Quicktime appears to install but disappears afterwards

Hi:

I'm running XP Pro and am unable to install QuickTime v.7. I'm sure millions of people have seamlessly installed quicktime so I'm assuming it's an Windows/XP issue in my case rather than an Apple issue.

I had Quicktime and iTunes functioning perfectly fine for about a year. I chose to upgrade (as I couldn't purchase anything from the iTunes store if I didn't) and that's when my problems began.

At some point I must have uninstalled QuickTime because it suddenly stopped working and now the following happens when I try to reinstall it:

1. The Quicktime download from the Apple website craps out at 99% and I get the message "Cannot copy file: Cannot read from source file or disk ".
2. I went to my other computer, downloaded Quicktime there, saved the file to a pen drive, then went back and installed the removable drive on the computer with the problem.
3. No icon or reference to the quicktime installer appears when I display files in My Computer or Explorer. I had to go to Start | Run and type in g:\quicktimeinstaller.exe to get the installer to start. I typed in the path because I knew the file was on there. (As an aside, my computer is set to display hidden files, file extensions, etc.)
4. The install appears to proceed fine. I even receive a message that says the install was successfully completed.
5. A Quicktime icon appears on my desktop but it doesn't work. When I press F5 to refresh the screen, the icon disappears.
6. When I check my c:\program files folder, the quicktime folder isn't there.

I run a virus scan with AVG daily. I run Adaware and Spybot regularly. I've also tried Panda Software, etc., and my computer appears clean.

I even did all the steps in this thread, as the problem seemed similar.

How can I:
1. download Quicktime on my computer
2. get the installer to work so I have Quicktime on my computer.

Right now, my iPod is a paperweight. No Quicktime, No iTunes, no iPod

Someone please help!!!

 

Installation Error - QuickTime

 

Thanks Whiskeyman...

But I've already tried:
1) uninstalling all instances of Apple, Quicktime, iTunes in my registry. I did it manually which took forever and also used RegSeeker.
2) The windows installer cleanup utility was one of the first programs I ran.

I suspected it was a permissions issue in XP, which is why I posted in the other thread.

I've tried every solution known to man relating to Quicktime (I've been working on this for a month) and now believe it has less to do with Quicktime and more to do with XP itself.

I also have problems with files not appearing in my recycle bin (a corrupted info2 file that won't recreate), and wonder if these issues are all related....

Cheryl.

I'll try posting in the Quicktime installation error forum and see if that helps.