[SuzanneW]

Hello. I am hoping someone here can help me.

I was trying to install a program and received an error stating Windows Installer was either in Safe Mode or needed to be reinstalled, to go to Windows Updates. So I go to Windows Update, am taken to the screen with the "Express" and "Custom" buttons. I click on "Custom" and am then told I need to "reinstall or repair" my Windows Update files. I tell it to do this and am returned to the screen with the "Express" and "Custom" buttons. I click on "Custom" again and am sent back to the "reinstall or repair" screen. It goes in an endless circle.

I tried following several Microsoft Knowledge Base articles to re-register .dll files. I also downloaded and reinstalled manually the Windows Update feature. Neither one of these worked. I restored my computer to an earlier date, thinking this would return it to its previous working state. Nope. I am now at a loss as to what to do. I have no Windows Installer and my Windows Update won't work.

Plus, previous to all of this, my Send Link to Email button had quit working from inside IE7. Frankly, I am getting really annoyed with my computer and would appreciate some advice. Thanks.

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You can try re-registering the windows installer.

Go to Start>Run... type in msiexec /regsvr or msiexec.exe /regserver

[makai]

You can try re-registering the windows installer.

Go to Start>Run... type in msiexec /regsvr or msiexec.exe /regserver

[SuzanneW]

Thanks. I have done that numerous times. In fact, I was in contact with a Microsoft Update professional who offered the following. I will copy/paste his suggestions and then copy/paste my response. Given this, do you have any further advice. Please note that I had numerous Windows errors when following his instructions.

"After checking the Windows Update log which was uploaded automatically when
submitting the case, I noticed that the error code 0x80040154 was received.

This error code can occur if the Internet Explorer cache has been corrupted,
the XML components have not been registered properly, or the Windows Update
temporary folder has been corrupted. I suggest we take the following steps to
get this issue resolved. After trying each suggestion, we can go to the
Windows Update site to test the issue.

Step 1: Reset Internet Explorer settings, and disable third-party Internet
Explorer plug-ins

=============================================================

1. Click Start, click Run, type: inetcpl.cpl and press Enter.

2. Select the General tab, and in the Temporary Internet files window, click
Delete Cookies, and click OK.

3. In the same tab click Delete Flies, check the "Delete all offline
contents" box and click OK.

4. Click the Programs tab, and click "Reset Web Settings".

5. Click the Advanced tab, and click "Restore Defaults".

6. Under the Advanced tab, uncheck Enable third-party browser extensions
(requires restarting).

7. Click OK.

Step 2: Rename the temporary folder of Windows Update.

===============

This behavior may occur if the temporary folder of Windows Update has been
corrupted. We can refer to the following steps to rename this folder. Please
be assured the folder will be created again when we visit the Windows Update
site again.

1. Click Start, click Run, type: cmd and press Enter. Please run the
following command in the opened window.

net stop WuAuServ

2. Click Start, click Run, type: %windir% and press Enter.

3. In the opened folder, rename the folder SoftwareDistribution to SDold.

4. Click Start, Run, type: cmd and press Enter. Please run the following
command in the opened window.

net start WuAuServ

Then, please try to access Windows Update again. If the issue persists,
please refer to the next suggestion.

Step 3: Re-register the XML components.

==================

1. Click Start, click Run, type: cmd and press Enter.

2. In the opened window, run the following command:

REGSVR32 MSXML.DLL

REGSVR32 MSXML2.DLL

REGSVR32 MSXML3.DLL

3. Please try to access the Windows Update site again.

4. If the issue persists, please install XML 3.0 SP7 from the following link:

http://www.microsoft...ang=en#filelist

Step 4: Disable the firewall programs and other Internet programs.

==================

Some firewall programs, popup blockers, or P2P software could be causing the
issue. We can temporarily disable these programs to test the issue. To
protect the system when the firewall program is disabled, please enable the
Windows Firewall:

a. Click "Start", click "Run", type "WSCUI.CPL" then click OK. This will
generate the Windows Security Center application.

b. In the Windows Security Center window, click Windows Firewall.

c. Select the option "On (recommended)" to turn on Windows Firewall.

If the issue persists after we try the above steps, please send the system
information to me for further research:

How to collect System Information:

===========================

1. Click "Start", go to "Run", type in "MSINFO32" (without quotation marks)
and press Enter to start System Information.

2. On the popup window, on the menu bar, click "File", and click "Save";
save it as an NFO file, such as "system.nfo" to your local Desktop.

3. Find the file, right-click on this file, click "Send To", and click
"Compressed (zipped) Folder".

4. Please send it as an attachment to [email protected].

Note: When attaching files to emails, the process will vary depending on the
email application being used. While you are composing the email, most
applications will provide you with either an "Attach" button or Paper Clip
Icon to click in order to attach a file. After clicking this button/icon you
must browse to the file you wish to attach and select it by either double
clicking it or clicking it once and then clicking on the "Attach" button.

Please let me know the results at your earliest convenience. I appreciate
your time and effort on this issue. If anything is unclear, please don't
hesitate to let me know and I will be glad to help.

I look forward to hearing from you."

