Windows Installer not working for .msi installations.

[BarronN30]

Hi, I just upgrade my laptop (SONY VAIO VGN-SR430J) from Vista 64 bit to Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.
Everything seemed to be working normally until when I tried to install an antivirus (NOD32 Smart Security).
Its a .msi installer and when I tried to run it, it gave me an error "This installation package could not be opened. Contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows Installer package."
I googled this message and saw a few solutions but none of them had worked so far.
The first thing I did was download Windows Installer (WindowsInstaller-KB893803-v2-x86) and when I tried to run it, it says "Not enough storage is available to process this command."
Another post had also suggested to redownload the Windows update Agent and that did not do anything either.
Then I tried the solutions on this site. (Error message when you try to add or remove a program on a computer that is running Windows XP or Windows Server 2003: "The Windows Installer service could not be accessed").
Method 1 did not solve it and when I tried to do method 2, it keeps saying access denied in the cmd box even though I rightclicked and ran as admin.
Anyone got any other ideas?
I have alot of data on the laptop and I have been trying to avoid a complete installation.

 

[Minotar]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums.

Have you tried sfc /scannow in command promt ,ran as admin?This will detect and try to fix corrupted files.

And by chance,did you check that it is compatable with Windows 7?

 

[BarronN30]

Thanks!
Yeah I also have the same program for my PC and it installed fine (It is also a Windows 7 64 bit).
I just ran sfc /scannow and it says Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

 

[Minotar]

The access denied could be becasue you have not clicked see hidden folders in folder options.

Control panel>change to small icon view>folder options>view>change to see hidden folders.

See if that works as its the quickest,then try to take ownership of the windows folder
Take Ownership of file - Vista Forums

Use method 2,the file path you want is is C:\Windows

Then try step 2 of the link you posted.You could also try start-up repair from the OS disc>just insert it>boot from cd>let it load the files up>select country etc> click repair computer in the bottom left when the window opens.

Then select your OS from the list and use the top option>next

Try start up repair.

This should reinstall Windows Installer,becasue as i understand it,it reinstalls Win7 while keeping your files and settings (you dont even notice it)

Dan

 

[BarronN30]

I tried the method you mentioned and I still receive the same message.
This is how it looks like
Imageshack - errork

I didn't bring my Windows 7 Upgrade CD up to my campus with me but I will try your second technique when I get back home.
Thanks for the help!

Edit: I will reply back once I try the other method and let you know if it worked or not.

 

[Minotar]

I tried the method you mentioned and I still receive the same message.
This is how it looks like
Imageshack - errork

I didn't bring my Windows 7 Upgrade CD up to my campus with me but I will try your second technique when I get back home.
Thanks for the help!

Edit: I will reply back once I try the other method and let you know if it worked or not.

Ok,i thought there would be issues as it was for xp.

Try this,unsure if it will work
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...6F-60B6-4412-95B9-54D056D6F9F4&displaylang=en

Then download this
Download CCleaner 2.25.1025 - Crap Cleaner is a system optimization tool used by millions across the globe - Softpedia

Click registry,scan for problems.

Could someone confirm this is ok to use,it came up from google,but as it messes with the registry im wary of it.
http://www.vista123.net/content/fix-problemwindows-installer-service-could-not-be-accessed

 

[BarronN30]

Hmm, I just tried the 1st solution and it said its not applicable to my Windows.
For the CCleaner, it found a few registry problems which I clicked to fix issues but the problem still exist.
I haven't tried the 3rd one yet though.

 

[jdogga]

Two of my computers are doing the same thing. I installed Windows 7 Ultimate Edition on both, and I cannot use Windows Installer files. For instance, I try installing a Image Resizer powertoy clone that I used in Vista, and it says:

If I try to extract the MSI, it tells me "This installation package could not be opened. Contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows Installer package." (like the error above). I think this is a Windows 7 bug. Curious if it has something to do with me turning off UAC... going to turn that back on and see if I have the same problem.

