Windows Installer

[CCLINT]

We have another system set up with W2000 Server SP3.
This one is set up using the German version.

The system was initially installed about 2 months ago with W2000 and, nothing done with it since.
Then last month with SP3, and some other programs. No problem.

Last week I decided put this system to use and installed several other programs and got it up and running to my likings.

Today, I tried to install a simple program packaged with WinInstaller and cannot get WinInstaller to run.
No matter which *.msi installation program, or setup.exe program which uses an msi file, I start, I get a message that translates to something like this:

"Cannot use(or run) the Windows-Installer service. This can happen when Windows is running in safe mode, or when Windows-Installer isn't correctly installed"

I can guarentee that the system is not running in safe mode.
When I try to run the InstMsiW.exe in order to re-install Windows Installer, nothing happens - the set-up doesn't start.
The system has been rebooted several times in order to see if that helps but it hasn't.

Does anyone have an idea?

 

[CCLINT]

Has anyone else seen a problem like this where any msi/Windows Installer installation program packaged by anyone will not run.

I tried updating WinInst but the update uses WinInst!
I cannot even update my mouse driver.

 

[Dmasch]

I have the same problem on a Winnt 4.0 Terminal Server. I have not been able to find a fix. Nothing will install or uninstall. I have tried several things and need to find a fix as this is a production server and needs some new programs installed on it.

 

[CCLINT]

Try this Kb article: Q319624

I did try 2x all methods and none helped. Maybe it will for you...

 

[Dmasch]

Thanks,
I did try that one before and no luck. This is a major pain and I dont know what broke this.

 

[CCLINT]

Ok, I just found this: Kb Article 260404
The solution toward the bottom worked for me.

 

[Dmasch]

I just did the msiexec /unregister
I then renamed the msi.dll,msiexec.exe,msihnd.dll
Rebooted my server
I then tried to run the instmsiw installer and it tell me that the specified service already exists and of course I still can't get my installer to do anything. Would you be so kind to tell me step by step how you got yours to work again. Thanks.

 

[CCLINT]

msiexec /unregister
msiexec /register

 

[CCLINT]

Oops.
I meant:

msiexec /unregister

msiexec /regserver

I didn't rename the files or reboot.

 

[CCLINT]

Dmasch: Did you get it to work?