlEx` WHERE `Dialog_` = 'InstallTypeDlg'
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:47:11:140]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying AI_INSTALLATIONTYPE property. Its current value is 'Me'. Its new value: 'Server'.
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:47:17:642]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Adding AiDelayedActions property. Its value is ';DoMsiAction;AI_AuthorSinglePackage'.
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:47:17:642]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying AiDelayedActions property. Its current value is ';DoMsiAction;AI_AuthorSinglePackage'. Its new value: ';DoMsiAction;AI_AuthorSinglePackage;DoMsiAction;InstallTypeDlg'.
Action ended 9:47:17: WelcomeDlg. Return value 1.
MSI (c) (D4!28) [09:47:17:650]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Deleting AiDelayedActions property. Its current value is ';DoMsiAction;AI_AuthorSinglePackage;DoMsiAction;InstallTypeDlg'.
MSI (c) (D4!28) [09:47:17:650]: Doing action: AI_AuthorSinglePackage
Action 9:47:17: AI_AuthorSinglePackage.
Action start 9:47:17: AI_AuthorSinglePackage.
MSI (c) (D4:7C) [09:47:17:668]: Invoking remote custom action. DLL: C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp\MSIB325.tmp, Entrypoint: AI_AuthorSinglePackage
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:676]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Deleting ALLUSERS property. Its current value is '1'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:680]: Doing action: FindRelatedProducts
Action 9:47:17: FindRelatedProducts. Searching for related applications
Action start 9:47:17: FindRelatedProducts.
Action ended 9:47:17: FindRelatedProducts. Return value 1.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:688]: Doing action: MigrateFeatureStates
Action 9:47:17: MigrateFeatureStates. Migrating feature states from related applications
Action start 9:47:17: MigrateFeatureStates.
Action ended 9:47:17: MigrateFeatureStates. Return value 0.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:693]: Doing action: AI_SETMIXINSTLOCATION
Action 9:47:17: AI_SETMIXINSTLOCATION.
Action start 9:47:17: AI_SETMIXINSTLOCATION.
Action ended 9:47:17: AI_SETMIXINSTLOCATION. Return value 1.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:697]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Deleting APPDIR property. Its current value is 'C:\Program Files\ADI\LTspice\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:697]: Doing action: AI_RESTORE_LOCATION
Action 9:47:17: AI_RESTORE_LOCATION.
Action start 9:47:17: AI_RESTORE_LOCATION.
MSI (c) (D4:CC) [09:47:17:709]: Invoking remote custom action. DLL: C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp\MSIB365.tmp, Entrypoint: RestoreLocation
Action ended 9:47:17: AI_RESTORE_LOCATION. Return value 1.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:734]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Adding APPDIR property. Its value is 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:734]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying APPDIR property. Its current value is 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:738]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying LTspiceHelp_Dir property. Its current value is 'C:\Program Files\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:738]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying assets_Dir property. Its current value is 'C:\Program Files\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\assets\'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\assets\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:738]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying js_Dir property. Its current value is 'C:\Program Files\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\assets\js\'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\assets\js\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:738]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying css_Dir property. Its current value is 'C:\Program Files\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\assets\css\'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\assets\css\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:740]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying images_Dir property. Its current value is 'C:\Program Files\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\assets\images\'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\assets\images\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:740]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying math_Dir property. Its current value is 'C:\Program Files\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\assets\images\math\'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\assets\images\math\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:740]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying lib_Dir property. Its current value is 'C:\Program Files\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\assets\images\lib\'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\assets\images\lib\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:740]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying template_Dir property. Its current value is 'C:\Program Files\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\template\'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\template\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:740]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying styles_Dir property. Its current value is 'C:\Program Files\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\template\styles\'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\template\styles\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:740]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying scripts_Dir property. Its current value is 'C:\Program