MATLAB: Do I receive a message stating “Error finding installer class” when trying to install MATLAB on Windows

MATLAB

After starting the installation, I receive the following error message:
Error finding installer class
This error may also manifest as:
Invalid disk
Cannot find appropriate setup.exe file.

Best Answer

There are several circumstances which may cause this error:
  • Non-ASCII characters (e.g. !@#$&^?) are present in the path to the MATLAB installation folder, or the name of the folder itself
  • Non-ASCII characters are present in the path to the Windows TEMP folder, the name of the TEMP folder itself, or the values of the TEMP and/or TMP environment variables
  • Non-ASCII characters are present in the path to the folder containing the MATLAB installer, or the name of the folder itself
  • There is a problem with the installation files (damaged DVD, corrupt or incomplete downloads)
  • MATLAB is already installed and you are running the setup.exe from the installation folder/directory
To resolve this issue:
Verify that the MATLAB installer is in a folder that contains ASCII characters only, and/or move the folder to the root of your C drive.
If the installer launches, verify that you are installing MATLAB into a folder with ASCII characters only.
Verify that the Windows TEMP and TMP environment variables contain ASCII characters only.
Windows 7:
  1. Right click on “Computer” and select “Properties”
  2. Click on “Advanced Settings” on the left side
  3. Click “Yes” if User Account Control prompt asks “Allow changes”)
  4. Click on the “Environment Variables” button (bottom)
Windows 8.1:
  1. Right click on “This PC” and select “Properties”
  2. Click on “Advanced Settings” on the left side
  3. Click “Yes” if User Account Control prompt asks “Allow changes”)
  4. Click on the “Environment Variables” button (bottom)
Windows 10:
  1. Type “environment variable” into the search field and select “Edit the system environment variables” to open System Properties
  2. Click “Yes” if User Account Control prompt asks “Allow changes”)
  3. Click “Environment Variables” button (bottom)
Check the TMP and TEMP variables under both System and User. If the variable is set to a value between percent signs (e.g. %TMP%) or to a path containing only ASCII characters, then the variable does not need to be modified.
If either of the variables are set to values that contain non-ASCII characters (e.g. !@#$&^?), the variables must be modified. To do so, double click on the variable or highlight it and choose “Edit”.
After modifying variables, restart the computer and try running the MATLAB installer again.
Run the MATLAB installer in Windows Safe mode.
If the installation folder and the TEMP/TMP folders all contain only ASCII characters, try running the MATLAB installer in Windows Safe Mode with networking. To boot your computer into safe mode, follow the steps below.
Windows 7:
  1. Open the Start menu
  2. Type msconfig and press enter
  3. Click on the tab labeled “Boot”
  4. Check the box labeled “Safe boot”
  5. Click the button labeled “Network”
  6. Restart your computer
Windows 8.1:
  1. Press the “Start” button
  2. Right click on the power button in the lower right
  3. Hold shift and click on “Restart”
  4. Click on “Troubleshoot”
  5. Click on “Advanced options”
  6. Click on “Windows Startup Settings”
  7. Click on “Restart”
  8. After your computer restarts, enter the number “5”
Windows 10:
  1. Open the Start menu
  2. Click “Power”
  3. Hold shift and click on “Restart”
  4. Click on “Troubleshoot”
  5. Click on “Advanced options”
  6. Click on “Windows Startup Settings”
  7. Click on “Restart”
  8. After your computer restarts, enter the number “5”
Use different installation files
If the installer does not work after the workarounds above, the installer may be corrupt. Redownload the installation files from the MathWorks website and clear the installer’s download cache by deleting the “MathWorks” folder in your “Downloads” folder.
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