Windows Installer broken. =( Please assist.

I first noticed this when I tried to install SUPERAntiSpyware while following the Malware guide.

Whenever I tried to install it, I'd get the "Preparing to install..." box for about 30 seconds, and then it would switch to an error box saying:

I also get variants these when trying to uninstall or install programs.

I have tried this, but it did not seem to work for me.

If there's any logs/files/anything you guys need from me to help me, I will gladly get those files for you. Thank you very much and God bless.

 

There are a few versions of Windows Installer, 2.0, 3.1, 4.5

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...d8-c094-4255-b702-de3bb768148f&displaylang=en

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893803

http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/...6F-60B6-4412-95B9-54D056D6F9F4&displaylang=en

Guess you've already tried Windows update, this is the wiki on the Windows installer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Installer

There is also a Windows Installer Cleanup Utility
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

I have used all in the past, but have never encountered your problem, might be malware, if you run regedit, or msconfig from start, run, do they open up? If this just happens with the one program, rename the .exe file you are using to install the program (but leave the .exe extension on it) and try to run it again.

 

First of all, thanks for replying.

I'm sorry for forgetting to add my OS. I'm on Microsoft XP Professional, Service Pack 3. I have tried Windows Installer 4.5, and the install was fine. At the end of the Windows Installer 4.5 install, it prompted me to restart. However, trying to uninstall/install programs had the same result: error messages.

I have also tried using the "Windows Installer Cleanup Utility". The very ironic problem is this for this program to work, it requires me to have the Windows Installer working... haha. So when I try to use it, it gives me the "Preparing to install..." dialog and then gives me the same error message I get when trying to install SUPERAntiSpyware.

Regedit and msconfig both open up when I attempt to run them. They seem to be fine.

 

Hm... I got a problem then. Windows Installer isn't showing up on the list of services. Closest thing I can find is the "InstallDriver Table Manager", though I'm sure that's not it.

Also, following the Malware Removal Guide on this forum, I had to disable "DCOM Server Process Launcher" to use one of the applications to get rid of Malware. Could this be a problem?

Thanks.

 

It's already set to that. Thanks for trying though...