XP Pro Software Install Error

[Guest]

-- On my wife's laptop machine at startup Windows Installer shows up trying
to install a program that was uninstalled--another screen pops up too with a
notation "Severe" and " You uninstall the old program before installing the
new one" or something very close to this wording. It all comes from a
botched uninstall of Drive Image 7. I can close the two popups after
clicking on each one several times and they're gone then for the session. I
have scoured the computer for files, the registry for entries, etc pertaining
to this program and have cleaned out everything I can. I have disabled
Windows Installer using gpedit and still this thing is hanging around.

Anybody have any ideas on how to stop this short of killing the hard drive
and reinstalling Windows XP Pro, SP 2 and starting from scratch with all the
applications and settings? This has been going on for 5-6 weeks and System
Restore possibilities are long gone.
Thank you for your help,

benedict1

 

[Guest]

test

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

-- On my wife's laptop machine at startup Windows Installer shows up trying
to install a program that was uninstalled--another screen pops up too with a
notation "Severe" and " You uninstall the old program before installing the
new one" or something very close to this wording. It all comes from a
botched uninstall of Drive Image 7. I can close the two popups after
clicking on each one several times and they're gone then for the session. I
have scoured the computer for files, the registry for entries, etc pertaining
to this program and have cleaned out everything I can. I have disabled
Windows Installer using gpedit and still this thing is hanging around.

Hi

Most likely it is Windows Installer doing an on-demand installation...

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}


Alternatively, for a more user friendly interface to MSIZAP.EXE ,
take a look at this article:

Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301

 

[Guest]

Thank you. I found Windows Installer Cleanup Utility and MsiZap.exe and
downloaded both. The Cleanup Uitility does not see anything amiss--Drive
Image 7 is not noted as an installed, or if I understand it, recently
uninstalled leaver of some remnants. However, when I look at the Application
Log there are caution signs that showup at startup, 3 each time Windows is
opened, and the product code is identical everytime--it is indicated in the
brackets in the following expression--

msizap T {8D538DFC-1E7A-45F0-9C7B-D8B6629CC2DC}

I tried to put this expression into a command line, or in the Run box but I
get an error that says Windows can't find MsiZap.exe. It is in the Program
Files folder for the Windown Installer Cleanup Utility but it won't start.
Clicking on msizap.exe directly does nothing but a momentary flash of a dark
Window box which I would guess is the command line box trying to open.

I think I'm almost there. Can you help to get msizap.exe to run? Do I need
to put it in a folder by itself in the Program Files so Windows can find it?

Again, thank you for your generous assistance.

 

[Guest]

I thought it might be helpful for you to see the complete reference in the
event log--should have done that in the previous note. It is

Detection of product '{8D538DFC-1E7A-45F0-9C7B-D8B6629CC2DC}', feature
'Agent' failed during request for component
'{436D7A23-36BE-11D2-ACBB-0080C7FCBB84}'

I hope this is more helpful. Obviously something is missing that the first
file is looking for--this all started when the computer was inadvertently
shutdown during an install/unistall sequence for Drive Image 7, which we no
longer use.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

Thank you. I found Windows Installer Cleanup Utility and MsiZap.exe and
downloaded both. The Cleanup Uitility does not see anything amiss--Drive
Image 7 is not noted as an installed, or if I understand it, recently
uninstalled leaver of some remnants. However, when I look at the Application
Log there are caution signs that showup at startup, 3 each time Windows is
opened, and the product code is identical everytime--it is indicated in the
brackets in the following expression--

msizap T {8D538DFC-1E7A-45F0-9C7B-D8B6629CC2DC}

I tried to put this expression into a command line, or in the Run box but I
get an error that says Windows can't find MsiZap.exe. It is in the Program
Files folder for the Windown Installer Cleanup Utility but it won't start.
Clicking on msizap.exe directly does nothing but a momentary flash of a dark
Window box which I would guess is the command line box trying to open.

I think I'm almost there. Can you help to get msizap.exe to run? Do I need
to put it in a folder by itself in the Program Files so Windows can find it?

Hi

1)
Open a command prompt (e.g. Start/Run --> cmd.exe)

2)
In the command prompt, change current directory to the
"Windows Installer Clean Up" folder by typing the following:

cd /d %programfiles%\Windows Installer Clean Up

3)
You should now be able to run the command

msizap T {8D538DFC-1E7A-45F0-9C7B-D8B6629CC2DC}

 

[Guest]

Bravo, Torgeir! That fixed it. I thank you and my wife thanks you.

One more question--As you see, I am totally dumb about the old MS-DOS
command line world. Where can I find instruction--a book, something on line
from Microsoft, or wherever?

I am also astounded at the number of tools available to fix up Windows
hiccoughs--this msizap tool for example. How does one go about naviagating
that world? Every time I start into the Microsoft help world it's like a
swamp--does this only come with experience, or is there a rational way to
search for help in the Microsoft web pages?

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

Bravo, Torgeir! That fixed it. I thank you and my wife thanks you.

Your very welcome

One more question--As you see, I am totally dumb about the old MS-DOS
command line world. Where can I find instruction--a book, something
on line from Microsoft, or wherever?

Command-line reference
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/ntcmds_o.mspx

Or

Start | Run | Copy and paste the following line:

hh.exe ntcmds.chm

I am also astounded at the number of tools available to fix up Windows
hiccoughs--this msizap tool for example. How does one go about naviagating
that world? Every time I start into the Microsoft help world it's like a
swamp--does this only come with experience, or is there a rational way to
search for help in the Microsoft web pages?

A combination of experience, reading posts in the newsgroups
and using Google newsgroup search:

http://groups.google.co.uk/advanced_group_search

 

[Guest]

For us older users people like you are a Godsend! I am 66 and have only
been into computers for about 18 months. I am trying to learn everything I
can but it can be overwhelming. Microsoft should be very happy with its
MVPs--several of you have saved my tail with other more aggravating issues.

I hope you have a great evening(it's evening in Norway, I believe.)

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

For us older users people like you are a Godsend! I am 66 and have only
been into computers for about 18 months. I am trying to learn everything I
can but it can be overwhelming. Microsoft should be very happy with its
MVPs--several of you have saved my tail with other more aggravating issues.

Thank you for your kind words, and yes, computer technology can
be pretty overwhelming on a newbie, good luck on your learning
experience

I hope you have a great evening(it's evening in Norway, I believe.)

Yes, it's past 8 in the evening here now...

 

[Guest]

Good Morning! I don't mean to become a pest(well, maybe just a little one)
but I need a little more help--I found a great website on MS-DOS commands--

I see them also when I go to Properties for Windows Explorer--

%systemroot%\explorer.exe /n, /e, c:\program files

Is system root a folder too?

Thank you again for your kind assistance.

 

[Guest]

Good Morning! I don't mean to become a pest(well, maybe just a little one)
but I need a little more help--I found a great website on MS-DOS commands--

http://www.computerhope.com/msdos.htm

But I am also confused as to the use of certain symbols--like the % which
appears in --

cd /d %programfiles%\Windows Installer Clean Up

Does the % mark off a folder or ??

I see them also when I go to Properties for Windows Explorer--

%systemroot%\explorer.exe /n, /e, c:\program files

Is system root a folder too?

Thank you again for your kind assistance.

(I may have answered my own question--this site defines MS-DOS symbols

http://ftp.aset.psu.edu/pub/access/win95/PennStateStuff/NTDos.txt )

I may have answered my own question but I thought you might like to know
about these sites in case others ask the same elementary things I have.

 

[Malke]

http://www.computerhope.com/msdos.htm

But I am also confused as to the use of certain symbols--like the %
which appears in --


Does the % mark off a folder or ??

Hi, Benedict. I don't think Torgeir will mind me answering your
question; he's probably sleeping now. The percent symbol is used to
indicate a variable. Unlike earlier Windows operating systems, WinXP
doesn't have to be on the C: drive. So, rather than saying

C:\explorer.exe

one might say %systemroot%\explorer.exe

The "system root" refers to the root of the drive (the very bottom
layer, if you will) where the operating system resides. If XP is
installed on the C: drive, then system root is C: and if XP is on the
D: drive, then system root is D:.

So the second example you quote is saying that the Windows Installer
program might be found in D:\Program Files but you have to substitute
your specific computer's layout instead.

Did that help?

Cheers,

Malke

 

[Guest]

Yes, that makes perfect sense. Thank you, Malke. I continue to be amazed
at the kindness and knowledge of the MVPs!

Once, many years ago, I knew a little about MS-DOS. I had a little Toshiba
laptop that had a 20 MB hard disk! It broke about 1995 and I vowed I would
never get another computer. Until Sept., 2003, the vow held. Then better
judgement was overuled by curiosity and now, WOW! We have two laptops, 240
gigabytes external storage in three drives, an external DVD burner, a
wireless network and a wireless audio player hooked to my stereo in the
living room. I have wires running everywhere. I upgraded my laptop to 1
gigabyte main memory, put in a new, bigger, faster hard drive and put the old
one into an enclosure with USB connection so my wife as a backup drive all
her own.

I probably should have bought a desktop but room is at a premium and I
wouldn't have learned so much so fast.

Sorry, I shouldn't take up Newsgroup space with old man's ramblings. Thanks
again. And, keep an eye out for me on the Newsgroup. I'm sure I'll need you
all again, soon.

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

But I am also confused as to the use of certain symbols--like
the % which appears in --


Does the % mark off a folder or ??

Hi

Some additions to what Malke wrote:

%programfiles% is an environment variable that represents the
programs files path. To see what the programfiles environment
variable represents type the following command in a command
prompt (cmd.exe):

SET ProgramFiles

or alternatively

Echo %ProgramFiles%

To see what variables are available to you, type the following
command:

SET

To redirect that output to a file in the temp folder:

SET >%tmp%\env.txt

Then you can open this file in Notepad with the following
command (either from Start/Run or the command prompt):

notepad.exe %tmp%\env.txt

 

[Guest]

Thank you, Torgeir. I have found a book by Peter Norton on MS DOS 6.22 and
have ordered it. Along with the links you gave me and that I have discovered
I think I will have good learning resources.

I have saved all these posts to an external medium so I can refer to them
also.

I hope your day is going well.