Installation problem

[PCVirgin]

I have a desktop with WIN XP XP2 installed.

Recently I installed and un-installed IE7. Since then (or is it just coincidental) I cannot install any software on the desktop.

if I download something from the net I get "security settings do not allow this action" and from my virtual desktop, I get the message "Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item"

I am the administrator for the PC and I'm stumped as to why this is happenning.

Can anyone assist ?

 

[linney]

Is it too far back to attempt to fix this with System Restore?

Is it correct that you are seeing two problems, one, you can not install any programs, and two, you cannot download anything? Can you clarify that, or is it just a problem when you try to install anything?

What was the problem with IE7 and did you try any fixes for that problem before you uninstalled it?

Are there any other clues in the Event Viewer?

Re-register or Re-install MSI Installer.

324516 - "The Windows Installer service could not be accessed" error message when you try to install Office

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324516&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Windows Installer 3.1 (v2) is available

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;893803&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

How to Enable Windows Installer Logging in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314852&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

HOW TO: Reset Security Settings Back to the Defaults

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=313222#appliesto

If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[daft1337]

Are you logged in as the administrator or are you logged in as limited account?
Are there any policy changes to your system, that would prevent you from installing software?

You might want to check the permissions on the drive that you are trying to acess for the second message.

 

[PCVirgin]

linney,

After checking all the defaults against another machine, I bit the bullet and went for a restore.

I can now download again happily.

I un-installed IE7 because I didnt like the look of it.

I dont understand why when I un-installed IE7 the machine didnt go back to the settings for IE6 ?

Thanks anyway.

 

[linney]

I don't understand why when I un-installed IE7 the machine didn't go back to the settings for IE6 ?"

Probably as a result of instructions from the uninstall .exe, but who really knows.

This article was doing the rounds in the first few days of the IE7 release. It has since lost favor.

How to perform a repair installation of Windows XP if Internet Explorer 7 is installed

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;917964#appliesto

Perhaps using System Restore might have removed IE7 and restored your IE6 and its settings?