Windows 7 : Unable to Install Any Programs

Anonymous

Ideas:

Programs you are having problems with
Error messages
Recent changes you made to your computer
What you have already tried to fix the problem

Remember - This is a public forum so never post private information such as email or phone numbers!

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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

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.

0 comments

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 :-)

0 comments

73 additional answers

Anonymous

2015-05-12T05:21:52+00:00

I cannot install any programs such as Steam (by Valve). I tried installing Steam and it ran the process, but ran at 116K and didn't open any windows.

Windows 7 64 bit Home Premium 4GB RAM

Thanks
Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2015-05-21T00:13:25+00:00

I solved this problem by creating a new profile. You can do this by copying all the files from your user profile (Documents, Videos, Pictures, etc) and putting them on an external thumb drive or somewhere on the hard drive where they will not be lost or overwritten.

Then, reboot and log in as an administrator. Then right-click on MY COMPUTER and select PROPERTIES. From the left-hand column select ADVANCED SYSTEM SETTINGS. Then select SETTINGS under the USER PROFILE and delete the profile that will not allow installations. You will not be able to delete the profile under which you are logged in and please ensure that you have backed up your user data in a safe spot!

Then recreate the profile and log in again. Windows will build the new profile the first time you log in and this should fix your installation issue.

Sometimes the profiles (temp folders etc) can become corrupted.

Hope it helps!
Was this answer helpful?

3 people found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2015-08-18T15:10:06+00:00

From the drop down menu that appears, Click on the 'Run as administrator' option

That doesn't come up for me. What do I do.
Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments