Microsoft installation problems

For over a month, TrendMicro has been acting erratically.A scan never stops and there is no longer a progress bar. Installation of other programs (Turbotax) has aborted with error of 65535. Microsoft installation errors of 2503 and 2502 are frequent. There is apparently no malware, and registry problems have not been found so far. I have uninstalled all antiviral programs without improvement. Is the Installation program corrupted? Is Vista corrupted? Suggestions?

NOTE: I have lost the malware and viral summations, but they ran well and were both negative.

 

You still have remnents of Norton on the machine.

 

Thank you for your suggestion to complete Norton removal. After receiving your recommendation, I removed all Symantec files I could find from multiple folders and still cannot install Turbotax (which I am using to indicate adequate correction).
In doing so, I think I have inadvertently disabled Help and Support. I uninstalled TrendMIcro—though probably not completely--thinking I would reinstall it at a later time. I ran Ccleaner for additional cleaning, hopefully including the registry. Still no luck!


Should the five programs we used initially to get background information be re-run? Should they be uninstalled? Would upgrading to Windows 7 be helpful at this time (something I eventually want to do)?

Any further suggestions?

 

If your problems are damaged system files and/or remnents of legitimate programs rerunning AV stuff will not help.

Unfortunately Vista is more prone to damage during the malware cleaning process.

I suggest you try the system file checker

http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/2231/vista_run_system_file_checker/

 

Thank you, TimW, for your advice on RAM limitations. The virus and malware programs ran well and were negative.
Thank you, Studiot, for your suggestions and for persevering. The system file checker made some corrections that now allows me to use Help and Support but still does not allow new program installation, giving the same "unexpected" windows installation error. Is there a next step?

 

Not sure about what disks you have but you could try downloading the Vista recovery centre and running it. Warning it is a 120M download.

http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/

 

Not possible to download Vista Recovery Center through the address you suggested. Actual download is prevented by getting into a loop between the final "install" request window and the "run?" command window which keep alternating. Is there another way to get to the VRC?

Your work is much appreciated.

 

Sorry why is it not possible?

I just tried it over a wirelessG connection. Worked fine. (3min 54 seconds)

Download the downloader as instructed as well as the target pass data.
Install the downloader
drag/drop the target data file
bingo.