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.

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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

2011-04-01T22:54:20+00:00
This is what I found on some forum somewhere else. I now don't remember which one or I would give credit.

If you get an error 1317 or any other error saying the installer couldn't create or change a specific directory:
1. Go to that directory and right click the file folder and select Properties.
2. Go to the Security tab.
3. Check the list of "Group or user names:"
4. If the list does not include SYSTEM and Everyone, add them by clicking the Add... button, typing in each one, and clicking OK.
5. Back in the Security tab select SYSTEM and make sure Permissions is set to Full Control. Do the same for Everyone. Click OK.
6. Go back up to the next higher folder in the directory and do the same process as above.
7. Do this same process all the way up the file tree until you get up to the top.
This is annoying and doesn't fix the problem globally, but it works...if your error is 1317.
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Anonymous

2011-04-07T20:50:34+00:00

I am having the same issue where I cannot install or uninstall any programs. This includes local and networked printers.
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Anonymous

2011-05-01T07:49:14+00:00

what is happening with this issue? I managed to install office 2010. That was it. All the updates also. From there onwards no program can be installed. Eithier it fails with various error msg or will load something, go away and never continue the installation process. This is not answered and I hope someone in charge here will give us an answer. Enough!
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