Hi Mike!

I have been going crazy trying to fix the same issue and I just found your
response and tried it. I am not very technical so forgive me if I am not
explanining myself correctly. This is what happened:

- Found and deleted msi.dll, msihnd.dll and msiexec.exe in
c:\windows\system32. I didn't find a dllcache folder under system32. Once I
deleted them I got the prompt from windows that the files were replaced...
- Went to start/run and typed cmd. Followed the instructions for that part
but each time after I hit enter after typing the ren commands a line appeared
that said something like this *the command was invalid/file not found*
- Installed wi 3.1 v2 successfully and restarted computer.
- A dialog box appeared saying the msi.dll file was missing
- Started command prompt (cmd) again and tried to remaname the files back
but after each time I hit enter I got a line saying something like *the
command was invalid/file not found*
- Went to windows update and downloaded successfully all of the updates
(approx 60) and restarted the computer
- A dialog box appeared saying the msi.dll file was missing
- Changed the autoupdate settings and restarted again and a dialog box
appeared saying the msi.dll file was missing
- Restored from the trash bin the msi.dll, msihnd.dll and msiexec.exe and
restarted the computer. No dialog box appeared but when I went to windows
update it told me that I needed to install windows installer 3.1. I did try
to install and installation failed.

Did I do something wrong? What do I need to do now? Please respond back to
spliego@beautyavenues.com

Thank you!!!!!!!

Salvador


"Mike M" wrote:

> Hi All
>
> I have had this problem and this is how I fixed it, after a lot of searching
> on the web.
>
> Make sure Automatic Updates are turned off, or set them to "Notify me but
> don't automatically download or install them."
> Also make sure WinXP's CD isn't in your CD/DVD drive.
>
> Check in the Services app (services.msc) that Windows Installer service
> isn't running, stop it if needed.
> Then
> click start
> run
> type in sfc /purgecache
> enter
>
> This will clear the dll cache ensuring a clean installation.
>
> Open the X:\Windows\system32\dllcache\ folder (where X: is your system
> drive) and delete these three files (if they exist):
> msi.dll
> msihnd.dll
> msiexec.exe
>
> After that, from this Symantec article
> http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...1112111324...?
> do this:
> On the Windows desktop, click Start > Run.
> In the Open line, type cmd and then click OK.
> At the command prompt, type the following, depending on your version of
> Windows, and then press Enter after each line.
>
> cd \windows\system32
> ren msi.dll msi.old
> ren msihnd.dll msihnd.old
> ren msiexec.exe msiexec.old
> exit
>
> *******Leave the renamed file *.old files as they won't do any harm once *****
> ****is everything is ok. It's a good idea to keep them.Very little space
> needed****
>
> (Notice that after each rename you will get a prompt from Windows that
> system files have been replaced, and it asks for the WinXP CD in order to
> restore them. Do NOT put the WinXP CD into the drive, click Cancel, then
> choose Yes in the other dialog box that appears.)
> Restart the computer.
>
> Run the Windows Installer 3.1 EXE installer (downloaded in the beginning).
> Follow the prompts to complete the installation, it will install fine.
> Restart the computer.
>
> You might get dialog boxes with errors about msi.dll missing.
> I got such a dialog box from my anti-virus software.
> Start the Command prompt (cmd) again, and rename the three files back.
> Go to Windows Update. It will say it needs to install Windows Installer 3.1,
> and will say the installation failed, but it will actually succeed.
> Do not restart the computer, click the link to Windows Update Home on the
> left to go back to the main Windows Update screen with the "Express" &
> "Custom" buttons.
> Click the Express button, it should show you all post-SP2 updates (around
> 40-50 MBs). They should download quickly (if you are not on dial-up).
> After the updates install, restart your computer.
>
> You can now change the Auto Updates setting to the one you like.
> To check if Windows Installer has been properly updated, follow this link
> http://blogs.msdn.com/windows_instal...05/448386.aspx
>
> This has been tested on WinXP Pro, I don't know if it will work on Home, but
> maybe it will.
> Tell me if this helps or not...
>
> try this
> Apparently all that was really needed is to right-click on HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
> in regedit, and add my user name in Special permissions.You can if its easier
> just make sure that it's set at full control.
>
> Since then every thing is ok, but make sure that the service is then reset
> to run on automatic as before.In the services application or
> click start
> run
> type in services.msc
>
> All will be well, This worked fine for me,ok.
> Best of luck
> --
> Mike M