Resolving the "Invalid Characters" Error in Oracle Database 23ai Free Edition Installation

Oracle Database 23ai Free Edition offers a fully functional database for development, testing, and production purposes, allowing users to experience the powerful features of Oracle Database. However, users may encounter errors during the installation process, which can be frustrating and time-consuming to resolve. This article addresses a common issue that users may encounter during the installation of Oracle Database 23ai Free Edition and provides a solution to ensure a successful installation.

During a silent installation of Oracle Database 23ai Free Edition on Windows, the process terminates abruptly, and the setup.log file displays the following error message:

"SEVERE: The provided destination folder has invalid characters. Verify and try again."

The log file continues to grow in size, and the installation process must be manually terminated. This error can occur even when the destination folder path appears to be correct and free of any invalid characters.

Troubleshooting:

To resolve this issue, ensure that the following conditions are met:

1. Absolute Path for RSP File

Specify an absolute path for the RSP file in the command line. For example:

setup.exe /s /v"RSP_FILE=c:\myinstallpath\FREEInstall.rsp" /v"/L*v setup.log" /v"/qn"

This is necessary because the setup.exe file does not recognize the RSP file if only the filename is provided. By specifying the absolute path, you ensure that the setup.exe file can locate the RSP file correctly.

2. Empty Values in RSP File

Although the RSP file comment suggests that no parameter should be left with an empty value, it is safe to leave the DB_DOMAIN parameter empty if it is not required. This is because the DB_DOMAIN parameter is not mandatory, and leaving it empty does not affect the installation process.

Here is an example RSP file (FREEInstall.rsp) that can be used for a successful installation:

#Do not leave any parameter with empty value

#Install Directory location, username can be replaced with current user

INSTALLDIR=C:\app\myname\product\23ai\

#Database password, All users are set with this password, Remove the value once installation is complete

PASSWORD=mypassword

#If listener port is set to 0, available port will be allocated starting from 1521 automatically

LISTENER_PORT=0

#Specify char set of the database

CHAR_SET=AL32UTF8

#Specify the database domain for the db unique name specification

DB_DOMAIN=

#Specify TRUE for performing software only install

SOFTWARE_ONLY=FALSE

#Specify TRUE if installer should modify directory permissions when ACL is incorrect

MODIFY_DIRECTORY_PERMISSIONS=TRUE

By following the troubleshooting steps and using the example RSP file provided, you should be able to successfully install Oracle Database 23ai Free Edition on your Windows system. Remember to specify the absolute path for the RSP file and leave the DB_DOMAIN parameter empty if it is not required. If you encounter any further issues, refer to the Oracle Database documentation and support resources for assistance.