Can't Install Firewall Error:1601

[ChefChris]

Hey guys. To give you some history, I had a dual boot with Linux. I forgot to change the MRB and after restarting, ended up having to fix that manually.

Then my license for Zone Alarm expired and I don't have the money for that so went with Comodo. I Un-installed Zone Alarm and tried to install Comodo. Then I kept getting an error message: "Error 1601: The Windows Installer Service can't be accessed. This could happen if it is corrupt or wasn't properly installed. Please check your files and try again."

So I checked the file (msiexec.exe), it was there. Went into Regedit and made sure the file path was right. Then I re-registered the file. Still the same error. So I thought perhaps the firewall that I was trying to install was either incompatible or just bad. So I messed with some compatibility options for the program and after no luck with any of them, deleted it.

Then I tried to install Outpost. This time instead of getting a 1601 error, it tells me in can't install the Microsoft C++ visual run-time libraries.

So this is my problem. I CAN un-install stuff. I haven't tried to install anything else just yet, but I CAN'T install any firewalls at the moment.

And before anyone suggests it, yes, I already downloaded and ran Microsofts fix-it tool for installing / un-installing problems. That had no effect at all. I also tried doing the big disk check (5 steps not 3) and got nothing. I ran sfc /scannow. Nothing. And as I said before, I already ran the cmd and fixed the msiexec.exe file. I am now out of options and have no clue where to go from here but I need a firewall!!!

Help Please!

Chef Chris

 

[archer]

Hey, Welcome to Sevenforums.

The error messages usually appear after failed installation of MSI Package or Disabled "Windows Installer" service. Here are some suggestions:
1. Try to re-register related files
a. On the "Start" menu, click "Run:.
b. In the "Open" box, type "msiexec /unreg", and then press ENTER.
c. On the "Start" menu, click "Run".
d. In the "Open" box, type "msiexec /regserver", and then press ENTER.

Or you can get Windows installer from here

 

[ChefChris]

So I tried that and it did nothing. Still have the same problem. Before I did this though, I ended up having another problem. Norton stopped working as well. But the error message I get with Norton is "MSVBVM60.Dell file is missing or corrupt. Check the file location and try again." Not sure if this needs its own post or not. The file is there but when I went to go replace it with the original copy of the file, it told me that the system32 folder needed permission to replace the old one. I pushed ok and it gave me the same message. I'm the only user and am listed as system admin. This whole situation is very aggravating.

 

[archer]

Here are the steps to modify ownership and permissions of folders and files:
1. Right-click the file or folder, click Properties, and then click the Security tab.
2. Click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab.
3. Click Edit, and then do one of the following:
· To change the owner to a user or group that is not listed, click Other users and groups and, in Enter the object name to select (examples), type the name of the user or group, and then click OK.
· To change the owner to a user or group that is listed, in the Change owner to box, click the new owner.
4. If you want to take ownership of the contents of the folder, select the Replace owner on sub containers and objects check box.
5. Click OK, and then click Yes when you receive the following message:
You do not have permission to read the contents of directory folder name. Do you want to replace the directory permissions with permissions granting you Full Control?
All permissions will be replaced if you click Yes.

Note folder name is the name of the folder that you want to take ownership of.
6. Click OK, and then reapply the permissions and security settings that you want for the folder and its contents.

 

[ChefChris]

Thanks archer. I was able to replace the dll file and I got Norton working again. Still having an issue with the msiexec exe file tho. And its all programs I can't install not just the firewall. When I tried to install adobe acrobat, I got a message that the file was too large for the destination file system and I know for a fact I have enough room on there. Still got the same error for Comoros which reads: error 1601. The windows installer service could not be accessed. This can occur if the windows installer is not correctly installed.

 

[ChefChris]

Another possibly related thing.. is it possible that for some reason its recognizing my 20gig partition as the main disc and could that be affecting all of this?

 

[ChefChris]

Here's more info. Tried to install Microsoft security essentials cause at this point I figure something is better than nothing. Got an error on that too. This time a windows error. 0x8004ff01

 

[archer]

Again, this error is due to Windows installer not functioning. Did you update Windows Installer? I provided the link is post # 2

Do a selective startup.

for that. Got to run, type msconfig

On the General tab, click Selective Startup, and then clear the Load Startup Items check box.

