: The installer needs full access to the Windows Temp folder to cache MSI files. You can manually grant "Full Control" to "Everyone" for the C:\Windows\Temp folder temporarily to see if it bypasses the "cannot locate" error. Advanced Troubleshooting
If you've tried the basic steps and still see the error, it's highly likely that a previous installation is interfering. In this case, the installer is trying to find the MSI to remove an older, corrupted "ghost" version from the system. Removing its registry entry is a common and effective fix.
Some setup packages support command-line arguments to force layout extraction, saving all required components directly to a folder of your choice.
The error typically occurs when installing the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) . This happens because the installer cannot find a specific component, often due to an incomplete download, restricted folder permissions, or attempting an offline installation without all required files. 1. Perform an Offline Download (Most Reliable) setup cannot locate toolkit documentation-x86-en-us.msi
Follow these troubleshooting steps in order to bypass or fix the missing .msi file block. Method 1: Clear the Temporary Directory and Re-download
The setup files weren't fully unpacked. Path Mismatch: You moved the installer after starting it.
Many complex toolkits bundle multiple .msi packages inside a single executable ( .exe ). If the main installer cannot find the internal documentation file, you can manually extract it. : The installer needs full access to the
Navigate to your installer folder using the cd command (e.g., cd C:\SetupFiles ).
Click in the installer, navigate to that exact folder, select the .msi file, and click OK to resume installation.
Deleting the wrong GUID can break other applications. Only delete entries explicitly referencing "toolkit documentation." In this case, the installer is trying to
Avoid installing directly to system folders or network drives. Try a simple path like C:\ADK_Files .
: The most reliable fix is often to clear your current download folder and run adksetup.exe again, ensuring you select the offline installer option to get every required .msi and .cab file.
: If you are downloading the kit for later installation, avoid using deeply nested folders or protected system directories. Users have found success by setting the download directory to a simpler path, like their Documents folder or the root of the C: drive .