Cannot install

since removing mal-ware I am not able to un-install some programs from add/remove, also I am unable to install drivers for a new printer I bought.

the error message I get is:
"The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running in safe mode, or if the windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance."

 

Try this first in case the Windows Installer service is disabled on the machine. From the Start menu select Run and type "services.msc". Double-click on the service named "Windows Installer". Check the value in the 'Startup type:' field. If it's currently set to "Disabled", then this is the problem. Change it by selecting "Manual" from the drop-down box.

If that doesn;t work try this - fairly simple to fix, but you do need to go into the registry to do so, so set a restore point before doing so, as always when making changes in the registry.

Then follow this from the Administrator account:

1. Click Start | Run.
2. In the Open box, type cmd to open a command prompt, and click OK.
3. At the prompt, type msiexec.exe /uregister. Press ENTER.
4. Make sure the SYSTEM account has full control permissions to the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT key in the registry:
5. Open your favorite registry editor.
6. In the left pane, navigate to the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT top level registry key.
7. Click the Edit menu and select Permissions.
8. In the Group User Names list, make sure SYSTEM is listed. If not, click the Add button and type SYSTEM in the box labeled "Enter the object names to select."
9. Click OK.
10. Click SYSTEM in the Group or User Names list and check the checkbox labeled Full Control under Allow.
11. Click Apply and then OK.
12. Close the registry editor.
13. Restart the computer.

 

If Lev's tip doesn't help, try re-installing the Windows Installer. Visit this link http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...fc-5f56-4a38-b838-de776fd4138c&DisplayLang=en and download the Installer .exe file and install it following the on screen prompts. Reboot if prompted to. This should do it if the above fails.