Files\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\template\scripts\'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\template\scripts\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:740]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying images_1_Dir property. Its current value is 'C:\Program Files\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\template\images\'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\template\images\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:742]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying LTspice_Dir property. Its current value is 'C:\Program Files\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\template\LTspice\'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\template\LTspice\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:742]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying __Dir property. Its current value is 'C:\Program Files\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\template\LTspice\2019\'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\template\LTspice\2019\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:746]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying whxdata_Dir property. Its current value is 'C:\Program Files\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\whxdata\'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\whxdata\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:749]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying text_Dir property. Its current value is 'C:\Program Files\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\whxdata\text\'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice\LTspiceHelp\whxdata\text\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:751]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying SHORTCUTDIR property. Its current value is 'C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\LTspice'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\LTspice'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:751]: Note: 1: 2727 2: SHORTCUTDIR
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:751]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying ProgramMenuFolder property. Its current value is 'C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:751]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying ProgramMenuFolder property. Its current value is 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:751]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying LTspice_1_Dir property. Its current value is 'C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\LTspice\'. Its new value: 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\LTspice\'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:751]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Adding ALLUSERS property. Its value is '2'.
MSI (c) (D4!40) [09:47:17:751]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Adding MSIINSTALLPERUSER property. Its value is '1'.
Action ended 9:47:17: AI_AuthorSinglePackage. Return value 1.
MSI (c) (D4!28) [09:47:17:761]: Doing action: InstallTypeDlg
Action 9:47:17: InstallTypeDlg.
Action start 9:47:17: InstallTypeDlg.
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:47:17:776]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying AI_INSTALLPERUSER property. Its current value is '1'. Its new value: '0'.
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:47:17:779]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying ALLUSERS property. Its current value is '2'. Its new value: '1'.
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:47:17:779]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying APPDIR property. Its current value is 'C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Programs\ADI\LTspice\'. Its new value: 'C:\Program Files\ADI\LTspice'.
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:47:17:781]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Adding AI_ButtonText_Next_Orig property. Its value is '&Next >'.
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:47:17:783]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying ButtonText_Next property. Its current value is '&Next >'. Its new value: '&Install'.
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:47:17:783]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Adding AI_Text_Next_Orig property. Its value is 'Next'.
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:47:17:787]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying Text_Next property. Its current value is 'Next'. Its new value: 'Install'.
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:47:17:787]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Adding CustomActionData property. Its value is 'Libraries'.
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:47:17:787]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Adding AiDelayedActions property. Its value is ';DoMsiAction;UpdateFeaturesInstallStates'.
MSI (c) (D4!04) [09:47:17:791]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Modifying AiDelayedActions property. Its current value is ';DoMsiAction;UpdateFeaturesInstallStates'. Its new value: ';DoMsiAction;UpdateFeaturesInstallStates;DoMsiAction;InstallTypeDlg'.
Action ended 9:47:17: InstallTypeDlg. Return value 1.
MSI (c) (D4!28) [09:47:17:799]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Deleting AiDelayedActions property. Its current value is ';DoMsiAction;UpdateFeaturesInstallStates;DoMsiAction;InstallTypeDlg'.
MSI (c) (D4!28) [09:47:17:799]: Doing action: UpdateFeaturesInstallStates
Action 9:47:17: UpdateFeaturesInstallStates.
Action start 9:47:17: UpdateFeaturesInstallStates.
MSI (c) (D4:24) [09:47:17:808]: Invoking remote custom action. DLL: C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp\MSIB3C3.tmp, Entrypoint: UpdateFeatureStates
Action ended 9:47:17: UpdateFeaturesInstallStates. Return value 1.
MSI (c) (D4!28) [09:47:17:827]: Doing action: InstallTypeDlg
Action 9:47:17: InstallTypeDlg.
Action start 9:47:17: InstallTypeDlg.

