Resources

I’m having problems loading software. Windows Installer says I’m in Safe Mode, or not installed properly, can you help? I’ve recently gotten a virus, and I’m trying to clear the system.

What is Windows Installer?

Windows Installer comes with your Windows Operating System. This is the application that allows you to install programs onto your computer.

Windows Installer Error Messages

Sometimes the Windows Installer Service generates an error message such as the one above when trying to install a program. The problem is most likely not because you are in Safe Mode but an error with the Windows Installer utility. If you are in Safe Mode, you will see those two words on the monitor screen in all four corners. If this is the case, you simply need to reboot and the computer should load up in Normal Mode. The error could be related to broken or missing files. We’ll need to do a bit of troubleshooting in order to locate the right fix.

Checking Windows Installer

First, you’ll need to make sure that Windows Installer is enabled on the computer. Follow these directions to do so:

1)      Navigate to Start.

2)      Select Run.

3)      Type “services.msc” in the open box.

4)      Select Enter.

5)      Double click on Windows Installer to open its dialog box.

6)      Search for the “Startup Type.”

7)      If it is listed as Disabled, change it to Manual using the drop down menu.

8)      Try to install whatever software you were working with. If it works, then you should be okay. If the problem persists, continue to the next set of suggestions.

Register Windows Installer

Since you are having problems with the Windows Installer, it might be beneficial to reregister it. This is a two-step process as follows:

1)      Navigate to Start and select Run. Type “msiexec/unreg” in the open box. Press enter.

2)      Navigate to Start and select Run. Type “msiexec/regserver” in the open box and press enter.

Windows Installer Clean Up

At this point, if you still cannot install any software, then it is time to uninstall your Windows Installer and start with a fresh installation. The best way to remove or uninstall Windows Installer is to use the Windows Installer Cleanup utility. At the same time, you will be able to remove any partial installations of other software from the computer.

After you have uninstalled Windows Installer, you’ll need to go to Microsoft’s website and install the latest version of it. Before you do so, free up some memory/space by deleting unnecessary files, photos, temporary cache, etc from the computer. Hopefully, this strategy fixes the problem for you.

When my computer (Windows XP) boots up on my network, a window pops up saying “Window install” followed by another window that says “starting sonic activation module.” Then it comes up to install disk - disk not found. I have to cancel out of this about 3 times before I get to where I want to. Help?

Windows Install - Starting Sonic Activation Module

This problem is particularly prevalent with Dell computers though other computers also suffer the occasional Sonic Activation Module error as well. Two potential solutions exist. The first involves cleaning up with the Windows Installer Cleanup utility while a related problem involves downloading a Sonic Update Manager hotfix. If you have recently uninstalled Roxio software, the Windows Installer Cleanup utility should do the trick.

Sonic Activation Module

Sonic products, including Roxio products such as MyDVD, Record Now, Toast, Easy Media Creator, and DVDit, feature an installer program known as the Sonic Activation Module. When Sonic programs have been uninstalled, the “starting Sonic Activation Module” error often appears. This is because the Windows uninstall utility does not adequately uninstall the software. While the program in question may have been uninstalled, leftover components remain, including the Sonic Activation Module. Since you are not trying to install the Sonic software, the disk not found error pops up because obviously, you have not inserted the Sonic software disc.

Windows Installer Cleanup utility

Solving the Starting the Sonic Activation Module Error. In order to solve this annoying startup error, you will need to uninstall the remaining Sonic components. First, download the Windows Installer Cleanup utility from Microsoft. This utility cleans up partially installed programs on your computer and helps with failed uninstalls. Next, install the cleanup utility and launch it. Find and remove any recently uninstalled Sonic utilities in the list.

Related Sonic Update Manager Problem  

Similar to the starting Sonic Activation Module error at startup is the “insert Sonic Update Manager Disk” error at startup. Sonic has issued a hotfix that solves this particular error. Download and activate the hotfix and your Sonic Update Manager Disk error should disappear.

As you may know, uninstalling programs using the Add and Remove Programs utility in Windows isn’t a perfect process. Files get left behind and occasional errors appear as a result. For future software removals, consider using an uninstall product such as Perfect Uninstaller.

Windows Installer keeps popping up when I open MS products (Office 2007 programs, IE, etc.). It says, “Preparing to install…” and then goes away after a few seconds. Some programs (like IE) it pops up more than once before going away. All these programs do load fine, just the irritating Windows Installer keeps popping up. This all started when I decided to remove programs I no longer use. I did use System Restore to restore to before the uninstalls, but that didn’t fix the problem. The programs that this affects were not included in the programs I removed/restored. I have and use RegCure (purchased this first). It makes no difference. I also have Max Registry Cleaner, same thing - makes no difference. I was going to download the file from MS to fix (clean?) this problem (sorry, can’t remember the name of the file), but it is not to be used with Office 2007, which I have. Oh! And to top it off, my Office 2007 help files are now not working. Can you help, please? Thank you!

Troubleshooting a Windows Installer error pop-up

Uninstall and Reinstall Office

Many windows installer errors stem from registry problems - Click here to download regcure and cure all registry problems, before going any further. 

As complicated as this problem sounds, I am going to suggest a simple solution - remove Microsoft Office completely and then reinstall. It sounds like there was a problem during your removal of programs, but at this point I think that a clean install is the best course of action. First things first though, make sure that you create back up files of all your Office documents before you remove the programs, just in case. Make back up files to a removable device, like a CD or a USB flash drive, and then take the steps below to reinstall your Office suite.

How to Uninstall Office

First, use Windows Add/Remove to delete all the Office programs that are still on your system, the same way that you did to remove the programs that you didn’t want before. To do this, the steps are slightly different for Vista and XP or earlier operating systems. If you are running Vista:

1. Click the Start button, then enter programs and features in the dialog box to open, and select Enter.
2. From the application list that appears, select the 2007 Office listing and then select Uninstall/Change from the toolbar.

For Windows XP and earlier systems:

1. Click the Start button, then Run, and then enter control appwiz.cpl in the dialog box to open, and select Enter.
2. From the application list that appears, select the 2007 Office listing and then select Remove.

Make Sure that the Program is Completely Removed

1. The key to making sure that your uninstall is clean, and that your computer is in good shape for your reinstall, is to completely remove all the registry keys and other residual code that might be stuck on your system. And you might still have problems with bits of applications unless the programs are properly removed. To troubleshoot your uninstall, you should run RegCure at this point to make sure that the program has been completely uninstalled.

Reinstall Office

Now that you have removed the program from your computer, you can reinstall it and, if all goes well, the clean install will solve all your problems. Here is a link to the Microsoft Support Page that details the steps to remove the unwanted Office programs and personally configure your Office Settings.