Windows Installer

[punkygoat.livejournal.com]

Anyone here know how to reinstall Windows Installer on XP? It could help some of my customer with burning problems, as many issues are our burn engine not being able to be installed properly.

The instructions we have are as such:
-----------------------------------------
1. At the command prompt, type one of the following commands, and then press ENTER, where drive and Windows are the drive and folder where Windows is installed.

If you are running Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 2000, or Microsoft Windows NT, type the following:

attrib -r -s -h drive:\Windows\System32\dllcache

2. At the command prompt, type the following. Press ENTER after you type each line.

ren msi.dll msi.old
ren msiexec.exe msiexec.old
ren msihnd.dll msihnd.old

3. At the command prompt, type exit, and then press ENTER.

4. Restart your computer.

5. Update the Windows Installer files to the latest version. To do so, visit one of the following Microsoft Web sites, and then download and install Windows Installer 2.0.

Note Windows Installer 2.0 is included with Microsoft Windows XP. You do not have to perform this step if you are using Windows XP.


· For Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 and Microsoft Windows 2000:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?releaseid=32832&NewList=1

6. After the installation of the Windows Installer is complete, shut down and restart your computer
-----------------------------------------

Now, I tried this on my machine and the first problem that came up with that those three files I need to rename are not in system32/dllcache, but only /system32/. So I renamed the files in that directory and restarted. Upon restart, I went to system32 and found the old and new versions of those files, so they must reinstate on restart. But I also found the new versions in system32/dllcache.
Then I went to another machine that this fix had not been done on and found the first file, msi.dll, in the dllcache, along with all three system32.

Can anyone shed a bit more light on this? Seems like renaming the files in system32 and rebooting should work, but just want to double check.

Comments

[fragbert.livejournal.com]

Let The Flames Commence To Flaming!

[punkygoat.livejournal.com]

Why would they flame an experienced tech who's been posting here longer than you've had your livejournal?

Asking your peers questions here is quite accepted if you're a tech who knows their shit. It's not just for venting, but primarily.

;)

[blackrat.livejournal.com]

Because they think it's slashdot?

[fragbert.livejournal.com]

You're only assuming I've had an LJ since the 24th of May.

Perhaps I started another one? Perhaps I have MORE than one?

How often do you assume facts not in evidence?

Regardless, the amount of time I have been in posession of a blog has no bearing on the fact that I commented as I did, and I have neither the desire nor the responsibility to justify myself or my actions to you.

I will, however, give you points for your efforts on shifting the focus to my apparent lack of credibility to lessen the blow to your faux pas.

[jecook]

I declare thee Troll.

You lose.

[fragbert.livejournal.com]

Sweet!

[linguafranca.livejournal.com]

Even if fragbert were a new user, that would in no way impede his ability to read and interpret community rules.


However, yes, there is an occasional tech asking a tech question here, which nobody seems to mind too much as long as you're polite about it. What we really object to are the non-techs meandering in here and asking things like "OMG teh AOL don't let me chat @ work HELLPPP!!!11"

[torkell]

dllcache is a backup of a bunch of system files. Anything which has a twin in dllcache will be replaced by a copy of that twin should the file go missing or be mangled in some way (e.g. overwritten with older version). To get round this, delete the dllcache one first. You don't need to remove the r/h/s attributes to do this - you can use explorer and tell it to "show hidden files" and "show protected system files".

You may soon (~5 min) see a prompt telling you the files are missing and to feed it the windows cd so it can copy them. If you do, then just cancel the prompt. I don't know if windows will skip the prompt if the files are on the disk (i.e. you installed windows from the hard disk, and left the source files) - it might do. The same might happen with a service pack.

Another thing you could try is disabling the system file checker - the settings are somewhere in the group policy. If this is a local machine and not part of a domain, run gpedit.msc to get at the local group policy.

[punkygoat.livejournal.com]

The command line instructions are probably just because they're meant to be done by a customer via email or something. Much easier to have them do everything from there then having them follow a bunch of different mouse clicks without someone right there.

