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Error: Feature You Are Trying to Use Is on Network Resource That Is Unavailable

Symptom​

A Netwrix product prompts the following error during uninstallation or installation (upgrade):

The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable.
Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the installation package %.msi_file% in the box below.

Causes​

  • A Windows system keeps a copy of a version-specific installation executable. The operating system (OS) uses it during uninstallation or installation (upgrade). In case no executable is available on the server, the error is prompted.
  • The registry entry for the affected Netwrix product is corrupted—no product code or revision number is available for the current product deployment. The OS cannot proceed with the upgrade as corresponding values mismatch.

Resolutions​

There are two possible options to troubleshoot the issue—refer to the following two subsections.

Windows Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter​

Windows published a dedicated troubleshooting solution to resolve any uninstallation or installation (upgrade) issues related to this error. Refer to the following steps to implement it in your environment:

  1. On the affected server, download and run the Windows Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter. You can download it here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/fix-problems-that-block-programs-from-being-installed-or-removed-cca7d1b6-65a9-3d98-426b-e9f927e1eb4d (Fix Problems that Block Programs from Being Installed or Removed · Microsoft).
  2. Proceed with the troubleshooter steps:
    1. Click Next.
    2. Select Installing or Uninstalling.
    3. Select the affected program from the list.
    4. Select the suitable option.

If the affected program is missing from the list, or if the troubleshooter prompts the Troubleshooting couldn't identify the problem error, proceed to the next resolution.

Manual Fix​

Refer to the following steps to resolve the error:

  1. Establish the current version of the affected Netwrix product.
  2. Obtain the version-specific installation executable of the affected product. Open a ticket to request an executable at https://www.netwrix.com/tickets.html#/tickets/open (My Tickets · Netwrix).
  3. Extract the installation executable from the archive.
  4. When the wizard prompts the original error, link the new source in the Use source field. Click OK to proceed.

Tips​

  • In case you link an incorrectly named file, the installation wizard prompts the following error:

    The path %path_to_.msi% cannot be found

    Verify the name of the installation file—it should be named as specified in the error prompt.

  • The Netwrix Auditor installation wizard includes both server and client setup files. Refer to the following options to extract the contents:

    • Extract the executable contents via Command Prompt. Refer to the following article for additional information: https://docs.netwrix.com/docs/auditor/10_8 Client via Group Policy — Extract MSI File · v10.6).
    • Extract the executable contents using 7-Zip or alternative software. Link the folder containing the extracted files to proceed with installation\uninstallation.

  • When you upgrade your Netwrix Auditor instance, you might encounter the error during the service upgrade procedure. Refer to the default locations of the service installation files to provide the version-specific executable:

    User Activity Core Service:

    C:\Program Files (x86)\Netwrix Auditor\User Activity Video Recording\UACoreSvcSetup.msi

    Windows Server Compression Service:

    C:\Program Files (x86)\Netwrix Auditor\Windows Server Auditing\Netwrix.WSA.CompressionService.Setup.msi