Windows Installer... some solution

After trying most, if not all, proposed solutions posted in this forum to fix
the very annoying Window Installer 3.1 "problem", I was about to give up. In
last resort, I tried the following and to my surprise, it worked perfectly.

Roughly, the idea is to remove all trace of Windows Installer in your
system. You have to locate and remove 5 files that are in one or more folder.
Then you would install WindowsInstaller-KB893803-v2-x86.exe. Finally, you
would update the registry with the correct settings for Windows Installer
3.1.

Of course, this is a very basic description of all the things to do in order
to get it running but I can post a "near" step by step guide but I don't know
if I'm allowed to do so. Moderator?

AnotherUser

Hi, I am Al, this is exactly my problem also. I am a layman. I have to learn
how to find those files and then to find the installers. I would appreciate
if any nice guy could walk me through or write a step by step actions to be
taken. Thanks in advance.

"AnotherUser" wrote:

> After trying most, if not all, proposed solutions posted in this forum to fix
> the very annoying Window Installer 3.1 "problem", I was about to give up. In
> last resort, I tried the following and to my surprise, it worked perfectly.
>
> Roughly, the idea is to remove all trace of Windows Installer in your
> system. You have to locate and remove 5 files that are in one or more folder.
> Then you would install WindowsInstaller-KB893803-v2-x86.exe. Finally, you
> would update the registry with the correct settings for Windows Installer
> 3.1.
>
> Of course, this is a very basic description of all the things to do in order
> to get it running but I can post a "near" step by step guide but I don't know
> if I'm allowed to do so. Moderator?
>
> AnotherUser

There is no moderator on these newsgroups - about the one thing that would
get frowned upon is posting live code.

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
"AnotherUser" <> wrote in message
news:77333A2F-67A5-4288-82A3-...
> After trying most, if not all, proposed solutions posted in this forum to
> fix
> the very annoying Window Installer 3.1 "problem", I was about to give up.
> In
> last resort, I tried the following and to my surprise, it worked
> perfectly.
>
> Roughly, the idea is to remove all trace of Windows Installer in your
> system. You have to locate and remove 5 files that are in one or more
> folder.
> Then you would install WindowsInstaller-KB893803-v2-x86.exe. Finally, you
> would update the registry with the correct settings for Windows Installer
> 3.1.
>
> Of course, this is a very basic description of all the things to do in
> order
> to get it running but I can post a "near" step by step guide but I don't
> know
> if I'm allowed to do so. Moderator?
>
> AnotherUser

Here's the exact procedure I took get Windows Installer 3.1 working on
Windows XP Pro SP2. Before going any further, I don't know if it will make
any difference but I recommend you set your Folders Options to let you see
hidden and protected system files or folders. Do it now.

1. Download the update "WindowsInstaller-KB893803-v2-x86.exe" and put it in
the root of your C drive for easy access. (If you don't have it, search
Microsoft.com with the exact string and you'll get there in no time.)

2. Restart Windows in Safe mode ---> with the command line interface (very
important).

3. Run the following commands or you will not be able to delete files listed
in step 4.

attrib -s -h c:\windows
attrib -s -h c:\windows\system32

4. There is 5 files to delete which may or may not be present in up to 3
folders.

a) Navigate to the Windows folder using the following commands:

cd\
cd\windows

Delete these files using the following commands (there should be no such
files in c:\windows but you never know):

del msi.dll
del msiexec.exe
del msihnd.dll
del msimsg.dll
del msisip.dll

b) Navigate to the Windows\System32 folder using the following commands:

cd\windows\system32

Delete these files using the following commands.

del msi.dll
del msiexec.exe
del msihnd.dll
del msimsg.dll
del msisip.dll

c) Finally, navigate to the Windows\system32\dllcache folder using the
following commands:

cd\windows\system32\dllcache

Delete these files using the following commands.

del msi.dll
del msiexec.exe
del msihnd.dll
del msimsg.dll
del msisip.dll

5. When all these files have been successfully deleted, you can install
Windows Installer 3.1. To do this, you must switch to the directory where it
is located (C:\) and run the program:

cd\
WindowsInstaller-KB893803-v2-x86.exe

6. At this point, the Installer should install correctly. If not, then you
did something wrong in the above steps.

7. Simply restart Windows in normal mode. Some errors messages may appear
about msi.dll and/or msiexec.exe. Ignore them for now.

