Windows Installer Problems

[Tgaguy]

I too am having windows installer problems. I downloaded the utility but when i ran it i got the "This patch package could not be opened. Verify that the patch package exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows Installer patch package." message. now what? (bemused). Thanks for any help.

 

[Triple6]

Welcome to TSG, I've split your post off from the other user.

What are trying to install? what version of Windows do you have?

 

[Tgaguy]

Im trying to install adobe acrobat reader. Have tried a previous version of adobe. Also this error occurs with some other install programs. I also get the "preparing to install" windows when i open a new office document then it disappears and office opens. (not only office - was doing it when opening "my computer" but not now).

I have removed windows installer and reinstalled it through windows update. i have run registry genius to clean out the registry.

I have done Windows File Protection file scan completed successfully.

Running Windows XP home SP2 on my lappy

Any help appreciated.

Event Viewer also shows errors -

Event Type: Error
Event Source: SideBySide
Event Category: None
Event ID: 32
Date: 4/07/2007
Time: 8:00:16 p.m.
User: N/A
Computer: XP-M3000
Description:
Dependent Assembly Microsoft.VC80.MFC could not be found and Last Error was The referenced assembly is not installed on your system.

and.....
Resolve Partial Assembly failed for Microsoft.VC80.MFC. Reference error message: The referenced assembly is not installed on your system.

and...
Generate Activation Context failed for C:\WINDOWS\system32\GizmoPluginCPL.cpl. Reference error message: The operation completed successfully.

could these be related???

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 8:11:21 p.m., on 4/07/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\csrss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MsMpEng.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgemc.exe
D:\Program Files\ewido anti-spyware 4.0\guard.exe
C:\WINDOWS\ATK0100\Hcontrol.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SOUNDMAN.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\IoctlSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\sdhelp.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\Program Files\A-DATA\USB Flash Disk Utility\PLBkMon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\HotfixQ0306270.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgcc.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe
C:\Program Files\MarkAny\ContentSafer\MAAgent.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
D:\Program Files\RMClock\RMClock.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe
C:\WINDOWS\ATK0100\ATKOSD.exe
C:\Program Files\Asus\Asus ChkMail\ChkMail.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\alg.exe
D:\Program Files\RMClock\RMClockHLT.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\usnsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\dllhost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdtc.exe
D:\HiJackThis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=userinit.exe,
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {36C75988-F700-4D47-A91A-499C2F5C3EA4} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {7E853D72-626A-48EC-A868-BA8D5E23E045} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {8A61098D-612B-4EF2-943D-64E920684061} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: WinWSD - {C2660A5F-DCD8-48A0-BA14-601862875DAB} - (no file)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Hcontrol] C:\WINDOWS\ATK0100\Hcontrol.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMan] SOUNDMAN.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SiSUSBRG] C:\WINDOWS\SiSUSBrg.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPLpr] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPLpr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ADATA_PLUtil] C:\Program Files\A-DATA\USB Flash Disk Utility\PLBkMon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PLFFAP] C:\WINDOWS\System32\HotfixQ0306270.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgcc.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\WINDOWS\system32\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "D:\Program Files\QuickTime Alternative\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Windows Defender] "C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe" -hide
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SMSTray] C:\Program Files\Samsung\Samsung Media Studio 5\SMSTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MAAgent] C:\Program Files\MarkAny\ContentSafer\MAAgent.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KernelFaultCheck] %systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -k
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIModeChange] Ati2mdxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AtiPTA] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [RMClock] "D:\Program Files\RMClock\RMClockLauncher.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
O4 - Global Startup: ASUS ChkMail.lnk = C:\Program Files\Asus\Asus ChkMail\ChkMail.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_01\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Run WinHTTrack - {36ECAF82-3300-8F84-092E-AFF36D6C7040} - C:\Program Files\WinHTTrack\WinHTTrackIEBar.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Launch WinHTTrack - {36ECAF82-3300-8F84-092E-AFF36D6C7040} - C:\Program Files\WinHTTrack\WinHTTrackIEBar.dll
O9 - Extra button: Active Whois - {BAB9A4F4-C201-4fcf-A5D3-BA77BC9FBEB2} - C:\Program Files\Active Whois\ieshow.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Active Whois - {BAB9A4F4-C201-4fcf-A5D3-BA77BC9FBEB2} - C:\Program Files\Active Whois\ieshow.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {20A60F0D-9AFA-4515-A0FD-83BD84642501} (Checkers Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/msgrchkr.cab56986.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1158782773713
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1158805317616
O16 - DPF: {C3F79A2B-B9B4-4A66-B012-3EE46475B072} (MessengerStatsClient Class) - http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/MessengerStatsPAClient.cab56907.cab
O18 - Protocol: livecall - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - C:\PROGRA~1\WI1F86~1\MESSEN~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL
O18 - Protocol: msnim - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - C:\PROGRA~1\WI1F86~1\MESSEN~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O21 - SSODL: WPDShServiceObj - {AAA288BA-9A4C-45B0-95D7-94D524869DB5} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\WPDShServiceObj.dll
O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG E-mail Scanner (AVGEMS) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: ewido anti-spyware 4.0 guard - Anti-Malware Development a.s. - D:\Program Files\ewido anti-spyware 4.0\guard.exe
O23 - Service: PLFlash DeviceIoControl Service - Prolific Technology Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\IoctlSvc.exe
O23 - Service: PC Tools Spyware Doctor (SDhelper) - PC Tools Research Pty Ltd - C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\sdhelp.exe
O23 - Service: ServiceLayer - Nokia. - C:\Program Files\PC Connectivity Solution\ServiceLayer.exe
O23 - Service: Windows Live Setup Service (WLSetupSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Windows Live\installer\WLSetupSvc.exe

