Windows Installer problems

Funkstard

This has cropped up recently, and since the microsoft website only served to induce seething frustration, I'm coming here in the hope you might actually be able to help me.

I get this "Windows Installer - Preparing to install files" box that pops up whenever I open up Limewire, and sometimes My Pictures in My Documents. The thing is, it doesn't install, it just freezes and also, I can't uninstall Limewire, or incidentally iTunes for some reason. Can't install the new 6.0.4, can't uninstall the old one. I don't know what's going on, I'm on the verge of tears with frustration please help me

the_syco

Did you try uninstalling them in safe mode?

8T8

This happens because of a prior corrupted install/uninstall procedure you have a few ways of fixing it depending on the damage done.

1) Get lucky and re-install the Windows Installer 3.1 which fixes it.

2) Use the Windows Installer clean up utility to remove the damaged remains of the program.

3) You know the program in question which was the cause of the problems so go through the registry deleting the entries still pertaining to it.

4) Follow Microsoft's steps in repairing the Windows Installer sub-system so the bad installer that is scheduled to run is purged from the system.

5) Use Hijack This to locate the damaged installer often it might be a registry reference with a link to a (missing file)

Funkstard

Thanks for the list, but I'm still stuck;

i)I downloaded Windows Installer 3.1 earlier, didn't make a difference

ii)I downloaded the clean up utility, but lo and behold, when I went to install it a ****head of a box came up and said "The systems administrator has set policies which prevent this installation"

iii)Could be one of many programs

iv)Tried that, on the page I followed these intructions:

"To figure out which installer is failing you have to look in your windows "Event Log". This is a log of activity on your windows NT based OS. To get to the event log right click on "My Computer" and select manage. In the list on the left you'll see "Event Viewer" Select that and then select "Application". If you sort by "Source" You'll see a huge number of MsiInstaller entries. Looking through those entries will tell you who the culprit is. If you either uninstall and re-install the offending software or MsiZap the offending software you'll probably be back in buisiness. "

I didn't really know what to look for, but I clicked on all the warnings under the MsiInstaller entries, and this came up alot of the time:

"Detection of product '{4E921E6B-CFF1-4901-B262-FD049AC8EF56}', feature 'Intel_Modules' failed during request for component '{2BBD855C-60FD-421E-9BF2-D67E06AE0679}'"

Jargon. I'd love if someone knew what this meant

Funkstard

Anyone?

aidan_walsh

Googleing the first GUID gives this link.

Funkstard

Ok, I think I might have found something that will help me. I might need to download a HHACTIVEX.DLL file or something? Except the link leads be to some japanese site

EDIT: Ok, that's obviously not the problem. Downloaded that file, opened it in Run but nothing changed

8T8

When I had this happen before the installer would have the name of the program on it that popped up in my case it was a botched installed of Corel Paint Shop Pro X does the installer on your give any clue as to the identity of the program that is trying to install ?

The cleanup utility requires an admin to be logged on does your account have admin rights ?

There is another way though you will end up disabling the windows installer altogether click:
>start/run
>type: gpedit.msc
>Local Computer Policy/ computer configuration/ administrator templates/ >windows components/ windows installer
>select "disable windows installer".

Alternatively post your log from Hijack this and I can take a look or look at the name of the exe’s in this link and see if any are loading at startup in Hijack this log.