Windows 7 : Unable to Install Any Programs

Anonymous

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Hi - just finished a clean install of Windows 7 this afternoon ( upgrading from XP ). Running a homebuild system : Gigabyte GA-8PENXP Mobo, 2GB RAM, Core2Duo 6600, Nvidia 8800GTS Graphics. Install went cleanly no errors or hiccups. Problem is I can't install anything. Tried to download an install AVG and Avast AV products, both installers failed. iTunes installer just does nothing. However, I have successfully installed Office XP Pro and Stanza eBook reader. Turned off UAC - no difference. Ideas appreciated. It's driving me nuts

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Anonymous

Hi,

Welcome to Microsoft Answers Forum!

I would suggest you to perform a System File Checker [SFC] scan on the computer

Steps to perform SFC scan:

1. Click the Start button

From the Start Menu, Click All programs followed by Accessories
In the Accessories menu, Right Click on the Command Prompt option
From the drop down menu that appears, Click on the 'Run as administrator' option
If you have the User Account Control (UAC) enabled, you will be asked for authorization prior to the command prompt opening. You may simply need to press the Continue button if you are the administrator or insert the administrator password etc.
In the Command Prompt window, type: sfc /scannow and then press Enter
A message will appear stating that 'The system scan will begin'
Be patient because the scan may take some time
If any files require replacing SFC will replace them. You may be asked to insert your Vista DVD for this process to continue
If everything is okay you should, after the scan, see the following message "Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations"
After the scan has completed, close the command prompt window, restart the computer and check.

Additional information: How to repair the operating system and how to restore the operating system configuration to an earlier point in time in Windows Vista: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936212

Also try to run program as an administrator.

To do this right click on a program which you are trying to install and click on “Run as an Administrator”.

Also try to run program in compatibility mode and also check whether that program which you are trying to install is compatible with Windows 7 or not.

Check the link which talks about How to run program in compatibility mode.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Make-older-programs-run-in-this-version-of-Windows

Also click on the link given below to check for the compatibility.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/default.aspx

Shalini

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer.

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

SOLVED! ~ Well for me

Hi,

I'd been having this same problem with updating windows / vc_red.msi problems & installing programs

tried everything literally been goggling for days thought it was a corrupt registry / then maybe some anti-virus programs finally found this forum

http://blog.tiensivu.com/aaron/archives/1823-Windows-7-fix-for-crashing-Windows-Installer-errors-cannot-install-or-uninstall-MSI-packages.html

Followed the recommendations & my computer is back working perfectly, can install & update like normal.

Really hope this helps someone :-)

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73 additional answers

Anonymous

2012-01-25T15:08:18+00:00

Wow. This is an old thread and people are still having problems. Looks like I am part of the club. I'm here because I have scoured the internet for 3 days now due to losing my ability to install programs of any sort. I have applied fixes of every flavor and I have given permissions to stuff which probably isn't supposed to have it in an attempt to just get the system to work right.

I don't have the option of blowing the installation because I will lose programs that came on the laptop that I do not have install media for. I'm at a stand still SFC yielded another wait with no results, although it did run and finish.

I have even considered trying to repair the OS but following the instructions given on boot up of the disk (when trying to upgrade), it says to load windows normally and start the upgrade there. However, setup does not launch. The temporary files load and the message, "setup is starting" comes up and then pops back to the original Win 7 install screen.

I have uninstalled SP1 in an attempt to go back to an earlier point in time hoping that might resolve it. No change. System restore isn't an option. Why Microsoft decided to dismantle Windows Installer and NOT provide a redistributable package to fix this problem simply (like in days past) is beyond me.

What to do??
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Anonymous

2011-12-04T16:59:07+00:00

Eddie,

Which one are you referring to?

The post about turning off system protection or yours about creating a new thread on Microsoft Answers forum?

Concerning the system protection:

One of the problems I had before I reinstalled the OS is that I found no restore points. I never turned it off, and a week ago I turned it back on and saw two restore points to then find that both dissappeared within a week. If I had had those restore points, I could probably be up and running now. I've been monitoring restore points since I reinstalled the OS and they are still working and I have quite a few now.

As for creating a new thread, I think it's best to simply have the answer to the issue and this thread is the one I found describing my problem.

If you know the answer so that I can get my applications installed, please direct me to it. I have a lot of work I have to get done today related to my small business and I'm dead in the water with the inability to install the Office Suite, and Quickbooks, and Adobe so I can manage my business.

So, if you have an answer, please thats what I need as I'm still looking while my small business suffers.

I have run microsoft essentails against all my drives and that came back clean, and I've run malwarebytes to check for malware and that came back clean... so I'm wondering what is causing this problem, or is this a results of installing APC's PowerChute, the first app I tried to install? I just don't know yet. All I know is that Windows 7 without any office applications running is hurting me and my small business.

Bry
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Anonymous

2011-12-04T15:50:16+00:00

Bry,

please see the last post.

Eddie
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