Installshield Engine ikernel.exe will not launch with RPC server unavailable

[Vanessa]

How do I debug:
The Installshield Engine (ikernel.exe) could not be launched.
The RPC server is unavailable.

As I uninstall a program, I fail with the error above in winxp sp2.
When I then try to start the remote procedure call service:
c:\> net start rpcss
It invariably says:
The requested service has already been started.

Therefore, I don't understand this error (even after doing a google
search and trying to start all the suggested services in My Computer /
Manage / Services & Applications / Services.

I do not know very much about computers & this problem stymies me.
One post I found suggested uninstalling InstallShield but I don't see
it in my program files directory or in the add/remove programs control
panel.

Any debugging suggestions?

Cara Stancinni

 

[Vanessa]

Both the DCOM and RPC service are set to automatic.
No spyware is found (Microsoft AntiSpyware & Spyware Blaster).
No viruses are found (McAfee).
The winxp machine takes FOREVER to boot lately.
So, something is very wrong.
Any ideas?

 

[Guest]

Error in Ikernel.exe When You Install Programs By Using InstallShield
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;810608

IKernel.exe Could Not Be Installed (0x20)
http://consumer.installshield.com/kb.asp?id=Q108247

PRB: Norton Antivirus Identifies ikernel.exe as being infected by the
W32.Nimda.enc(dr) Virus
http://support.installshield.com/kb/view.asp?pcode=ALL&articleid=Q105740

Run a Free Online Virus Scan
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp