Windows Live Essentials won't install 0x80004004 ; Solution
I was unable to successfully update Windows Live Messenger via IE setup
when prompted to update.
Message: "Windows Messenger will not connect must
update to latest version"...
Installation was initiate but was rolled back and gave a 0x80004004 error which was non-specific.
This appears to be a common problem for many people.
This installation did not complete successfully and I had much trouble in figuring
out why.
Solution:
Download the Microsoft Installer Cleanup Uninstall Utility and install it.
Download the Windows Live Essentials installer program and save it to a known location.
DON'T RUN IT until completing the following steps:
1) Run msconfig.exe from Start > Run > type msconfig.exe into search box. Run it as
administrator.
2) Select "Diagnostic Startup" starting only basic windows services. Make sure
all startup programs are unchecked under the Startup Tab.
3) Apply, OK, and reboot and login.
4) Navigate to C:\Program Files(x86). Delete all files under the directory Windowns Live.
Remove the directory.
5) Navigate to Common Files\Microsoft Shared and delete all the files in the
Windows Live directory. Remove the directory.
6) Navigate to C:\Program Files and c:\Program Files\Common Files and delete all
the files in the Windows Live directories. Remove the directories.
7) Run msicuu.exe, Select all references to Windows Live and anything else that
you might want to uninstall completely that is still has remnants on your system.
8) Clean the registry using a registry cleaner such as Registry Mechanic or Advanced System Care (clean registry).
<This step may be optional, but I did it...>
If any files do not delete then any services that are using them must be stopped (this should not be a problem,
because the only services running are basic Windows Services... the Startup items
have been disabled. Make sure that all AV programs, firewall defense programs, Ad-aware program etc.
are disabled/turned off temporarily.
9) Run msconfig.exe and select Normal Boot. Reboot, Login, and make sure that AV programs are temporarily turned off.
10) Now you can run the Windows Live Installer, selecting the desired components and it should complete without issues.
This routine worked for me and did not require that I take the instructions offered by Microsoft which were to restore
my system and rerun the installer. If the msicuu.exe is run then this might work right off, but I wanted
to make sure that all traces of Windows Live were removed from my system before reinstalling...
The original installation failed because all traces of the previous Windows Live Platform could not be unistalled during
the installation routine. I had to uninstall these traces manually using the routine described in Steps 1-10 above.
Good Luck.
Ken Niebling
