Windows installer/re installing programs...

**mattlock** · 03-08-2007, 11:04 PM

Here's a real head scratcher. I'm working on friends laptop that had some malware on it. I had the system mostly clean and I was waiting for some help in the HJT forum on how to remove the two remaining reg hits that kept coming back. The system had been on for several hrs, running good. No popups or any other issues. When all the sudden windows installer pops up and wants to install Corel Paint Shop Pro X and ask for the install cd. The only way to get rid of it was to end the task via task mgr. The software is already installed. I got tired of this coming up everytime I rebooted so I uninstalled the program. On the very next reboot it wanted to install Corel Photo Album. So I ask if this might be related to the infection It had and the tech said he didn't know what it could be, so today I unstalled the Photo Album and rebooted. Well, it wanted to install Word Perfect. I ended the task and opened word perfect and it runs fine, but windows installer still wants to reinstall.
Any ideas?
He's got MS Office on here and don't even use these programs so uninstalling them is no big deal, but if there's a way to fix without actually reinstalling the software I'd like to figure it out. Just to gain the knowledge.

**nickster_uk** · 03-09-2007, 01:33 AM

Hi mattlock138..

this can happen after cleaning the registry as some cleaning software programs tend to remove important keys.

There's no quick fix unless you have a backup of the registry handy..otherwise it's a case of uninstalling and reinstalling or browsing to the installer files from the Windows Installer popup sometimes works but you have to know where they're stored for that.

**mattlock** · 03-10-2007, 11:01 AM

I fast as it came, it left. It just stopped tring to re install. I think I rebooted after opening Wordperfect so that must be what fixed the problem.

Simply opening the program and shutting it back down then rebooting.

WINDOWS

03-08-2007, 11:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
mattlock moderator hardware team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,832 OS: XP SP2, Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon My System	Windows installer/re installing programs... Here's a real head scratcher. I'm working on friends laptop that had some malware on it. I had the system mostly clean and I was waiting for some help in the HJT forum on how to remove the two remaining reg hits that kept coming back. The system had been on for several hrs, running good. No popups or any other issues. When all the sudden windows installer pops up and wants to install Corel Paint Shop Pro X and ask for the install cd. The only way to get rid of it was to end the task via task mgr. The software is already installed. I got tired of this coming up everytime I rebooted so I uninstalled the program. On the very next reboot it wanted to install Corel Photo Album. So I ask if this might be related to the infection It had and the tech said he didn't know what it could be, so today I unstalled the Photo Album and rebooted. Well, it wanted to install Word Perfect. I ended the task and opened word perfect and it runs fine, but windows installer still wants to reinstall. Any ideas? He's got MS Office on here and don't even use these programs so uninstalling them is no big deal, but if there's a way to fix without actually reinstalling the software I'd like to figure it out. Just to gain the knowledge. __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free! Last edited by mattlock : 03-08-2007 at 11:23 PM.

03-09-2007, 01:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
nickster_uk Moderator, Microsoft Support, Happy to support TSF! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 6,565 OS: XP Pro SP3, Vista Ultimate SP1, Ubuntu v8.04 My System	Hi mattlock138.. this can happen after cleaning the registry as some cleaning software programs tend to remove important keys. There's no quick fix unless you have a backup of the registry handy..otherwise it's a case of uninstalling and reinstalling or browsing to the installer files from the Windows Installer popup sometimes works but you have to know where they're stored for that. __________________ My system: ASUS P5K-E WiFi \| Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz (OC 3.60GHz) \| 2GB Corsair DDR2 XMS2-6400C4 RAM (4-4-4-12) \| PowerColor ATI Radeon HD 3850 Pro Xtreme 512MB GDDR3 GPU \| 1xMaxtor DiamondMax 22 500GB & 4xMaxtor DiamondMax 21 250GB SATA HDDs \| Zalman CNPS9500 Heatsink + 6 LED Case Fans \| Corsair HX620W Modular PSU \| Enermax Black Knight (CS-527) Case \| Pioneer DVR-216 SATA 20x20 DVD±RW In a world without walls or fences - who needs Windows and Gates?

03-10-2007, 11:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
mattlock moderator hardware team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,832 OS: XP SP2, Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon My System	Issue Resolved. I fast as it came, it left. It just stopped tring to re install. I think I rebooted after opening Wordperfect so that must be what fixed the problem. Simply opening the program and shutting it back down then rebooting. WINDOWS __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free! Last edited by mattlock : 03-10-2007 at 11:04 AM.