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

2014-11-02T19:50:21+00:00

I no longer have Windows 7 headaches. I upgraded from that mess to a better nightmare- Windows 8.1! Now I have my 'Run as Admin' back but a whole mess of new issues which I will ask under the Win 8.1/Win 8 forums here at MS.

A word to the wise. Windows 7 OS towers are going for a song now that Win 8/8.1 are here. Supposedly us Win 8/8.1 owners will get a free upgrade to Windows 10 when it is issued.

Do not look for Win 8/8.1 to be faster than Win 7! If anything, it's a lot slower! Migrating data is a real headache too. I was told to save to DVD+R disks. Then when I got my new tower for the new OS, it said I had to use a cable or external hard drive which I do not have.

Finally, I was told to go to This PC (Formerly My Computer) and click on my removeable drive and use my saved disks but be prepared for a long loading and checking time!

Lastly, the interface is swell for laptops, tablets, phablets, phones and other hand held junk but it's a Teutonian Terrorfest on a desktop! You see there are really two start screens. The start interface with the short cut 'apps' and the regular 'desktop' screen with short cut 'apps' saved to it.

It is not possible to have a background wallpaper with the interface screen but you can have one with the 'desktop' screen and with the Yahoomail screen. The 'screensavers' choices are limited to a handful and NONE have music.

BTW, most Win 7 screensavers and other programs are compatible with Win 8.1 but most come zipped. I recommend using WinZip for these. 7Zip is a mess and other zip programs are very difficult to use.

Sorry for going offtopic a bit but these new Win 8.1's are a pain and then some! Have a nice weekend and do not forget to vote on Tuesday 4 November! Later- Jack/keimanzero

Campbelltown PA USA
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Anonymous

2014-11-20T15:17:02+00:00

Hello Daniel,

Thank you for posting your query.

Let's check to make sure Windows Installer Service is set to Automatic.

a)     Click Start, type Services.msc and press {ENTER}

b)     Double-click Windows Installer

c)     Set the Startup typeof Windows Installer to Automatic

d)     Click Start to start the service. (Note down the error message if any)

e)     Click OK.

Hope this information is helpful. Please do let us know the result, we’ll be glad to assist you.

Thank you.

THANK YOU - THANK YOU -THANK YOU This worked fro me. For some reason it the service was stopped and set to manual
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Anonymous

2014-11-25T08:04:16+00:00

Hi Lynn,

Thank you for the update and good to hear that the issue has been resolved. I really appreciate the effort made by you in order to fix the issue.

Please feel free to reply in case you face any other issues with Windows in future.

Have a great day!
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