SUMMARY

Here explained Windows Installer and how to troubleshoot problem that happens when it is installed.

Windows Installer used to install and to organize installation packages. An installation package has all information that Windows Installer wants to install or to remove an application and to run the setup user interface. It also includes an .msi file which has an installation database, a information stream, and data streams for different parts of installation. The .msi file also has one or more changes, internal and external source files or cabinet files that are essential by the installation.

The following is a summary of the available versions of Windows Installer:

• Windows Installer 3.1: Windows Installer 3.1 is added in Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1). Windows Installer 3.1 is also available as a redistributable system element for Windows 2000 SP3, Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP, Windows XP SP1, Windows XP SP2, and Windows Server 2003.

• Windows Installer 3.0: Windows Installer 3.0 is added in Windows XP SP2. Windows Installer 3.0 is also available as a redistributable system element for Windows 2000 SP3, Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP, Windows XP SP1, and Windows Server 2003.

• Windows Installer 2.0: Windows Installer 2.0 is added in Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, as well as Windows 2000 SP3. Windows Installer 2.0 is obtainable as two packages. One package is used to install or else to upgrade to Windows Installer 2.0 on Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98, and Windows 95. The additional package is used to install or else to upgrade to Windows Installer 2.0 on Windows 2000 as well as Windows NT 4.0 SP6.

• Windows Installer 1.2: Windows Installer 1.2 is added in Windows ME. Windows Installer 1.2 is sustained on Windows 95, Windows 98, as well as Windows NT 4.0 SP3 or else a later on adaptation of version of Windows NT 4.0.

• Windows Installer 1.1: Windows Installer 1.1 is added in Windows 2000. Windows Installer 1.1 is accesible as a redistributable system element for Windows 95, Windows 98, as well as Windows NT 4.0 SP3 or else a later on edition of Windows NT 4.0.

• Windows Installer 1.0: Windows Installer 1.0 is added with Office 2000. Windows Installer 1.1 is also sustained on Windows 95, Windows 98, as well as Windows NT 4.0 SP3 or else on a later on adaptation of Windows NT 4.0.

To decide which version of Windows Installer is installed on a PC, follow the steps given below:

1. Click Start, click Run, type %systemroot%\system32, and click OK.
2. Right-click Msi.dll, and then click Properties.

3. Click the Version tab, and then note the File version number.

MORE INFORMATION

To resolve problems that happen when Windows Installer used to install a program, follow the methods given below.

Method 1: Reregister Windows Installer
To reregister Windows Installer, follow these steps.

1. Check the place of Msiexec.exe file on hard disk. For this, follow the steps given below:

a. Click on the Start button, Search, as well as after that click For Files or Folders.
b. Click on All files and folders.
c. In the All or part of the file name box, type as Msiexec.exe, and after that click on Search.
d. In the search results, note place of the Msiexec.exe file.

The file location of the Msiexec.exe file should be similar to C:\Windows\System32.
e. On the File menu, click Close.

2. Check the place of Msiexec.exe file in Windows registry. For this, follow the steps given below:
.
Click Start; click Run, type Regedit, and then click OK.
a. find and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\MSIServer
b. In the right pane, double-click ImagePath.
c. In the Edit String dialog box, ensure that string in the Value data box has the right path of the Msiexec.exe file on the hard disk that found in step 1.
d. If the Value data box does not have correct path, make the proper changes to correct the path, and then click OK.
e. Quit Registry Editor.

3. Start PC in Safe Mode, and then register the Msiexec.exe file. For this, follow the steps given below:
. Restart your computer.
a. Press F8 after you get following message:
Please select the operating system to start
b. On the Windows Advanced Option menu, use arrow keys to choice Safe Mode, and press ENTER.
c. If you use a dual-boot PC or a multiple-boot PC, choose the proper operating system from the list that is shown, and press ENTER.
d. Log on to the PC.
e. Click Start, click Run, type Msiexec /regserver, and click OK.

4. Restart PC in standard mode.
If the problem continues, follow the steps in next Method.

Method 2: Reinstall Windows Installer
To reinstall Windows Installer, follow the steps given below:

1. Start PC in Safe Mode. For this, follow the steps given below:
a. Restart PC.
b. Press F8 after you get following message:
Please select the operating system to start
c. On the Windows Advanced Option menu, use arrow keys to choose Safe Mode, and then press ENTER.
d. If you use a dual-boot PC or a multiple-boot PC, choice the proper operating system from the list that is shown, and press ENTER.
e. Log on to the PC.

2. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.

3. At the command prompt, type attrib -r -s -h %Windir%\System32\dllcache.

4. At the command prompt, type CD %Windir%\System32, and then press ENTER.

5. At the command prompt, type the following lines, hit ENTER after each line:
ren msi.dll msi.old
ren msiexec.exe msiexec.old
ren msihnd.dll msihnd.old

6. At the command prompt, type exit, and then press ENTER.

7. Restart PC in Safe Mode.

8. Update the Windows Installer files on the hard disk to the latest version.

9. Restart PC in standard mode.