Butch,
What is the "Preparing to Install" dialog trying to install. Did you
figure
the application name? The info can be found in the Event log as well. Here
is an excerpt from Windows Installer FAQ page:
----
Every time I launch my application, Windows Installer performs an
installation. How can I determine the cause of the on-demand installation?
A.An easy way to determine the cause of an on-demand installation is to
look
in the application event log for MsiInstaller log messages of the form:
Event Type: Warning
Event Source: MsiInstaller
Event ID: 1001
Description:
Detection of product '{000C1109-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}', feature
'Example' failed during request for component
'{00030829-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}'
Event Type: Warning
Event Source: MsiInstaller
Event ID: 1004
Description:
Detection of product '{000C1109-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}', feature
'Example', component '{00030829-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}' failed. The
resource 'C:\Progam Files\example\example.exe' does not exist.
The first message (with event ID 1001) states which component was being
installed. The component listed here is the component named in the
Component_ column of the Shortcut table for the particular shortcut.
The second message (with event ID 1004) indicates which component failed
detection. Improved event logging in Windows Installer 2.0 has updated the
message so that in most cases, the message identifies the actual resource
that resulted in the failed detection. The component with the missing or
damaged keypath is the component that is triggering the reinstallation.
In the example above, the reinstallation is triggered because the resource
'c:\Program Files\example\example.exe' does not exist. You would then need
to find out why the keypath does not exist-in this case, the user deleted
it.
- - -
So, once you find the name of the application (which is trying to install
on
demand), you can simply uninstall and then reinstall it.
--
Regards,
Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com
Thanks for the suggestions. Feels sorta like I'm getting automated help.
Unfortunately, so far, it is not helping me. Of course I'm just a user
and
woefully ignorant,
Let me say, again, that the issue is only with Explorer. Furthermore,
explorer will finally launch, but only after flashing the "Preparing to
Install" info several (5 or 6) times.
Should I just download a new copy (if available) of Explorer? If I do
will
that cause me to lose my "Favorites"?
Thanks again,
Butch
Ramesh said:
Windows Installer Team Blog : Windows Installer Appears Every Time a
Program
is Started:
http://blogs.msdn.com/windows_installer_team/archive/2006/02/05/525213.aspx
Windows Installer Team Blog : "Stop Installation Idiocy" PCWorld's Hassle
Free PC article:
http://blogs.msdn.com/windows_installer_team/archive/2005/11/01/486587.aspx
Windows Installer FAQ:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/community/centers/management/msi_faq.mspx
Under "Troubleshooting" section, see:
" Q.Every time I launch my application, Windows Installer performs an
installation. How can I determine the cause of the on-demand
installation?
"
-and-
Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=290301
--
Regards,
Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com
Am running XP Home. Whenever Explorer is about to launch I get this
annoying message window. This happens whenever I log onto my ISP
(Earthlink
dialup) or whenever I click on a link that launches Explorer.
No real harm, just annoying and slows down Explorer.
Help?
Thanks,
Butch
