:?: can anyone help me here?? As soon as i enter the window internet icon. this strange message appear which had never appeared before. it says viz: " WINDOWS INSTALLER " PREPARING TO INSTALL, a MINUTE OR TWO IT DISAPPEAR.
Can anyone tell me what went wrong here ? and how to fix this problem??

thanks

Rasc

Dani AI

Generated

Short answer: that "Windows Installer — Preparing to install" dialog means msiexec is being invoked to install or repair an MSI-based component that Internet Explorer is trying to load. On XP this often happens when a browser add-on or a COM object is registered as an “advertised” feature but the files or registration are missing (for example after an incomplete Office removal).

Building on ’s point about recent changes, the fastest way to pin down which product is causing the installer to run is to capture what actually starts msiexec. Use Process Monitor (Sysinternals) to record activity while reproducing the popup, then filter for msiexec.exe and note the parent process, command line or any MSI ProductCode/GUID shown. Process Monitor (Sysinternals) is the tool to use for that capture. Event Viewer (Application log, source MsiInstaller) can also show the product name in many cases.

Once you have a ProductCode or MSI path:

  • Search the registry under HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall (or the Installer keys) to map the GUID to a product name.
  • If it’s an Office component, a repair/reinstall of Office and then a clean uninstall usually removes the advertised entries.
  • If it’s an IE add‑on/BHO, disable or remove that add‑on (IE Tools -> Manage Add‑ons or remove the DLL/registration) so IE no longer requests it.

Useful commands (run only when you know the package or GUID and after a backup/restore point):

msiexec /i "path\to\package.msi" /l*v C:\msilog.txt
msiexec /x {PRODUCT-GUID}

Cautions: back up the registry and create a restore point before editing keys or running cleanup tools. If the ProcMon capture yields a GUID or installer log, that identifier will tell exactly which product to repair or remove.

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All 6 Replies

Did

A: run Microsoft update and get all the newest updates

B: run a full antivrus and antispyware check

p.s have you recently used a system cleaner or created a new user account?

and btw, when it comes up you should be able to hit cancel and carry on

A: run Microsoft update and get all the newest updates

B: run a full antivrus and antispyware check

p.s have you recently used a system cleaner or created a new user account?

and btw, when it comes up you should be able to hit cancel and carry on

jBENNET,
THANKS FOR TH INFO. I WILL SEE WHAT I CAN DO.

RASC:cool:

jbennet,
Is it because i removed a program named : MICROSOFT WINDOWS EDITION 2003 FROM MY SYSTEM??? THAT WAS THE ONLY CHANGES I MADE TO MY PC.

RASC

Sorry I Mean Microsoft Office 2003.
Rasc

Is it internet explorer version 6 or 7?

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