VISTA Windows Installer Service

Sounds like this is a popular question, although all of threads I read
through referred to XP, not Vista. I have 3 different applications that
would not install for the same error refferred to in these threads. "...you
are either running in Safe Mode or Windows Installer Service is not
available..."

I have tried both of the methods suggested in Articale Q315346, "Error
1719:..", but that changed nothing. msiexec.exe exists in the System32
folder, and is correctly pointed to in the Registry.

I ran the cmd suggested by Ramesh in one of the threads, and got:
TYPE :10 WIN32_OWN_PROCESS
START_TYPE : 3 DEMAND_START
ERROR_CONTROL : 1 NORMAL
BINARY_PATH_NAME :\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\MSIEXEC /V
LOAD_ORDER_GROUP :
TAG : 0
DISPLAY_NAME : WINDOWS INSTALLER
DEPENDENCIES : RPCSS
SERVICE_START_NAME : LOCALSYSTEM

Same as others got. Noticed someone wrote that they found the Iolo Service
as part of System Mechanic was blocking the Installer Service, somehow, but I
don't have System Mech (or Iolo Svc) running or installed.

From the number of threads on this subject under VISTA, I presume this is a
problem experienced by MANY!

Would like some real solutions, or go back to XP.

Thanks everyone.
Regards,
Todd