"Cannot open specified file" error - Hyperlink to network location issue

Question

I have a link in a presentation to specific location on the internal network to install a printer driver, but it doesn't work - I get the error message "Cannot open specified file"

The network location is formatted along these lines  \\AB1XYZIS022\SUNP9001_FMP 

Why won't it work?

Many thanks

Answer 1

If you've quoted the exact text of the error message (and I'd guess you have), it doesn't seem to be one of PPT's security-nanny messages.  

If that's the exact hyperlink, then it's missing the file extension, which would prevent it from working.  By default, Windows hides the ".XXX" part of the file, even though it may require you to know the extension in some cases.  Like this.  And yes, whoever though this up WAS a moron. ;-)

You can make it stop doing that via Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab | Remove checkmark next to "Hide extensions for known file types"

Answer 2

Thanks for filling in the details on this.  I'd misunderstood twixthecat to mean that the link pointed to the installer EXE or MSI for the printer driver.  

I can repro the problem here ... WinKey + R followed by the UNC name of the printer starts the printer install process.  

A Run Action Setting in PPT  gives me "Powerpoint couldn't locate or start \ServerName\PrinterName.

I copy/pasted the UNC name of the printer from the WinKey+R text box to the Run Program text box in PPT, so there's no question of an incorrect path.

I get the same sort of messages if I try the same UNC path from the command line or from a batch file, so I suspect that the problem originates somewhere below the PPT/application level.

While I usually go all grumpy when one of the MS support people here suggests taking a problem to TechNet, in this case, I think it may be a good idea.  That's where you'd find the IT folks who might have an answer or workaround for installing printers to widespread users.

At the same time, please keep the discussion going here, and let us know if you find anything.

Also, there's this that might be worth looking into:

http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Windows/Windows_7/Q_28406551.html

More detail than I had the network background to absorb:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/7/archive/2011/07/11/allowing-standard-users-to-install-network-printers-on-windows-7-without-prompting-for-administrative-credentials.aspx

And this may be of use:

http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/45529/install-network-printers-via-batch-file-or-command-line-in-windows-78-and-server-2008/

Answer 3

If you've quoted the exact text of the error message (and I'd guess you have), it doesn't seem to be one of PPT's security-nanny messages.  

If that's the exact hyperlink, then it's missing the file extension, which would prevent it from working.  By default, Windows hides the ".XXX" part of the file, even though it may require you to know the extension in some cases.  Like this.  And yes, whoever though this up WAS a moron. ;-)

You can make it stop doing that via Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab | Remove checkmark next to "Hide extensions for known file types"

I realize this is an old thread but there's surprisingly little on the internet regarding this issue.  At any rate, when linking to a printer via a URL, I don't believe there's any "file extension" involved so I'm not sure how showing file extensions would help.  The syntax twixthecat was using is \\PrintServerName\PrinterShareName.  The Printer Share Names can also be seen by typing \\PrintServerName in on a RUN line.  I used to put that type of UNC into Excel spreadsheets and Outlook emails so users could click on the hyperlink and get their printers installed. For some reason this no longer works (I'm using Office 2010) and I only get "Cannot open specified file" when clicking on the hyperlink.  Pasting the same UNC into a RUN line works fine, so there's no issue with the link.  It's Office-related.  I'm trying to send out a notice for 200+ printers that were migrated to a new print server, and am stumped on how to get the links to work.  If anyone has any insights, they'd be appreciated.