Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301
It was created to fix software installations that failed during the
install process and thus leaving a bunch of files on your hard drive.
(including a file name that ends with a .msi extension)
(.msi = MicroSoft Installer).
For example a failed MS Office installation (note that I said "Failed").
See:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA011185721033.aspx
Windows Installer Cleanup Utility's has the ability to stop an application
from repeatedly trying to re-install itself as a result of botched or
incomplete install. In other words you want to kill the application's
repeated install process.
The Cleanup Utility will cure the problem by removing the file the
application uses to install itself. You do this by running the Windows
Installer
Cleanup Utility and from the list of displayed applications selecting the
offending application. Cleanup will then remove the components required
to install the problem application.
Note: Cleanup will not remove any other files that are part of the
application that already has been installed on your hard drive.
Cleanup only removes the components required to install the
problem application.
After you have finished running the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility try
starting an application and verify the problem has been fixed.
Note: An unfortunate side effect of the Cleanup tool is if you accidentally
select and remove software that is functioning properly you then will
no longer be able to install that software as it will not be in the
Add/Remove programs list.
Also if when you installed MS Office you decided at the time you did not
need Power Point and chose not to install it. Later you discover you need to
make a Power Point presentation, insert the Office CD and try to install
Power Point and it creates an error.
Using the Windows Installer Cleanup tool will remove the corrupted install
files (Located in C:\Windows\Installer). You then need to install Office and
Power Point once again as they will not longer be present in the Control
Panel's Add/Remove programs list. But at least this time Office and Power
Point will install without any errors as the Windows Installer Cleanup
Utility did what it was designed to do.
The unfortunate side effect of the Cleanup tool is when you select and
remove software that is functioning properly you then will no longer be able
to install that software as it will no longer be in the Add/Remove programs
list.
