Cannot access Windows Installer

  • Thread starter Thread starter ChrisV99
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ChrisV99

My Windows Installer has stopped functioning - cannot install or uninstall
programs - I get a dialogue box message: "The Windows Installer Service could
not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in Safe mode, or
if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support
personnel for assistance".

I have Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002, Service Pack 3. It's been
operating OK for years, now this.

I've had an Office validation issue, but it's now sorted.

Also, on boot up I get a Windows Recovery message: "One of the files
containing the system's Registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or
alternate copy. The recovery was successful."

Not sure if there's a connection. Any ideas?
 
ChrisV99 said:
My Windows Installer has stopped functioning - cannot install or uninstall
programs - I get a dialogue box message: "The Windows Installer Servicecould
not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in Safe mode, or
if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support
personnel for assistance".

I have Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002, Service Pack 3. It's been
operating OK for years, now this.

I've had an Office validation issue, but it's now sorted.

Also, on boot up I get a Windows Recovery message: "One of the files
containing the system's Registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or
alternate copy. The recovery was successful."

Not sure if there's a connection. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

A few ideas:

- Use System Restore to go back to a restore point dated before this
issue surfaced. That could mess with your Office validation, I suppose.

- Run Chkdsk.

- Run this:

Malwarebytes© Corporation
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam/program/mbam-setup.exe
 
What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)?

Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the
computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
it)?
 
ChrisV99 said:
My Windows Installer has stopped functioning - cannot install or uninstall
programs - I get a dialogue box message: "The Windows Installer Service could
not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in Safe mode, or
if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support
personnel for assistance".

I have Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002, Service Pack 3. It's been
operating OK for years, now this.

I've had an Office validation issue, but it's now sorted.

Also, on boot up I get a Windows Recovery message: "One of the files
containing the system's Registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or
alternate copy. The recovery was successful."

Not sure if there's a connection. Any ideas?
Click to expand...


Have you tried repairing or re-installing the Microsoft Installer Service?

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...FamilyID=5a58b56f-60b6-4412-95b9-54d056d6f9f4


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
PA Bear said:
What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)?

Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the
computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
it)?


.
I have AVG Free Edition Version 8.5.432 anti-virus, Zone Alarm version 8.0.298.000 firewall, also AdAware (which I can't update that due to the installer problem). Don't think we've ever had Norton on this machine, but may have had McAfee at some point.
Click to expand...

Have downloaded Windows Installer 4.5 as Bruce suggested, and the setup
wizard ran OK, but it makes no difference - still can't access Windows
Installer Service.

Tried RUN msiexec /regserver as someone watching suggested, but still no go.
 
ChrisV99 said:
I have AVG Free Edition Version 8.5.432 anti-virus, Zone Alarm version
8.0.298.000 firewall, also AdAware (which I can't update that due to the
installer problem). Don't think we've ever had Norton on this machine, but
may have had McAfee at some point.

Have downloaded Windows Installer 4.5 as Bruce suggested, and the setup
wizard ran OK, but it makes no difference - still can't access Windows
Installer Service.

Tried RUN msiexec /regserver as someone watching suggested, but still no
go.
Click to expand...

OK, we'll bottom-post.

Give this a whirl:

1. Download the McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool, saving it to your
desktop:
http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe

2. Close all open applications (i.e., anything with an icon on the taskbar).

3. Double-click on the file you saved in #1 above to run the utility. Don't
TOUCH your keyboard until the run completes, then reboot & test.

If still no joy, you may be seeing the effects of a hijackware infection.
 
PA Bear said:
OK, we'll bottom-post.

Give this a whirl:

1. Download the McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool, saving it to your
desktop:
http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe

2. Close all open applications (i.e., anything with an icon on the taskbar).

3. Double-click on the file you saved in #1 above to run the utility. Don't
TOUCH your keyboard until the run completes, then reboot & test.

If still no joy, you may be seeing the effects of a hijackware infection.

.
Ran the McAfee cleaner, still no joy.
Click to expand...
 
Elmo said:
Here's what I would try next, from a Google search. It's similar to
what's been suggested, but includes more steps.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315346
Click to expand...

I'm still getting the message on startup "One of the files containing the
system's Registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or alternate
copy".

I think maybe I need to reinstall Windows XP from scratch.
 
