"Preparing to install" message

[Retired Bill]

I get this popup window everytime I start Windows Media Player, Real Player
or DivX Player. What's wrong? I also get it every time I start Microsoft
Excel, but not word?

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

Try the installer cleanup tool:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=290301

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Retired Bill]

And cleanup what, it's an uninstaller? What should I uninstall and what
would that help?

 

[Retired Bill]

I can't uninstall the Vista Windows Media Player.

 

[Rick Rogers]

It's not an uninstaller. You use the tool to cleanup the installation
remnants for the programs that are prompting for install. From the
description of the tool:

"select the programs that you want in the Installed Products list in the
Windows Installer CleanUp dialog box. After you make this selection, the
utility removes only the Windows Installer configuration information that is
related to those programs."

Doing this will stop the "preparing to install" prompts that you are
experiencing.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Rick Rogers]

No, and you shouldn't. Please read my other message.

What's causing it in WMP is some codec that either you or another program
has installed to support a particular media type.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Retired Bill]

The programs I mentioned are not listed in thje Cleanup Utility.

 

[Retired Bill]

The programs with the popup installer window aren't listed in the cleanup
tool. What do I do now?

 

[Rick Rogers]

What was the last thing you did install?

Keep in mind that sometimes problems are caused by conflicts between
software, so the root cause may not be what is most obvious.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

The programs I mentioned are not listed in thje Cleanup Utility.