Windows 7 : Unable to Install Any Programs

Anonymous
2009-11-07T16:56:54+00:00

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

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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

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Apps

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Anonymous
2009-11-08T16:54:17+00:00

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

  1. From the Start Menu, Click All programs followed by Accessories
  2. In the Accessories menu, Right Click on the Command Prompt option
  3. From the drop down menu that appears, Click on the 'Run as administrator' option
  4. 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.
  5. In the Command Prompt window, type: sfc /scannow and then press Enter
  6. A message will appear stating that 'The system scan will begin'
  7. Be patient because the scan may take some time
  8. If any files require replacing SFC will replace them. You may be asked to insert your Vista DVD for this process to continue
  9. If everything is okay you should, after the scan, see the following message "Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations"
  10. 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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Anonymous
2012-01-23T23:17:13+00:00

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

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-11-01T19:28:21+00:00

    Click on the START button, the click on ALL PROGRAMS, then click on ACCESORIES and RIGHT click on Command Prompt, then select RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR...

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-11-01T19:26:12+00:00

    Yeah, I have tried this and it doesn't work.

    I got to the Command Prompt and I type sfc /scannow and I got this back...

    Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]

    Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

    C:\Windows\system32>sfc scannow

    Microsoft (R) Windows (R) Resource Checker Version 6.0

    Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

    Scans the integrity of all protected system files and replaces incorrect version

    s with

    correct Microsoft versions.

    SFC [/SCANNOW] [/VERIFYONLY] [/SCANFILE=<file>] [/VERIFYFILE=<file>]

        [/OFFWINDIR=<offline windows directory> /OFFBOOTDIR=<offline boot directory>

    ]

    /SCANNOW        Scans integrity of all protected system files and repairs files

    with

                    problems when possible.

    /VERIFYONLY     Scans integrity of all protected system files. No repair operati

    on is

                    performed.

    /SCANFILE       Scans integrity of the referenced file, repairs file if problems

     are

                    identified. Specify full path <file>

    /VERIFYFILE     Verifies the integrity of the file with full path <file>.  No re

    pair

                    operation is performed.

    /OFFBOOTDIR     For offline repair specify the location of the offline boot dire

    ctory

    /OFFWINDIR      For offline repair specify the location of the offline windows d

    irectory

    e.g.

            sfc /SCANNOW

            sfc /VERIFYFILE=c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll

            sfc /SCANFILE=d:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll /OFFBOOTDIR=d:\ /OFFWINDI

    R=d:\windows

            sfc /VERIFYONLY

    C:\Windows\system32>

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-10-16T13:30:01+00:00

    Hello Frank,

    Thank you for keeping us updated on the issue.

    Considering the age of the thread and to avoid confusion, if the troubleshooting steps in this thread did not resolve your issue, I would recommend creating a new thread so that the community can focus on that thread.

    Refer to the following link prior to posting a question so that you may provide all the relevant information, for us to help you: 

    **Suggestions for asking a question on help forums**

    Thank you.

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