Problem with windows installer.

Hey

I have looked everywhere on the world wide web for an answer to my problem but found none.

A week ago I tried to install a program which used windows installer (msiexec.exe). It came as far as: decompression files and then it stopped. Then my computer started to mess up. I couldnt't ctrl+alt+delete or open task manager, open the start menu or do any other action that requires explorer.exe. If I pressed the start menu, it came up 5 minutes later. In addition my mouse started to freeze in intervals. Only way to get rid of it was to force a restart.

I figured that there were something wrong in my windows files and did a clean reinstall of windows 7 64bit home edition. Then I could install a few programs (was doing so while installing from windows update). I got the programs i wanted installed and thought it was fixed. Then yesterday I were going to install another program (ventrilo and acrobat reader, both use windows installer) and the problems started again.

The only logical explanation I can find to this problem is that something from windows update messed up my windows installer. I have tried everything I can think of to fix this problem except for doing a new clean reinstall of windows 7, and then not using windows update afterwards. Except for this my computer works perfectly fine.

Please help a frustrated norwegian

Siggid,

Unless you specifically turned them off, them Win 7 has been generated a few restore points for you.

What I suggest is you pick one of those restore points from before the time your problem occurred and restore back to that restore point.

A restore point just might solve your problem.

I do suggest that you first follow the advice you received regarding running
the System File Checker (SFC /scannow).

If you are using Avast or AVG, then I recommend you-just as a test-disable Avast or AVG completely and see if the problem goes away.

Now let's see what I can find for tutorials here on restore points and running SFC.

System Restore

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

Thank you for the tip karlsnooks, but neither check detected any problem.

I doubt a system restore will work since I had the problem before and after a clean reinstall of windows 7. I don't think it is the files that are corrupt, rahter another program which is interfering and making msiexec.exe not work properly and thereby making explorer.exe messed up in the process, or a new update from windows update.

I'll add a link to a picture of my task manager so you can see if any of the processes I'm running might cause such a problem. (it's not my antivirus, tried uinstalling that, but it didn't remove the problem.)

Didn't you read that I did a clean reinstall of windows 7 to get rid of the problem, but it was still there...

Siggid,

Now let's look at this logically.

If IMMEDIATELY after a fresh install of Win 7 and WIN 7 only, the problem is there then you must wipe 100% of the disk clean and do a fresh install of Win 7.

If not, then create a restore point right now and follow the instructions re system restore and find one of them where the problem does not exist.

Otherwise, then it's clean and install time.

I'm including some links to some excellent tutorials.

I have no further ideas.
SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

System Restore

1: the problem appeared on my 8 months old windows installation
2: I reformatted the system, everything worked
3: I installed a few programs (windows update, panda global protection, open office, firefox and spotify) and the problem returned.

Then Siggid the logical conclusion is that one or more of those is the culprit.

Did you make restore points after each install so that you could roll back to before your imade an install.

If not, then I very seriously suggest that you download, install and use RevoUninstaller. Be sure to choose the "advanced" option so that Revo will also look for registry entries and files which have been left over.

Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download - Uninstall software, remove programs, solve uninstall problems