SAS Common Errors

Overview

This article contains a list of common documented errors received when working with various versions of SAS.

For more information on running SAS, please see How to Run a SAS Program using Windows SAS KB0010542.

Errors with keyword: SASUSER

SAS initialization leads to "Error: Invalid physical name for library SASUSER" or "unable to access SAS kernel" with key word SASUSER 

1. Find SASv8.cfg or SASv9.cfg file in:
   • SAS 9.4 32bit on x64 - C:\Program Files\SASHome\x86\SASFoundation\9.4\nls\en
   • SAS 9.4 - C:\Program Files\SASHome\SASFoundation\9.4\nls\en
   • SAS 9.3 32bit on x64 - C:\Program Files\SASHome\x86\SASFoundation\9.3\nls\en
   • SAS 9.3 - C:\Program Files\SASHome\SASFoundation\9.3\nls\en
   • SAS 9.2 32bit on x64 - C:\Program Files\SAS\SASFoundation\9.2(32bit)\nls\en
   • SAS 9.2 - C:\Program Files\SAS\SASFoundation\9.2\nls\en
   • SAS 9.1.x - C:\Program Files\SAS\SAS 9.1\nls\en
   • SAS 9.0 - C:\Program Files\SAS\SAS System\9.0\nls\en
   • SAS 8.2 - C:\Program Files\SAS Institute\SAS\V8
2. Find line with -SASUSER "e:\sas\9" or
   • -SASUSER "?CSIDL_PERSONAL\My SAS Files\9.2" or
   • -SASUSER "?FOLDERID_Documents\My SAS Files\9.4"
   • or something similar
3. Change this to a random known directory
4. Try to restart SAS

http://support.sas.com/kb/12/457.html

Error: physical file does not exist

The message can appear for any of these issues:

• Any part of the path or filename is misspelled
• The directory or subdirectory does not exist
• The drive may not be mapped to the correct location
• Permission issues
• Server issues
• Special characters or spaces are used in the directory or filename where they are not supported
• Further information: https://communities.sas.com/t5/General-SAS-Programming/ERROR-Physical-file-does-not-exist/td-p/112009

Unable to Initialize

This may include an error message such as:

error occurred when trying to open SAS- "ERROR: Invalid physical name for library SASUSER. FATAL: Unable to initialize the options subsystem. (SASXKINI): PHASE 3 KERNEL INITIALIZATION FAILED. UNABLE TO INITIALIZE THE SAS KERNEL"

http://support.sas.com/kb/12/457.html

1. Followed Step 1 instructions: SAS 9.4 - C:\Program Files\SASHome\SASFoundation\9.4\nls\en in order to find the SASv8.cfg or SASv9.cfg file
2. Right click on the SASv8.cfg or SASv9.cfg file,
3. then open properties,
4. then click security,
5. click edit,
6. a new window will pop up then find the 'users' (person you want to change permissions for) and under Permissions for Everyone for 'Write',
7. check the 'Allow' box, then apply
8. From here open the SASv8.cfg or SASv9.cfg file in Notepad and go to '-SASUSER' line and make sure the path is in line with the path of the SASv8.cfg or SASv9.cfg file.
9. Once all changes have been applied, SAS should open successfully

Stalled SAS Installation

After mounting the first SAS image, the installer starts up and then disappears with nothing happening afterwards.

1. Copy disk 1 from the "Downloads" folder to any folder in your computer 
2. Open the "products" folder in disk 1
3. Open the folder "deploywiz__94474__prt__xx__sp0__1"
4. Open "deploywiz" in notepad to edit
5. Replace all entries of "1024" to "512"
6. File save
7. Run the setup on disk 1

Please insert disk (1, 2, 3, etc.)

All download files are included in the software email.
When prompted for another disk, check that the correct location is mounted. For instance, make sure your checking the C drive, D drive, etc. for the disk.
In some cases, the SAS install mounted each disk on separate letters, disk 2 may not be found where disk 1 was.

This app can't run on your PC

SAS can be accessed by connecting to VPN and using the VMWare Horizon client.