Cannot start PC after Windows Installer 3.1

[SS]

After Windows Installer 3.1 got installed through the Automatic Update
feature, I find my computer can boot up only in Safe Mode. In Normal Mode
the progress bar on the start-up screen freezes after about a minute.
Normally the bar makes just two or three "runs" across before the log-on
screen appears.

Any insight would be thoroughly appreciated. TIA

SS

 

[Peter Foldes]

In Safe mode try first to uninstall the Installer from Add\Remove. Then post back with result.
Also it would be nice to know which OS and version and if any Service Packs do you have. Have not heard of the install of the Installer to cause this yet.

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Once in Safe Mode, run System Restore and go back to a point before the 3.1 Installer was installed.

 

[SS]

Thanks for the responses. Yes, it intrigued me too - I don't see the
connection between WI 3.1 and the boot process.

I did uninstall the update in Safe Mode - the system booted up okay but took
inordinately long during the "progress bar" stage. Sorry for not including
this - this system is Windows XP Pro SP2 and updated completely (except now
for the uninstall of the WI 3.1).

System Restore is turned off on this particular machine, I make Norton Ghost
images once a week (10 minutes with the DOS version on floppy) for the
system drive. I just restored the system drive to the earlier image (taken
Wednesday last). Luckily just a few documents were all that changed since
then - copied them to another drive before the restore.

The system now is back to "normal". Of course, the first thing it did on
being back online was download the WI again for install! I opted for "don't
install this update".

Thanks again very much for the responses.

SS