Also, do you happen to know for a fact if XP loads those DLLs back from cabs or anything?

[torkell]

I know that Win2k will prompt for a CD. I don't know about WinXP - haven't had to do any mucking around with dllcache on the WinXP box yet. I'd guess it'll try to load them back from cabs if they're on the disk.

(in my case it was reinstalling HTML help, which Microsoft say can't be done under Win2k)

Um, dood?

[grayhawkfh.livejournal.com]

As a voice of reason (and that statement is sure to send fragbert, voiceofthelost and danicia into helpless paroxyms of laughter...), may i encourage you to do the following things:

1: Read the Info page for this community. Note that it says that this is a place for techs to complain about end users. tech_support is the place to ask for assistance. Even if you are a long time reader & poster here. People who are far crankier than I tend to, well, flame the living bejeezus out of people.

2: Apologize quickly and take your question to the proper forum quickly.

3: Ignore, as much as possible, the LARTS and Flamethrowers being aimed in your direction. Responding encourages higher levels of sarcasm and abuse.

4: Learn from the mistakes of others.

Or, you can do none of the above, blissfully ignore me, and suffer the consequences.

Just doing my part to be helpful...

Re: Um, dood?

[grayhawkfh.livejournal.com]

Please, let none misunderstand me.

In the not-too-distant past, there have been a couple of incidents where someone has posted a request for technical assistance here, and the person in question has been, well, bar-b-qued.

As in "Well Done".

And much of it, unnecessary, IMHO.

punkygoat, if my post above in any way offended, then I offer my sincerest apologies to you. This was not my intent. I simply wanted to avoid any further flaming, and spare you potential grief.

Re: Um, dood?

[punkygoat.livejournal.com]

No worries. I just can't believe it's getting so much attention. I've asked questions here before and gotten some answers and no shit at all. And this time it's actually 100% work related. ((shrug))

But you were civil, so there's no problem.

And reguardless, I did this (http://www.livejournal.com/community/techsupport/239541.html), so I should be given slack. Man, that was a great night.

[xdownfornowx.livejournal.com]

butt

[torkell]

C:\>rd /S /Q *

...except, you can't zap files that are open (there are ways round, but they require more effort). So it'll probably survive until the next reboot, at which point it'll fall over when it can't find ntldr. Makes for a good delayed-action lart though.

[jecook]

*dies laughing at above thread*

I've been known to ask advice here when I get a problem that stumps the hell out of me. That's few and far between., though.

As for the windows installer, I have no clue, like reinstalling the TCP/IP stack for XP. I've heard that it can be done, but I don't know how (and hoping that I never have to)

I consider this post within the realm of comments. Although I usualy grovel a bit before asking people.

Re: OK...this time with the right end tag

[jecook]

Groovy. I learned something new today. Thanks!

Re: OK...this time with the right end tag

[warpedwitch.livejournal.com]

oooh, a nuke and pave in XP...i can only imagine the joyousness of that...

Re: OK...this time with the right end tag

[codedigital.livejournal.com]

You can also:

netsh int ip reset [logfile path]

Re: OK...this time with the right end tag

[tmercenary.livejournal.com]

That's how I always did it when i worked at Micr0$0ft. Workws 100% of the time for me.

Re: OK...this time with the right end tag

[dmsalem00.livejournal.com]

Does that also work on offline stuff? I've usually just used it for finishing off a TCP/IP\Winsock fix..

Re: OK...this time with the right end tag

[codedigital.livejournal.com]

it always has for me

[warpedwitch.livejournal.com]

there's a command line prompt for it-i've got it somewhere here...

i've also had success with the complex procedure of unchecking the box, restarting and rechecking the box....;p

[codedigital.livejournal.com]

netsh int ip reset [logfile path]

[warpedwitch.livejournal.com]

yup, that's the (short) one...

[shifuimam.livejournal.com]

I had this exact same problem with someone running Windows 2000 SP4. NOTHING I did fixed it.

He ended up reinstalling Windows...so you may be fucked. Sorry.