Grrrr!!! Need help with Microsoft windows installer

danger boy

This shouldn't be that tough, it really shouldn't.

In the old days.. you'd do a search for whatever it was you were looking for.. found the software and installed it. Done deal.

today I do a search for "windows installer" and it all links to third party software that you "install" for free, but to use it you have to pay for the dang thing. Plus it doesn't do squat either.

I could use some help because I am trying to update my old version of Ad Aware 2007. My computer won't uninstall Ad Aware 2007 and let me install Ad Aware 2008 because my computer's "installer" program is fubar.

Where can I go to download a free Windows XP installer program and not get linked to some software site? Or if anyone knows how to fix the installer program on my computer.. I'd much appreciate it.

thanks, AL

P.S. I'm also not sure I have XP SP3 or not. I don't remember if I downloaded that or not.

disneyjoe7

Al your SP3 question, Start, right click on My Computer down to properties, the general view should state XP service pack X.

Now your Ad-Ware software can't you install over the old version if needed. But I would make sure all my Microsoft updates are done first.

danger boy

i'll try that Sal.

Last night I tried 3 times to install XP SP3, but each time it failed on install.

billbillw

Sounds like your OS has a few parts corrupted. A clean install is probably the only way you will fix all your problems. Back up everything and start from scratch.
Honestly, this should be performed every 2-3 years on most computers. Most people just suffer and end up getting new computers when they really only need a clean install.

Serendipity

billbillw wrote: »

Sounds like your OS has a few parts corrupted. A clean install is probably the only way you will fix all your problems. Back up everything and start from scratch.
Honestly, this should be performed every 2-3 years on most computers. Most people just suffer and end up getting new computers when they really only need a clean install.

I've had machines that I bought from a store (HP, Dell, etc.) that were so loaded with bloatware that I had to reformat and install a clean copy of the OS on them. I can't believe how much crap goes onto a modern PC when you first buy it.

I don't do this every 2-3 years, I just do it when I first get the PC and then that's all.

danger boy

good idea on the clean install.. but I don't know if I want to do that.... the computer is due to be replaced the end of this year or next. I'm sure it would help though.

bobman1235

billbillw wrote: »

Sounds like your OS has a few parts corrupted. A clean install is probably the only way you will fix all your problems. Back up everything and start from scratch.
Honestly, this should be performed every 2-3 years on most computers. Most people just suffer and end up getting new computers when they really only need a clean install.

Careful, now you're going to get yelled at by people who claim this is never necessary, and in their 45 years of computer experience they've never had to format a drive.

(I completely agree with you, btw, I've just been harassed for this opinion a bunch of times)

billbillw

bobman1235 wrote: »

Careful, now you're going to get yelled at by people who claim this is never necessary, and in their 45 years of computer experience they've never had to format a drive.

(I completely agree with you, btw, I've just been harassed for this opinion a bunch of times)

Well, I should have elaborated. I think it really depends how much installing/uninstalling the person does.

My work computers, which never get anything installed other than Windows updates, work great after 3+ years. Prior to that, I had Win 98 computers at work that was mere than 6 years old and worked great with no reformatting.

My home computer is a totally different story. All the software that I install and uninstall just ruins things after a few years.

BaggedLancer

Format it, start from scratch. Sounds like a corrupt OS if windows installer is fubar and service packs aren't installing properly.....which means updates aren't installing properly as well. Format it....o, I said that already.

Serendipity

BaggedLancer wrote: »

Format it, start from scratch. Sounds like a corrupt OS if windows installer is fubar and service packs aren't installing properly.....which means updates aren't installing properly as well. Format it....o, I said that already.

I thought that I had to format my laptop too when I couldn't install anything
(service packs, windows updates, Firefox, IE7, etc.)

Turned out to be my Norton Antivirus.

BaggedLancer

If windows installer is fubar....reinstall windows...you can try and possible succeed repairing it....but it's more hassle than it's worth. Move your data off and blow it away.

petrym

The Windows Installer CleanUp Utility is an advanced utility that'll take care of Windows Installer configurations. Be aware that it removes only the Windows Installer configuration information that is related to your target program; it does not clean the program out; caution is required. I've used this a few times and it works well -- you have to be sure of what you remove -- it's a no-going-back type of thing here!

Fireman32

+1 on formatting and doing a clean install. I do this on my home computers every 2 years.

AsSiMiLaTeD

I am one of the 'reinstall once a year' guys. i create an image of my OS install with all the critical programs and settings that I use. Then every 6 months I restore that image and it's like having a fresh computer. Every 6 months is a bit excessive, but it works for me.

jakelm

Just run a a chkdsk. Right click on your C drive go to properties.. then tools. Error check...It will tell you that it will scan the next time it reboots...make sure to check "aut fix errors" and "scan for attemp recover of bad setcors"


Try this. It probably should be done anyways being the age.

WilliamM2

bobman1235 wrote: »

Careful, now you're going to get yelled at by people who claim this is never necessary, and in their 45 years of computer experience they've never had to format a drive.

