Can't install any applications!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
Well, on the assumption that the bad RAM corrupted the entire install,
I removed the RAM and created a new partition and installed the Vista
Trial, hoping that it would not display the same behavior when
downloading items with IE (the first indicator that something was
wrong). Unfortunately, the behavior still showed up.
 
Looks like you have a pretty unique situation. You have said that you
cannot execute the .exe installs, pretty much no matter where they come
from. Right? Do your application .exe's work okay, the ones installed in
Program Files. Try going directly to say Microsoft Games, open a game file
and click on the .exe also try IE7 directly from the .exe See if they
work
 
Since your problem appears to be utterly unique, I'm inclined to think that
there may be hardware conflicts. (Although I don't see how this would
logically extend to IE-downloaded installers; but then, again, these are
desperate times). In your first post, Nvidia drivers were mentioned. Can
you download the installer for those using Firefox, and install them? Are
there any conflicts in Device Manager (unknown devices, errors, exclamation
icons, etc.)?
 
Nope, not all. Just those downloaded by IE. Installer .exe's that I
transfer over on a USB stick run fine. Neat, eh?
 
nope, all driver/device problems in the device manager. Nvidia drivers
were simply mentioned as an alternative to the thunderbird/firefox
installers. Others third-party installers show similar problems.

I agree that my issue must be totally atypical, or else I'd expect to
see similar errors posted all over the place, and I don't.
 
I found a solution.

It wasn't bad hardware, per se, but a bad driver. The onboard Network
Adapter died some time ago in this Dell, so I picked up a wired USB
Network Adapter, AX88772:

http://www.asix.com.tw/products.php?op=pItemdetail&PItemID=86;71;101&PLine=71

Even though it has a WHQL Vista driver, that seemed to be the problem.
After convincing Vista that I really did want to install the XP
version, all of my problems went away. The Guide can download again,
IE downloads files fine without corrupting them. I still find it odd
that Firefox could download files fine... but, in retrospect, this may
be a case where Microsoft not having to use the public API's actually
hurt their stability.

Ah well, thanks for all your help, everyone!

..josh
 
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