Windows installation problems

• When trying to install our program or any Windows program (ie: cleanup) you get the following message:
  
  Windows Installer Service Cannot be Accessed
  
  
  • The service has been disabled? Turn it back on by going to:
    
    
    • Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Serves
    • Look for Windows Installer and make sure its running.
    
    
  • It's not registered correctly. Try step (1) first and if this didn't help then go to step (2).
    
    
    1. Start -> Run -> msiexec /regserver
       
       
    2. Start -> Run -> msiexec /unregister
       Start -> Run -> msiexec /regserver
    
    
  • The Windows Installer is corrupt. Try reinstalling the Windows Installer.
  
  
• Windows Installer Clean Up program doesn't see our program and you can't remove the program any other way:
  
  
  1. Start -> Run -> Regedit
  2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> Software -> Microsoft -> Windows -> Current Version -> Uninstall
  3. Click on the key starting with {5BFF4D05
  4. Verify that the Display Name is Software from PC Software
  5. If so the delete this key
  6. Close everything and install the program
  
  
• Error 15000: Another installation is in progress. You must complete that installation before continuing this one.
  

  This means that Windows still thinks there is an installation process still going on. Follow the steps below to check and remove the installation process.
  
  

  1. Close all programs and remove our CD-ROM from the drive
  2. Click on Start -> Run
  3. Type in Regedit and press [enter]
  4. Make a backup of the Windows Registry
     
     
     1. Create a Hold directory if the computer doesn't have one already
     2. Click on Registry
     3. Click on Export Registry File
     4. In the Save In Field select the Hold folder and type in backup in the File Name Field, then click Save
     
     
  5. Click on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer
     
     
  6. Look for a folder labeled InProgress.
     
     If found then Delete the InProgress folder.
     
     
  7. Look for a folder labeled RollBack.
     
     If found then Delete the RollBack folder.
     
     
  8. Close everything and Reboot the computer.
     
     At this point you should be able to install the program. You may want to try installing the Windows Installer Cleanup first to see is the installer is working and just incase you need it to remove our program.
     
     Note: I has one instance where doing this didn't help but it did allow me to remove the program through the Add/Remove Programs Icon. Which in turned allowed me to install the program.
  
  
• The desired feature is on another Disk
  
  The Windows Registry is messed up, so try the following items.
  
  
  1. Install the Windows Installer Cleanup and remove our software.
     
     
  2. Put the CD containing the old version of the program into the drive and then run the uninstall.
     
     This has worked several times just fine. If this doesn't work do the following to verify what version the system actually thinks is installed.
     
     
     1. Start -> Run -> Regedit
     2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> Software -> Microsoft -> Windows -> CurrentVersion -> Uninstall -> {5BFF4D~}
     3. Look for the DisplayVersion and Data Number
     
     
  3. Try reinstalling the version currently on the computer. This has worked before on several computers.
     
     If you can get the older version installed then you should be able to uninstall it and install the newer version.
     
     
  4. I had (1) instance where our program didn't show up under the Windows Installer Cleanup. I got this error when I tried to reinstall the Stand Alone copy, but it allowed me to install the Network Version.
     
     Even though it's the same program with the same Registry Key, Windows must see them as different programs.
  
  
• The MSIEXEC.EXE file is linked to a missing export MSI.DLL:222
  
  This error will occur if the Windows Installer files are mismatched because of an attempted update of the Windows Installer. (Q324638)
  
  Note: The Windows Installer consists of the following (3) files.
  
  
  1. Msi.dll
  2. Msihnd.dll
  3. Msiexec.exe
  
  To solve the problem try the following steps.
  
  
  1. Reboot the computer and try the installation again. The update may have required a restart and the person didn't do it.
     
     
  2. Try installing the appropriate Windows Installer Update located on the CD.
     
     Utilities -> Service Packs -> Windows Installer
  
  Note: There are several steps you need to do on a Windows ME computer before you can run the appropriate Windows Installer Update. Check article Q324638 for details.