(I completely agree with you, btw, I've just been harassed for this opinion a bunch of times)

Well really, a complete re-install never is needed if you are smart. It's called a disc image, and there are several programs that work well. Just re-load the image for a nice clean install, takes all of 5 minutes, and you are back up and running.

dylan

Hi Al... you might try this link. Towards the bottom, download button for 'WindowsInstaller-KB893803-v2-x86.exe'.

I don't think it will help in this case, but the installer cleanup utility is a great program for cleaning up other programs that have incorrect or corrupt entries registered with the installer service. For example, a certain program keeps asking you to insert a CD to continue or gets stuck in a loop uninstalling.

bobman1235

WilliamM2 wrote:

Well really, a complete re-install never is needed if you are smart. It's called a disc image, and there are several programs that work well. Just re-load the image for a nice clean install, takes all of 5 minutes, and you are back up and running.

Fair enough, I would still consider that a fresh install, just an expedited way of accomplishing it.

WilliamM2

bobman1235 wrote: »

Fair enough, I would still consider that a fresh install, just an expedited way of accomplishing it.

Exactly, a fresh install, and without any effort.

AsSiMiLaTeD

I highly recommend Acronis True Image for a disk image utility, though Vista now has a built in utility that should work okay I guess.

jakelm

Are we doing all of this because Ad Ware and SP3 wont install?

Try the chdsk first before imaging the intire OS.

bobman1235

His Windows installer is corrupted, this would affect any program that he tries to install (or uninstall) in the future. So yes, the problem presented itself with AdAware but will be a major PITA in the future if it's not fixed.

Serendipity

Not trying to argue or anything, but when my laptop couldn't install SP2 or IE7 I seriously thought my Windows Installer was corrupted. It turns out most of my instability was due to Norton, I've since uninstalled it and have no problems whatsoever.

jakelm

bobman1235 wrote: »

His Windows installer is corrupted, this would affect any program that he tries to install (or uninstall) in the future. So yes, the problem presented itself with AdAware but will be a major PITA in the future if it's not fixed.

Im just saying, I had a similar problem with an older system .. I ran the check disk ..it found many errors in the reg.. after fixing errors I was able to install again. My problem started when I tried to install AVG 8.0 over an older version.

I also had a problem with permissions. For some onknown reason, my permission were all turned off. Bu **** seemed after running the check disjk, everything was ok.

jakelm

appadv wrote: »

Not trying to argue or anything, but when my laptop couldn't install SP2 or IE7 I seriously thought my Windows Installer was corrupted. It turns out most of my instability was due to Norton, I've since uninstalled it and have no problems whatsoever.

+1, many virus protectors get corrupted and stop any new installations of anything.


Of corse I would never ever ever ever put Norton or McAfee on any system./

Serendipity

jakelm wrote: »

+1, many virus protectors get corrupted and stop any new installations of anything.

That's exactly what happened.

WilliamM2

jakelm wrote: »

Are we doing all of this because Ad Ware and SP3 wont install?

Try the chdsk first before imaging the intire OS.

It would be a good idea to run SFC (system file checker) as well.

billbillw

WilliamM2 wrote: »

Well really, a complete re-install never is needed if you are smart. It's called a disc image, and there are several programs that work well. Just re-load the image for a nice clean install, takes all of 5 minutes, and you are back up and running.

This only works like you say if you make an image of a 'fresh install' right after you loaded up all your software. You still loose all of the data (email, photos, music, etc) that you've accumulated since you did the image, not to mention hours of windows updates, software patches, etc.

Most of the time, you try to keep an image of your most recent good setup, say every month. The problem is after a few years, your 'good' setup gets worse and worse due to system clutter and you ultimately need a fresh install to clean things up.

Obviously, you can save a lot of time if you keep multiple backups, one that is an image of just after a fresh install (assuming you haven't made any hardware changes) and one that is your most recent 'good setup'.

Using Norton Ghost (that's what I use) you can pick out certain files from an image and restore them selectively. This can be a bit of work and you need to know what your doing (to restore email and such), but it can give you the best of both worlds. Restore your image of a fresh install, then restore email, photos, etc. You still would have to wait for windows updates and do whatever software updates, drivers, patches, etc. manually.

Of course, all of this requires a fair amount of pre-planning.
In Danger Boy's case, he's up $hits creek without a paddle and its probably only going to get worse. In my opinion, his only option for long term stability is to bite the bullet and reformat the drive and install everything fresh.

Start finding ways to back up the critical data that you still have access to.

WilliamM2

This only works like you say if you make an image of a 'fresh install' right after you loaded up all your software. You still loose all of the data (email, photos, music, etc) that you've accumulated since you did the image, not to mention hours of windows updates, software patches, etc.

Right, and that's the way I do it. All e-mail and important files are backed up on another drive. Windows updates never take more than 15 minutes or so to get, if you have a decent connection.

But you are right, it's too late for Dangerboy, but I thought perhaps he could use a better plan next time.

danger boy

Lasareath wrote: »

Danger,

I just had the same exact problem with another client's PC, the windows installer is dead.

This free program fixed it!!!!

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Miscellaneous/Dial-a-fix.shtml

Sal

Sal,

thanks for the link.. it was easy to use.. and it solved my nagging installer problem.

thanks man, AL