8. Visit Windows Update web site to see if it can update your system. At
this point, it should work so let Windows Update finish his work and restart
when prompted to do so.

9. Open Control Panel and select Add/Remove programs. Check if Windows
Installer 3.1 appears in the list. It should not be listed but if you have
it, it might not be complete. Leave it there and continue with the next step.

10. This is the final step. You must add 8 registry entries for Windows
Installer 3.1 in the Windows Registry database. These entries are essential
to get Windows Installer working and appearing in your Add/Remove programs
list.

Manually adding registry values is a nightmare so I made a small zip file
(4kb) containing all required registry values.

http://pages.videotron.com/mxpr2000/...erREGISTRY.zip
(this download will be available at this location for a limited time only)

Simply double-click on each one to install. I can assure you that these
values comes from a working, virus free and updated PC running WinXP Pro SP2.
Restart Windows again for the final test. NOTE: after this reboot, you should
not see any error message concerning Windows Installer (msi.dll or
msiexec.exe).

Final test: Windows Defender is a good candidate (msi package) for the test
but you can use any other package as long as it has the .msi extension.
Simply test if you can install Windows Defender by double clicking on it.
Also test if you can uninstall it with the Add/Remove programs feature. You
should not have any problem at this point.

That's about it. So far, my system is working perfectly. I hope that this
solution will help at least one user. All comments, flames, questions are
welcome.

Thank you dear AU (AnotherUser) for helping me. I will try to follow the
steps and hopefully it should work. thanks again for posting the steps
specially for me. Al

"AnotherUser" wrote:

> Here's the exact procedure I took get Windows Installer 3.1 working on
> Windows XP Pro SP2. Before going any further, I don't know if it will make
> any difference but I recommend you set your Folders Options to let you see
> hidden and protected system files or folders. Do it now.
>
> 1. Download the update "WindowsInstaller-KB893803-v2-x86.exe" and put it in
> the root of your C drive for easy access. (If you don't have it, search
> Microsoft.com with the exact string and you'll get there in no time.)
>
> 2. Restart Windows in Safe mode ---> with the command line interface (very
> important).
>
> 3. Run the following commands or you will not be able to delete files listed
> in step 4.
>
> attrib -s -h c:\windows
> attrib -s -h c:\windows\system32
>
> 4. There is 5 files to delete which may or may not be present in up to 3
> folders.
>
> a) Navigate to the Windows folder using the following commands:
>
> cd\
> cd\windows
>
> Delete these files using the following commands (there should be no such
> files in c:\windows but you never know):
>
> del msi.dll
> del msiexec.exe
> del msihnd.dll
> del msimsg.dll
> del msisip.dll
>
> b) Navigate to the Windows\System32 folder using the following commands:
>
> cd\windows\system32
>
> Delete these files using the following commands.
>
> del msi.dll
> del msiexec.exe
> del msihnd.dll
> del msimsg.dll
> del msisip.dll
>
> c) Finally, navigate to the Windows\system32\dllcache folder using the
> following commands:
>
> cd\windows\system32\dllcache
>
> Delete these files using the following commands.
>
> del msi.dll
> del msiexec.exe
> del msihnd.dll
> del msimsg.dll
> del msisip.dll
>
> 5. When all these files have been successfully deleted, you can install
> Windows Installer 3.1. To do this, you must switch to the directory where it
> is located (C:\) and run the program:
>
> cd\
> WindowsInstaller-KB893803-v2-x86.exe
>
> 6. At this point, the Installer should install correctly. If not, then you
> did something wrong in the above steps.
>
> 7. Simply restart Windows in normal mode. Some errors messages may appear
> about msi.dll and/or msiexec.exe. Ignore them for now.
>
> 8. Visit Windows Update web site to see if it can update your system. At
> this point, it should work so let Windows Update finish his work and restart
> when prompted to do so.
>
> 9. Open Control Panel and select Add/Remove programs. Check if Windows
> Installer 3.1 appears in the list. It should not be listed but if you have
> it, it might not be complete. Leave it there and continue with the next step.
>
> 10. This is the final step. You must add 8 registry entries for Windows
> Installer 3.1 in the Windows Registry database. These entries are essential
> to get Windows Installer working and appearing in your Add/Remove programs
> list.
>
> Manually adding registry values is a nightmare so I made a small zip file
> (4kb) containing all required registry values.
>
> http://pages.videotron.com/mxpr2000/...erREGISTRY.zip
> (this download will be available at this location for a limited time only)
>
> Simply double-click on each one to install. I can assure you that these
> values comes from a working, virus free and updated PC running WinXP Pro SP2.
> Restart Windows again for the final test. NOTE: after this reboot, you should
> not see any error message concerning Windows Installer (msi.dll or
> msiexec.exe).
>
> Final test: Windows Defender is a good candidate (msi package) for the test
> but you can use any other package as long as it has the .msi extension.
> Simply test if you can install Windows Defender by double clicking on it.
> Also test if you can uninstall it with the Add/Remove programs feature. You
> should not have any problem at this point.
>
> That's about it. So far, my system is working perfectly. I hope that this
> solution will help at least one user. All comments, flames, questions are
> welcome.
>
>

Hey, you're welcome. But did you try it? I'm very anxious to know if it
worked for you.

When I see all these people crying about Windows Installer, Windows Update
and all these 0x errors, I wonder why no one else is willing to try the
suggested solution. Fear? Lack of knowledge?

I don't know... but I'll admit that I did not read the rules BEFORE making
my post. Shame on me for that. Whatever, I'll do better next time.


"Rajput" wrote:

> Thank you dear AU (AnotherUser) for helping me. I will try to follow the
> steps and hopefully it should work. thanks again for posting the steps
> specially for me. Al

Hi Au, I have to try it yet, thats the only help I got. I have to sit down
for doing that. Do not worry, I will let you know the results. thanks again.
Al

"AnotherUser" wrote:

> Hey, you're welcome. But did you try it? I'm very anxious to know if it
> worked for you.
>
> When I see all these people crying about Windows Installer, Windows Update
> and all these 0x errors, I wonder why no one else is willing to try the
> suggested solution. Fear? Lack of knowledge?
>
> I don't know... but I'll admit that I did not read the rules BEFORE making
> my post. Shame on me for that. Whatever, I'll do better next time.
>
>
> "Rajput" wrote:
>
> > Thank you dear AU (AnotherUser) for helping me. I will try to follow the
> > steps and hopefully it should work. thanks again for posting the steps
> > specially for me. Al
>

Hi, I tried the procedure and it did stop me getting Windows Installer popups
but the I noticed that I couldn't get access to my Add/Remobe Programs
windows. Any ideas?

"Rajput" wrote:

> Hi Au, I have to try it yet, thats the only help I got. I have to sit down
> for doing that. Do not worry, I will let you know the results. thanks again.
> Al
>
> "AnotherUser" wrote:
>
> > Hey, you're welcome. But did you try it? I'm very anxious to know if it
> > worked for you.
> >
> > When I see all these people crying about Windows Installer, Windows Update
> > and all these 0x errors, I wonder why no one else is willing to try the
> > suggested solution. Fear? Lack of knowledge?
> >
> > I don't know... but I'll admit that I did not read the rules BEFORE making
> > my post. Shame on me for that. Whatever, I'll do better next time.
> >
> >
> > "Rajput" wrote:
> >
> > > Thank you dear AU (AnotherUser) for helping me. I will try to follow the
> > > steps and hopefully it should work. thanks again for posting the steps
> > > specially for me. Al
> >

"couldn't get access to my Add/Remobe Programs windows" - is not very
descriptive... what happens when you try? What do you mean? (nothing happens
at all? the Window appears, but there's nothing in it? - you get an error
message??)

Details help!!


