Unwanted install at Startup

  • Thread starter Thread starter bilm
  • Start date Start date
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bilm

Something is triggering an unwanted install at every startup and often
intermittently during a session. Last night it happened in the middle of
an XP update (Windows Update Service on the web).

It wants to install the "MicroSoft Platform SDK 3790.1830" and
asks, "Please insert disk labeled 'Microsoft Platform SDK' ".
It wants the file "PSDK-x86.msi" on the CD.
This product is already installed and fully up to date!

I have checked all startup possibilties ... at least the ususal ones ... and
there is no entry for it. I used several programs to help me identify and
locate programs or services (like SysInternals' Autoruns) that are initiated
during startup. None show MsiExec.exe.

I used SysInternals' Process Explorer to get the comnmandline which is
"C:\WINDOWS\system32\MsiExec.exe -Embedding
B1038EC76D2C842024A5D0C0C1A7F5C5 M Global\MSI0000".
I searched the registry and Documents and Settings for parts of the above
with no joy.

How do I stop this ? It's a real nuisance.

bilm
 
bilm said:
Something is triggering an unwanted install at every startup and often
intermittently during a session. Last night it happened in the middle
of an XP update (Windows Update Service on the web).

It wants to install the "MicroSoft Platform SDK 3790.1830" and
asks, "Please insert disk labeled 'Microsoft Platform SDK' ".
It wants the file "PSDK-x86.msi" on the CD.
This product is already installed and fully up to date!

I have checked all startup possibilties ... at least the ususal ones
... and there is no entry for it. I used several programs to help me
identify and locate programs or services (like SysInternals'
Autoruns) that are initiated during startup. None show MsiExec.exe.

I used SysInternals' Process Explorer to get the comnmandline which is
"C:\WINDOWS\system32\MsiExec.exe -Embedding
B1038EC76D2C842024A5D0C0C1A7F5C5 M Global\MSI0000".
I searched the registry and Documents and Settings for parts of the
above with no joy.

How do I stop this ? It's a real nuisance.

bilm
Click to expand...

You have a slight coruption in the windows installer.
Here is a link that talks about the "windows installer cleanup utility" and
a hyperlink to download it.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

Note: After using this tool you may need to reinstall 'Microsoft Platform
SDK' .
 
bilm said:
Something is triggering an unwanted install at every
startup and often intermittently during a session.
Last
night it happened in the middle of an XP update
(Windows Update Service on the web).

It wants to install the "MicroSoft Platform SDK
3790.1830" and asks, "Please insert disk labeled
'Microsoft Platform
SDK' ". It wants the file "PSDK-x86.msi" on the CD.
This product is already installed and fully up to
date!

I have checked all startup possibilties ... at least
the
ususal ones ... and there is no entry for it. I used
several programs to help me identify and locate
programs
or services (like SysInternals' Autoruns) that are
initiated during startup. None show MsiExec.exe.
I used SysInternals' Process Explorer to get the
comnmandline which is
"C:\WINDOWS\system32\MsiExec.exe -Embedding
B1038EC76D2C842024A5D0C0C1A7F5C5 M Global\MSI0000". I
searched the registry and Documents and Settings for
parts of the above with no joy.

How do I stop this ? It's a real nuisance.

bilm
Click to expand...

The Installer Cleanup recommended by MAP seems like a
decent utility. Note you might have to reinstall some
programs after using it; read the readme file!

That said, I think I would first uninstall and then
re-install the offending program.

You said it's already installed, so you must have the
CD; what happens if you give it the CD it's asking for?
It's possible the install isn't complete and/or
corrupted and simply thinks it's not complete. Either
way, an uninstall/reinstall might fix that.
If it's corruption it might not uninstall properly.
In that case I'd still try another install right over
the existing program.

If that fails then I might consider the cleanup utility
MAP suggested.

Also, check the version of your MS Installer: It has
to be 3.1 or later, I'm just about positive but have no
data to back up my statement. I just remember
installing version 3.1 for similar reasons "back when".

HTH

Pop`
 
MAP said:
You have a slight coruption in the windows installer.
Here is a link that talks about the "windows installer cleanup utility"
and a hyperlink to download it.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

Note: After using this tool you may need to reinstall 'Microsoft Platform
SDK' .
Click to expand...
Thanks Mike,

I DLed the windows installer cleanup utility and will use it if I can't find
another solution.

The installer now pops-up while attempting to install updates to 3rd party
products and breaks their installation. It took several attempts to do one
update with having to click the windows installer cancel button 5 times
during the update install.

It's no longer a nuisance. It's is mal-ware as far as I'm concerned and it
began right after a windows update. I'm looking through my logs to now to
determine if MS was the culprit.

bilm
 
Poprivet` said:
The Installer Cleanup recommended by MAP seems like a decent utility.
Note you might have to reinstall some programs after using it; read the
readme file!

That said, I think I would first uninstall and then re-install the
offending program.

You said it's already installed, so you must have the CD; what happens if
you give it the CD it's asking for? It's possible the install isn't
complete and/or corrupted and simply thinks it's not complete. Either
way, an uninstall/reinstall might fix that.
If it's corruption it might not uninstall properly. In that case I'd
still try another install right over the existing program.

If that fails then I might consider the cleanup utility MAP suggested.

Also, check the version of your MS Installer: It has to be 3.1 or later,
I'm just about positive but have no data to back up my statement. I just
remember installing version 3.1 for similar reasons "back when".

HTH

Pop`
Click to expand...
Thanks Poprivet,
My MsiExec.exe is version 3.1.4000.1823
I tried. It's just a bogus install. It does nothing and the problem
persists.

I'll try the installer but I will not be happy if I have to re-install the
SDK. I have the CD but there are updates involved that I will
have to DL again.

This all happened after a Windows Update. Not sure if this is a
coincidence or what but I'm checking my logs to find out.

bilm
 
I DLed the windows installer cleanup utility and will use it if I
can't find another solution.

The installer now pops-up while attempting to install updates to 3rd
party products and breaks their installation. It took several
attempts to do one update with having to click the windows installer
cancel button 5 times during the update install.

It's no longer a nuisance. It's is mal-ware as far as I'm concerned
and it began right after a windows update. I'm looking through my
logs to now to determine if MS was the culprit.

bilm
Click to expand...

Good Luck!
 
MAP said:
Good Luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks again for the heads up on the win installer cleanup utility &
link. It worked perfectly AND I didn't have to re-install the SDK.

Before resorting to using it, I tried to find the place in whatever
configuation file or reg entry where the MS Installer was being
called to install the SDK but had no luck. It's well hidden.
I think MS should docuement it for advanced users.

Regards,

bilm
 
Thanks again for the heads up on the win installer cleanup utility &
link. It worked perfectly AND I didn't have to re-install the SDK.

Before resorting to using it, I tried to find the place in whatever
configuation file or reg entry where the MS Installer was being
called to install the SDK but had no luck. It's well hidden.
I think MS should docuement it for advanced users.

Regards,

bilm
Click to expand...

Glad it worked!
 
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