I can't install .msi files

Ravager · External Since: Jun 09, 2006 Posts: 8

Hi,
I have a problem, I can't install files ending with .msi on my computer.

Everytime i try to run the file (msi), I get a messages that says: access is
denied (or something like that, i have it in Swedish) and the path to the
installation.

This happend no matter if the file is on a CD or if it is on th HDD, It
hasn't always been like this though this error is a new one. I have been able
to install .msi files before.

My PC: (I don't thinks its necessary though)
OS: Win XP MCE 2005
CPU: PENTIUM D (2, Cool

RAM: 2048 MB
Videocard: Nvidia 8600 GT

I that hope anyone can help me

/Ravager

John · External Since: Apr 07, 2006 Posts: 383

Have you checked it for viruses?

You may need to log in as an Administrator depending on what program your
installing.

Did you recently update Windows Installer?
If you run it to your %TEMP% directory, all should be fine.

All I could find was:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555175/en-us
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=319624

But the name of the application you're installing can be useful.

"Ravager" wrote:

> Hi,
> I have a problem, I can't install files ending with .msi on my computer.
>
> Everytime i try to run the file (msi), I get a messages that says: access is
> denied (or something like that, i have it in Swedish) and the path to the
> installation.
>
> This happend no matter if the file is on a CD or if it is on th HDD, It
> hasn't always been like this though this error is a new one. I have been able
> to install .msi files before.
>
> My PC: (I don't thinks its necessary though)
> OS: Win XP MCE 2005
> CPU: PENTIUM D (2, Cool

> RAM: 2048 MB
> Videocard: Nvidia 8600 GT
>
> I that hope anyone can help me
>
> /Ravager
>
>
>

Ravager · External Since: Jun 09, 2006 Posts: 8

Hi,
I am administrator of my PC i updated my Windows Installer (but it was the
same problem as before i did).

Can you describe how i do this (im not a PC expert):
> Did you recently update Windows Installer?
> If you run it to your %TEMP% directory, all should be fine.

i have tried to do most of these things too (not the once for win 2000)
> All I could find was:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555175/en-us
> http://support.microsoft.com/?id=319624

python-2.5.msi (Python) is one of many examples of programs i can't install
ending the name with .msi.

I have Office 2000 Standard, (read it was a problem with .msi or something)

When i right click on a "msi-file" (for example python-2.5.msi) and click
propities, there is a line that says "Open with: unknown program" (something
like that but in Swedish). I don't know if this is wrong?

btw i have Windows XP Media Center Edition if i didn't say it before.

______________________
"John" wrote:

> Have you checked it for viruses?
>
> You may need to log in as an Administrator depending on what program your
> installing.
>
> Did you recently update Windows Installer?
> If you run it to your %TEMP% directory, all should be fine.
>
> All I could find was:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555175/en-us
> http://support.microsoft.com/?id=319624
>
> But the name of the application you're installing can be useful.
> ____________________________________________-
> "Ravager" wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> > I have a problem, I can't install files ending with .msi on my computer.
> >
> > Everytime i try to run the file (msi), I get a messages that says: access is
> > denied (or something like that, i have it in Swedish) and the path to the
> > installation.
> >
> > This happend no matter if the file is on a CD or if it is on th HDD, It
> > hasn't always been like this though this error is a new one. I have been able
> > to install .msi files before.
> >
> > My PC: (I don't thinks its necessary though)
> > OS: Win XP MCE 2005
> > CPU: PENTIUM D (2, Cool

> > RAM: 2048 MB
> > Videocard: Nvidia 8600 GT
> >
> > I that hope anyone can help me
> >
> > /Ravager
> >
> >
> >

John · External Since: Aug 09, 2007 Posts: 3

Ravager wrote:

> When i right click on a "msi-file" (for example python-2.5.msi) and click
> propities, there is a line that says "Open with: unknown program" (something
> like that but in Swedish). I don't know if this is wrong?
>
> btw i have Windows XP Media Center Edition if i didn't say it before.

Are you saying that when you right click on a .msi file, there is no
'install' option at the top of the list, or are you just looking in
properties and expecting to see the install option?

John.

Ravager · External Since: Jun 09, 2006 Posts: 8

I have uploaded a picture of the error message and the propities of an .msi
file.

I don't know but im getting confused because there is a line that says open
with... shall i use a program to open the file?

http://img47.imageshack.us/my.php?image=desktopcopyci1.jpg

im sorry that my Windows XP is in swedish, but i have translated some of the
thing into english.

(btw with click, i mean double click)

_____
"John" wrote:

> Ravager wrote:
>
> > When i right click on a "msi-file" (for example python-2.5.msi) and click
> > propities, there is a line that says "Open with: unknown program" (something
> > like that but in Swedish). I don't know if this is wrong?
> >
> > btw i have Windows XP Media Center Edition if i didn't say it before.
>
> Are you saying that when you right click on a .msi file, there is no
> 'install' option at the top of the list, or are you just looking in
> properties and expecting to see the install option?
>
> John.
>

Kelly · External Since: Mar 04, 2004 Posts: 10278

Hi,

Correct your .msi association: http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

Is it October already? Either way, Happy Birthday if today is your
birthday!

