Compile using folders on an alternate hard drive like D Errors ESP32

[VirtualSniper04]

Extension version
Built-in CLI v1.2.2 (2025-04-22T13:51:00Z)

OS & version
Win 1064bit

Describe the bug
Issue compiling ESP32 sketches on a drive other than C drive.

When I try to create a sketch for the esp32 on my D drive, it fails right away saying "Arduino' is not a recognized as an internal or external command while trying to create the partitions.csv

All paths have been included in the c_cpp_properties.json file to path to original C drive location as needed.

Can build fine off D:\ drive using the standard Arduino UNO board after adding the include paths. It just doesn't seem to work for the ESP32, specifically ESP32 Wrover is what I was using.

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Select a folder off D:\ drive
2. Create the sketch "test_connect_esp32"
3. Setup board ESP32 Wrover Module from "esp32 by Espressif Systems"
4. Click on Board Config Options and Review
5. Save All
6. Compile

Expected behavior
When doing this same procedure on my default C:\ drive under my documents, the program compiles and builds all the required folders (core, libraries, sketch) and files with a Compilation completed Successfully.

Screenshots
n/a

Outputs
"Arduino CLI"
Compile project starting...
FQBN: esp32:esp32:esp32wrover:PartitionScheme=minimal,DebugLevel=debug
Using board 'esp32wrover' from platform in folder: C:\Users\Viper\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.2.0
Using core 'esp32' from platform in folder: C:\Users\Viper\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.2.0

cmd /c if exist "D:\=Ardrino=\Custom_Robot_Vehicle\test_connect_esp32\partitions.csv" COPY /y "D:\=Ardrino=\Custom_Robot_Vehicle\test_connect_esp32\partitions.csv" "D:\=Ardrino=\Custom_Robot_Vehicle\test_connect_esp32\build\partitions.csv"
'Ardrino' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
Error during build: exit status 1

Used platform Version Path
esp32:esp32 3.2.0 C:\Users\Viper\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.2.0
Command failed with code 1.
Compilation failed

"Arduino Extension"
Wrote configuration to d:=Ardrino=\Custom_Robot_Vehicle\test_connect_esp32.vscode\arduino.json

Additional context
I have also tried to just copy the folder after it's built from my C drive to D drive and update all paths as needed. This again still doesn't work and gives same error.

"c_cpp_properties.json"
{
"configurations": [
{
"name": "Arduino",
"includePath": [
"C:\Users\Viper\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.2.0\cores\esp32/",
"C:\Users\Viper\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.2.0\variants\esp32/",
"C:\Users\Viper\Documents\Arduino\libraries/",
"D:\=Ardrino=\Custom_Robot_Vehicle\test_connect_esp32/",
"C:\Users\Viper\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\tools\esp32-arduino-libs\idf-release_v5.4-2f7dcd86-v1\esp32\include/**"
],
"forcedInclude": [
"C:\Users\Viper\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.2.0\cores\esp32\Arduino.h"
],
"compilerPath": "C:\Users\Viper\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\tools\esp-x32\2411/bin/xtensa-esp32-elf-g++",
"compilerArgs": [
"C:\Users\Viper\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\tools\esp-x32\2411/bin/xtensa-esp32-elf-g++",
"-MMD",
"-c",
"@C:\Users\Viper\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\tools\esp32-arduino-libs\idf-release_v5.4-2f7dcd86-v1\esp32/flags/cpp_flags",
"-w",

