Problems with downloads, updates, and uninstalls

I have a few issues if anyone can help!

First, there are two updates that fail to install:

Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 Junk Email Filter (KB977839)
-Has failed to install since January 13th, 2010.
- Error details: Code 80070643

Update for Microsoft Silverlight (KB979202)
-Has failed in install since January 20th, 2010.
- Error details: Code 643

I didn't pay much attention until I noticed I was having trouble with some other things. And these may not have any relation whatsoever. But for example, I tired to download Skype the other day, and it was unsuccessful for some reason. So I figured I must have a problem somewhere, and I started looking at things with the automatic updates.

I did some searching, and for the the MS Silverlight issue, most suggestions were to uninstall it then reinstall it. I tired to uninstall it via Add/Remove Programs. It went through a process, but would not remove it from the list. It is still in the list after immediate reboots after the uninstall attempt. Next, I used a registry cleaner to try and uninstall it. It removed it from the list, only to add it back to the list when I re-opened the program.

Suggestions on this were to download and install the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility. I tried. It started to install it then I got a message saying that "Installation ended prematurely because of an error ". And I can't do anything else or see any other details, I just have to exit out.

So it appears to me that I am having some issues updating/installing/uninstalling programs/files.

Does anyone have any ideas of what may be wrong and how to go about fixing it?

Thanks in advance for any help!

DW

 

Arie,

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately, it was not of much help. For Method 1, the Office Source Engine was already set to Manual. For the other 2 methods, I can not find my Office 2007 cd. Better yet, I don't think I ever received the cd. The software was installed on the computer when I bought it, but why they didn't provide me with the cd, I do not know. I could easily get into bashing the manufacturer of my computer, but I know this isn't the place for that.

So I am still where I was yesterday. Can't install/uninstall/update any programs.

Any other ideas?

By the way I forgot to mention that I am using Vista as my OS, in case that happens to matter.

Thanks!

DW

 

Back up your registry. Try to uninstall fom here. Start\Run\regedit\H_KEY_LOCAL MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall. You may have to search all the braces subkeys (example: {030A939C9D28-4095-A4FD-6B12FCB-3C978}. That is how I get rid of entries on the Add and Remove Programs list. Hope this is what you're looking for and it helps.

 

lj50,

Thank you for the suggestion. I went into the registry, found the subkey associated with Silverlight, and deleted it. I checked in my program list, and it was still there, it just didn't have any information attached to it.

I went back to the registry and deleted the key for Silverlight under H_KEY_LOCAL MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Silverlight. And it is still in my programs list.

When I went to the Silverlight website, it detects that I do not have it installed, because it asks me to install it for a better experience. I tried to reinstall it, but it stops the installation and says Message ID 1603, A fatal error occurred during installation.

I am not really that concerned about Silverlight itself. It is becoming more of an example than anything. It started with the automatic updates of Silverlight and the Outlook Junk Email Filter not installing. But now I can't seem to uninstall or install anything at all. I have tried to download the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility, which is not successful. Other things such as Skype, I can't install that either.

So my problem appears to be bigger than one particular program. I was just using Silverlight more as an example. I was hoping that if I found the answer to one program, it would be the answer to them all.

I just don't understand why I am suddenly not able to install programs on this computer.

Thanks!

 

Please navigate the path in the registry I suggested. Try that path it should remove the entry in Add and Remove Programs.

 

Thanks for the suggestions.

Been at this for the 3rd day in a row and still can't figure out what is going on. Nothing works at all when trying to download and install programs. Everything is interrupted due to an error.

lj50, I thought that I did navigate the path you suggested. I searched the braces subkeys to find the programs i wanted to uninstall. The computer is now not recognizing them as being installed, but are still showing up in the program list, just without any details associated with it, and no option to uninstall it from the list.

I guess I am going to have to do a clean install. This will be the second time in 6 months. I would do a system restore but I can only find restore points from the last two days. My problems started before that. Unless someone knows how to find earlier restore points.

Thanks again for all the help!

 

If you're going to do a clean install then try Dial-a-fix first it can often resolve issues like this...

Download Dial-a-fix and extract the zip archive to your desktop. Start Dial-a-fix and click on the Check All button (Green Ticks) next to the go button at the bottom of the window. Click go and wait a few minutes for it to do it's stuff.

Close Dial-a-fix and restart, let us know how things go.

NOTE

Dial-a-fix is not yet compatible with IE8, if you have IE8 installed OK your way past the initial error and any errors that occur during the Explorer/IE/OE/shell/WMP registrations.

(see here)

 

In the hive pane(the left side) Under uninstall right click on the key you want to uninstall click on delete then click ok.

 

Wildfire, thanks for the suggestion. It appears that dial a fix is not compatible with windows vista though.

lj50, that is exactly what I have done. The only thing I have tried this with is MS Silverlight though. But it still shows up in my add/remove programs, as odd as that may sound. I deleted the keys from the registry and then cleaned the registry and restarted the computer, and it still shows up.

Again, i am not too worried about MS Silverlight. It became an example because it was one of the automatic downloads that was not downloading. My issue is not being able to install anything at all. In the last few days I have tried to install utilities like the MS Installer cleanup utility, I have tried to manually install the updates, I have tried to install programs like Skype, I have tried to install/update my windows installer, etc, etc, etc. Nothing will work! It says i have a fatal error every time!

My latest thought after everything I have read over the last few days is that maybe it is my windows installer program that is the problem. Would it make sense at all to delete this application? Then go and install the latest version? Is it possible that would work?

Thanks again for all the help!

 

Try Wildfire's suggestion first. If that does not work. I'm afraid you will have to follow Arie's advice. Clean install. Don't forget to back al of your data.

 

Sorry about that , I missed that you were using Vista.

 

i skipped a few post but try a windows genuine advantage check(validation){WGA} @microsoft.com search . you may have a mismatch it can resolve.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I still have no clue what the issue was. Sometimes I wonder if something got stuck during a download or update, etc., therefore causing a problem with my windows installer. I have had issues similar to that with other programs in the past on other machines.

I ended up doing a clean install and went with windows 7 for the OS. So far things seem to be running well and much more stable. Overall I am much happier now that I am done with Vista. So maybe all that trouble was a blessing in disguise.

Thanks again!