 

[jdogga]

nope... tried turning UAC back to default setting and rebooting... that did nothing.

 

[SIW2]

I got that on a couple of .msi's . All the rest are fine.

Could be they are corrupt in some way.

Did you rt click and select Properties - check they are Unblocked?

Did you transfer them from another pc or o/s. ?

Could you d/l fresh copies and see if you get the same?

 

[jdogga]

Quote:

Did you rt click and select Properties - check they are Unblocked?
- yes

Did you transfer them from another pc or o/s. ?
- well, I already had copies of those installers that I carried over from Vista on a separate partition/volume

Could you d/l fresh copies and see if you get the same?
- I already did, and then I tried those same copies on XP machine with no problem.

 

[SIW2]

Is there any .msi that will install ?

If not - it is extremely odd you get it on 2 pc's.

You could try Compatibility mode - see if that helps.

 

[jdogga]

I just tried three random ones... ImageResizer, LockoutStatus tool, and Folder Size. All three gave the same error message that I posted a screenshot of earlier. I am a Windows Admin by trade so I have worked this thing to death and I am still scratching my head.

 

[SIW2]

Give me a link to one of those - I will have a go on mine - a smallish one preferably - where do I get the exact same .msi you have?

Did you get it from here?

http://downloads.sourceforge.net/foldersize/FolderSize-x64-2.4.msi

It does say this:

Folder Size for Windows runs on Windows 2000 and XP, though has been tested almost exclusively on Windows XP. Sorry, not Vista.

You can download and use LockoutStatus.exe on any of the following platforms:

* Windows 2000 with Service Pack 3 or later
* Windows XP
* Windows Server 2003

Pretty sure Image Resizer is for XP also.

Did you try an .msi that is intended for at least Vista , if not 7?

 

[kegobeer]

This sounds like a permissions problem. Take a look at whatever folder these files are in - check the security properties and see if the SYSTEM user has full access, and also look to see if there are any unknown user ids in there. Remember, if SYSTEM isn't in there, when you add it and give it full access, make sure to propagate the changes to all subfiles and subfolders.

 

[SIW2]

I just d/l Folder Size x64 - the installer starts to run just fine for me.

 

[BarronN30]

Hey SIW2, the .msi I had was blocked but after I unblocked it, it was still giving the same error. They were also a fresh download from the website.
The .msi I had is designed for Windows 7/Vista as well.
I just downloaded the FolderSize .msi and the installation worked perfectly fine.
I am not sure why the NOD32 .msi did not work.

kegobeer: For mine, permission is all granted.

This is where I went
ESET Knowledgebase - 'This installation package could not be opened' error
and it didnt work at all

 

[SIW2]

7 seems picky about which .msi's you can install.

 

[kegobeer]

Hey SIW2, the .msi I had was blocked but after I unblocked it, it was still giving the same error. They were also a fresh download from the website.
The .msi I had is designed for Windows 7/Vista as well.
I just downloaded the FolderSize .msi and the installation worked perfectly fine.
I am not sure why the NOD32 .msi did not work.

kegobeer: For mine, permission is all granted.

This is where I went
ESET Knowledgebase - 'This installation package could not be opened' error
and it didnt work at all

The SYSTEM user was in there? Are these files on a different partition, or are they on the system drive (C?

 

[BarronN30]

Yeah, its on my Desktop right now.
This is what I see in the security tab:
SYSTEM (allowed on full control,modify,read & execute,read,write)
Barron (Barron-PC\Barron) (allowed on the same listed above)
Administrators (Barron-PC\Administrators) (allowed on the same listed above)

Only thing thats weird is that the file I just downloaded (Foldersize) worked and it was also in .msi.
While the Smart Security .msi from ESET doesnt work here but it works on my PC back at home which is also Windows 7 64 bit (Only difference is that its Professional back at home and I am using Home Premium).