MSI in Win2k SP3 corrupt

[EpoxEd]

:(Haven't had to go to the well in a long time, but like your new format! I'm thirsty for some help in repairing/reinstalling Windows Installer 2.0. Seems that it didn't get installed correctly when upgrading SP3, and trying to download MSIexec won't work. (Download attempts directly sees a copy already loaded and aborts, and attempt to install from saved file won't work because of corrupt installer.) I know that I cannot go back to 1.x because Bill Gates says I can't after using my SP3 card already. So what's a mother to do? Use the command prompt and delete the MSIexec file and then attempting another install of Installer 2.0? Sounds scary to me. :eek:

[mjc]

Gotta love the screwed up installs....

Probably the recommended method would be to start over....but I'm sure ther is another way.

Try this:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q319624

[EpoxEd]

:) WOW! How do you know so much? Actually, I looked through the KB articles and saw this article, but glossed over it somehow. I tried your suggestion, though.... but it hasn't helped much. I still get the installer dialog box on startup (it had me put in the CD for one of the programs previously installed on my desktop... apparently updating the msi file for it) but I still have my original problem.>>>>>

I'm not trying to sandbag anyone, but the ORIGINAL problem was that I opened an email attachment from a trusted friend and saw what I thought was a virus, so I deleted the attachment immediately. From that point on, my emails will not download and the program hangs my whole system requiring a re-boot. The first reboot after this initial hangup produced the installer error dialogs, one of which was the one addressed in the article you alluded to. At this point, I discovered that I could use my system, including IE to surf the web, but when I attempted to use OE, it would hang (default option was to send/receive on open... I changed this to not send/receive except by demand). I found that I could use all OE features EXCEPT receive mail. I updated NAV and ran another scan, but found no viruses. Ran Pest Patrol, found no trojans. Went to several Anti-virus Web sites, and they found no viruses. I attempted a repair of IE6 from the control panel. No help. Then I uninstalled SP3, but no change. Uninstalled IE6sp1, no help. Searched for days (this problem started Monday) on Microsoft Help and Support (KB and Newsgroups) asking for advice. Nobody has offered any help until you came along. I followed the procedures in Q319624, including re-installing SP3, but with no success in receiving email in OE6.

Now, where do I go from here? I'm completely out of ideas. :confused:

[Paul Komski]

Were you trying to download msiexec (v 2.0) itself? Have you tried downloading (and save to disk) the Installer for Windows Installer (instmsiw.exe for winNT/2K).

Info (http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/msi/setup/windows_installer_start_page.asp)

Windows Installer Redistributable for Windows NT 4.0 and 2000 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?releaseid=32832&NewList=1)

No harm in emptying any existing files in Temp folders and Temporary Internet Files to avoid any conflicts arising from files within them before trying to install the installer.

If you create a new identity for OE and it will then send/receive OK that might indicate corruption within the original dbx files rather than the app itself. Can't remember, but can you uninstall/remove OE in v6 and then reinstall?

[EpoxEd]

Yes, I downloaded InstMsiW from MSUpdate site. But the problem was that it would not install directly from the Web due to a copy (corrupted) being already on my system, so it aborted. I then downloaded the program to disk and attempted to install from my system, but that wouldn't work either, because the installer on my system was corrupt and wouldn't install MSI. I finally used the procedure in Q319624 and that seems to have worked. At least the installer dialog box doesn't pop up all the time anymore.:cool:

Now, for the solution to the problem that started all this mess: I downloaded several Security Updates under SP2 (I had held off upgrading SP3 due to other people's negative comments). Thought it would be prudent to upgrade IE6 with sp1. Then I don't know what came over me.... I downloaded SP3 anyway. Yes, I often shoot myself in the foot... I try to even my limp from having shot myself in the other foot don't ya know! :o That's when the Installer problem cropped up. But also at this time, my system began hanging when I tried to use OE to receive email. At first, I suspected an email virus, but after several scans from different sources not revealing any resident on my system, now think that something is rotten in OE. Removing and re-installing has not helped. Deleting all temp files, cookies, etc. does not help either. There must be a file in OE responsible for downloading the email files. I can use all functions of OE including send, but trying to recieve locks it up. It will communicate with the POP3 server. It gets authorization, but as soon as it starts retrieving email messages, it locks up on the very first one.

[mjc]

Actually it is beginning to souund more and more like a plain vanilla typical MS update SNAFU.....with a corrupt install of one or more of the updates or SP3 itself. If I had to guess, I would say that it didn't like the order they occured in ......IE6 SP1 probably should have come after the SP3 install, unfortunately the only surefire fix is to wipe it out and start over, because many of the "fixes" installed by SP3 are not reversible, yes it "uninstallable" but that doesn't exactly remove all the security/bug fixes, just feature "enahancements".

So.......do you have or can you make a backup of all your data?

One thing you may want to try is to repair the current install using the CD.....but make the backup first, because if that fails you WILL need to reinstall, there will definitely be too many screwed up system files to easily repair....

[Paul Komski]

Quickie you could try out. Delete (rename if you prefer) your Inbox.dbx file and exit OE; it will be recreated anew whenever it is next required.

[EpoxEd]

:( Unfortunately, I am too impatient to wait for responses on the web, so after having browsed the Newsgroups, MS Help&Support, and various forums, I decided to strike out on my own. (And I did, but I went down swinging!)

Since I fixed my Installer woes by following the receipe in Q319624, I decided to "Manually Uninstall and Reinstall Outlook Express in Windows 2000" (Q263837). Now OE doesn't work at all. My system hangs whenever I try to start OE(6). I must have goofed up a step, but I followed every step methodically to the best of my ability, checking each step off as I went. I can get my emails off the web without using the OE email client (IE6 works OK). Now I am researching a way to overwrite the OE files for a fresh install. The problem is, my original CD has IE5.x and Microsoft does not have a download file just for OE that I know of. I assume that I will have to install a copy of IE6...which I assume has OE6 imbedded. Microsoft should be taken to court for this dastardly deed!!! (Just kidding, of course):D

[Paul Komski]

If you want you could try http://www.litepc.com/ieradicator.html to remove IE from your system and allow a fresh install.

OE is a component of IE and need not be installed if you do a custom installation.

Typically those upgrading from IE4 to 5 could retain or go back to their OE4 if it was on their system. Once you go to IE6 such flexibility is lost.

PS (update) Sorry, IEradicator no good for you after all; it only works up to and including W2K SP1. :(

[Paul Komski]

The M$ way: How to uninstall IE6 (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q293907)

[EpoxEd]

Thanks, Paul, but I tried the M$ way several times in the last week, and it doesn't help me at all.:confused:

[Paul Komski]

:( 'Fraid I'm out of ideas; sounds like your registry is scrambled; admire your tenacious attempst to sort it out though. :rolleyes: