UNSOLVED
Windows Installer
I did a system restore the other day to undo an un-install. Since the restore has completed, everytime I open IE or Yahoo Messenger, or any other application, a small window pops-up. In the title bar it says "Windows Installer", and in the box it says "Preparing to install...". I have to wait for this window to go away before my application will start. I have no idea what it's even installing. Any help on fixing this would be greatly appreciated, it's really annoying. Thanks.
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Posted February 23rd, 2007 23:00
The microsoft installer cleanup utility does not uninstall the software itself, just the log files that were created when the app was installed in the first place. The only issue is that you won't be able to uninstall an app using the Add/Remove Programs control panel once the cleanup utility deletes its log files.
And, you only want to run the cleanup utility against the specific app that's named in the "Preparing to install..." message. Leave all the others alone. I suspect that it's probably the app for which you did the System Restore to undo the uninstall.
BTW: Did the System Restore undo the uninstall correctly? If you have the disk, you may want to undo the System Restore so the app is uninstalled again and just reinstall it from the disk.
Ron
Message Edited by RoHe on 02-23-2007 05:55 PM
643
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Posted February 23rd, 2007 23:00
I checked out this utility, but it sounds like a bad move. In the list, it brought up just about every program on my computer. If I read correctly, and removed the installation information for all those programs, I would need to re-install them. I can't reinstall most of them, they came with my Dell Pc, so I don't have disks for everything. Any other suggestions?643
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Posted February 24th, 2007 00:00
I don't know what it's trying to install....it says "Preparing to install..." and that's all. I have no idea as to what is trying to be installed. It comes up anytime I open Internet Explorer, Yahoo Messenger, etc.This all started when I was scanning some documents into word. Once the document was scanned, and when Word would open, I was prompted to enter a serial number for Word 2003. Microsoft Office Small Business Edition 2003 was installed when I purchased my PC. I don't have a serial number to enter. So, I tried un-installing that version and installing an older version of Office that I have on disk. I couldn't get it to install properly, so I did the system restore to go back to the Small Business Edition.That's when all this Windows Installer started popping up.643
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Posted February 24th, 2007 17:00
what do I do if i have no disc643
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Posted February 24th, 2007 17:00
I have same problem and happened when I did restore have no disc643
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Posted February 24th, 2007 18:00
Where these Dell's free trials of Microsoft Office and has the free trial expired? If that's what's happened, then you should try running the installer cleanup utility on Office. Others have had problems uninstalling the Office free trial so search these forums for discussions of the problem.
If you actually purchased Office 2003 from Dell with your PC, they were supposed to provide the disk. In that case, contact Dell Tech Support, provide your service tag number, and request the CD. The product key will be on the CD envelope so don't lose it. Depending on how long you've had your system, they may or not give you the CD for free, even if you purchased Office.
If necessary, try to buy a Student/Teacher version of Office which will be less expensive than the standard price.
Ron
Message Edited by RoHe on 02-24-2007 12:57 PM
643
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Posted February 25th, 2007 15:00
I had a problem with Windows Installer and after trying some of the solutions suggested here I was still left with installer popping up all the time. I finally did a Dell PC Restore because the MS Restore didn't work. Anyway, I was planning to remove Office 2003 because I have no use for it until I saw your message about problems doing that. Is there any safe way to remove Office2003?643
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Posted February 25th, 2007 18:00
It was only the free trial that seemed to cause the problems. I don't know of any issues using Add/Remove Programs to remove the full Office package.
Ron
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Posted August 3rd, 2008 13:00
This thread describes exactly the problem that I have. The catch22 is that since I didn't want to keep the MS Office software and didn't register it the cleanup utility won't work either - because I can't register that without first registering the Office software that I didn't want in the first place. The only CD I have came with the laptop and says it can't be used to reinstall programs. So, is this an unresolvable issue?
I also can't find any way to communicate with Dell other than this forum since Dell won't acknowledge this type of problem. I've been going in circles and am really sick of the windows installer pop up.:smileysad:
RoHe
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643
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Posted February 23rd, 2007 22:00
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301
Ron