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I am having a problem with Windows Installer opening when I click on a
hyperlink or try to open some programs. For example, when I clicked on Ask a
new question to get this window that I am writing in now, a window entitled
"Window Installer" opened and it stated "preparing to install". If I click
"cancel" about 2 minutes later the hyperlink or program opens. (If I don't
click "cancel" it just takes longer for my program to open.) What can I do
to eliminate this problem as it is extremely annoying. Many times I want to
crush the mouse waiting for the program to open!
 
Can you figure out exactly what Windows Installer is preparing to install?

Try this. Download and install the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility :

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=290301

Once installed, Run Windows Install Clean Up (a shortcut should be in the
Start Menu). Don't remove anything, but just look at the list and see what
programs are installed. Are there any you don't want, or thought you had
removed? Write them down. (Be careful not to remove any entries for
programs, like Acrobat Reader, for example, or they will stop working).
Close Windows Install Clean Up.

If you see a program you don't want, go to Control Panel > Add or Remove
Programs and uninstall that program. If you thought you uninstalled a
program look again in Add or Remove Programs to see if it's there, and
uninstall it. Once all that's done, open Windows Install Clean Up again,
and see if there are still references to the program(s) you had removed, or
thought you had removed. If you see them, select those programs (only!),
and click on Remove.

Too, did you ever try install anything that didn't install correctly? For
example, did you try to install ITunes, and the installation didn't work?

If your not sure about a program you see in the CleanUp Utility, post back
and ask about it. Someone may be familiar with it.
 
I ran into a similar situation with some shortcuts created by installers for
Google Earth and Skype. Everytime I clicked the shortcut, it would attempt
to invoke the installer repair function for the respective product. There
was a Microsoft KB article (you might want to do your own search) that
described the message, but frankly I could not understand the article. I
manually rebuilt the shortcuts and that resolved my problem. I did not have
any shortcut problems with later installs of Google Earth and Skype. So I
don't know if it was an installer issue or XP maintenance fix. However, I
never encountered any problems with hyperlinks.
 
Thank you! I did what you suggested, but I haven't solved the problem. I
guess I need to look for programs that didn't install correctly. I think it
may be an update from Microsoft. In the process of doing all peoples'
suggestions I have read, I did get a box asking me to put in my Office disk
with Frontpage because a particular file was not found. When I put in the
disk, it still can't find it. I have Office 2003 from the university volume
license. So maybe that is the problem. I guess I have to find that download
and eliminate it, but I'm not sure how to do that.
Mary Ann
 
Take a system restore. Make sure you have an Office 2003 CD key!!!
Uninstall Office 2003. Now re-install Office 2003. Make sure you do a full
install (with the possible exception of the clip art junk). The reason for
the full install is so that an MSOcache file gets created. This negates the
need to insert the CD when doing updates. You could go to the Microsoft site
and download the Office updates; however, I find it easier to upgrade Windows
update to Microsoft update (I believe the upgrade to Microsoft is on the
Windows update window). Microsoft update will not only search for system
updates, but also for things like office updates, beta updates, SQL server,
etc. Use custom vs express. Give it a try. If you run into any problems,
just add your post to the current thread. Good luck.
 
What is your Operating System? Vista or XP?

Do you have an .htm or .html file on your computer? If so, does
"example.htm" or "example.html" show a FrontPage icon, or an E (Internet
Explorer) icon? (To create one, in IE, open a simple web page and choose
File > Save As, or Page > Save As, saving the file as "Webpage, HTML only).
When you double-click on example.htm, what program opens, or tries to open?

You might be having a file association problem. See:

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...nk=gst&q=farkle&rnum=1&hl=en#9681cb61683cb3eb
 
Thank you again. I tried this the files all have IE icons and they open
easily from the list. The problem doesn't only occur with internet files; it
also occurs when I click on print or some programs.
 
Hi MaryAnn. When you say "list", to what list are you referring? If it is
a list of favorites in the Favorites pane of IE, these will have IE icons,
but those are Internet Shortcut (.url) files. Just to be clear, that's not
I was referring to.

"Print" is a function, or command, that is a part of certain file
extensions, along with "Open" or "Edit", for example. Depending on the
document you are trying to print, you may get different "responses". If you
open a text file in Notepad, and click on Print, does FrontPage try to
install? If you open a .doc file in Word, and click on Print, does
FrontPage try to Install? When you click on Print in a program, and see
FrontPage trying to install, what is the program's name, and what is the
type of document that you are trying to print?

Do this simple test. Right-click on a blank spot on your Desktop, and choose
New > Text Document. Rename the "New Text Document.txt" file on your
Desktop to "New Text Document.HTM" (without quotes), that is change .txt to
..him. Does the icon for that file change to an IE icon, or to a FrontPage
icon? Right-click on that file, and choose Print. Does FrontPage try to
install?

Depending on the outcome of the test, you may be able to resolve your
problem by repairing or re-installing IE, and not FrontPage. Dunno, yet.
And doing that will depend on your Operating System (Vista or XP), and the
version of IE you have (if you are using XP, is it with IE6, or is it with
IE7?). Too, it's also possible to just re-register extensions so that they
are correct. But a little detective work is necessary, to see if this is
really the problem...
 
OOps. Typo alert. Darn spellchecker. The following should be
Do this simple test. Right-click on a blank spot on your Desktop, and
choose New > Text Document. Rename the "New Text Document.txt" file on
your Desktop to "New Text Document.HTM" (without quotes), that is, change
.txt to .htm
Click to expand...