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2006, Windows)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.com/millsrpch.htm

http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's
"olobay" <> wrote in message
news:CE2778D1-2150-4349-A846-...
> Hi, I tried the procedure and it did stop me getting Windows Installer
> popups
> but the I noticed that I couldn't get access to my Add/Remobe Programs
> windows. Any ideas?
>

I am wondering if this procedure works on Vista, is the version of the
windows installer 4.0 in Vista, I was under the impression this procedure is
for Windows Installer 3.1. I am using Vista and everytime I go to install
anything it pops up and says Windows Installer Service could not be accessed.
I downloaded the update for 3.1, but can't even install it due the the
pop-up.....any help is appreciated...thanks

"AnotherUser" wrote:

> Here's the exact procedure I took get Windows Installer 3.1 working on
> Windows XP Pro SP2. Before going any further, I don't know if it will make
> any difference but I recommend you set your Folders Options to let you see
> hidden and protected system files or folders. Do it now.
>
> 1. Download the update "WindowsInstaller-KB893803-v2-x86.exe" and put it in
> the root of your C drive for easy access. (If you don't have it, search
> Microsoft.com with the exact string and you'll get there in no time.)
>
> 2. Restart Windows in Safe mode ---> with the command line interface (very
> important).
>
> 3. Run the following commands or you will not be able to delete files listed
> in step 4.
>
> attrib -s -h c:\windows
> attrib -s -h c:\windows\system32
>
> 4. There is 5 files to delete which may or may not be present in up to 3
> folders.
>
> a) Navigate to the Windows folder using the following commands:
>
> cd\
> cd\windows
>
> Delete these files using the following commands (there should be no such
> files in c:\windows but you never know):
>
> del msi.dll
> del msiexec.exe
> del msihnd.dll
> del msimsg.dll
> del msisip.dll
>
> b) Navigate to the Windows\System32 folder using the following commands:
>
> cd\windows\system32
>
> Delete these files using the following commands.
>
> del msi.dll
> del msiexec.exe
> del msihnd.dll
> del msimsg.dll
> del msisip.dll
>
> c) Finally, navigate to the Windows\system32\dllcache folder using the
> following commands:
>
> cd\windows\system32\dllcache
>
> Delete these files using the following commands.
>
> del msi.dll
> del msiexec.exe
> del msihnd.dll
> del msimsg.dll
> del msisip.dll
>
> 5. When all these files have been successfully deleted, you can install
> Windows Installer 3.1. To do this, you must switch to the directory where it
> is located (C:\) and run the program:
>
> cd\
> WindowsInstaller-KB893803-v2-x86.exe
>
> 6. At this point, the Installer should install correctly. If not, then you
> did something wrong in the above steps.
>
> 7. Simply restart Windows in normal mode. Some errors messages may appear
> about msi.dll and/or msiexec.exe. Ignore them for now.
>
> 8. Visit Windows Update web site to see if it can update your system. At
> this point, it should work so let Windows Update finish his work and restart
> when prompted to do so.
>
> 9. Open Control Panel and select Add/Remove programs. Check if Windows
> Installer 3.1 appears in the list. It should not be listed but if you have
> it, it might not be complete. Leave it there and continue with the next step.
>
> 10. This is the final step. You must add 8 registry entries for Windows
> Installer 3.1 in the Windows Registry database. These entries are essential
> to get Windows Installer working and appearing in your Add/Remove programs
> list.
>
> Manually adding registry values is a nightmare so I made a small zip file
> (4kb) containing all required registry values.
>
> http://pages.videotron.com/mxpr2000/...erREGISTRY.zip
> (this download will be available at this location for a limited time only)
>
> Simply double-click on each one to install. I can assure you that these
> values comes from a working, virus free and updated PC running WinXP Pro SP2.
> Restart Windows again for the final test. NOTE: after this reboot, you should
> not see any error message concerning Windows Installer (msi.dll or
> msiexec.exe).
>
> Final test: Windows Defender is a good candidate (msi package) for the test
> but you can use any other package as long as it has the .msi extension.
> Simply test if you can install Windows Defender by double clicking on it.
> Also test if you can uninstall it with the Add/Remove programs feature. You
> should not have any problem at this point.
>
> That's about it. So far, my system is working perfectly. I hope that this
> solution will help at least one user. All comments, flames, questions are
> welcome.
>
>