ChrisV99 said:
I'm still getting the message on startup "One of the files containing the
system's Registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or alternate
copy".

I think maybe I need to reinstall Windows XP from scratch.
Click to expand...

A Google search netted this possible solution:

I found a solution to the problem. The problem was being caused by some
corrupted files on the hard drive. So what I had to do was go to my
computer and right click on the hard drive (which is generally C: unless
you have specified otherwise) then click Properties. This will bring up
the hard drive Properties window. Now click on the Tools tab and then
click on Check Now... then you will need to select both the
"Automatically fix file system errors" and the "check for and attempt
recovery of bad sectors" and then click ok it will then prompt you to
schedule a scan at startup click yes and then manually restart your
computer. When you computer restarts it will scan the hard drive and
repair any errors. This process takes about 1 to 3 hours depending on
the size and condition of your hard drive. Once this is finished your
computer will restart and the problem should be resolved.
 
Elmo said:
A Google search netted this possible solution:

I found a solution to the problem. The problem was being caused by some
corrupted files on the hard drive. So what I had to do was go to my
computer and right click on the hard drive (which is generally C: unless
you have specified otherwise) then click Properties. This will bring up
the hard drive Properties window. Now click on the Tools tab and then
click on Check Now... then you will need to select both the
"Automatically fix file system errors" and the "check for and attempt
recovery of bad sectors" and then click ok it will then prompt you to
schedule a scan at startup click yes and then manually restart your
computer. When you computer restarts it will scan the hard drive and
repair any errors. This process takes about 1 to 3 hours depending on
the size and condition of your hard drive. Once this is finished your
computer will restart and the problem should be resolved.
Click to expand...

Oh well. I'll post to let people know how it goes.
 
ChrisV99 said:
Elmo said:
ChrisV99 said:
:

ChrisV99 wrote:
:

ChrisV99 wrote:
My Windows Installer has stopped functioning - cannot install or uninstall
programs - I get a dialogue box message: "The Windows Installer Service could
not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in Safe mode, or
if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support
personnel for assistance".

I have Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002, Service Pack 3. It's been
operating OK for years, now this.

I've had an Office validation issue, but it's now sorted.

Also, on boot up I get a Windows Recovery message: "One of the files
containing the system's Registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or
alternate copy. The recovery was successful."

Not sure if there's a connection. Any ideas?
A few ideas:

- Use System Restore to go back to a restore point dated before this
issue surfaced. That could mess with your Office validation, I suppose.

- Run Chkdsk.

- Run this:

Malwarebytes© Corporation
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam/program/mbam-setup.exe

--
Joe =o)
Elmo, I ran chkdsk, also downloaded Malwarebytes and ran full scan, but only
came up with a bit of adware - still no go with Installer.
Here's what I would try next, from a Google search. It's similar to
what's been suggested, but includes more steps.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315346

--
Joe =o)
.
Thanks for the suggestion, but still no go. I tried all the methods - reregistering Windows Installer, reinstalling Windows Installer (I downloaded Windows Installer 4.5 for SP3) and restoring registry. In fact the System Restore failed, with message "Your computer cannot be restored to [date] system checkpoint".

I'm still getting the message on startup "One of the files containing the
system's Registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or alternate
copy".

I think maybe I need to reinstall Windows XP from scratch.
Click to expand...

A Google search netted this possible solution:

I found a solution to the problem. The problem was being caused by some
corrupted files on the hard drive. So what I had to do was go to my
computer and right click on the hard drive (which is generally C: unless
you have specified otherwise) then click Properties. This will bring up
the hard drive Properties window. Now click on the Tools tab and then
click on Check Now... then you will need to select both the
"Automatically fix file system errors" and the "check for and attempt
recovery of bad sectors" and then click ok it will then prompt you to
schedule a scan at startup click yes and then manually restart your
computer. When you computer restarts it will scan the hard drive and
repair any errors. This process takes about 1 to 3 hours depending on
the size and condition of your hard drive. Once this is finished your
computer will restart and the problem should be resolved.
Click to expand...

Oh well. I'll post to let people know how it goes.
Click to expand...

Problem fixed - have reinstalled Windows XP, and can now use Installer and
don't get the recovery message on boot up. I've spent a couple of days
reinstalling and retrieving stuff, scanning etc, but worth it.

Thanks to all for your suggestions.
 
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