Error Code 1308 Installation AutoCAD: Fixes

Error code 1308 during an AutoCAD installation means the installer cannot read a required source file, usually because the file is missing, corrupted, or blocked. The fix is to replace or repair the problematic file, clear the installer cache, and then retry the installation. Below is a detailed guide to resolving this error on current Windows versions.

What Causes Error 1308

AutoCAD uses the Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI) engine. Error 1308 is a generic MSI error that appears when the installer tries to read a file from the source media (DVD, downloaded folder, or network share) and fails. Common causes include:

An incomplete or corrupted download of the AutoCAD installer.
A scratched or damaged DVD (if using physical media).
Antivirus software blocking or quarantining a required file mid-install.
Windows User Account Control (UAC) or permission issues preventing the installer from accessing its own temp files.
A previous failed installation left a broken cache in C:\Program Files\Autodesk\ or %TEMP%.
Network interruptions if installing from a shared drive.

The error message usually names the specific file it cannot find, for example: “Error 1308. Source file not found: C:\Users\…\AppData\Local\Temp\…\AcadE…msi. Verify that the file exists and that you can access it.”

Before You Begin: Check the Basics

Try these quick checks first; they resolve a surprising number of cases:

If you downloaded the installer, verify the file size matches the one on Autodesk’s download page. A mismatch means the download is corrupt.
If using a DVD, copy the entire contents to a folder on your hard drive and run setup from there. This eliminates read errors from the optical drive.
Temporarily disable your antivirus and Windows Defender real-time protection. Re-enable them after installation.
Right-click the setup executable and select Run as administrator.
Ensure you have at least 10 GB of free disk space on the drive where AutoCAD will install (more if you also install content packs).

Clear the Installer Cache and Temp Files

The Windows Installer caches temporary files in %TEMP% and in the C:\Program Files\Autodesk\ folder. A stale cache from a previous attempt can trigger error 1308. Here’s how to clear it safely:

Press Win + R, type %TEMP%, and press Enter. Delete everything inside this folder. If some files are in use, skip them and continue.
Press Win + R, type temp (without the percent signs) and press Enter. Delete the contents.
Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files\Autodesk. If you have no other Autodesk products installed, you can delete this folder. If you do, delete only subfolders related to the failed AutoCAD version.
Press Win + R, type services.msc, find Windows Installer, right-click it, and select Restart.

After clearing, try the installation again. If it still fails, move to the next step.

Use the Autodesk Installation Repair Tool

Autodesk provides a dedicated utility called the Autodesk Installation Repair Tool (available from Autodesk’s support site). It scans for common installation problems and repairs them automatically. Download and run it, then retry the installation. This tool is especially effective when error 1308 is caused by corrupted Windows Installer registration.

If the tool is not available for your product version, you can manually re-register the Windows Installer service:

Open an elevated Command Prompt (right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator).
Type msiexec /unregister and press Enter.
Type msiexec /regserver and press Enter.
Restart your computer.

Manually Extract and Replace the Missing File

If the error message names a specific file, you can often fix it by extracting that file from the installation media and placing it in the correct location. For example, if the error says AcadE.msi is missing, do this:

Locate the original installation source (the downloaded folder or DVD).
Search for the file name in that source. It may be inside a .cab file or a subfolder. Use Windows Search or the where /r command.
If the file is inside a .cab, extract it using expand command in an elevated Command Prompt: expand path\to\file.cab -F:* destination_folder.
Copy the extracted file to the exact path shown in the error message. If the folder does not exist, create it.
Restart the installation.

This method works because the installer often just needs the file to be present to continue. Be careful to extract the correct version of the file; mismatched versions can cause new errors.

Perform a Clean Uninstall and Reinstall

If none of the above works, a clean uninstall is the most reliable path. A “clean” uninstall removes all traces of the failed installation, including registry entries and leftover folders. Follow these steps:

Open Control Panel > Programs and Features and uninstall any AutoCAD or Autodesk components that appear. Use the Uninstall tool from Autodesk if available.
After uninstalling, restart your computer.
Download the Autodesk Clean Uninstall Tool from Autodesk’s support site and run it. This removes leftover registry keys and files.
Restart again.
Re-download the installer fresh (do not reuse the old download) and run it as administrator.

This is the most thorough fix and resolves error 1308 in the vast majority of cases where the source media is intact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does error 1308 appear even when I downloaded the installer from the official site?

Even official downloads can be corrupted by a flaky internet connection, a proxy server, or antivirus software that modifies files during download. Always verify the file hash (SHA-256) against the one published by Autodesk if available. Also, disable any download managers that might interfere.

Can I ignore error 1308 and continue the installation?

No. The installer will not let you continue because it needs the missing file to complete the installation. Ignoring it or clicking “Retry” without fixing the source will just loop the error. You must resolve the missing file issue first.

Does error 1308 mean my AutoCAD license is invalid?

No. Error 1308 is purely an installation file access problem. It has nothing to do with licensing, activation, or serial numbers. Once the installation completes, you can activate your product normally.

Will clearing the temp folder delete my AutoCAD settings?

No. The %TEMP% folder contains only temporary files. Your AutoCAD profile, settings, and customizations are stored in %APPDATA%\Autodesk and %LOCALAPPDATA%\Autodesk, which you should not delete during this process.

Is error 1308 specific to AutoCAD or can it happen with other Autodesk products?

It can happen with any Autodesk product that uses the MSI installer, such as Revit, Inventor, or 3ds Max. The fixes described here apply to all of them, though the exact file names will differ.

What if the error persists after a clean uninstall and reinstall?

If you still get error 1308 after a clean reinstall, the problem is likely with your Windows installation itself. Run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth in an elevated Command Prompt to repair system files. If that fails, consider creating a new Windows user account and installing from there, or contact Autodesk support with the full error log.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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