Windows Installer (msi) stopped working

[Anthony Capon]

Hi

I have a problem I can't install (or uninstall) anything that uses the
Windows installer system (*.msi). All other setups and installs work
fine. I get an error message .. "This installation package could not be
opened.Verify that the package exists and that you can access it, or
contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows
Installer package." (I think it may be error 1619 or similar)

I have tried several fixes all of which have made no difference. I have
unregistered and registered msiexec.exe, I have cleaned the registry and
reinstalled the latest Installer package ver 3.1. and I have used the
Windows Install Cleanup Utility.

There must be some basic corruption somewhere but I am now at a total
loss what to try next.

Any suggestions gratefully received!!

Anthony

[DaveS]

I have this same problem. I have had multiple .msi files I have downloaded
come up with that error each time I try to install/execute them.

By the Anthony, upgrading to the latest Windows Installer is actually
downgrading your system since the Windows Installer that automatically comes
with Vista is Windows Installer 4.0 .

[Anthony Capon]

DaveS wrote:
> I have this same problem. I have had multiple .msi files I have downloaded
> come up with that error each time I try to install/execute them.
>
> By the Anthony, upgrading to the latest Windows Installer is actually
> downgrading your system since the Windows Installer that automatically comes
> with Vista is Windows Installer 4.0 .

I am not running Vista actually, just good old XP with SP2. So have you
found a solution? It may help me too or at least point me in the right
direction.

[DaveS]

"Anthony Capon" wrote:

> I am not running Vista actually, just good old XP with SP2. So have you
> found a solution? It may help me too or at least point me in the right
> direction.

Oh, sorry, I assumed you were running Vista as well since I saw the title of
the web page as "Windows Vista Community: Discussion Groups." I have not
found a solution as of yet. I've had no help on this topic really. Only
thing that may help is reformatting. I'm not sure I'd like to go that far.
I've tried many things from gaining ownership of the file to actually getting
another copy of Windows Installer 4.0 from a friend just to see if mine was
defective or not. I'm still uncertain as to what to do at this point. If I
find a solution I will let you know, please, if you find one, let me know as
well.

Thanks.

[Anthony Capon]

DaveS wrote:
> "Anthony Capon" wrote:
>
>> I am not running Vista actually, just good old XP with SP2. So have you
>> found a solution? It may help me too or at least point me in the right
>> direction.
>
> Oh, sorry, I assumed you were running Vista as well since I saw the title of
> the web page as "Windows Vista Community: Discussion Groups." I have not
> found a solution as of yet. I've had no help on this topic really. Only
> thing that may help is reformatting. I'm not sure I'd like to go that far.
> I've tried many things from gaining ownership of the file to actually getting
> another copy of Windows Installer 4.0 from a friend just to see if mine was
> defective or not. I'm still uncertain as to what to do at this point. If I
> find a solution I will let you know, please, if you find one, let me know as
> well.
>
> Thanks.

Yep, if I turn anything up I'll let you know. Actually I have been
trying to solve this for a while and to be honest no-one seems to have a
clue. By the way this appears as the ...windowsxp.help and support on
msness.microsoft.com ..... on my news reader.

I can't help thinking it's something relatively trivial that's just hard
to find.

Thanks

[DaveS]

"Anthony Capon" wrote:


> Yep, if I turn anything up I'll let you know. Actually I have been
> trying to solve this for a while and to be honest no-one seems to have a
> clue. By the way this appears as the ...windowsxp.help and support on
> msness.microsoft.com ..... on my news reader.
>
> I can't help thinking it's something relatively trivial that's just hard
> to find.
>
> Thanks

Anthony, I have found a way for me at least. I had to activate the
computers Administrator account and change my account to administrator.
Originally, my account was listed as an administrator but it did not have
full power (even though it said it had full control). I think I'll just be
renaming the Administrator account and using that from now on. I have Vista
Home Premium so it was much harder to activate. To do it, I went to the
command prompt (Start>Run>cmd) and typed in the following:

"net user administrator /active:yes"

Then I signed into the account, downloaded a .msi file and Windows Installer
worked! Let me know how this fairs with you/if you can use it.

[Anthony Capon]

DaveS wrote:
> I have this same problem. I have had multiple .msi files I have downloaded
> come up with that error each time I try to install/execute them.
>
> By the Anthony, upgrading to the latest Windows Installer is actually
> downgrading your system since the Windows Installer that automatically comes
> with Vista is Windows Installer 4.0 .

Hi

I'll try that and let you know!!

Thanks

[Anthony Capon]

DaveS wrote:
> "Anthony Capon" wrote:
>
>
>> Yep, if I turn anything up I'll let you know. Actually I have been
>> trying to solve this for a while and to be honest no-one seems to have a
>> clue. By the way this appears as the ...windowsxp.help and support on
>> msness.microsoft.com ..... on my news reader.
>>
>> I can't help thinking it's something relatively trivial that's just hard
>> to find.
>>
>> Thanks
>
> Anthony, I have found a way for me at least. I had to activate the
> computers Administrator account and change my account to administrator.
> Originally, my account was listed as an administrator but it did not have
> full power (even though it said it had full control). I think I'll just be
> renaming the Administrator account and using that from now on. I have Vista
> Home Premium so it was much harder to activate. To do it, I went to the
> command prompt (Start>Run>cmd) and typed in the following:
>
> "net user administrator /active:yes"
>
> Then I signed into the account, downloaded a .msi file and Windows Installer
> worked! Let me know how this fairs with you/if you can use it.

Hi again!

Well I tried it and it didn't work in itself but I think it was part of
the eventual solution. What finally did it, as far as I can tell, was
the deletion of some temp files in the installer directory itself. I had
long since taken care of temp files in the user directory and windows
but had not realized that temp files even existed in the installer
directory!(c:\windows\installer\).

Well thanks for your help and if I can return the favour anytime. I'll
keep an eye out for your messages on the forum.