Hi,
Here's the steps outlined in detail.
To resolve this behavior, use the following methods.
Re-Register the Windows Installer
=============================
To re-register the Windows Installer, verify the location of the
Msiexec.exe file on your hard disk and in the Windows Registry, and then
re-register the Windows Installer. To do so:
WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious
problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft
cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using
Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
Note: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the
following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your
product documentation to complete these steps.
1. Verify the location of the Msiexec.exe file on your hard disk. To do so:
a. Click Start, and then click Search.
b. Click All files and folders.
c. In the File name box, type msiexec.exe, and then click Search.
d. In the search results, make a note of the location of the Msiexec.exe
file.
The location of the Msiexec.exe file should be similar to the following
example, where Drive is the drive where Windows is installed, and %Windir%
is the folder where Windows is installed:
Drive:\%Windir%\System32
An example of this is C:\Windows\System32.
Note: In Microsoft Windows XP-based computers, the Msiexec.exe file is
located in the Drive:\%Windir%\System32 folder.
e. On the File menu, click Close.
2. Verify the location of the Msiexec.exe file in the Windows Registry. To
do so:
a. Click Start, and then click Run.
b. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
c. Locate, and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSIServer
d. In the right pane, double-click ImagePath.
e. In the Edit String dialog box, make sure that the string in the Value
data box contains the correct path of the Msiexec.exe file on your hard
disk that you determined earlier in step 1.
For example, if the Msiexec.exe file is located in the
Drive:\Windows\System32 folder on your hard disk, the correct path of the
Msiexec.exe file in the Value data box is the following path, where Drive
is the
drive where Windows is installed:
Drive:\Windows\System32\Msiexec.exe /V
Note: If you are using Windows XP, the correct path of the Msiexec.exe
file is Drive:\Windows\System32\Msiexec.exe /V.
If the Value data box does not contain the correct path, make the
appropriate changes to correct the path, and then click OK.
f. Quit Registry Editor.
3. Start your computer in safe mode, and then register the Msiexec.exe
file. To do so:
a. Shut down, and then restart your computer.
b. Press F8 after you receive the following message:
Please select the operating system to start
c. On the Windows Advanced Option menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe
Mode, and then press ENTER.
d. If you use a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the
appropriate operating system from the list that is displayed, and then
press ENTER.
e. Log on to the computer.
f. Click Start, and then click Run.
g. In the Open box, type the following line, and then click OK:
msiexec /regserver
4. Shut down, and then restart your computer in standard mode.
OR
See "Frequently Asked Questions About Windows Installer" at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/community/centers/management/msi_faq.ms
px
OR
For additional information about how to repair Windows XP, click the
following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge
Base:
315341 How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP at
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;315341
Hope this helps ......
Ashok (Ashokan Achari)
The Posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
--------------------
--Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 00:44:55 -0600
--From: Jim <
[email protected]>
--Subject: Windows Installer missing
--Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
--
--Last night I was checking my Services list (services.msc) and discovered
--that Windows Installer is missing. I've no idea how long it's been
--gone, although I know it was there about 5 months ago when I installed
--an MS application. How can I restore it? (I tried Kelly's fix, but got
--the message that "all keys could not be imported.")
