Help!!!: Windows Installer 3.1 is Disabled and Can't Seem to Fix

[Peter de B. Harrington]

HI:

I am at my wit's end on this problem. I cannot install some of the security
patches and other software because windows installer 3.1 is broken on my
Windows XP Pro SP2 machine. I searched the web and consulted the knowledge
base. Here is what I tried that did not fix the problem.

1. Checked the path of msiexec.exe and verified that the registry entry was
correct in the windows/system32 folder
1B. Ran checkdisk to check the disk integrity using a full scan
2. Checked to the permissions on the system in the registry, it is ok
3. Unregistered and reinstalled the service
4. Removed windows installer 3.1 and reinstalled several times
5. Contacted MS tech support who were hopelessly clueless on this problem
6. Could not install the Windoze Installer Clean-up Utility, because it
requires Windoze Installer to install (nice one because this tool is
supposed to fix installer problems).

Msiexec loads from the run menu.

Msiexec fails to start at as a service. It does not time-out in 30 s, but
fails immediately.

Here is my theory to the cause of the problem. I had accidentally set my
date ahead to March, when I was accessing the calendar to check for some
flights. This triggered a Windoze Genuine Advantage error that alerted me
to the incorrect date on my computer. I reset the date and rebooted the
computer and WGA was copacetic. However, I suspect that WGA disabled the
installer by setting some esoteric permission, and when WGA was happy again,
it forgot to undo the damage it caused by disabling the installer.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to check the permissions for this service?
I am not too familiar with the audit and policy tools in Windows.

TIA and Happy 2008,

Pete

 

[Claymore]

HI:

I am at my wit's end on this problem.  I cannot install some of the security
patches and other software because windows installer 3.1 is broken on my
Windows XP Pro SP2 machine.  I searched the web and consulted the knowledge
base.  Here is what I tried that did not fix the problem.

1.  Checked the path of msiexec.exe and verified that the registry entrywas
correct in the windows/system32 folder
1B.  Ran checkdisk to check the disk integrity using a full scan
2.  Checked to the permissions on the system in the registry, it is ok
3.  Unregistered and reinstalled the service
4.  Removed windows installer 3.1 and reinstalled several times
5.  Contacted MS tech support who were hopelessly clueless on this problem
6.  Could not install the Windoze Installer Clean-up Utility, because it
requires Windoze Installer to install (nice one because this tool is
supposed to fix installer problems).

Msiexec loads from the run menu.

Msiexec fails to start at as a service.  It does not time-out in 30 s, but
fails immediately.

Here is my theory to the cause of the problem.  I had accidentally set my
date ahead to March, when I was accessing the calendar to check for some
flights.  This triggered a Windoze Genuine Advantage error that alerted me
to the incorrect date on my computer.  I reset the date and rebooted the
computer and WGA was copacetic.  However, I suspect that WGA disabled the
installer by setting some esoteric permission, and when WGA was happy again,
it forgot to undo the damage it caused by disabling the installer.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to check the permissions for this service?
I am not too familiar with the audit and policy tools in Windows.

TIA and Happy 2008,

Pete

Hello Pete,

A number of things to try - I realize you've done many of these
already:

Since this is XP-pro there could be a restriction in the Group Policy,
although in your situation I don't know how this would have been
configured accidentally. But it is worth a check:
Go to Start => Run and type in gpedit.msc
Navigate to:
Computer Configuration
Administrative Templates
Windows Components
Windows Installer
Look at 'Always install with elevated privileges'
It is normally set at 'Not Configured'
If it is set at 'Disable', double-click and set to 'Not Configured'
and also try 'Enable'.

You must also check this one:
User Configuration
Administrative Templates
Windows Components
Windows Installer
Look at 'Always install with elevated privileges'
It is normally set at 'Not Configured'
If it is set at 'Disable', double-click and set to 'Not Configured'
and also try 'Enable'.

Also try this fix:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Line 94 - Left

Also, take a look here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555175

 

[Peter de B. Harrington]

Hi Claymore:

Thanks so much. Your suggested group policy changes fixed the problem. The
Always Install with Elevated Priviledges was set to Not Configured. By
enabling this policy, the Installer was able to work. I am not sure why
this change had to be made, but it fixed the problem. I have never changed
any of the policy settigs at least wittingly.

