0x8000ffff <-- When i Try installing Windows Live messenger..?

When i Try And Install Windows Live 8.1 For My Windows Vista PC It Says..

There Was A Problem with this Installation.Windows Live Suite Was Not
Installed.
System Error Details :
Code : 0x8000ffff
Description : Catastrophic Error

Office XP SP3 installed or did you try to install at one time.
This error suggests a Office XP SP3 issue

Basically it's trying to load a component that isn't there. I reproduced something similar
recently and didn't have any luck actually debugging what it was looking for using standard
tools (procmon, etc.) although I did end up figuring it out. Unfortunately it won't relate
to this Live Installer problem.

The quickest way to install Messenger would be to just download and install Messenger
directly from its MSI

when i try to do what you suggest everything is ok until a
message shows up which just says " your computer has a newer version of
windows live messenger than the one you are trying to istall. to install
an older version, first remove the current version (click start,
settings, control panel, add or remove, windows live messenger), and
then run this set up again"
the real problem is that i don't have any kind of messenger in my pc!
what's going on? i have downloaded beta the newest one but i removed
it... when i try to install it again from msn.com i get the 0x8000ffff
message and then the thing i just discribed you! christ, that means that
i won't be able to have messenger or the entire windows live suite in my
pc ever again?? that's terrible!

[Zaaya]

im totally happy to finally get rid of windows live beta from my computer. the thing had super-glued itself to my system and i spent weeks and weeks trying to remove it. thanks jonathan.

but sadly, i too developed this miserable catastrophic failure error when i tried to install windows live again. the funny thing is, i was able to install beta again, but not the earlier version! why was that?

anyways, i was able to thankfully thankfully install windows live messenger again from its MSI link provided above. u can say im able to breathe again! :)

what i actually wanted to ask was, is it only messenger that i can download like this? i would really like to get windows live mail too. if anybody knows a way, im all ears!

I'm getting the same error

System Error Details :
Code : 0x8000ffff
Description : Catastrophic Error

When I attempt to install WindowsLive on my Vista 64 machine. No issues with
the WinXP dual boot side.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows...leanUp_Utility

It helped 4 me!

[therriengn]

omg I cannot believe i figured this one out. I have searched everywhere for the mysterious Catastrophic Error 0x8000ffff and as you said Jonathan basically its trying to load a componant that is no longer available, however i tried installing messenger as you suggested but got the 'A more recent version of Windows live exists blah blah blah'

I then stumbled upon this tool the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;290301

You can use the utility to remove installation information for programs that were installed by using Windows Installer. Be aware that Windows Installer CleanUp Utility will not remove the actual program from your computer. However, it will remove the installation files so that you can start the installation, upgrade, or uninstall over.

Worked Great i removed the info that Windows Installer assumed was there and was able to proceed with my installation with no Catastrophic failure.

There's 3 hours of my life i won't get back but hopefully this will help someone else.

I have found a solution.
I had the windows live beta installed on my pc but then crashed when it forced me to install an update version which corrupted the installation files.

I tryed to manually uninstall windows live beta from control panel and then tryed to install the normal windows live messenger on http://messenger.msn.co.uk but then was receiving the same error code.

I then go to control panel and then saw Windows Live Programs (beta)
i select that but then does not recconize i got any windows live messenger installed. So i try to install windows live beta again. It worked. but then as for having problems with it i didnt like it, i go to that same program on the controll panel and un selected everything that was install to un install.

It removed all the windows live beta features it had on my pc and tryed once again to install the normal windows live messenger and it work with no error code and is now working fine

[ChrisinBK]

Please Help

Have Windows XP - with Updated SP 3 - Office 2007 with all up to date.
Have tried many times to sync MS Outlook with my Hotmail - Message comes up - "Calendar contains corrupt Data that is forcing MS Outlook to close - 0x8000FFFF"

After many attempts gave up on the Option of using Outlook for my Emails as I used to do in my previous Company Supplied PC and Support.

Recently tried again with Windows Live Mail.
Today 13/07/10 succeeded in getting WLV synced with my Hotmail. Took 3/4 hours

Then when I rebooted the same "0x8000FFFF" message came up when opened WLM.

On two occasions the WLM opened - but then crashed.
Then using the "0x8000FFFF" as Web search came to this Web.
Have deleted my existing Windows Live Essential + Live Sync and Upload Tool.
Downloaded from V3.co.uk Windows Live Suite 2009.

Still cannot open Windows Live Mail and the same "Calendar contains corrupt Data that is forcing MS Outlook to close - 0x8000FFFF"

The newsgroup to which you posted is dedicated to supporting the
Windows Mail program. You will get more help by posting that issue
in the Windows Live Mail newsgroup

The newsgroup to which you posted is solely for the Windows Mail program.
Neither Outlook nor WLM are covered here.