Windows XP SP3 & Windows Installer woes

[RegB]

I upgraded my sister's PC with a new motherboard, processor and hard drive
(SATA). I was able to use Western Digital’s tools to transfer files from the
old IDE to the new SATA. I ran into a slight snag and had to call &
reactivate Windows (twice) after the new motherboard & drivers were
installed. After Windows was happy, I applied all patches which included SP3.

PROBLEM: Office and Adobe icons have converted to the default icon. When I
try to use one of these applications, Windows Installer (version 3.1) pops up
and tries to install. Any attempt to install or uninstall results in an
error message saying "This patch package could not be opened. Verify that the
patch package exists and that you can access it...."

I’ve found and run the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/295823 ) many times with no luck. I’ve also
explored all the options discussed in this forum
http://en.kioskea.net/forum/affich-390-windows-installer-service-could-not-be-access
with no success. Out of total desperation I also purchased a registry
cleaner program and ran it – still no success.

I'm beginning to suspect Windows XP SP3 and might be the reason the Cleanup
Utility no longer works. I have not uninstalled Windows Installer &
reinstalled because I'm thoroughly intimidated by the long list of
applications affected.

Does anyone have any other ideas on what to try? I'm at the end of my
wits.....

 

[Andrew E.]

Getting WDC utility to copy xp was a feat in itself,xp doesnt usually work
with
oem drive utilities,only with older windows OS...Either way,the utility got
you
this far,however like the usual maybe only 97%,try either booting to xp cd,
repair this copy,or,reinstall old hd,use the file transfer wizard,set as
old pc,save
data to new folder,then transfer to cd,run FTW from xp cd.Also,installer is
at
version v4.5,earlier versions may not work with SP3.Also,after the FTW is
saved,reinstall SATA,do a new install of xp.

 

[RegB]

Yikes.....re-do everything? I guess I don't understand why the file transfer
process could have caused the problem with Windows Installer. The programs
(Word, Excel, etc.) will run. They just launch Windows Installer the first
time you use them and you have to cancel the install & click ok on the error
message.

You are right about getting WDC to copy.....and adding to the difficulty was
a limitation with the motherboard where I could not have the old hard drive
and CD connected AT THE SAME TIME on the one-and-only IDE cable. I'm not
looking forward to trying that again!

My original XP CD is for XP pre service pack 1. I've already had a very bad
experience on another system trying to use the original XP CD to repair an XP
system with SP3. I'm waiting on Vista to arrive in the mail in the hopes it
will recover the failed attempt......so, I'm thinking Windows Repair is no
longer an option with the original install CD.......?????????

 

[DW]

Hey, no problem. I can always use the xtra help.

I tried installing SP3 from safe mode, as administrator, and it failed.
I tried running a thorough virus scan and it did not find anything, not even
the worm.

So, I am still stuck on what to do. There was one more solution. I will try
that the next time I see my friend. (It's her pc, so my post might take a
little while.)

Thanks again, guys!