Upgrade of system agent fails with CreateProcess error=193

Products

• Autosys Workload Automation

Issue/Introduction

Upgrading from System Agent 12.0 to 24.0 is generally a straightforward process. However, some users may encounter a FATAL ERROR during the file generation phase. If your installation logs show a java.io.IOException referencing CreateProcess error=193, you are likely dealing with a path resolution conflict.

Following messages were found back in WA_Agent_24.0.00_Install_mm_dd_yyyy_hh_mm_ss.log

:Unexpected error occurred during file generation:

   Exception: java.io.IOException: Cannot run program "D:\Program": CreateProcess error=193, %1 is not a valid Win32 application

   Exception Message: Cannot run program "D:\Program": CreateProcess error=193, %1 is not a valid Win32 application

   Exception stack trace:

java.io.IOException: Cannot run program "D:\Program": CreateProcess error=193, %1 is not a valid Win32 application

at java.lang.ProcessBuilder.start(ProcessBuilder.java:1048)

at java.lang.Runtime.exec(Runtime.java:593)

at java.lang.Runtime.exec(Runtime.java:423)

at java.lang.Runtime.exec(Runtime.java:320)

at com.ca.generator.CybJREVersion.getJavaVersion(CybJREVersion.java:58)

at com.ca.generator.AgentData.getjVersion(AgentData.java:1044)

at com.ca.generator.UpgradeFiles$UpgradeAgentData.getjVersion(UpgradeFiles.java:844)

at com.ca.generator.UpgradeFiles.upgradeFixOscomponentClassPath(UpgradeFiles.java:223)

at com.ca.generator.UpgradeFiles.upgradeAgentParam(UpgradeFiles.java:1129)

at com.ca.generator.UpgradeFiles.upgradeAll(UpgradeFiles.java:79)

at com.ca.generator.GenerateFilesDriver.main(GenerateFilesDriver.java:27)

Caused by: java.io.IOException: CreateProcess error=193, %1 is not a valid Win32 application

at java.lang.ProcessImpl.create(Native Method)

at java.lang.ProcessImpl.<init>(ProcessImpl.java:453)

at java.lang.ProcessImpl.start(ProcessImpl.java:139)

at java.lang.ProcessBuilder.start(ProcessBuilder.java:1029)

... 10 more

 

                          Status: FATAL ERROR
                          Additional Notes: FATAL ERROR - "Post-Install: Generation of additional files failed"

Environment

Windows 

Cause

During the post-install phase, the installer attempts to verify the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) version. The logs will typically display the following:

Exception: java.io.IOException: Cannot run program "D:\Program": CreateProcess error=193, %1 is not a valid Win32 application

The error occurs because the installer is attempting to call a script or executable located in D:\Program Files\....

In Windows, if a file named "Program" (with no extension) exists in the root of the drive (e.g., D:\Program), the operating system may mistake that file for the executable it's trying to run. Because this file is likely a text log or a corrupted remnant—and not a valid 64-bit application—the system throws Error 193.

Resolution

Rename: Change the file to Program_old or move it to a temporary folder.

Delete: If the file is an accidental log or an empty file, delete it.

Note: Do not touch the "Program Files" folder itself; you are only looking for a file named "Program" sitting outside of it.