Windows Installer

[J.]

Hi. Recently whenever I try to start ANY program, or even
just click on a link in IE, I get that obnoxious Windows
Installer dialogue box that says "Preparing to
Install..."

I have seen some discussion about this as regards MS
Office software, but this happens for pretty much all of
my programs; even when I run "Search" from the Start Menu
I get this thing. What can I do?

Thanks!

 

[Sharon F]

Hi. Recently whenever I try to start ANY program, or even
just click on a link in IE, I get that obnoxious Windows
Installer dialogue box that says "Preparing to
Install..."

I have seen some discussion about this as regards MS
Office software, but this happens for pretty much all of
my programs; even when I run "Search" from the Start Menu
I get this thing. What can I do?

Thanks!

I don't understand the problem. "Preparing to install" is a normal message.
If installing from a single downloaded file, double clicking that file starts
unpacking files. This unpacking would include decompressing the actual
installer. The setup screens can't appear until after this process
completes.

 

[Josh]

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear. This doesn't happen when I try to install
a newly downloaded program--it happens when I try to OPEN a program that I
already have. So for example when I try to open Internet Explorer, I get a
message telling me "preparing to install."

And just letting it go through the motions doesnt help, it does this every
time.

Thanks

 

[Josh]

P.S. Sometimes it even happens when I try to open my Documents folder, which
is truly weird.

J.

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear. This doesn't happen when I try to install
a newly downloaded program--it happens when I try to OPEN a program that I
already have. So for example when I try to open Internet Explorer, I get a
message telling me "preparing to install."

And just letting it go through the motions doesnt help, it does this every
time.

Thanks

 

[Sharon F]

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear. This doesn't happen when I try to install
a newly downloaded program--it happens when I try to OPEN a program that I
already have. So for example when I try to open Internet Explorer, I get a
message telling me "preparing to install."

And just letting it go through the motions doesnt help, it does this every
time.

Thanks

Josh, thanks for the extra info and yes, that's more clear. Except... by
"letting it go through the motions," do you mean that you are providing
the CD for the program?

A few possible reasons for this installer message appearing that I can
think of:

**A program was installed with some components set as "install on first
use." When the feature is requested, the installation CD is needed. You
can run Setup again and use the Change Installation (or however it's
worded on your screen) to switch any component from "first use" to
"install" or that may be described as "run from hard drive."

**A program needs to create registry keys for each user. The installer may
be pulling info from the MSI and other program files on the drive and
really does need you to wait. If stuck in a constant loop, try a differenct
tack. For example: Log on to each user account. Run setup. You can install
the program to the folder it's already in as your objective is to create
needed user registry entries.

**Whenever you install a program that is multi-user aware, select "For All
Users" unless you have a darn good reason to select "for me only." It
avoids a lot of these headaches.

**A wild side thought: Try clearing your Windows\Temp folder and the \Local
Settings\Temp folder for each user. There may be temporary installation
files stuck in there that are mucking things up.

 

[Sharon F]

P.S. Sometimes it even happens when I try to open my Documents folder, which
is truly weird.

That is truly weird.

Don't know if this article applies but thought you might want to take a
look at it:
Microsoft Installer Packages May Be Reinstalled When You Start a Packaged
Program in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324209&Product=winxp