XP Automatic Updates Problem

[Cashizslick]

It's been 3 months and i still keep getting an install prompt for a "windows installer" application which supposedly helps with the automatic updates process.



After the automatic update program tries to install this stupid thing i get an error message stating that the update was unable to be installed properly.

I have tried the following to get this stupid thing off my computer:

1.) Numerous reboots
2.) System Restore's
3.) I am given no option to remove this update from the list of selected updates for instalation.

what can i do to fix this?

Thanks in advance,

Cash

 

[posol]

go to windowsupdate.com

is it available there for you to DL?

 

[Cashizslick]

Quoted post[/post]]
go to windowsupdate.com

is it available there for you to DL?

Yeah this is what the website said.

Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1
0 KB , 0 minutes (Downloaded; ready to install)
The Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1 is the application installation and configuration service for Windows. The additional features in version 3.1 help make creating, distributing, and managing updates to applications easier and more efficient.

It recognised that its already on my computer. . . .

 

[TurboMirage]

in add/remove programs, you can find windows installer 3.1

 

[Cashizslick]

See thats the thing, its not listed there.

After i try to have Auto Updates install it i get the error "the following updates were unable to be successfully installed: Windows Installer"

Its like this stupid thing is in 'limbo' or something. . . i just wanna get rid of it.

 

[posol]

msi is an installer package....
if you can install shit fine, don't worry about it.

you won't find it in add/remove programs, as its an integral part of windows.

if you want to remove it, you need to do it manually.


start-run-regedit

in hkey_classes_root
if you have a .msi folder with a defualt attribute set to reg_sz and msi.package in the data column... its installed, at least an older version of it.

just becareful. its live. if you delte or change it, there's no undo.

 

[Cashizslick]

^ any other hints to help me out so i dont ruin my computer?

Thanks

 

[posol]

yeah, reformat. start over.

 

[Cashizslick]

OK:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT > .msi


The only thing in there is this entry with these names/ collums

Name: ab(default)

Type: Reg_Sz

Data: MSI.Package




B am i supposed to delete this thing?

 

[TurboMirage]

at the top of the add/remove programs screen, there is a checkbox that should say "list updates" is it there?

 

[Battle Pope]

hahaha

you're fumbling around the registry without any idea what you're doing?

 

[Cashizslick]

im not seeing it. . . . just shows the XP - Hotfix updates and 2 that were for media player.

do u think i should take out the reg value?

Quoted post[/post]]
hahaha

you're fumbling around the registry without any idea what you're doing?

HELP

lol i found the thing B said to look for - now what do i do with it?

 

[TurboMirage]

hoookay. why not just do a repair install?

 

[Cashizslick]

^ oh man what's a repair install?

 

[Battle Pope]

Oh dear god.

Sounds like you're mildly boned.

 

[vtecsir1]

do you have a windows xp install disc?

put it in and when it asks what you would like to do just hit repair.

 

[Cashizslick]

I gotta wait till i get back to school to do this one then

 

[xj0hnx]

Don't fuck with your registry....bad B.

 

[posol]

i didn't know he didin't know what hes doing.... lol

 

[endlesszeal]

is it a legit copy of xp? it might be detecting that its not "genuine (sp)" one and not letting you download installer.

also try virus and spyware scans, might be holding you back.

and like the rest said, try to do the repair with windows disc. just make sure the cd-rom is the first thing to boot in bios.