 

[Triple6]

Well the Gizmo Plug in appears to be related to VOIP progams: http://support.gizmoproject.com/index.php?_a=knowledgebase&_j=questiondetails&_i=230

You should run Windows Update, choose to do the Custom scan and select all the optional updates to download and install. You'll need to run Windows Update more then once to get all the updates. That should fix some of those errors.

For any program that comes up with preparing to install you'll need to uninstall and reinstall.

For Adobe Acrobat make sure to uninstall all previous versions from Add or Remove Programs before installing Adobe Reader 8.

For any program that doesn't want to uninstall, try using the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility to remove it: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

 

[Support4U]

I too am having windows installer problems. I downloaded the utility but when i ran it i got the "This patch package could not be opened. Verify that the patch package exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows Installer patch package." message. now what? (bemused). Thanks for any help.

This error is for Windows Xp..pls try the following steps on this Microsoft support link
The link has mentioned the exact error message that u r getting
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932857
pls let me know if it works for u.

 

[Tgaguy]

I forgot to mention that i have downloaded and tried to install the MSICUU2 utility with the same installer error. I ended up extracting the package and running it that way. It worked. Still have the error but havent removed office yet so will do that. Dont know why office would cause the problem as its been installed for some time and I havent used it or changed anything for ages. But will try remove and reinstall anyway.

Regards
Reuben.

 

[Tgaguy]

I have un-installed Office2K. Restarted. Retried to install MSICUU2 with the same error.
Removed Windows Installer 3.1, restarted, Retried install Adobe acrobat 7.03. Same error. Restarted, Retried install. still same error. Retried MSICUU2. same error.

Support4U, please read my post above (#3). I think you may have been slightly confused. Office would open only after a brief "preparing to install" message. however one quirk i found was if you directly opened a office document, word doc for example, then word would open but without the document. you would have to reopen the document from within word.

Regards
Reuben

 

[Tgaguy]

I have some other adobe products installed.
Adobe Download Manager 2.2
Adobe Flash Player 9 Active X
Adobe Shockwave Player.

Will unisntall all these too and then retry acrobat.

 

[Support4U]

I have un-installed Office2K. Restarted. Retried to install MSICUU2 with the same error.
Removed Windows Installer 3.1, restarted, Retried install Adobe acrobat 7.03. Same error. Restarted, Retried install. still same error. Retried MSICUU2. same error.

Support4U, please read my post above (#3). I think you may have been slightly confused. Office would open only after a brief "preparing to install" message. however one quirk i found was if you directly opened a office document, word doc for example, then word would open but without the document. you would have to reopen the document from within word.

