Partition Magic 8 will not install; services problem?

[alex666]

I've got PM8 on disk. I've installed it many many times with no problems. However, just got a system up and running with all the XP updates and SPs. I'm currently using the XP SP2 firewall, and AVG AV. System has been running fine for two weeks.

I try to install PM8, and after I enter the serial number and start the process of copying files, it skips ahead in the file-copy process, appears to complete, but then I get this PM8 message that "something interfered" with the installation, and no files were installed. So nothing gets installed. I turned off the firewall, but that made no difference. I do not see PM8 listed as one of the programs incompatible with SP2. In fact, I installed it on another computer with SP2 on it. The only difference between the two systems is that, on the "problem" machine, I have many more services turned off, too many to list here. The machine runs fine otherwise, and I have installed other software, e.g., Palm software, with the current configuration with absolutely no problems. In fact, I installed the Palm software after the failed PM8 install. Are there any services that might be causing this. This is a bona fide PM8 disk, bought retail.

Anyone have any ideas? Could it be a virus (a fully-updated AVG reads nothing)? I'm stumped, never have run into anything like this before. Thanks.

Marty

[Paul Komski]

Try running msconfig and disabling all the startup items. Reboot and see if it will install OK or not.

You could also try downloading the PM trial (22MB unfortunately) to see if it would at least install OK.
http://www.soft32.com/download-Partition_Magic-151-5.html If you have DriveImage I think there is a copy of the trial on the CD.

[alex666]

Thanks Paul. The only thing I have in startup is AVG, but I can try that. I'm not sure I want to mess with a demo version. This is the retail version, and it has worked many many times on the various configurations of computers I've used and built. I've never had problems with it, until now, and my current setup is not all that different from others except for updates and such.

Okay, dropping AVG in startup made no difference. The exact message I receive is the following:
"The wizard was interrupted . . . try again later".

I'm stumped. Maybe I'll mess with services a bit.

Marty

[Paul Komski]

Searching around this problem seems to crop up here and there for a whole variety of different programs. One fix is to:

Browse to Start -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Local Security Policy -> User Rights Assignment

The Policy "Impersonate a client after authentication" security setting must include the Administrators group. If it does not, then add Administrators and/or Administrator and Service to the list of Users and Groups when you double click on that policy.

There is an overview of this policy for Win2K at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=821546 whether or not that helps to elucidate or to confuse the issue.

The problem used to occur after SP4 was installed for Win2K so perhaps there's a parallel with SP2 for WinXP.

PS found a parallel for something called watchdog and which has some nice screenshots into the bargain. Looks like the answer may well be in this area. http://www.sarna.net/watchdog/help-guides-impersonate.shtml

[alex666]

Thanks Paul. We're outta here for a bit, but when I get back, I'll F/U with those leads. A cursory review looks promising. Thanks a million.

Marty

[alex666]

I have 3 computers running in our home with XP Home, and none of them have Local Security Policy available in Administrative Tools. I must be missing something. None of us log on, BTW.

[Paul Komski]

That policy appears on my own win2kSP4 box but not on my WinXP-pro-SP1 installation. I did come across a thread (lost the link but some googling of "Impersonate a client after authentication" or "The wizard was interrupted before ... could be completely installed" might come up with it or something similar) eg - http://supportconnectw.ca.com/public/reglic/infodocs/tlc-faqs.asp at 07/14/04 which is what made it look like it was at least in this general area.

[alex666]

Solved!! I had disabled a number of services, including both Logical Disk Mgr. and Logical Mgr. Adm. I re-enabled only the latter, and still no install, but when I re-enabled the former as well, PM8 finally installed. So it may be both, it may just be LDM, but the program installed without problem.

[wreckwriter]

This sounds a lot like a problem I'm having with DriveImage 7 and/or Norton Ghost 9. Ghost wouldn't even install but DI will install but is unable to read the drives and fails with "remote procedure call did not execute" or "catastrophic failure".

I've been messing with services for weeks now but have not heard of the security policy fix. It sounds logical since this all started with upgrading to SP2 and/or the "hotfix" to SP2. My DriveImage had been working perfectly for years (through several versions) but it suddenly ceased working. Uninstalling the SP2 and/or hotfix does not fix the problem.

Terribly frustrating and, of course, nowhere to get support from Symantec without paying for it. I'll be looking at the policy thing tonight. Thanks much for a new lead!

[alex666]

Great, hope it helps in some way. I've used Drive Image 2002 (is that DI7?) post SP-2 on two different computers without problem, although I always do it via the 2 emergency disks. I rarely if ever use it from within windows for any reason. I don't even have it installed on my hdd on our family computer, which is our main and highest-performing box, and use only the floppies to make backups and it always has worked. I prefer the DR-DOS approach for a variety of reasons, and it always works. In fact, this weekend, I plan on backing up my wife's hdd with a new hdd, and then installing the latter and using the original as a backup since it is slower and smaller. I'll be installing DI to her hdd and then make the emergency floppies and use them for the backup process.

DI and PM have been such critical apps, even if I don't use them that frequently, yet they are so "mission critical" (for lack of a better term). I've used PM since version 5. So it crushed me when Powerquest was bought out by Symantec. Not that I had a lot of problems, but on two occasions, Powerquest answered my emails fairly promptly and in a thoughtful manner, like they really read my email and thought about it. IMHO, they were a very class company. Symantec, geez, trying to get support is futile. Well, I'm good with PM 8 and DI 2002 until Windows goes to Longhorn, I guess.

[wreckwriter]

I never did get the stupid thing to work. Its some sort of security setting that was changed, I assume by SP2 or a hotfix, and not changed back when the service pack was removed.

I've been trying solutions from other manufacturers with limited success. Acronis True Image didn't work, Paragon Drive Backup partially works (can only restore from XP Safe Mode, not from boot CD). I don't know what the solution is :(