Windows installer doesn't work

alexl55 · Apr 9, 2006, 06:33 AM

Whenever I try to install any program that uses .msi, I see a quick flash of the installer on screen then it is gone. The odd thing is that it has happened on both my laptop and my desktop. I did a clean install on my desktop and the probelm was resolved, but now i find the same probelm on my laptop. I had just performed a clean install on the laptop a few weeks ago. I really want to get to the bottom of this probelm, just so I don't have to continuously clean install Windows. I have run Mcafee Virus scan 10 to check for viruses and it came up clean. I've also redownloaded Windows installer 3.1 from Microsoft. I made sure that the Windows Installer service was running. The Event Manager doesn't show anything out of the ordinary. I'm pretty much out of ideas right now. Any help is appreciated

PangingJr · Apr 9, 2006, 06:43 AM

i think there was a case like this with solution somewhere in these forums, if i can get into the posts i'll let you know.

IvanV · Apr 9, 2006, 06:37 PM

Perhaps you need to update Windows Installer. Also, are you logged in as administrator?

pr0digal jenius · Apr 9, 2006, 07:42 PM

run windows update...the installer is up to v 3.1 i think

Tipstaff · Apr 10, 2006, 02:33 AM

Windows Installer 3.1 (Version 2)

If you do a search through the forums for AutoPatcher you can also download that. That package not only includes updates for Windows, but it also includes the newer version of Windows Installer too.

Sticky Mick · Apr 10, 2006, 10:12 AM

I used to get the same , no error messages no nothin

. I gave up in the end, then when I did an update one day things started working.

But on a similar topic. Is it just me or does it now take an age for installer to start sometimes when you click on the setup icon in some software installations these days? I find myself getting impatient and clicking like crazy, only to see 1/2 a dozen installer boxes suddenly pop up when you`re 1/2 way through the install

Mr cairo · Apr 10, 2006, 10:24 AM

Yeah i had that problem about a year ago i posted here and searched the net and eventually found this fix

good luck

Install shield Fix

Rename the Installshield Engine folder under: C:\Program Files\Common Files\ to something like "TempIS".

Then try running the installation again. If the install works, simply copy over all the files from you TempIS folder back to the newly created Installshield folder after your product installs. (Make sure you chose not to overwrite stuff if prompted!)

here a link to my original problem

http://www.hardwareheaven.com/showthre...hlight=install

You do this (instead of deleting the folder) in case you have a mish-mash of Installshield versions present on your system.. and you want to eventually UNINSTALL something (the same engine is used for uninstall)

Apr 9, 2006, 06:33 AM	#1
alexl55 Ninja of the Net Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	Windows installer doesn't work Whenever I try to install any program that uses .msi, I see a quick flash of the installer on screen then it is gone. The odd thing is that it has happened on both my laptop and my desktop. I did a clean install on my desktop and the probelm was resolved, but now i find the same probelm on my laptop. I had just performed a clean install on the laptop a few weeks ago. I really want to get to the bottom of this probelm, just so I don't have to continuously clean install Windows. I have run Mcafee Virus scan 10 to check for viruses and it came up clean. I've also redownloaded Windows installer 3.1 from Microsoft. I made sure that the Windows Installer service was running. The Event Manager doesn't show anything out of the ordinary. I'm pretty much out of ideas right now. Any help is appreciated __________________ Laptop ~~~~~ Compaq Presario 2100 series AMD mobile Athlon XP 2200+ @1.8GHz Infineon 2x256MB PC2100 2.5-3-3-? @ 133MHz ATI Radeon IGP 320m w/ 32MB Shared ram Laptop LCD @ 1024 x 768 Hitachi 5400rpm 80GB HDD Windows XP Home SP2 Desktop ~~~~~ AMD Opteron 146 @ 2.80GHz (10x280MHz) + Zalman CNPS7700-Cu CPU Cooler OCZ Gold 2x512MB PC3200 2-2-2-7 1T @ 233MHz 5/6 divider DFI Lanparty-uT nF4 Ultra-D 256MB X800GTO@12p PCI-E Flash modded to X800XT@16p 540/560 + ATI Silencer 5 VGA Cooler Dell 2001 FP @ 1600 x 1200 x 32bit @ 60Hz Thermaltake Sviking Chassis + Antec Smartpower 500W 250GB Hitachi T7K500 SATA300 + 320GB Seagate 7200.10 SATA300 + 200GB Maxtor IDE NEC ND-3240A DVD Burner WIndows XP Pro SP2 + Mac OSX 10.4.7 JaS install (99% working)

Apr 9, 2006, 06:37 PM	#3
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,655 Rep Power: 280 System Specs	Perhaps you need to update Windows Installer. Also, are you logged in as administrator? __________________ Our Folding@home stats:

Apr 10, 2006, 02:33 AM	#5
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,660 Rep Power: 187 System Specs	Windows Installer 3.1 (Version 2) If you do a search through the forums for AutoPatcher you can also download that. That package not only includes updates for Windows, but it also includes the newer version of Windows Installer too. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Apr 10, 2006, 10:12 AM	#6
Sticky Mick DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Behind the fridge with the spiders in the UK. Posts: 37 Rep Power: 0	I used to get the same , no error messages no nothin . I gave up in the end, then when I did an update one day things started working. But on a similar topic. Is it just me or does it now take an age for installer to start sometimes when you click on the setup icon in some software installations these days? I find myself getting impatient and clicking like crazy, only to see 1/2 a dozen installer boxes suddenly pop up when you`re 1/2 way through the install __________________

Apr 10, 2006, 10:24 AM	#7
Mr cairo F0rum For Humans Only Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Slightly to the left Posts: 1,764 Rep Power: 87 System Specs	Yeah i had that problem about a year ago i posted here and searched the net and eventually found this fix good luck Install shield Fix Rename the Installshield Engine folder under: C:\Program Files\Common Files\ to something like "TempIS". Then try running the installation again. If the install works, simply copy over all the files from you TempIS folder back to the newly created Installshield folder after your product installs. (Make sure you chose not to overwrite stuff if prompted!) here a link to my original problem http://www.hardwareheaven.com/showthre...hlight=install You do this (instead of deleting the folder) in case you have a mish-mash of Installshield versions present on your system.. and you want to eventually UNINSTALL something (the same engine is used for uninstall) __________________

Apr 9, 2006, 06:43 AM	#2
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 69	i think there was a case like this with solution somewhere in these forums, if i can get into the posts i'll let you know.

Apr 9, 2006, 07:42 PM	#4
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	run windows update...the installer is up to v 3.1 i think