Windows Installer errors

  • Thread starter Thread starter BobS
  • Start date Start date
B

BobS

Hi,

I thought I had a Symantec problem when I was trying to uninstall a previous
version of systemworks to upgrade to a newer version, but it seems the
problem is related to Windows.
I am using XP Pro, SP2 fully updated to the current updates.

What happens is that I get this error displayed: "The Windows installer
service could not be accessed". (from either being in safe mode, or
incorrectly installed). The error does not come up with an error number.

I tried installing and/uninstalling other software on my PC, and the same
error comes up if the install/uninstall requires the windows installer
service.

I checked the current version of msi.dll and it is 3.14000.2435, which is
the latest version as far as I can research

I just searched and found this article, which I will try later when I get
back home. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315346 I
hope it gets me back into being able to install or uninstall software again.

Any other ideas on this?

Thanks,

Bob

..
 
Along with the KB Article which you have mentioned in your post,the
followings are useful:-

Error Message When You Try to Install a Program
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;330176


How to Troubleshoot Windows Installer Engine Problems
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;260404


Windows Installer Fix (Line 94)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm


Troubleshooting Windows Installer
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_w.htm#xp_wininstaller

Resolving problems with the Windows installer:-
http://www.rickrogers.org/fixes.htm#Installation

regards,
S.Sengupta[MS-MVP]
 
Hi,

Thank you for your reply S.Sengupta,

I have tried almost everything I had, and you supplied except kellys-korner
DirectX thing. The first two links you supplied are no longer valid, by the
way.

Each time I tried the suggestions, I was sure it would be fixed, but sadly
it was not. I have many complete backups I can try restoring one at a time
to try to get back to the point I had no problem, but hopefully they go back
far enough! I have to complete and print out my tax returns before I
completely trash my PC, though. So far my backups have been very ass-saving,
but I need to get my tax returns finished in time to keep the IRS happy.
Being that I owe money, I have not been in a hurry to finish up.
If and when I get the installer program working again, I will post what
worked for me on this group.

Thanks again,

Bob


S.Sengupta said:
Along with the KB Article which you have mentioned in your post,the
followings are useful:-

Error Message When You Try to Install a Program
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;330176


How to Troubleshoot Windows Installer Engine Problems
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;260404


Windows Installer Fix (Line 94)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm


Troubleshooting Windows Installer
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_w.htm#xp_wininstaller

Resolving problems with the Windows installer:-
http://www.rickrogers.org/fixes.htm#Installation

regards,
S.Sengupta[MS-MVP]

Hi,

I thought I had a Symantec problem when I was trying to uninstall a
previous
version of systemworks to upgrade to a newer version, but it seems the
problem is related to Windows.
I am using XP Pro, SP2 fully updated to the current updates.

What happens is that I get this error displayed: "The Windows installer
service could not be accessed". (from either being in safe mode, or
incorrectly installed). The error does not come up with an error number.

I tried installing and/uninstalling other software on my PC, and the same
error comes up if the install/uninstall requires the windows installer
service.

I checked the current version of msi.dll and it is 3.14000.2435, which is
the latest version as far as I can research

I just searched and found this article, which I will try later when I get
back home. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315346
I
hope it gets me back into being able to install or uninstall software
again.

Any other ideas on this?

Thanks,

Bob

.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
SOLVED!

Ok, each time I tried installing or uninstalling a new program and saw the
Windows installer error, I shut down my firewall, ZoneAlarm Pro thinking it
was responsible, but it made no difference. I had a "brainstorm" before I
left home this morning and thought maybe Zonealarm not only directly
protects the system, but maybe it writes entries into the registry that
remain even if ZoneAlarm is not running. I did not look through the
registry, as it would be too much for me to understand what I was actually
looking for.

SO, with Zonealarm running, I opened up its program control window and saw
so many entries that were unfamiliar to me, I just "removed" all of them
from ZoneAlarm, so it would have be annoying me all over again which
programs to allow to run or not.

After doing just that, I was able to uninstall my old Symantec programs with
no problems or errors. I just have to keep deciding now to allow or block
programs in ZoneAlarms pop up box each time for a while now.

Thanks Again,

Bob


BobS said:
Hi,

Thank you for your reply S.Sengupta,

I have tried almost everything I had, and you supplied except kellys-korner
DirectX thing. The first two links you supplied are no longer valid, by the
way.

Each time I tried the suggestions, I was sure it would be fixed, but sadly
it was not. I have many complete backups I can try restoring one at a time
to try to get back to the point I had no problem, but hopefully they go back
far enough! I have to complete and print out my tax returns before I
completely trash my PC, though. So far my backups have been very ass-saving,
but I need to get my tax returns finished in time to keep the IRS happy.
Being that I owe money, I have not been in a hurry to finish up.
If and when I get the installer program working again, I will post what
worked for me on this group.

Thanks again,

Bob


S.Sengupta said:
Along with the KB Article which you have mentioned in your post,the
followings are useful:-

Error Message When You Try to Install a Program
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;330176


How to Troubleshoot Windows Installer Engine Problems
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;260404


Windows Installer Fix (Line 94)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm


Troubleshooting Windows Installer
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_w.htm#xp_wininstaller

Resolving problems with the Windows installer:-
http://www.rickrogers.org/fixes.htm#Installation

regards,
S.Sengupta[MS-MVP]

Hi,

I thought I had a Symantec problem when I was trying to uninstall a
previous
version of systemworks to upgrade to a newer version, but it seems the
problem is related to Windows.
I am using XP Pro, SP2 fully updated to the current updates.

What happens is that I get this error displayed: "The Windows installer
service could not be accessed". (from either being in safe mode, or
incorrectly installed). The error does not come up with an error number.

I tried installing and/uninstalling other software on my PC, and the same
error comes up if the install/uninstall requires the windows installer
service.

I checked the current version of msi.dll and it is 3.14000.2435, which is
the latest version as far as I can research

I just searched and found this article, which I will try later when I get
back home. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315346
I
hope it gets me back into being able to install or uninstall software
again.

Any other ideas on this?

Thanks,

Bob

.
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