"Ravager" wrote in message

> Hi,
> I have a problem, I can't install files ending with .msi on my computer.
>
> Everytime i try to run the file (msi), I get a messages that says: access
> is
> denied (or something like that, i have it in Swedish) and the path to the
> installation.
>
> This happend no matter if the file is on a CD or if it is on th HDD, It
> hasn't always been like this though this error is a new one. I have been
> able
> to install .msi files before.
>
> My PC: (I don't thinks its necessary though)
> OS: Win XP MCE 2005
> CPU: PENTIUM D (2, Cool

> RAM: 2048 MB
> Videocard: Nvidia 8600 GT
>
> I that hope anyone can help me
>
> /Ravager
>
>
>

John · External Since: Aug 09, 2007 Posts: 3

Ravager wrote:
> I have uploaded a picture of the error message and the propities of an .msi
> file.
>
> I don't know but im getting confused because there is a line that says open
> with... shall i use a program to open the file?
>
> http://img47.imageshack.us/my.php?image=desktopcopyci1.jpg
>
> im sorry that my Windows XP is in swedish, but i have translated some of the
> thing into english.
>
> (btw with click, i mean double click)
>
> _____
> "John" wrote:
>
>> Ravager wrote:
>>
>>> When i right click on a "msi-file" (for example python-2.5.msi) and click
>>> propities, there is a line that says "Open with: unknown program" (something
>>> like that but in Swedish). I don't know if this is wrong?
>>>
>>> btw i have Windows XP Media Center Edition if i didn't say it before.
>> Are you saying that when you right click on a .msi file, there is no
>> 'install' option at the top of the list, or are you just looking in
>> properties and expecting to see the install option?

If you use your file explorer and find the .msi that you're talking
about. Right click (single click) the file and 'install' should be at
the top of the list of options for you.

John.

Ravager · External Since: Jun 09, 2006 Posts: 8

still doesnt work for me,

btw, do you think the antivirus program may stop the installation? i have
Mcafee Internet Sec Suite 2007?

"John" wrote:

> Ravager wrote:
> > I have uploaded a picture of the error message and the propities of an .msi
> > file.
> >
> > I don't know but im getting confused because there is a line that says open
> > with... shall i use a program to open the file?
> >
> > http://img47.imageshack.us/my.php?image=desktopcopyci1.jpg
> >
> > im sorry that my Windows XP is in swedish, but i have translated some of the
> > thing into english.
> >
> > (btw with click, i mean double click)
> >
> > _____
> > "John" wrote:
> >
> >> Ravager wrote:
> >>
> >>> When i right click on a "msi-file" (for example python-2.5.msi) and click
> >>> propities, there is a line that says "Open with: unknown program" (something
> >>> like that but in Swedish). I don't know if this is wrong?
> >>>
> >>> btw i have Windows XP Media Center Edition if i didn't say it before.
> >> Are you saying that when you right click on a .msi file, there is no
> >> 'install' option at the top of the list, or are you just looking in
> >> properties and expecting to see the install option?
>
> If you use your file explorer and find the .msi that you're talking
> about. Right click (single click) the file and 'install' should be at
> the top of the list of options for you.
>
> John.
>

John · External Since: Aug 09, 2007 Posts: 3

Ravager wrote:
> still doesnt work for me,
>
> btw, do you think the antivirus program may stop the installation? i have
> Mcafee Internet Sec Suite 2007?

You say it still doesn't work for you, but you are not explaining what's
not working if you follow my instructions. Tell me what's happening when
you use the explorer method.

If you think it might be McAfee that's causing the problem, disable it
and try again.

John.

Ravager · External Since: Jun 09, 2006 Posts: 8

I did like you said but i got the same error message as i told you about
before.

"John" wrote:

> Ravager wrote:
> > still doesnt work for me,
> >
> > btw, do you think the antivirus program may stop the installation? i have
> > Mcafee Internet Sec Suite 2007?
>
> You say it still doesn't work for you, but you are not explaining what's
> not working if you follow my instructions. Tell me what's happening when
> you use the explorer method.
>
> If you think it might be McAfee that's causing the problem, disable it
> and try again.
>
> John.
>

Plato · External Since: Mar 04, 2004 Posts: 4849

=?Utf-8?B?UmF2YWdlcg==?= wrote:
>
> I have a problem, I can't install files ending with .msi on my computer.

http://www.dotwhat.net/
http://www.filext.com/

--
http://www.bootdisk.com/

6r33n · Joined: Jun 07, 2009 Posts: 1

Hi!
I had somewhat similar problems (using WinXP x64 with SP2) where I got an error saying something about me not having permissions to blabla.. (I never wrote down the message, sorry) and I tried all possible solutions I could find without any success. Then I finally combined a couple of solutions and it worked! So, these are the steps:
- Go to Start > Run... > type msiexec /unregister > OK
- Go back to Start > Run... > type msiexec /regserver > OK
- Launch Explorer (or Start > My Computer)
- Go to Tools (in the toolbar in the top) > Folder options > View > check Show hidden files and folders > uncheck Hide protected operating files (Recommended) > Yes > OK
- Go to C:\WINDOWS\system32 (on 64-bit) or C:\WINDOWS\system (on 32-bit)
- Rename the files "msi.dll", "msidntld.dll", "msiexec.exe" to whatever you want (I chose "[filename].BACKUP")
- Download 'Windows Installer 4.5' from: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=5A58B56F-60B6...12-95B9
(WindowsServer2003-KB942288-v4-x64.exe for 64-bit or WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe for 32-bit)
- Install 'Windows Installer 4.5'
- Restart your computer
- Install your .msi-application!

Follow these steps if you still get errors:
- Go back to Tools (in the top of Explorer) > Folder options > View > uncheck Use simple file sharing (Recommended) > OK
- Right-click on the folder containing the .msi-file that you want to execute > Properties > Security > Add... > Advanced > Find now > Scroll down in the list at the bottom > double-click SYSTEM > OK > check Full Control - Allow > OK
- Install your .msi-application!

PS. Sorry about responding to a very old post. The thing is that this is one of the top results on Google when searching for "can't run .msi files" so I thought it could be helpful for those looking for a solution..