Cannot install new progs / plugins

[paddyc]

Hi, hope someone can help...

I am using Vista 32 bit Business edition (and have been for some
time). This morning, I noticed that Java no longer worked under IE7.
So, I tried to reinstall Java, but still didn't work (empty box with
red cross at top left).

Then I tried to install Firefox but I had to do this as administrator
- ok, done that, though I normally don't have to explicitly 'run as
admin' for installs. Then tried to install Java under Firefox but
noticed that no plug ins would install unless I ran as aministrator.
Widened the field a bit and tried to install some other apps but got
'permission denied' errors when trying to create Program File folders
etc.

All of this running as a user with 'Administrator' role.

So, then I created a new user (with Admin role) and tried IE7 with
Java - all worked ok. Other apps install ok - back to normal.

So, it looks like a problem with my current user / profile but I just
can't track it down. I'd like to avoid moving to a new user, so any
help / suggestions / pointers would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Charlie42]

All of this running as a user with 'Administrator' role.

So, then I created a new user (with Admin role) and tried IE7 with
Java - all worked ok. Other apps install ok - back to normal.

So, it looks like a problem with my current user / profile but I just
can't track it down. I'd like to avoid moving to a new user, so any
help / suggestions / pointers would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Installations (and a lot of other changes as well) require you to run as
administrator, this is how Vista's UAC works. I doubt there is anything
wrong with your user account, it's just a regular user (not an
administrator) account. You can check this out in the Control Panel.

Charlie42

 

[paddyc]

Installations (and a lot of other changes as well) require you to run as

administrator, this is how Vista's UAC works. I doubt there is anything
wrong with your user account, it's just a regular user (not an
administrator) account. You can check this out in the Control Panel.

Charlie42

Thanks for the reply.

My account is an administrator account and the problem that first
showed up was Java not running inside of IE7. Surely I don't have to
run IE7 as administrator every time I want to look at some page or
other that uses Java applets? Anyway, like I said, this has only
started happening today.

Also, the fact that a new user account works ok shows that there is
something wrong/different with my original user account.

Any other ideas?

Thanks.

 

[Charlie42]

My account is an administrator account and the problem that first
showed up was Java not running inside of IE7. Surely I don't have to
run IE7 as administrator every time I want to look at some page or
other that uses Java applets? Anyway, like I said, this has only
started happening today.

Also, the fact that a new user account works ok shows that there is
something wrong/different with my original user account.

Have you tried to do a System Restore?

Charlie42

 

[paddyc]

Have you tried to do a System Restore?

Charlie42

Good idea.

Interestingly, the last restore point before all my reinstalling of
Java etc was created by a Windows Update - which was done just before
I started having problems.

Have just restored to this point (nothing available prior to that) but
no difference. Would it be too presumptious to assume that MS update
has caused the problem? If so, I'd expect others to have similar
problems.

Back to the drawing board I guess.

Thanks anyway.

 

[Guest]

You can set up Vista to automatically elevate your privilege level to
administrator status when you login as described in this link:

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/80938-user-account-control-uac-elevate-privilege-level.html?ltr=U

Sometimes you need to take ownership and grant yourself permissions in order
to modify a file or folder (i.e. Program Files). You can see how to do this
at the following link:

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67717-take-ownership-file.html

Sometimes you need to completely uninstall a previous version of a program
or plug-in before you can install the most current version. Unfortunately,
the Windows Vista uninstaller often leaves portions of the uninstalled
program on your system and in your registry. Some programs or plug-ins have
their own removal tool needed to fully uninstall them (i.e. Adobe Flash
Player, Norton); you can find these on their websites.
For other programs, I like Smarty Uninstaller for thoroughly removing all
portions of a program from your system and registry. This is available for a
free trial period (full version) at the following link:

http://www.winnertweak.com/uninstaller/