Question

Unable To Install Any Programs Windows Vista Home Premium

Asked by: Netflyer13

Hi All,

When trying to install 3rd party software or any software for that matter I get the following errors on a Vista Home Premium machine.

This is the error I  get when trying to install MBAM: Internal error: Failed to expand shell folder constant "userappdata"

This is what I get if trying to install Super Anti Spyware: Error 1606: Could not access network loction %appdata%\
 
Here is what Ive tried so far to no avail:

Tried deleting Recent key in the following path : HKEY_CURRENT_USER /Software/Microsoft / Windows/ Current Version /Explorer /User Shell Folders

Everything in my registry pertaining to the following article was fine. It doesnt show what the registry should look like in the HKEY/ Local machine path for Vista though.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/886549

Using online scans Panda, Housecall, and Kaspersky machine appears to be sparkling clean..

Since I cant install anything..I cant run Mbam or Superantispyware or the likes&.


Tried uninstalling various Windows updates from around the time the machine started behaving this way

Also tried System Restore to the furthest back date available

Msconfig troubleshooting services and startup also did nothing.

Thanks










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Asked On
2009-08-18 at 13:57:28ID24662944
Topic

Windows Vista

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: Pete_ZedPosted on 2009-08-18 at 14:35:58ID: 25127919

Can you try running in Safe Mode and trying to install Superantispyware? Have you tried a repair install and try to run a chkdsk on C: drive?

 

by: Netflyer13Posted on 2009-08-18 at 15:05:54ID: 25128127

Nothing will install in safe mode or regular mode, MWAB will typically install in safe mode but SAS will not ever install in safe mode.  I've contacted them recently (I own about 50 SAS licenses) and they are going to write an installer that will load it in safe mode but for now no.  So our typical anti-virus routine for hosed machines is to go to safe mode, install MWAB and run it first, then go into real mode and install SAS.  Our problem is we can't install any program.  The install service seems broken.  I guess we will try a repair install and get back to you.  

 

by: Netflyer13Posted on 2009-08-18 at 18:51:33ID: 25129097

Ok, I did a chkdsk and found no errors on the disk.  I have a vista boot disk but am not familiar with the recovery procedure, I'm more of an XP guy.  When I boot from the disk it gives me an option to fix a broken start up which is not our issue, I run it and it finds no problems.  I have already tried to go back on a system restore to the farthest restore point, but still no luck.  Is there a way with Vista to have windows fix something like broken installer services, is there a procedure to copy the original vista files back onto the machine w/out removing all the programs and having to reinstall everything?  Or can you think of any other reason we might be getting the errors we are getting?
Thanks!

 

by: Pete_ZedPosted on 2009-08-18 at 18:57:54ID: 25129120

 

by: Netflyer13Posted on 2009-08-18 at 19:13:54ID: 25129195

I have already tried all of those things in that post already. Thanks.

 

by: Netflyer13Posted on 2009-08-18 at 20:29:01ID: 25129437



Can someone provide me with the values in this subkey for Windows Vista are:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Thanks

 

by: Pete_ZedPosted on 2009-08-18 at 21:26:46ID: 25129611

Please find attached the registry key. Please rename the file hklm.reg

  • hklm.txt
    • 4 KB

    Please rename the file hklm.reg

 

by: Netflyer13Posted on 2009-08-18 at 22:11:02ID: 25129739

Thanks, but, I was looking for something like this.....

For Windows Vista, see the following table.Collapse this tableExpand this tableValue name  Type  Value data
{374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B} REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Downloads
AppData REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming
Cache REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files
Cookies REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies
Desktop REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Desktop
Favorites REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Favorites
History REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\History
LocalAppData REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local
My Pictures REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Pictures
My Music REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Music
My Video REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Videos
NetHood REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Network Shortcuts
Personal REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\PrintHood
PrintHood REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Documents
Programs REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
Recent REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent  
SendTo REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo  
Start Menu REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
 
Startup REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Templates REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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