xp windows installer nightmare

Please help me.

Yesterday, seeking to install a new version of ADO in my XP PRO SP3
system, I wwas prompted to install a new "installer". I believe I was
not paying strict attention, I'm not sure if the installer completed
installing itself, but now I have SERIOS problems...

1. Whenever I boot and log on to XP with my usual ID, I see a "Windows
Installer" dialog box with the text "Preparing to install". It stays
there unles I kill it in Task Manager.

2. With my usual logon ID (has administrative privileges), my desktop
icons never appear, nothing related to installing or removing apps
works (including the msicuu2.exe installer cleanup program).

3. renaming msi.dll, msiexec.exe, and msihnd.dll to .old's and
rebooting fails to fix it.

4. when I shut down, the computer hangs infinitely in the "saving your
settings" dialog, I have to hit the on/off button to reboot.

5. I can start in safe mode, but in that mode no install/deinstall
stuff can proceed (with exception of below program). I cannot run the
Installer Cleanup in safe mode, and it fails in normal mode too.

6. I installed Windows Installer 4.5 successfully in safe mode, but
this did not fix it.

7. if I try to start mcafee virus software, it hangs in startup
infinitely.

8. I checked my registry entry for msiexec.exe, and the directory is
correct.

9. I did full C: drive virus check in safe mode.

10. I uninstalled XP SP3 in safe mode.

nothing above worked.

CAN I SOMEHOW WIPE Window Installer's memory of what it thinks it's
doing???? Is this stuff in registry?

"odindba" <odindba@volcanomail.com> wrote in message
news:22a6b35e-0d84-4796-beeb-e3f0c02d19f4@w39g2000prb.googlegroups.com...
> Please help me.
>
> Yesterday, seeking to install a new version of ADO in my XP PRO SP3
> system, I wwas prompted to install a new "installer". I believe I was
> not paying strict attention, I'm not sure if the installer completed
> installing itself, but now I have SERIOS problems...
>
> 1. Whenever I boot and log on to XP with my usual ID, I see a "Windows
> Installer" dialog box with the text "Preparing to install". It stays
> there unles I kill it in Task Manager.
>
> 2. With my usual logon ID (has administrative privileges), my desktop
> icons never appear, nothing related to installing or removing apps
> works (including the msicuu2.exe installer cleanup program).
>
> 3. renaming msi.dll, msiexec.exe, and msihnd.dll to .old's and
> rebooting fails to fix it.
>
> 4. when I shut down, the computer hangs infinitely in the "saving your
> settings" dialog, I have to hit the on/off button to reboot.
>
> 5. I can start in safe mode, but in that mode no install/deinstall
> stuff can proceed (with exception of below program). I cannot run the
> Installer Cleanup in safe mode, and it fails in normal mode too.
>
> 6. I installed Windows Installer 4.5 successfully in safe mode, but
> this did not fix it.
>
> 7. if I try to start mcafee virus software, it hangs in startup
> infinitely.
>
> 8. I checked my registry entry for msiexec.exe, and the directory is
> correct.
>
> 9. I did full C: drive virus check in safe mode.
>
> 10. I uninstalled XP SP3 in safe mode.
>
> nothing above worked.
>
> CAN I SOMEHOW WIPE Window Installer's memory of what it thinks it's
> doing???? Is this stuff in registry?

Have you tried system restore?

Try run,type:msiexec /unregister Return to run,type:msiexec /regserver
Return to run,type:services.msc In msc,scroll to installer,double
click,set to
"auto start" from manual,start service,exit msc...

"odindba" wrote:

> Please help me.
>
> Yesterday, seeking to install a new version of ADO in my XP PRO SP3
> system, I wwas prompted to install a new "installer". I believe I was
> not paying strict attention, I'm not sure if the installer completed
> installing itself, but now I have SERIOS problems...
>
> 1. Whenever I boot and log on to XP with my usual ID, I see a "Windows
> Installer" dialog box with the text "Preparing to install". It stays
> there unles I kill it in Task Manager.
>
> 2. With my usual logon ID (has administrative privileges), my desktop
> icons never appear, nothing related to installing or removing apps
> works (including the msicuu2.exe installer cleanup program).
>
> 3. renaming msi.dll, msiexec.exe, and msihnd.dll to .old's and
> rebooting fails to fix it.
>
> 4. when I shut down, the computer hangs infinitely in the "saving your
> settings" dialog, I have to hit the on/off button to reboot.
>
> 5. I can start in safe mode, but in that mode no install/deinstall
> stuff can proceed (with exception of below program). I cannot run the
> Installer Cleanup in safe mode, and it fails in normal mode too.
>
> 6. I installed Windows Installer 4.5 successfully in safe mode, but
> this did not fix it.
>
> 7. if I try to start mcafee virus software, it hangs in startup
> infinitely.
>
> 8. I checked my registry entry for msiexec.exe, and the directory is
> correct.
>
> 9. I did full C: drive virus check in safe mode.
>
> 10. I uninstalled XP SP3 in safe mode.
>
> nothing above worked.
>
> CAN I SOMEHOW WIPE Window Installer's memory of what it thinks it's
> doing???? Is this stuff in registry?
>