As you can see, some values are important here, and can actually be passed in as parameters during the .msi installation. Notably, the install as a server one, and the all users one.

The method for installing this as SYSTEM from SCCM, MECM, or INTUNE should follow this pattern here:

msiexec /i LTspice64.msi AI_INSTALLATIONTYPE=Server ALLUSERS=1 /qn /L*V "%WINDIR%\Temp\LTspice-Install.log"

• - msiexec /i LTspice64.msi calls msiexec to install LTspice64.msi
- AI_Installationtype=server tells it to skip installing the zip file of pre-created assets to any kind of appdata folder (avoiding the errors from OP's post)
• - Allusers=1 lets it know you're wanting to install it for all users (this was sufficient in older versions; Server type is required now so it doesn't extract crap into the SYSTEM user appdata folder, which is a no-no).
- /qn makes it fully silent
• - /L*V gives you a verbose log (recommended for remote deployments)

Uninstallation follows a similar pattern (this is 26.0.1):

msiexec /x {B19C1C84-84DE-4FC1-8D78-9559FF7C3F81} /qn /L*V "%WINDIR%\Temp\LTspice-Uninstall.log"

Hi MikeMiller ,

MikeMiller said:

- Allusers=1 lets it know you're wanting to install it for all users (this was sufficient in older versions; Server type is required now so it doesn't extract crap into the SYSTEM user appdata folder, which is a no-no).

There is a server option. It's Allusers=[X]. Still waiting on confirmation on what X is. Pretty sure it is not "2" as one might guess, as word is this is reserved by M$.

mike

Hi JAG72 , andrewatPMPC ,MikeMiller ,ReneWeibel 

Our msi expert/intern has developed a solution for silent distributed installs. As we don't have a release coming out right away, he's created a downloadable version of the 26.0.1 msi that has an added custom flag:

1. MY_SPECIAL_MODE = 0 (myself) no need to run as Administrator [equivalent to ALLUSERS=0]
2. MY_SPECIAL_MODE = 1 (machine) Install in C:\Program Files. Requires to run as Administrator and it will create AppData for user [equivalent to ALLUSERS=1, ]
3. MY_SPECIAL_MODE = 2 (machine) Install in C:\Program Files. Requires to run as Administrator and it will NOT create AppData for user

You want to option 3 for a silent distribution. These options correspond to the GUI, respectively:

1. Install for Me \User\...\Program Files, (ALLUSERS=0)
2. Install for All Users (local admin) \Program Files\ (ALLUSERS=1)
3. Install on a Server (msi GUI deployment install) (No equivalent for ALLUSERS, as M$ disallows other values)

So, for a silent install of "Server", you would use this skeleton, adding what other flags you would like:

msiexec /i <....>\LTspice64.msi MY_SPECIAL_MODE=2 /quiet

The MY_SPECIAL_MODE flag is available in the pre-release msi here, for you to try:

https://LTspice.analog.com/download/temp/LTspice64.msi

And will soon be incorporated in the general release as of the next official release. Please note any successes or failures in this thread. Thank you.

A caveat: This allows you to distribute the install without expanding the library files into /appdata/ or user/appdata. When the user starts LTspice for the first time, it will expand the libraries into user\appdata and LTspice will make note of the location of the libraries. User should not need to do anything else. This might not work if the user has a previous ALLUSERS=0 installation. If users do not see the libraries when they go to place a component, or you get a complaint about "no components available", have the user close LTspice, navigate to \users\user\appdata and delete the "LTspice" folder there. Then start LTspice again. The user should see a message about expanding libraries…

If you are using a centralized library location for you libraries, you would have the user add that location to the Search Paths in LTspice. Settings > Search Paths > Symbol & Library 

Thanks for your patience.

mike

Hi MikeMiller ,

For future reference, you can use the following URL structure to do achieve your own surgical wayback:

https://LTspice.analog.com/download/24.1.9/LTspice64.msi 

where the version number can be any 64-bit version, LTspice 17.1 and forward; should work.

mike