Funny you mentioned that fix... I did try that but I got an error stating:
Error accessing the registry
Could you please provide me with instructions on how to apply this registry edit? Thanks!!!
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.MSI files are not associated with Windows Installer 3.1
I shudder when a program I need to install lately is a .msi file because that means I won't be able to install it.... I've had enough, now I'm dedicated to fixing this recurring issue of mine.. ONCE and FOR ALL!
I'm currently trying to install camtasia.msi on my Windows XP SP2 machine. I'm current with all critical updates with Microsoft Updates, I've successfully installed Windows Installer 3.1, and I've run UniBlue's RegistryBooster 2 to along with other similar programs in the past in hopes that these registry fixer-uppers would associate the .msi file extension with Windows Installer but no luck yet.
Please help!
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Answers
If that doesn't work - it sounds like you registry cleaner corrupted the registry.
Have you got a system restore point to go back to - prior to when you ran the reg cleaner?
http://www.microsoft.com/w
Registry is fine I believe, I installed some program that may be locking the registry on random programs editing it for virus protection etc.
Thanks, the command line option appears to have run. I submitted the command and got no error in cmd prompt. How can I tell if it took or not? I still am getting no assoc on my .msi files and windows installer
Yes, I am getting the friendly windows prompt saying, "Windows cannot open this file:" "... To open this file, Windows needs to know what program created it..."
I have even tried to go to associate the file manually to Windows Installer by going to c:\windows\system32\msiexe
Thanks for you quick responses and trying! I can't wait to get this figured out.
Also if anyone knows of where I can download the trial of Techsmith's Camtasia 5 in an EXE format instead of .MSI that will at LEAST help me temporarily get done what I'm needing to get done today.
Jason
Uh Oh. Maybe we found out something here.... orangutang, I just went into regedit and got an error popup saying "Cannot open .MSI: Error while opening key." That popup occured as SOON as I clicked on HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.msi
I've attached a screen shot also if it helps. Now what?
- uh-oh.jpg
- 101 KB
screenshot uh oh
Try this fix here...
http://www.kellys-korner-x
Thanks flubbster, I just downloaded your regedit, put it on my desktop and ran the following command in the command prompt directly c:\documents and settings\me\desktop regedit /s wininstaller.reg
It looks like the script ran without error but no change yet. I've been staring at the camtasia.msi on my desktop now as I write this and it's still got the cruddy "I don't know what the F this is" icon and when I click it there is no file association.
Should I be restarting when I do these updates you all are helping me out on? Keep the help coming, it's greatly appreciated folks..
Jason
also... maybe a silly question/suggestion...
Do you have easy access to another pc running XP with the same service pack level? Yours or a close neighbor maybe? If so, you could try exporting the hkey_root/msi key to a floppy or stick and then import it into yours to see if that will fix it. Just do a start-run-regedit
Highlight the key/section to export, go to file.. export and save the key. Then open yours and do a file/import.
Hmm... Ok, rebooting did nothing and so I went to my laptop which is working fine and exported the ROOT\.msi key as you suggested now when I import the ROOT\.msi key I get an error message saying: "Cannot import c:\documents and settings\user\desktop\lapp
I suppose this is related to when I tried to edit the registry earlier in this request... I am assuming I can hit the command prompt and enter REGEDIT /S c:\documents and settings\user\desktop\lapp
The only registry applications I know I have is Registrar Lite and what I recently downloaded today, RegistryBooster 2 that could possibly be affecting me editing my own Registry... Now I am beginner to wonder how I REALLY know that the previous changes made to edit the registry really even took any affect at all...
If you can confirm how I import that .msi key (above) then I will run it and try that next.
OK, FYI, I got impatient and went ahead and ran the script:
REGEDIT /S lappy_wininstaller.reg and got no error in the cmd prompt. I then went into REGEDIT and navigated to the ROOT\.msi key and got the same error. FYI, I also got the following error when I went to Edit > Permissions...
"You don't have permission to view the current permission settings for .msi, but you can make permission changes."
The plot thickens................
