Windows Installer Problem

It seems that every time I try to install something, Windows Installer freezes. I have restarted several times and done virus scans and all that jazz but it still freezes every time I try to install something, mainly my printer software, but other things as well. I went to microsoft.com and couldn't find anywhere to update/redownload the installer for XP, just updates for Me and 2000 and such. Any help would be much appreciated. thanks

 

Try replacing the installer files:

Click Start, and then click Run.

In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.

At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER, where Drive is the drive where Windows is installed and where %Windir% is the folder where Windows is installed:

attrib -r -s -h drive:\%Windir%\system32\dllcache

For example, type
attrib -r -s -h c:\windows\\system32\dllcache

At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:

ren msi.dll msi.old
ren msiexec.exe msiexec.old
ren msihnd.dll msihnd.old

At the command prompt, type exit, and then press ENTER.

Restart your computer.
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If that doesn't work, re-register the installer:

To re-register the Windows Installer, verify the location of the Msiexec.exe file on your hard disk and in the Windows Registry, and then re-register the Windows Installer. To do so:

Verify the location of the Msiexec.exe file on your hard disk. To do so:
Click Start, and then click Search.
Click All files and folders.
In the File name box, type msiexec.exe, and then click Search.
In the search results, make a note of the location of the Msiexec.exe file.

The location of the Msiexec.exe file should be similar to the following example, where Drive is the drive where Windows is installed, and %Windir% is the folder where Windows is installed:
Drive:\%Windir%\System32

An example of this is C:\Windows\System32.
On the File menu, click Close.
Verify the location of the Msiexec.exe file in the Windows Registry. To do so:
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
Locate, and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSIServer

In the right pane, double-click ImagePath.
In the Edit String dialog box, make sure that the string in the Value data box contains the correct path of the Msiexec.exe file on your hard disk that you determined earlier.

For example, if the Msiexec.exe file is located in the Drive:\Windows\System32 folder on your hard disk, the correct path of the Msiexec.exe file in the Value data box is the following, where Drive is the drive where Windows is installed:
Drive:\Windows\System32\Msiexec.exe /V



If the Value data box does not contain the correct path, make the appropriate changes to correct the path, and then click OK.
Quit Registry Editor.
Start your computer in safe mode, and then register the Msiexec.exe file. To do so:
Shut down, and then restart your computer.
Press F8 after you receive the following message:

Please select the operating system to start
On the Windows Advanced Option menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode, and then press ENTER.
If you use a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the appropriate operating system from the list that is displayed, and then press ENTER.
Log on to the computer.
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type the following line, and then click OK:
msiexec /regserver

Shut down, and then restart your computer in standard mode.

 

the first thing in DOS didn't work. i verified the path and stuff but when i typed in everything, it just gave me a blank screen. so anyways i tried the second method and that didn't work either. i put in my printer software CD and tried to install after the msiexec /regserver step and it freezes every time. any other ideas??

 

try to install service pack for windows.