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MSI and Document Registry problems


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#1
Phoenyx

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Win XP Pro

I've had these two problems plaguing me for a long time, and they both started at the same time so I'm assuming that they're related.

When I try to install a program that uses MSI packages, I get an error saying that the MS Windows Installer Service failed to start. I can install anything else (Install Shield stuff, Nullsoft Installer, etc) but not MSIs.

Also, when I get into certain programs (MS Office, SolidWorks, etc) I get a different error regarding document registry. In office, I can open a document but it says something similar to "This document could not be registered, It may not be possible to create links from this document." In SolidWorks, I can't open a document that's already been saved because it says "Unable to register document, it may already be open."

What's going on is beyond me, but it's interfering with my college work and work work! :whistling: I give up, someone help me!
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#2
Retired Tech

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Open Word, click help then detect and repair, tick restore shortcuts

Items in blue which are underlined are clickable to give more information about the process

Click start then run, type prefetch then press enter, click edit then select all, right click any file then click delete, confirm delete

Click start, all programmes, accessories, system tools to run disc clean up, then from system tools, run disc defragmenter.

Click start then run, type sfc /scannow then press enter, you need the XP CD and Windows File Protection will show a blue onscreen progress bar, when the bar goes, reboot

Download and install Tune Up 2006 Trial

Run Tune Up Disc Clean Up

Run Tune Up Registry Clean Up

Click Optimize and Improve to run Reg Defrag, which will take a few minutes and need a reboot. You should disable the antivirus programme to run this and check it is running after the reboot

After the reboot, click optimize then system optimizer to optimize the computer, select computer with an internet connection from the drop down menu, this also requires a reboot

After the reboot, click optimize then system optimizer to accelerate downloads, select the speed just above your actual connection speed, this requires a reboot

After the reboot, click optimize then system optimizer to run system advisor

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#3
Phoenyx

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I cleaned up the PreFetch and ran the Disk Cleanup, but at the moment I'm having a hard time trying to find my XP CD, and the TuneUp software uses the MSI installer to install, so I can't run that yet. I'll update later after I come home from classes and have a chance to look harder for the CD.
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#4
Phoenyx

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Okay, quick update: I did find my XP cd, but when I put it in for the system file check, it tells me that I need to insert the right CD, because the one in the drive is wrong.

I really don't want to reinstall windows! lol.
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#5
Retired Tech

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Have you got XP Home and it is asking for XP Professional
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#6
Phoenyx

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Have you got XP Home and it is asking for XP Professional


Nope, I have XP Pro and it's asking for XP Pro.
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#7
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Is it specifying SP2
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#8
Phoenyx

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Is it specifying SP2


Sure enough is. How do I get around that?
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#9
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You will need to get your XP CD and locate the folder called:

I386

copy this onto your hard drive into the system root. For most, that is going to be C:\ so you will create a C:\I386 folder

Click start then run, type regedit then press enter, locate the following key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

You will see various entries here on the right hand side. The one you need is called SourcePath there may be two similar keys, it is the 2nd of the two, source path

It probably has an entry pointing to your CD-ROM drive, you need to change it to C:\

Simply double click the SourcePatch setting and a new box will pop up allowing you to make the change.

Reboot the PC and run sfc /scannow
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#10
Phoenyx

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Okay, I got into the registry and it turns out that the key "SourcePath" was pointing to the wrong drive letter for my drive. I fixed that and was able to run the SFC util, but still no luck, the MSI problem persists and won't let me install TuneUP.
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#11
fructose

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Have you tried reinstalling Windows Installer?
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#12
Phoenyx

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Have you tried reinstalling Windows Installer?



Yes, twice.
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