On the Services tab, select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then clear all the check boxes for the services that remain in the list.

Click OK, and then click Restart to restart the computer.
Try to install Microsoft Security Essentials again.

 

[ChefChris]

So I went to the link, again, thinking I missed something the first time. But I did not. The link you gave me is for the redistributable of version 4.5, an older version than what was originally released with my OS (Win 7 Home). I tried (and failed of course) to download and install the older version. So I am back to square one. Then I putzed through the Microsoft website and found their fix it tool. I downloaded it and cant run it. A cmd prompt window pops up and goes away quicker than I can read the whole thing. But after doing it a few times in a row, I got this: "Program is too big to fit in memory." I had almost 700Mb of memory at the time so I'm really not sure what the hell is going on with that. I did a memory test and it turned up no problems. I also checked my task manager and aside from the normal things running, nothing out of order. I also tried this using msconfig to start up without all the other stuff running and got the same thing.
I am about to start pulling my hair out. None of this would have happened had I just kept up with ZoneAlarm and paid the extra bucks. I say this because it wasn't until I uninstalled it that all this started to happen.

 

[archer]

For "too big file in memory. This can be caused by an executable injector like virut, which corrupts the file and when removed causes problems like this. have you recently had a virus problem?

this can also be caused by some rogue anti virus applications.

one way to test is to create a new text file. rename the file from (for example) test.txt to test.exe and then try to run it. if the system tells you it is too big to fit into memory, you are in big trouble. if it tells you it is not a valid win32 application, there may be some recourse.

 

[ChefChris]

Got the "not a valid windows program" message. And no. I just got rid of zone alarm recently and I have system mechanic as well which also has a virus checker and quarantine. It just has no firewall. I've been lucky not to get a virus yet but I've also been using my phone for almost everything internet lately.

 

[Jacee]

Let's see how many Anti-virus and firewalls are running...

Download Security Check by screen317 from here http://screen317.spywareinfoforum.org/SecurityCheck.exe or here http://screen317.spywareinfoforum.org/
Save it to your Desktop.
Double click SecurityCheck.exe and follow the onscreen instructions inside of the black box.
A Notepad document should open automatically called checkup.txt.
Please post the contents of that document.

 

[ChefChris]

Here is the file.

If you don't want to download it or can't open it, here is the content:

