Windows Installer always running

[robeau]

I have installed a program on Windows 2000 Professional which is causing me much grief. Every time I boot up my machine it tries to continue a previous installation, only to eventually give me an error re a missing CAB file. When I launch programs, the Windows Installer will pop up several times and then disappear.

I have tried using Add/Remove Programs to Delete, Modify, Repair this installation, but it always says "Error 1500. Another installation is in progress....". I am now in the situation where I cannot get rid of the problem software, and I cannot install anything new.

I have contacted the vendor, and all they tell me is that they have not fully tested the product under Windows 2000, and they cannot help me.

I have tried removing the "InProgress" key in the registry, as per some tech documents I've found on the web, but that has not worked either.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Bob Beaucage
ACCPAC Certified Consultant
Computer Literacy

 

[butchrecon]

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>Software>Microsoft>Windows>Currentversion>Run. Look in here to see if the application is listed here. Also try the same string but in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER listing. Also you can try the make compatable tool. Go to the CDROM (Win2K) and look in the Tools folder for this tool. Install it and open it up. You can use this tool to "force" the Win2K machine to run a program as though it were running under Win98. Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.


James Collins
Computer Hardware Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

 

[robeau]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. Although your specific suggestions did not solve the problem, they lead me in the right direction. In the registry key you mentioned, I discovered the name of the .MSI file that it was using for the install. By renaming or deleting that file (I had to boot to DOS to do this), I no longer get Windows Installer trying to run all the time. And I have had no other ill effects by doing this.

Thanks for your help.

Bob Beaucage
ACCPAC Certified Consultant
Computer Literacy

 

[Guest_imported]

i've just started to get this same error when trying to install MS Streets 2001 on my win2000 box. and it seems to be creating more/newer instll problems as well. not sure if is related but just had my hdd replaced with larger one and all data was "ported" over to the larger disk. didn't have this problem before, but maybe didn't try the same installations... still seeking solution myself. wondering if it is a corrupted registry?

 

[Guest_imported]

I have the same problem under Windows 2000 server. I am trying to install a virus guard and every time I do that I get the ERROR 1500: Another installation in progress. I have looked at the segestions above but could not find any reference to the misbehaving program. Any ideas please?

Thanks

 

[robeau]

Hi,

The only thing I can refer you to is the Microsoft article at:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q236/4/56.ASP

which gives their workaround. I think it ultimately is a flaw in the install program, and hopefully the vendor should be able to give you some insight into the problem.

The registry key they refer to will tell you the .MSI file that it is trying to install from. For me, removing the .MSI file resolved the situation, not just removing the registry key referred to in the article.

Hope that helps.

Bob Beaucage
ACCPAC Certified Consultant
Computer Literacy

 

[AlexandreAmant]

I have the same problem since I did a repair of my WIN2K professional: every time I launch a software (that was installed before the repair), windows installer launches.

Someone with a solution ?

Thanks !

@lex

 

[AlexandreAmant]

I have solved the problem by installing W2K SP3.