Windows Installer Error

Running Windows Vista Beta 2. Everytime I try and install, update, or
uninstall any program that uses the windows installer, I get an error message
stating that it cannot either find windows installer or it was not correctly
installed. I have tried a number or work-arounds but have yet to find a
solution. Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas on how to fix this. I'm
thinking I might just have to reinstall Vista.

Running Windows Vista Beta 2. Everytime I try and install, update, or
uninstall any program that uses the windows installer, I get an error message
stating that it cannot either find windows installer or it was not correctly
installed. I have tried a number or work-arounds but have yet to find a
solution. Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas on how to fix this. I'm
thinking I might just have to reinstall Vista.

Yes. I want you to try this MSKB (Part 1 should work or if not you might try
to reinstall the MSI 3.0) I'm supplying you links for all of this. Do not
be spooked that the title of the MSKB is Error 1719 which you don't see or
that it says XP--just give part one a shot. It's the go to repair MSI in
XP. I'm aware there are different things going on with the Vitsa MSI as to
some of its components.

"Error 1719: The Windows Installer service could not be accessed" error
message when you try to add or remove a program

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315346/en-us

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

Note In Microsoft Windows 98-based computers, the Msiexec.exe
file is located in the Drive:\%Windir%\System folder.
e. On the File menu, click Close.

2. Verify the location of the Msiexec.exe file in the Windows
Registry. To do so: a. Click Start, and then click Run.
b. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
c. Locate, and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\MSIServer
d. In the right pane, double-click ImagePath.
e. 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 in step 1.

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 path, where Drive is
the drive where Windows is installed:
Drive:\Windows\System32\Msiexec.exe /V
Note If you are using Windows 98, the correct path of the
Msiexec.exe file is Drive:\Windows\System\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.
f. Quit Registry Editor.

3. Start your computer in safe mode, and then register the Msiexec.exe
file. To do so: a. Shut down, and then restart your computer.
b. Press F8 after you receive the following message:
Please select the operating system to start
c. On the Windows Advanced Option menu, use the arrow keys to
select Safe Mode, and then press ENTER.
d. 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.
e. Log on to the computer.
f. Click Start,, click Run, type the following line, and then
click OK:
msiexec /regserver


Note For 64-bit operating systems, you also need to reregister
the 64-bit MSI installer. To do this, click Start, click Run, type the
following line, and then click OK:

Drive:\windows\syswow64 msiexec /regserver

4. Shut down, and then restart your computer in standard mode.
If the issue persists and you still receive the error message that is
described earlier in the "Symptoms" section, follow the steps in Method 2.

Additional References:

Windows Installer Team Blog
http://blogs.msdn.com/windows_instal...08/478491.aspx

Windows Installer 3.0
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

Click Once
http://www.computerperformance.co.uk...click_once.htm

If neither repairing or installing the MSI works, try these methods:

I am recommending to try the F8 advanced options first, which means to try
each listing on the menu Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, Safe Mode
with Command, and then Last Known Good last there. One may work if another
does not. The first 3 or used as a vehicle to do a system restore. If you
cannot use these, try Last Known Good Configuration.

***Your first five options****
These options to recover in Vista are similar to XP although System Restore
is based on Volume Shadow Services.

I don't use Safe Mode VGA for this. I have put every KB that contexts these
options here for you to look at if you need to.

1) I'd use the F8 options including the 3 safe modes (I'm omitting VGA for
this purpose) to try to system restore and I would use Last Known Good if
they don't work. I say 3 because sometimes one works when another will not.
If you use safe mode command, the command for system restore is:

%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

This approach in Vista is the same as in XP and is based on Chapter 28 of
the XP resource kit and will soon be adapted to the Vista Resource Kit. The
MSKB that outlines this is here--yes it has XP in the title but these
options are available in Vista and I want you to try them first:

Resources for troubleshooting startup problems in Windows XP [and Vista]

http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=winxp

A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/


How to Use System Restore from a Command Prompt
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/279736/en-us

How to start your computer by using the Last Known Good Configuration
feature in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307852/en-us

2) If these 4 options don't work, you can try a new way to fix Vista, called
Startup Repair which is part of a platform in Vista called Windows Repair
Environment or Win RE.

I'm going to tell you what it can do>going to give you the step by step>
and you have no downside for trying it.



For Startup Repair:

What to Do if Windows Vista Won't Start Correctly
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...8b3551033.mspx

What It Can Do:

If you run Win RE's Startup Repair in Vista, it will try to check and repair
the following and we're taking about under three minutes usually when it
works which is often: (this is not a complete list but a list of major tasks
it can perform):

Registry Corruptions

Missing/corrupt driver files (you don't have to guess here--it looks at all
of them

Missing/corrupt system files (disabled in Beta 2 as is System File Checker
but present newer builds)

Incompatible Driver Installation

Incompatible OS update installations

Startup Repair may offer a dialogue box to use System restore.

How to Use Startup Repair:

Startup Repair: frequently asked questions
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...f3f351033.mspx

***Accessing Windows RE (Repair Environment):***

1) Insert Media into PC (the DVD you burned)

2) ***You will see on the Vista logo setup screen after lang. options in the
lower left corner, a link called "System Recovery Options."***

Screenshot: System Recovery Options (Lower Left Link)
http://blogs.itecn.net/photos/liuhui...4/500x375.aspx

Screenshot: (Click first option "Startup Repair"
http://www.leedesmond.com/images/img...SysRecOpt2.bmp

3) Select your OS for repair.

4) Its been my experience that you can see some causes of the crash from
theWin RE feature:

You'll have a choice there of using:

1) Startup Repair
2) System Restore
3) Complete PC Restore
________________________________________________

Good luck,

CH


"brjahu" <brjahu@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F7B33B7D-D2E2-4BA3-8F16-D8BF81A8ED3B@microsoft.com...

> Running Windows Vista Beta 2. Everytime I try and install, update, or
> uninstall any program that uses the windows installer, I get an error
> message
> stating that it cannot either find windows installer or it was not
> correctly
> installed. I have tried a number or work-arounds but have yet to find a
> solution. Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas on how to fix this.
> I'm
> thinking I might just have to reinstall Vista.