Results of screen317's Security Check version 0.99.77
Windows 7 Service Pack 1 x86 (UAC is disabled!)
Internet Explorer 11
``````````````Antivirus/Firewall Check:``````````````
Windows Firewall Enabled!
WMI entry may not exist for antivirus; attempting automatic update.
`````````Anti-malware/Other Utilities Check:`````````
Spybot - Search & Destroy
Adobe Flash Player 11.9.900.170
Google Chrome 31.0.1650.57
Google Chrome 31.0.1650.63
````````Process Check: objlist.exe by Laurent````````
Spybot Teatimer.exe is disabled!
iolo Common Lib ioloServiceManager.exe
iolo System Mechanic Professional iologovernor.exe
`````````````````System Health check`````````````````
Total Fragmentation on Drive C:
````````````````````End of Log``````````````````````

 

[ChefChris]

I am also having a problem with windows updates. The newest updates are not installing for some reason. I tried running microsoft's update troubleshooter and got the same result as the msi fixer: Program too big for memory. As I said in the previous post, I tried making an exe out of a txt file and it told me it wasn't a valid windows program so that's good at least. This is just sooo agravating. I just want my computer to work properly again. And the worst part is I know some things about computers but I'm just shy of being able to be considered intermediate level. Which, of course is why I'm here.

 

[Jacee]

Download Combofix from any of the links below, and save it to your desktop.<--Important
Link 1
Link 2
Link 3

Click on this link Here to see a list of programs that should be disabled.
The list is not all inclusive. If yours is not listed and you don't know how to disable it, please ask.
If your anti-virus or firewall complains, please allow this script to run as it is not malicious.
Next: Disconnect from the internet. If you are on Cable or DSL, unplug your computer from the modem.
Next: Please disable all onboard security programs (all running with back ground protection) as it may hinder the scanner from working.
This includes Antivirus, Firewall, and any Spyware scanners that run in the background.

• Double click combofix.exe and follow the prompts.
• When finished, it will produce a log for you. Post that log and a HiJackthis log in your next reply

Note: Do not mouseclick combofix's window while its running. That may cause it to stall
Please be patient while the scan runs, at times it may appear to stall.
When finished and after reboot (in case it asks to reboot), it should open a log, combofix.txt.
Post this log in your next reply together with a new hijackthislog.
After rebooting ensure your Security applications have been re-enabled.

In your next reply post:
ComboFix.txt

***A guide and tutorial on "How to use Combofix" can be found here:
ComboFix: A guide and tutorial on using ComboFix

 

[ChefChris]

I'm about to start the process now. What is a hijackthis log?

 

[ChefChris]

Found hijackthis. Here are the logs:

 

[Jacee]

Microsoft Firewall looks like it's running.

Please right click on the task bar, start Task manager, then click on "processes tab", and stop all of these programs from running:
Agnitum
Comodo
Iolo System Mechanic Antivirus
Norton Disk Doctor (Norton Utilities 15)

Once stopped, uninstall! You don't need all this stuff running in the background and "messing" up your computer by 'speeding up/optimizing/etc". Reboot

Once you have done that, please download TFC by Old Timer TFC - Temp File Cleaner by OldTimer - Geeks to Go Forums and save it to your desktop.
Save any unsaved work. TFC will close ALL open programs including your browser!
Double-click on TFC.exe to run it. If you are using Vista/Windows 7 right-click on the file and choose Run As Administrator.
Click the Start button to begin the cleaning process and let it run uninterrupted to completion.
Important! If TFC prompts you to reboot, please do so immediately. If not prompted, manually reboot the machine anyway to ensure a complete clean.

After rebooting, I'd like you to scan your machine with ESET OnlineScan

1. Hold down Control and click on the following link to open ESET OnlineScan in a new window.
   ESET OnlineScan
2. Click the
   
   button.
3. For alternate browsers only: (Microsoft Internet Explorer users can skip these steps)
   1. Click on
      
      to download the ESET Smart Installer. Save it to your desktop.
   2. Double click on the
      
      icon on your desktop.
4. Check
   
5. Click the
   
   button.
6. Accept any security warnings from your browser.
7. Check
   
8. Push the Start button.
9. ESET will then download updates for itself, install itself, and begin scanning your computer. Please be patient as this can take some time.
10. When the scan completes, push
    
11. Push
    
    , and save the file to your desktop using a unique name, such as ESETScan. Include the contents of this report in your next reply.
12. Push the
    
    button.
13. Push
    

 

[ChefChris]

The scan finished with no threats found.

 

[Jacee]

Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode and save to your Desktop.

• Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool.
  Vista/Windows 7/8 users right-click and select Run As Administrator.
• Click on the Scan button.
• AdwCleaner will begin...be patient as the scan may take some time to complete.
• After the scan has finished, click on the Report button...a logfile (AdwCleaner[R#].txt) will open in Notepad for review (where the largest value of # represents the most recent report).
• The contents of the log file may be confusing. Unless you see a program name that you know should not be removed, don't worry about it. If you see an entry you want to keep, let me know about it.
• Copy and paste the contents of that logfile in your next reply.
• A copy of all logfiles are saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder which was created when running the tool.

Using AdwCleaner v3: Scan & Clean:
Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool again.
Click on the Scan button.
AdwCleaner will begin to scan your computer like it did before.
After the scan has finished...

This time click on the Clean button.
Press OK when asked to close all programs and follow the onscreen prompts.
Press OK again to allow AdwCleaner to restart the computer and complete the removal process.
After rebooting, a logfile report (AdwCleaner[S#].txt) will open automatically (where the largest value of # represents the most recent report).
Copy and paste the contents of that logfile in your next reply.
A copy of that logfile will also be saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder