XP Installer problem

Hello,

I get the following error when I install some software on my PC. My OS is Windows XP home edition.

The error is: ERROR: -1639 Invalid command line argument. Consult the Windows Installer SDK for detailed command-line help.

I was able to install the software successfully until recently. This problem showed up suddenly.

I could not find much information about this error on internet. One thing I found on microsoft site is about the invalid characters in "RegisteredOrganization" registry field. But that's not the problem in my case.

I think I need to reinstall the MSI installer files. But I guess somebody knows about how to fix this problem. Any suggestions for me?

Thank you.
VRB

 

Hello VRB,

Two options that I can think of aside from downloading of the msi files:

sfc which scans for corrupt or missing Widows files and replaces:

Start > Run > cmd sfc /scannow and have your XP install disc handy. There is a space between sfc and /

sfc - system file checker, retrieves the correct version of the file from %Systemroot%\System32\Dllcache or the Windows installation source files, and then replaces the incorrect file.

If you want to see what was replaced, right click My Computer > manage, expand event viewer > system.

Excerpt from MS KBA 310747:

System File Checker gives an administrator the ability to scan all protected files to verify their versions. If System File Checker discovers that a protected file has been overwritten, it retrieves the correct version of the file from the cache folder (%Systemroot%\System32\Dllcache) or the Windows installation source files, and then replaces the incorrect file. System File Checker also checks and repopulates the cache folder. You must be logged on as an administrator or as a member of the Administrators group to run System File Checker. If the cache folder becomes damaged or unusable, you can use the sfc /scannow, the sfc /scanonce, or the sfc /scanboot commands to repair its contents.

System File Checker Tool Syntax

Sfc [/Scannow] [/Scanonce] [/Scanboot] [/Revert] [/Purgecache] [/Cachesize=x]

Or you can try System Restore. Do you have a Restore point just prior to the problem?

Regards - Charles

 

Try replacing the installer files.

Click Start, and then click Run.

In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.

At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER, where Drive is the drive where Windows is installed and where %Windir% is the folder where Windows is installed:

attrib -r -s -h Drive:\%Windir%\system32\dllcache

For example, type
attrib -r -s -h c:\windows\\system32\dllcache

At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:

ren msi.dll msi.old
ren msiexec.exe msiexec.old
ren msihnd.dll msihnd.old

At the command prompt, type exit, and then press ENTER.

Restart your computer.