Error installing XAMPP: Windows cannot find -n

Question

I've been trying to install XAMPP for quite some time now, but every time, at the end of the installation, it says:

Windows cannot find "-n"

And after that, it says:

Problem running post-install step. Installation failed (php.exe) Perhaps you have to install Visual C++ 2008 package.

I have Visual C++ 2008 package and it still says this. What do I do now? I have Windows 10 64-bit for anyone wondering.

Answer 1

I installed it in the root of my C: drive and it worked. Strange that previously I could just install it in my program files folder and that everything works...

Answer 2

Had the same problem when I tried to install xampp in a folder with spaces in its name (some folder example)

It was solved after I reinstalled xampp in a folder that has no space in its name, E.g. c:/xampp

Answer 3

Change your registry settings.

1. Open Registry Editor by pressing Windows + R key combination, type in regedit and press Enter.
2. If prompted by UAC, click on Yes to continue.
3. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
4. In right-side pane, look for a EnableLUA and set the value to 0 and close Registry Editor.
5. Restart your computer.

Source: windows10update.com

Then type in XAMPP shell:

setup_xampp.bat

Answer 4

That error could be shown if you already had an older version of XAMPP installed to the default folder (C:\xampp) and you try to install a new version in a specific custom folder. Just go to the Windows Control Panel, Add or Remove programs and uninstall the old installation of XAMPP.