Hi Lydia,
Simply put if Media Player 10 installed on another PC, then there is an
issue with your "other" computer.
It will be in the first instance either of two things:
1:
There is a fault with the operating sytem itself. Try running a program
called MsConfig. ((First introduced when Win 98 was released, and still in
use with XP.) Pro or home)
Click Start, select run and type in the window "MSCONFIG". (Without the
Quote marks)
You should see a new window appear that will give you access to :
"General"
"System ini"
"WIN.ini"
"Boot.ini"
"Services"
"Startup"
Within the "General" tab (Window) select Diagnostic Statrup. This will load
the basic devices and services. The system will ask to re-boot, do so.
When the sytem reloads the screen may look poor the sound may not work, this
is OK and normal.
Login as normal, accept the "Microsoft screens" and pop ups, decline ANY
that are not Microsoft.
Run the Media install again.
2:
The Media install you ran on the "other" PC, was it a seperate download, or
was it from the same install set you used on the problem PC?
If it was the same install set, see option 1 above, if it was a differant
install, then return to the other PC, remove/delete the Media install set you
have, download it agian , install it again.
An alternative to the above would be to if you have an active restore point,
try setting the PC back to that point and install Media player again. You may
even have to try to a much ealier "Rstore Point". A word of caution, going
back to a restore point, will effect any software install done since that
time. Be prepaired to "Repair" or even remove and re-install the other
software again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why?
Media Player is genuine Microsoft Software, XP is well aware of this so
either the Operating system has soem corruption, maybe with the MSI, or the
install of Media Player is not a genuine install.
I mention MSI, this simply means "Microsoft Software Installer", it replaces
"Install Shield" and is an easier install process, and offers a recovery
option if the software, later in life fails.
BUT, it has one fault, when MSI runs if creates a local, hidden software
database of that applicatio. (Ever wondered why XP is so large so soon after
install....)
If you need to "repair or install the application" again, it runs a little
faster, of default s your application even though you applied this or that
update. The local dB is from the original install without updates, as it is
local it allows the install to run faster.
Again from the "Run" command box, type "msiexec", it will pop a window that
will display all the "switches" that can be run against the msiexec command.
This interface is not an "easy" interface to play around with, be careful!
The options of interest her are;
msiexec /Option <Required Parameter> [Optional Parameter]
</uninstall | /x> <Product.msi | ProductCode>
This last one will uninstall the product
The last option uninstalls the product. I knonw I know your thinking it's
not installed so how can I uninstall it?
Well simply put, it has, and you can.
This relates to that local dB I mentioned.
When an MSI based program runs for the first time, the first thing it does
is copy itself to that hidden folder, then runs as per the instructions of
the "Setup.exe" and later user requirements.
The above last "uninstall" option should delete the local dB which your
"problem" PC has already stored locally.
Why is this important?
The local dB, has an associated "index/script", the index/script simply
records what it did to install the first. If it made a mistake in the first
install, if you had to remove and then install the software again, that
mistake could be repeated. All because the local dB and the "index/script" is
NOT removed when you removed the software.
As you first attempt to install media player failed, the index will bring
any new install to the same conclusion.
Please try the other options first before looking at playing with the MSI so
directly.
If you are worried about working with the MSI simply don not do it.
Look at the Micosoft Knowledge base about using MSI before you do anythging
more.
It might be easier for you to simply re-download Media player and install
it, better to try other the other options than to break the MSI once and for
all.
If you "play" with the MSI and get it wrong, it would be easire to simply
re-install the operating system and start from fresh.
This is important!!