It's not ".him", in the last line quoted.
 
I caught the .him in the first message. The "list" was a search of all files
with htm. I did what you suggested and the file had the IE icon. When I
tried to print it the WI window opened..."preparing of install." It never
indicates what it's preparing to install. It just closes after about 30
seconds. In this case when I asked it to print, the WI window opened and
closed three times before the printer window opened.
I am determined to beat this, but it sure is persistent. I don't remember
when it started. At first I just ignored it; now it's annoying. I guess I
could try a restore point, but I last week I put in a new ethernet board for
my dsl and change to AVG internet security. Yesterday I installed 1G of
memory since my computer only had 256 MB before. It has helped, but....
Mary Ann
 
I hesitate to do a system restore. This happened a while back and I just
ignored it. Just recently I put in a new ethernet board for my dsl, changed
to 1 G memory, and changed to AVG security software. I am also hesitant to
uninstall Office 2003 (Office11). I put in the disk I got from the
university with the volume license and it told me my product key was not
valid. I don't want to lose Office 2003 because I am now retire and cannot
get it from the university. I do have an MSOcache file on my hard drive.
I also noticed that in the Program Files folder, in the Microsoft Office
folder, there is a folder for Office10. But is not in the list of programs
in Add/Remove Programs list. When I check my download record on Microsoft's
website, there are several entries for attempting and failing to install and
update for Office 2002/XP. How can I uninstall Office10?
mak
 
Okay, thanks. Could you do this:

Press the Windows Key + R on your keyboard. In the Run box, type regedit,
then press OK. Go to this key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\htmlfile\shell\print\command

In the left-hand pane, what is the data for the name "default"? Is it this:

rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\system32\mshtml.dll,PrintHTML "%1"

or is there a different entry? Like this one, perhaps:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\msohtmed.exe" /p %1

In this key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\htmlfile\shell\printto

Is the value for "default" the following:

rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\system32\mshtml.dll,PrintHTML "%1" "%2" "%3" "%4"

or is it something else?

Is your Internet Explorer version 6, or version 7?

Do you have the file MSOHTMED.EXE in your C:\Program Files\Microsoft
Office\OFFICE11 folder?
 
Under the condidtions you listed, I would leave Office alone. Your problem
seems to be more than just uninstalling and re-installing.
 
Thank you,

In “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\htmlfile\shell\print\commandâ€, "default" is
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\msohtmed.exe" /p %1

In “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\htmlfile\shell\printtoâ€, “default" rundll32.exe
%SystemRoot%\system32\mshtml.dll,PrintHTML "%1" "%2" "%3" "%4"

Internet Explorer version 7?

Yes, I have the file MSOHTMED.EXE in your C:\Program Files\Microsoft
Office\OFFICE11 folder.

When I clicked on reply, the Windows Installer ran 3 times. I check the
Event Viewer in Administrative Tools for these 3 times:

1) Information: Product: Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003 --
Installation failed.

2) Warning: Detection of product '{90110409-6000-11D3-8CFE-0150048383C9}',
feature 'ProductFiles', component '{66CD2C91-2A15-4DA4-BBD2-5EC1075F3C0E}'
failed. The resource 'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.pip\' does not exist.

3) Warning: Detection of product '{90110409-6000-11D3-8CFE-0150048383C9}',
feature 'WORDFiles' failed during request for component
'{1EBDE4BC-9A51-4630-B541-2561FA45CCC5}'

Last night I obtained a program from
http://www.installsite.org/pages/en/msifaq/a/1037.htm that lists each
installer component and the product using it. So for the above:

2) Warning: {90110409-6000-11D3-8CFE-0150048383C9} at C:\Program
Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\HTML\XMLLINKS\1033\CONTEXT.XML Microsoft
Office FrontPage 2003 and {66CD2C91-2A15-4DA4-BBD2-5EC1075F3C0E} is used by:
Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003

3) Warning: {90110409-6000-11D3-8CFE-0150048383C9} at C:\Program
Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\HTML\XMLLINKS\1033\CONTEXT.XML Microsoft
Office FrontPage 2003 and {1EBDE4BC-9A51-4630-B541-2561FA45CCC5} is used by:
Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003

In 2) Warning, it states that “The resource 'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.pip\' does
not exist.†and I do not know how to get it. I had tried to reinstall MO
Professional 2003, but it would not take my product code. I have it on my
invoice from the university and I had written on the disk that I received
from the university when I bought it. (It is a volume license. Maybe I need
to buy a new MO.

Mary Ann
 
Thanks for the reports. That's very helpful. Try this, to register the
Microsoft Office Settings File file-type:

Open Notepad. Copy the following, between the dashes, and Paste this into
Notepad. Don't include the dashes:

-----------------------dashes-----------------------------


Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.PIP]
@="PIPFile"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PIPFile]
"NoOpen"=""
@="Microsoft Office Settings File"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PIPFile\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\COMMON~1\\MICROS~1\\OFFICE11\\MSOICONS.EXE,6"


[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.PIP]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.PIP\OpenWithList]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.PIP\OpenWithProgids]
"PIPFile"=hex(0):


-----------------------dashes-----------------------------


Save this as pip.REG (without a .txt extension).

Is the user account you normally use an Administrative one? If not, log
onto the Administrator's account, and double-click on the file pip.reg.
Allow the merge. Try a program function, like Print, that invokes the
Windows Installer, while still in the Administrative account. Does it seem
to complete? Does the problem continue? Hopefully, this will allow you to
get a Pass when Windows Installer's auto-repair function performs its health
check.
 
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