MS Anti-Spyware Won't Install

[Robby May]

Hi. After the download, when I doubleclick the icon
nothing happens. I don't even get an error message. I
know from running a virus check that I have 11 infections
(thanks McAfee). I think they are stopping it from
installing. How can I get it to install? Thanks. Robby May

 

[Bill Sanderson]

What makes you think that an antispyware app will cure a problem that an
antivirus says you have?

Why not try an online antivirus scanner that also cleans adware?

http://housecall.trendmicro.com

See whether that gets you clean enough to be able to get Microsoft
Antispyware installed.

 

[Guest]

I tried the housecall.trendmicro site. That's where I
found out I had the 11 infections. I downloaded the free
trial version but that won't install either. Whatever is
on my computer won't let me open these programs once they
download. That's what I need help with. Is there any way
to bypass these infections so I can open/install these
programs?

 

[Bill Sanderson]

Lets try Trend Micro's system cleaner.

Go here:

http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp

and download the Sysclean package.

Then go here:
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/pattern.asp
and download the zip of the latest patterns.

put sysclean in a folder, unzip the patterns into the same folder, drop to a
command prompt in that folder and run sysclean.

 

[JohnF.]

Try safe mode as well - a few less bugs will load that way.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

Excellent point. System cleaner runs fine in safe mode. Unfortunately,
most of the windows based tools won't install in safe mode, even though they
may work in that mode once installed.

 

[Jim Byrd]

Clean Boot to the Rescue!

 

[Bill Sanderson]

Indeed!

 

[Dave]

I ran the full scan on Trend Micro and cleaned everything
that it found. However, Antispyware will not start the
installation directly from the web site or downloaded to
the desktop. Double click on the icon and nothing happens.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

OK - perhaps something is "messed up" (technical term) with the Windows
Installer--except that isn't the first thing invoked when you double-click
the download file, as I recall....

If you go to a command prompt and do

net start "windows installer

and hit ENTER, --does that succeed, or do you get an error. If it succeds,
type exit and hit enter to close the window, and double-click the downloaded
file and say what happens.