MY RESPONSE:

"Following your instructions. I did Step 1. However, steps 4 & 5 were not
in the location you listed. I am using IE7 and don't know if that was the
problem. I tried to find a similar button and clicked. Step 1 did not solve
the issue, so I tried Step 2. Step 2 also did not solve the issue. When I
did Step 3, I ran into some problems. At #4 in Step 3, I was unsure which
file to download, so I did msxml3.msi. But when I click on "Run" I received
the Windows Installer error as follows:

"The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if
you are running Windows in safe mod, or if the Windows Installer is not
correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance."

I did not do Step 4, because my Windows XP Firewall already does not work.
This has been a long-standing issue. Whenever I try to start up the Windows
XP Firewall, I receive the error:

"Windows Firewall settings cannot be displayed because the service is
not running. Do you want to start the Windows Firewall/Internet Connection
Sharing (ICS) service?"

I then click on "Yes" and receive the following notice:

"Windows cannot start the Windows Firewall/Internet Connection Sharing
(ICS) service."

So, then I tried to collect System Information per your instructions.
However, I get the following error:

"Can't Collect Information - Cannot access the Windows Management
Instrumentation software. Windows Management files may be moved or missing."

I "exed" out the screen and got a scripts error.

"An error has occurred in the script on this page. Line: 60, Char: 3,
Error: Object required, Code: 0, Url: hcp://system/sysinfo/msinfo.htm. Do you
want to continue running scripts on this page?"

I clicked "Yes" and it went away.

So as you see, I have multiple issues. I admit I am very frustrated. It
would be a BIG deal to reinstall my Windows, so that will be my last resort.
I appreciate any other advice you can give."

GIVEN THIS, DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER ADVICE?

Suzanne

[makai]

Yes, you do seem to have larger problems than just the Windows Installer. I guess I have to ask... have you ever been able to get your hands on the latest version of Windows Installer and installed it? Or... are you trying to get it through Windows Update (which as I can see, you can't run)
Here is a LINK to the latest version (3.X) of the windows installer. Just use the free option for downloading the file. Download it to your desktop and try installing it. I'm unsure if you will be able to install it with your current problems, but try it anyways. If you are successful, try running the Windows update to see if it'll work.

By the way, have you run Chkdsk lately? If you haven't, go to Start>Run... and type in chkdsk /r. You will probably get a prompt asking if you want to run it after the next boot... just confirm yes, and restart your machine. Hopefully chkdsk will correct some of the problems.
...
If that doesn't do it, go to Start>Run... type in sfc /scannow (note the space between sfc and the forward slash. You will need your XP disc. Scannow will hopefully replace any broken windows files. After it runs, restart your machine.

If that doesn't do enough, you will probably have to do a repair of the XP installation. Please see THIS. Again, you will need your XP disc.

Other than that, I don't know where else to lead you. There are many aspects of windows that have dependancies on other files, so which files are truly corrupt is difficult to pin-point. Probably, your best bet will be to try a repair installation or a total reinstall (last resort). If you do run the repair/install, be sure to back up your important files first.

makai

[SuzanneW]

Makai,

I tried installing Windows Update manually and received the same error. I also tried the sfc /scannow with no luck.

After giving it much thought, and listing my troubles:

1) Windows Installer won't work
2) Windows Update won't work
3) Flash Player never loads music or movies fully
4) Windows Firewall gives me an error about ICS service

I decided to "bite the bullet" and reload Windows. I am no SO glad I did because it has fixed all the problems I was having.

But before I end this thread, I do want to say you guys have by far been the nicest and most helpful of anywhere I have posted. At some forums, I got no reponse at all. Thanks much for that. I have bookmarked this forum for sure!

Suzanne

[makai]

I'm sorry we couldn't get you going without having you go through a full reinstall. But sometimes that's the best option. I'm glad you got your computer working.

I would like to recommend a few things to keep your machine a bit safer... all are free...

1) AVG free. Excellent antivirus program with no BS added (like Norton or Mcaffee)
2) AVG Antispyware free version (formally Ewido) excellent antispyware
3) SpywareBlaster. This program will help to block dodgy sites
4) Adaware SE. One of the best
5) Spybot.
6) Firefox. If you're not using FF, you should be! Better than IE in many, many ways! And, I do mean many many ways!!!

Anyways, thank you for the kind words, and be seeing you around... hopefully, not for computer problems!

makai

[SuzanneW]

I'm sorry we couldn't get you going without having you go through a full reinstall. But sometimes that's the best option. I'm glad you got your computer working.

I would like to recommend a few things to keep your machine a bit safer... all are free...

1) AVG free. Excellent antivirus program with no BS added (like Norton or Mcaffee)
2) AVG Antispyware free version (formally Ewido) excellent antispyware
3) SpywareBlaster. This program will help to block dodgy sites
4) Adaware SE. One of the best
5) Spybot.
6) Firefox. If you're not using FF, you should be! Better than IE in many, many ways! And, I do mean many many ways!!!

Anyways, thank you for the kind words, and be seeing you around... hopefully, not for computer problems!

makai

Thanks. I have used AVG before and in fact use it at work. However, on this computer I use the etrust antivirus/firewall/spyware combo because it comes free from my internet provider. I do use Firefox almost exclusively, but prefer IE for certain webpages. Thanks again for all the help!