Oracle client installation error - path too long

This limitation is based on older Windows restrictions, where length of environmental variables was important. This limitation is still there in the Oracle installation.

Work around this:

  • Step 1: Copy the value of your 'path' variable to a text-editor (Ex.: notepad) and save this value as backup.
  • Step 2: Reduce the size of this path to less that 1023 characters. Remove path variables at the end. You will mostly not need any of them during the oracle installation. Keep those removed values in a separate text-file, because you need to add them again later!
  • Step 3: Start the oracle installation again.
  • Step 4: After Oracle installation: Add those removed path values again at the end of the path.

Good luck!

Extra screenshot


You could check on the ignore all check box on top right and that should enable the next button to continue further.


One way of fixing this is to go to stage\cvu in the installer directory and edit cvu_prereq.xml, replace all values (there are multiple ones) containing 1023 with a larger number and then try to install it again.

Might need to do this after running the installer but before the installer does the check on the different requirements like the PATH length.


For those who are facing this issue, solution would be to look into your Environment Variable "PATH" and bring it to shorter in length by removing unnecessary paths / repeating paths as suggested by Bob Javis in his comment. Thanks to him.

I had the similar issues and got it resolved by doing so.

To Edit ENV Variable on Windows 7: Start -> Computer -> Properties -> Advanced System Settings -> On "System properties" window, select "Advanced" tab - > Click on "Environment Variable" -> Scroll down to see the PATH variable and click on "Edit" to edit accordingly and Click "OK" to save

Hope someone might get helped :)