Windows Installer Problem

[Fran]

Windows Installer pops up everytime I start a new application (click on a
link, open a new window, etc.). The Windows Installer window briefly
appears for a second or two indicating a new install is beginning and then
it closes. This just started happening...I don't know why and it is very
annoying. Is there a way to stop this from happening? Also, I cannot find
wininit.ini via search (showing hidden files). Using XP Home & OE6.
Thanks in advance, Fran

 

[dcdon]

Fran,

You may have the answer to the next generation of PC's. Perpetual OS installation. Sounds intriguing. But sounds like you have an infection or have been hacked.

The .ini file is a system file. You can view it by changing settings in Folder Options.
Control Panel -> Folder Options -> View tab -> uncheck "Hide protected system files..." (it will squawk, but say "yes")

I would suggest resetting that preference after you are through (especially, if others use your computer).

don


Windows Installer pops up everytime I start a new application (click on a
link, open a new window, etc.). The Windows Installer window briefly
appears for a second or two indicating a new install is beginning and then
it closes. This just started happening...I don't know why and it is very
annoying. Is there a way to stop this from happening? Also, I cannot find
wininit.ini via search (showing hidden files). Using XP Home & OE6.
Thanks in advance, Fran

 

[Torgeir Bakken (MVP)]

Windows Installer pops up everytime I start a new application (click on a
link, open a new window, etc.). The Windows Installer window briefly
appears for a second or two indicating a new install is beginning and then
it closes. This just started happening...I don't know why and it is very
annoying. Is there a way to stop this from happening? Also, I cannot find
wininit.ini via search (showing hidden files). Using XP Home & OE6.

Hi

Wininit.ini is a Win9x thing, it is not used on WinXP...

For the Windows Installer pops ups:

It's most likely Windows Installer doing an on-demand installation...

If Word 2000 is installed, reinstall it and see if it helps, else:

See "Every time I launch my application, Windows Installer performs an
installation. How can I determine the cause of the on-demand installation?"
in the FAQ at

http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/community/centers/management/msi_faq.mspx

To access the Application Log in the Event viewer,
run the following command from Start/Run:

eventvwr.msc


If you are running Windows XP (or have access to a Windows XP computer,
you can copy MSIZAP.EXE over to your Win2k computer):

If a product code is listed there and this product is not really installed,
MSIZAP.EXE is maybe able to fix this issue, it is included as a utility in
the support tools installation package (on your WinXP CD) with some additional
documentation included in suptools.chm (installed by suptools.msi).

It will remove all Windows Installer entries for a product key that you feed
it with.

Note that if MSIZAP.EXE is used incorrectly it can affect other applications
on the machine.

Based on the documentation in
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/msi/setup/msizap_exe.asp

this is what you should run:

msizap T {product code}

an example:
msizap T {FFB37294-1155-17D3-A809-0250BAAFB1AB}

 

[Torgeir Bakken (MVP)]

If Word 2000 is installed, reinstall it and see if it helps, else:

Disregard the Word 2000 reference, a copy/paste error...