Ok, so I'm going through my programs to see if there is anything that may be locking me out of my own Registry and I ran into one of my fav little programs, CCleaner... I was looking at programs to remove and found an odd no name program so I tried to remove is and then I got the following error:
"The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in safe mode, or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed."
I've attached a screenshot as well... You'll see what I mean. NOW what?
- uh-oh-ditto.jpg
- 141 KB
uh oh 2
Thanks for the info about not putting "/S" in the command line! I did that command again and then I got the same error again about not being able to access the registry. Now we're on a new problem.. Accessing my registry... in addition to finding out why Windows Installer can not be accessed either.
It sounds like the reg monitor/repair program locked down setions of your registry. It is possible to reset the permissions on it to the default permissions used by XP normally. Before doing so, it is a good idea to create a restore point incase something weird happens. It shouldn't, because it is just the permissions...but it IS windows, after all....
Below are the Microsoft links for creating them, restoring them, and restting the default permissions. So... I would create a restore point, then reset the permissions.
http://support.microsoft.c
The above is instructions to make a new restore point in XP and Vista... obviously, follow the XP one. The same page, lower down, gives the restore info. Both are very simple.
To reset the permissions, go here:
http://support.microsoft.c
Again, follow the info for XP. It is just one command line.
reboot after and let us know..
good luck!
OK, just finished and I'm about to reboot, but it looks like I hit more trouble. I rec'd the following message after a couple moments of the script to reset security permissions to the registry was running:
"The system cannot find the file specified. Task is completed in error. See log %windir%\security\logs\sce
Attached is the log that I ended up with.
Also, another way to reset registry permissions is:
http://www.windowsbbs.com/
except just run follow the instructions until:
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE /setowner=administrators
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CURRENT_USER /setowner=administrators
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT /setowner=administrators
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE /grant=administrators=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CURRENT_USER /grant=administrators=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT /grant=administrators=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE /grant=system=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CURRENT_USER /grant=system=f
subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT /grant=system=f
then save it as a .cmd or .bat file and run it.
OK, here's the roundup so far:
1) Sorry flubbster, I should have read that MS article, whoops! I restarted and still no go on getting permission to access the ROOT\.msi reg key.
2) orangutang: You suggested I go in and set the permissions for ROOT\.msi and change the owner to me. Well, there are no current permission settings for .msi and there is no current owner nor will it let me change the owner or any permission!
I've attached two screenshots of each error when trying to alter permissions for ROOT\.msi
- uhoh3.jpg
- 87 KB
trying to change permissions on .msi
- uhohowner.jpg
- 92 KB
trying to change owner on .msi
Run REGEDIT and select the HKEY_ROOT hive. Right-click and select Permissions. Add the following permissions for the key and all subkeys by clicking on Add-Advanced-Find Now. After adding, make sure the permissions are set as shown below. You may have to click on the added permissions afterwards and select "Edit" to change the parent-child (this key and sub-keys) settings and access levels.
Authorized User : Read Only (or full control)
Network Services: Full Control.
see if this helps the permissions
Also, I found this in another forum:
To fix the problem you need to open Registry Editor, find the troublesome registry key(s), go to permissions, add the group Everyone (just to be safe), give full control, click on the advanced button, and go to the owner tab click on a name and check the "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects" box. Then click OK. it should give you a message like "Unable to set new owner on .msi Access is denied." Click on ok again to close the permissions box, and you should have access to .msi registry key once again. That solved the problem for me (well the 40 or so that I've fixed so far).
I changed the .php to .msi
Also, download and open Dial-a-fix (http://wiki.djlizard.net/
http://www.dougknox.com/xp
OK, I added the NETWORK SERVICE user and the ADMINISTATORS group to full control and applied it to the HKEY_ROOT hive and all subkeys and that finally did something....
I can see the MSI Installer icon on the camtasia.msi file I'm trying to open but now, when I click it I still get the message that MSI Installer cannot be accessed or I'm in safe mode...
I guess I'll try the dial-a-fix? I did already go back and try those regedits in the beginning of this question and those didn't do it either.
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by: and235100Posted on 2008-03-30 at 09:03:48ID: 21241110
Try this MSI association fix from here: http://www.dougknox.com/xp
http://www.dougknox.com/xp