Regards
Reuben

hi, u r correct about me being a bit confused about ur issue but i believe i have got it now. so pls try the following:
Solution #1:
Reinstall the application in question, and don't choose the "This feature will be installed when required "for any of the optional components.
However, this may not solve the problem (which is the very bug we're talking about). but in the mean time, here's how to turn off the "feature:"

Solution #2
Open the Group Policy Editor by selecting Run from the Start Menu, and typing gpedit.msc. (If the file is missing, run mmc.exe instead. Then, select Add/Remove Snap-in from the Console menu, click Add, and double-click Group Policy. Click Finish, then Close, then Ok.)
Expand the following branches:
Local Computer Policy \ Computer Configuration \ Administrative Templates \ Windows Components \ Windows Installer
Double-click Disable Windows Installer to your right, click Enabled, and choose Always from the list. Click Ok when you're done.
The change will take effect immediately. If you added a snap in, as described above, you don't need to "save changes to the console."

Note: If you encounter an error about the Administrator Policy the next time you try to install an application, you'll have to re-enable the Windows Installer temporarily.

Solution #3 (for Office 2000 only):
Run the Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE).
Expand the branches to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\ Microsoft\ Office\ 9.0\ Common.
Delete the UserData value on your right, and close the Registry Editor.
The next time you start an Office application, it will ask for your username, but shouldn't bother you again
also check this microsoft site too
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q265194

 

[Tgaguy]

Interesting. I followed soultion #2, but, Group policies doesent appear in the list of available snap-ins. see pic http://homepages.maxnet.co.nz/mrt/snapin.JPG


however i followed the following instructions,

How to Manage Windows Installer Local Policies
Article ID : 227181
Last Review : February 23, 2007
Revision : 3.2
Machine polices can be configured under the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer
Value Name: DisableMSI
Value Data Types: REG_DWORD
Description: If this value exists and is set to "2", the Installer is always disabled for all applications. If this value is set to "1", the Installer is disabled for non-managed applications but is still enabled for managed applications. If this value is set to "0', any other number, or is absent, the Installer is always enabled.
I added the Dword, set to 2, hope that is ok.

 

[Tgaguy]

hi, u r correct about me being a bit confused about ur issue but i believe i have got it now. so pls try the following:
Solution #1:
Reinstall the application in question, and don't choose the "This feature will be installed when required "for any of the optional components.
However, this may not solve the problem (which is the very bug we're talking about). but in the mean time, here's how to turn off the "feature:"

Which application?
Adobe acrobat = still fails
MSICUU2 = still fails

 

[Support4U]

Interesting. I followed soultion #2, but, Group policies doesent appear in the list of available snap-ins. see pic http://homepages.maxnet.co.nz/mrt/snapin.JPG


however i followed the following instructions,

How to Manage Windows Installer Local Policies
Article ID : 227181
Last Review : February 23, 2007
Revision : 3.2
Machine polices can be configured under the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer
Value Name: DisableMSI
Value Data Types: REG_DWORD
Description: If this value exists and is set to "2", the Installer is always disabled for all applications. If this value is set to "1", the Installer is disabled for non-managed applications but is still enabled for managed applications. If this value is set to "0', any other number, or is absent, the Installer is always enabled.
I added the Dword, set to 2, hope that is ok.

gr8 wish u all the luck..add it

 

[Tgaguy]

Bugger. didnt work.

So, All adobe products un-installed, office 2k un-installed.

Cant install MSICUU2, cant install Adobe Acrobat (v8 or v7)

However, i unpacked the MSCIUU2 package with winrar into a folder and ran it from there. I got a error saying msizap.exe was missing, so i searched for it and found it in a cabinet file, copied it into the foler and re-ran. The screenshot show no adobe products installed.

still doesnt explain why msciuu2 wont install either.

Regards.
Reuben.

see screeshots
http://homepages.maxnet.co.nz/mrt/msciuu2.JPG
http://homepages.maxnet.co.nz/mrt/msciuu2folder.JPG

it appears only .msi packages are affected. install programs (.exe) are ok.

 

[Triple6]

I wonder if this would help: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324516

 

[Tgaguy]

Nope. Didnt help.

Any other ideas?

Regards
Reuben