Current Workaround:
Just create sketches on C drive in my docs and backup to D drive.
"-Os",
"-Werror=return-type",
"-DF_CPU=240000000L",
"-DARDUINO=10607",
"-DARDUINO_ESP32_DEV",
"-DARDUINO_ARCH_ESP32",
"-DARDUINO_BOARD="ESP32_DEV"",
"-DARDUINO_VARIANT="esp32"",
"-DARDUINO_PARTITION_default",
"-DARDUINO_HOST_OS="windows"",
"-DARDUINO_FQBN="esp32:esp32:esp32wrover:UploadSpeed=921600,FlashFreq=80,FlashMode=qio,PartitionScheme=default,DebugLevel=none,EraseFlash=none"",
"-DESP32=ESP32",
"-DCORE_DEBUG_LEVEL=0",
"-DBOARD_HAS_PSRAM",
"-mfix-esp32-psram-cache-issue",
"-mfix-esp32-psram-cache-strategy=memw",
"-DARDUINO_USB_CDC_ON_BOOT=0",
"@C:\Users\Viper\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\tools\esp32-arduino-libs\idf-release_v5.4-2f7dcd86-v1\esp32/flags/defines",
"-ID:\=Ardrino=\Custom_Robot_Vehicle\test_connect_esp32",
"-iprefix",
"C:\Users\Viper\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\tools\esp32-arduino-libs\idf-release_v5.4-2f7dcd86-v1\esp32/include/",
"@C:\Users\Viper\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\tools\esp32-arduino-libs\idf-release_v5.4-2f7dcd86-v1\esp32/flags/includes",
"-IC:\Users\Viper\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\tools\esp32-arduino-libs\idf-release_v5.4-2f7dcd86-v1\esp32/qio_qspi/include",
"-IC:\Users\Viper\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.2.0\cores\esp32",
"-IC:\Users\Viper\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\esp32\hardware\esp32\3.2.0\variants\esp32",
"@d:\=Ardrino=\Custom_Robot_Vehicle\test_connect_esp32\build/build_opt.h",
"@d:\=Ardrino=\Custom_Robot_Vehicle\test_connect_esp32\build/file_opts",
"D:\=Ardrino=\Custom_Robot_Vehicle\test_connect_esp32\build\sketch\test_connect_esp32.ino.cpp",
"-o",
"D:\=Ardrino=\Custom_Robot_Vehicle\test_connect_esp32\build\sketch\test_connect_esp32.ino.cpp.o"
],
"defines": [
"F_CPU=240000000L",
"ARDUINO=10607",
"ARDUINO_ESP32_DEV",
"ARDUINO_ARCH_ESP32",
"ARDUINO_BOARD="ESP32_DEV"",
"ARDUINO_VARIANT="esp32"",
"ARDUINO_PARTITION_default",
"ARDUINO_HOST_OS="windows"",
"ARDUINO_FQBN="esp32:esp32:esp32wrover:UploadSpeed=921600,FlashFreq=80,FlashMode=qio,PartitionScheme=default,DebugLevel=none,EraseFlash=none"",
"ESP32=ESP32",
"CORE_DEBUG_LEVEL=0",
"BOARD_HAS_PSRAM",
"ARDUINO_USB_CDC_ON_BOOT=0",
"ARDUINO_BOARD=\"ESP32_DEV\""",
"ARDUINO_VARIANT=\"esp32\""",
"ARDUINO_HOST_OS=\"windows\""",
"ARDUINO_FQBN=\"esp32:esp32:esp32wrover:UploadSpeed=921600,FlashFreq=80,FlashMode=qio,PartitionScheme=default,DebugLevel=none,EraseFlash=none\""",
"ARDUINO_CORE_BUILD",
"USBCON"
],
"cStandard": "c17",
"cppStandard": "c++17"
}
],
"version": 4
}

[thelastoutpostworkshop]

I just created a folder on my H drive manually naming it "test" with a test.ino sketch inside it.
No problem compiling with the ESP32 Dev Module.
On your step 2 "Create the sketch "test_connect_esp32" do you do it with the extension ?

[VirtualSniper04]

Yea, sketch is created with the extension. Everything works fine until I try to create the sketch on a different hard drive.

Does the "=" signs in the folder names cause any issues maybe

[thelastoutpostworkshop]

I am not sure, I was able to reproduce the problem.
Working on a fix.

[thelastoutpostworkshop]

I was able to fix it. If I zip a .vsix file do you know how to install it in vscode to test it ?

[VirtualSniper04]

To install a VS Code extension from a .vsix file, open the Extensions view, click the "More Actions" button (three dots), and select "Install from VSIX...". Then, navigate to and select the desired .vsix file, and finally reload VS Code if prompted. ? I can try it out

[thelastoutpostworkshop]

Yes, here is the zip file containing the .vsix

[thelastoutpostworkshop]

oh the file is too large, let me find another way

[thelastoutpostworkshop]

here is the link to download : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H8MIAu1M-jt5MPZXUsf2OTJlomJNYtq6/view?usp=sharing

[VirtualSniper04]

I was able to install it just fine but still the same issue.

I can compile with no issues with folders on D drive that don't have the "=" sign.
example Folder: D:\tempeps32\ (This works fine, and able to compile)

This folder it stops again at same location as before.
D:=Test2=\

[thelastoutpostworkshop]

So the problem occurs only when there is an an equal sign (=) in the name of the folder ?
Could you post a picture of this folder and its content

[VirtualSniper04]

Yea the equals sign is messing paths up or something.

Nothing really in my folder as its brand new and just has the sketch folder inside and default items using the create new sketch theough your extension.

You should be able to reproduce error by creating a new folder on H using =NewFolder= or something.

[thelastoutpostworkshop]

Yes indeed, was able to reproduce the behavior.
It's the arduino-cli that's causing the problem, here in the documentation it's stated what characters are permitted in a sketch and folder name : https://arduino.github.io/arduino-cli/dev/sketch-specification/#sketch-folders-and-files