Hopefully, all the other people who have been suffering with this problem
will pick this message up in their searches.

Thanks so much,

Pete

HI:

I am at my wit's end on this problem. I cannot install some of the
security
patches and other software because windows installer 3.1 is broken on my
Windows XP Pro SP2 machine. I searched the web and consulted the knowledge
base. Here is what I tried that did not fix the problem.

1. Checked the path of msiexec.exe and verified that the registry entry
was
correct in the windows/system32 folder
1B. Ran checkdisk to check the disk integrity using a full scan
2. Checked to the permissions on the system in the registry, it is ok
3. Unregistered and reinstalled the service
4. Removed windows installer 3.1 and reinstalled several times
5. Contacted MS tech support who were hopelessly clueless on this problem
6. Could not install the Windoze Installer Clean-up Utility, because it
requires Windoze Installer to install (nice one because this tool is
supposed to fix installer problems).

Msiexec loads from the run menu.

Msiexec fails to start at as a service. It does not time-out in 30 s, but
fails immediately.

Here is my theory to the cause of the problem. I had accidentally set my
date ahead to March, when I was accessing the calendar to check for some
flights. This triggered a Windoze Genuine Advantage error that alerted me
to the incorrect date on my computer. I reset the date and rebooted the
computer and WGA was copacetic. However, I suspect that WGA disabled the
installer by setting some esoteric permission, and when WGA was happy
again,
it forgot to undo the damage it caused by disabling the installer.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to check the permissions for this
service?
I am not too familiar with the audit and policy tools in Windows.

TIA and Happy 2008,

Pete

Hello Pete,

A number of things to try - I realize you've done many of these
already:

Since this is XP-pro there could be a restriction in the Group Policy,
although in your situation I don't know how this would have been
configured accidentally. But it is worth a check:
Go to Start => Run and type in gpedit.msc
Navigate to:
Computer Configuration
Administrative Templates
Windows Components
Windows Installer
Look at 'Always install with elevated privileges'
It is normally set at 'Not Configured'
If it is set at 'Disable', double-click and set to 'Not Configured'
and also try 'Enable'.

You must also check this one:
User Configuration
Administrative Templates
Windows Components
Windows Installer
Look at 'Always install with elevated privileges'
It is normally set at 'Not Configured'
If it is set at 'Disable', double-click and set to 'Not Configured'
and also try 'Enable'.

Also try this fix:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Line 94 - Left

Also, take a look here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555175

 

[Claymore]

Hi Claymore:

Thanks so much.  Your suggested group policy changes fixed the problem. The
Always Install with Elevated Priviledges was set to Not Configured.  By
enabling this policy, the Installer was able to work.  I am not sure why
this change had to be made, but it fixed the problem.  I have never changed
any of the policy settigs at least wittingly.

Hopefully, all the other people who have been suffering with this problem
will pick this message up in their searches.

Thanks so much,

Pete












Hello Pete,

A number of things to try - I realize you've done many of these
already:

Since this is XP-pro there could be a restriction in the Group Policy,
although in your situation I don't know how this would have been
configured accidentally. But it is worth a check:
Go to Start => Run and type in gpedit.msc
Navigate to:
Computer Configuration
Administrative Templates
Windows Components
Windows Installer
Look at 'Always install with elevated privileges'
It is normally set at 'Not Configured'
If it is set at 'Disable', double-click and set to 'Not Configured'
and also try 'Enable'.

You must also check this one:
User Configuration
Administrative Templates
Windows Components
Windows Installer
Look at 'Always install with elevated privileges'
It is normally set at 'Not Configured'
If it is set at 'Disable', double-click and set to 'Not Configured'
and also try 'Enable'.

Also try this fix:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Line 94 - Left

Also, take a look here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555175- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Good on you, Peter, and thanx,

I've run into the same snag myself before. The Group Policy just sets
a registry key. It may have been changed by something else. Previously
I didn't bother to track it down, but I really should.

Regards