Myron Posted June 6, 2007 Report Share Posted June 6, 2007 Hi everyone, here's a problem I'm hoping you can help me with.First I was experiencing some trouble with either installing or uninstalling Kaspersky Antivirus. The exact error that came up when trying to uninstall it, or reinstall it through the setup.exe, was: "The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in safe mode, or the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance."So I decided it would be a good idea to delete the whole folder and then let a registry cleaner make the remaining fodder go away. For some reason, btw, the folder refused to let me delete one remaining file: shellex.dllIgnoring this, I proceded to use jv16 PowerTools' built-in registry cleaner to make things right. After two or three runs of that, it indicated that my "pc health" was 100%, as opposed to 1% when I first started cleaning. Oh and btw, I did not make a backup of my registry before hand. It offered me to do so, and I agreed, but then it gave me some errors telling me it couldn't after all, and I just let it be.So I figured it would all be okay now. Boy was I wrong.Long story short, Kaspersky still won't properly uninstall or install, I've lost the Windows search function, and I cannot use the Windows Restore Point service anymore: when I access it, I get a blank window with nothing in it, leading me to think I screwed it up through the registry. Now, the system restore point was sort of my last resort, and I don't know anything left for me to do besides reinstalling windows or at least trying to repair it - something I've never done before and don't know the consequences/procedures of.I was wondering if there was at least a way I could fix the system restore point service. If I have that, I could at least try to restore windows to a previous date, and maybe it could fix at least some problems, and maybe even restore the previous registry.So, any ideas?Thanks a lot in advance, really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackrat Posted June 6, 2007 Report Share Posted June 6, 2007 From what you have posted, it seems apart from a fresh reinstall the only option is a repair install, if you have a XP disk.( not a recovery disk). If you print out this walkthrough and follow it, it will leave your files and folders intact. ( I have used it and it works).This is an excellent guide from Powerless.http://www.windowsforum.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=10455 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted June 6, 2007 Report Share Posted June 6, 2007 You should never delete a program folder. Even if you no longer use the program, there may be shared files that other programs are using.Another thing to try, is the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility.http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 You may also try to boot to the 'Last Known Good Configuration' (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307852).Make sure that you have the latest version of the Windows Installer (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893803). The Windows Installer Cleanup Utility that Scarecrow Man suggested is also a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myron Posted June 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 Thanks for the replies, guys.So far, this is what happened:The Windows Installer Cleanup Utility didn't allow me to install it. An error came up before setup could start, saying: Can't find script engine "VBScript for script C:\DOKUME~1\BORISK~1\LOKALE~1\Temp\IXP000.TMP\StartMsi.vbs".So I tried making sure I at least had the newest version of the installer installed, version 3.1. I installed it, but I figure I already had it, since apparently this was already incorporated in Service Pack 2, which I have. Still it didn't hurt to install it. No positive effects, though.Now I'm about to try booting up using the last known good configuration, but I fear that all it'll do is boot up my computer in its current state; windows as it is now, is currently working, but with some bugs I mentioned earlier. I don't think this is meant for these kinds of problems - only when your computer refuses to start up. But it's worth a try, and I'll tell you how it went.After this, I think I'm gonna go with the windows repair plan. First off, though, does anyone have any idea what might possibly go wrong during such a repair operation? Just so I'm prepared, thanks.And thanks again for helping me out here :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 The really important thing about this episode is that when you do finally get things up and running, possibly by a format and reinstall, is to invest in a separate plug in hard drive and ACRONIS. That way you can always install the backed up system from Acronis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 The Windows Installer Cleanup Utility didn't allow me to install it. An error came up before setup could start, saying: Can't find script engine "VBScript for script C:\DOKUME~1\BORISK~1\LOKALE~1\Temp\IXP000.TMP\StartMsi.vbs".Normally XP should have the Windows Scripting Host installed, so this could just be the result of the original mess. However, try download and install the WSH from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...EB-95A22B832CAA, then try the installer cleanup tool again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myron Posted June 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 Guys, interesting news!For whatever reason, after downloading and installing that script you linked me to, Pat, I could use the search function again!Not only that, but the system restore window is showing up again!!However, no matter how glad I am about this, there's still the issue of the installer refusing to work. The situation now is that, while I'm no longer getting the error I posted above, I'm still getting the message I posted originally after a couple of seconds of waiting. There must still be something wrong with the installer. The result is that I still can't install the windows installer cleanup utility, and that I'm currently still not using any anti virus software :PHowever, I'm confident this can be fixed. It's just that my knowledge of these things is very limited.So what should be my next step here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eight-Oh-Eighty-Eight Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 Get antivirus software. If you don't like it when your machine runs clunky and slow then get some soft of AV. I recommend Avast! since it's really good and free. Also AVG (which I was just reminded of) also has a free flavor and is excellent.-8088 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myron Posted June 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 I agree. I also think an Anti Virus program is an absolute must. But at this stage, I simply can't install about 99% of all programs, because they make use of the windows installer.I've looked around on the net some more, but couldn't come up with a solution to the installer problem.Is there any last thing I could try before resorting to a full windows repair operation? And could you tell me about the potential risks related to such an operation?Sorry for not checking back in a while by the way.Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 Just a shot in the dark ???Is the Installer service running on the PC ?Go to Start / Run Type in - "services.msc" (without the quotes)Press "Enter". Double click the service named "Windows Installer". Check the value in the "Startup type:" field. If it's currently set to "Disabled", then this is the problem. Change it by selecting "Manual" from the drop-down box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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