Windows Installer does not work.

[Norjoker]

I have a problem with Windows Installer not working (as the title suggests), however the problem is not that i get a "the program has stopped working" error or something like that, in fact i get no error at all. This is extremely frustrating since the installer is obviously not working! When i try to install a program the setup wizard starts and i go through the necessary steps to start the installation of the program (i.e. accept terms of condition, choose directory etc.) and then... nothing. I get to look at the setup wizard telling me to please wait while it installs. The problem is that it doesn't install, it does not even try! The progress bar does not go up, nor do i get an error message that something is wrong. It hasn't stopped working (apparently) but nothing is happening.

I have yet to see anyone else with this problem, which makes it extra weird. If anyone can help it would be much appreciated.

 

[Ravi Gagan]

Try to update the Windows Installer (Windows 8) http://support.microsoft.com/kb/942288

 

[Norjoker]

That does not work, I get the error: 0x80096002 and it says "the certificate for the signer of the message is invalid or not found".

 

[Ravi Gagan]

is the setup file with .msu extension?

 

[Norjoker]

No, it's .msi

 

[Ravi Gagan]

Try this solution and then install Windows Installer update
http://www.stratospher.es/blog/post/installing-windows-identity-foundation-on-windows-8-the-certificate-for-the-signer-of-the-message-is-invalid-or-not-found

 

[Norjoker]

That doesn't work either, Windows Features is stuck "searching for required files", however the windows installer actually gave me a notice telling me it had stopped working and i got the option of retrying or quit. I chose retry and i got prompted to "allow this program to make changes to this computer" which i accepted (of course) and now it's stuck on the halfway point instead of nothing, which is progress... i guess (even though it's been 3 hours).

 

[Ravi Gagan]

Reboot your pc and try these steps http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2438651

 

[Norjoker]

I rebooted my computer, tried the automatic microsoft fixit thing without luck (no surprise there), and ran the cmd prompts, this is the information I got:

Windows ® Installer. V 5.0.9200.16384

msiexec /Option <Required Parameter> [Optional Parameter]

Install Options
</package | /i> <Product.msi>
Installs or configures a product
/a <Product.msi>
Administrative install - Installs a product on the network
/j<u|m> <Product.msi> [/t <Transform List>] [/g <Language ID>]
Advertises a product - m to all users, u to current user
</uninstall | /x> <Product.msi | ProductCode>
Uninstalls the product
Display Options
/quiet
Quiet mode, no user interaction
/passive
Unattended mode - progress bar only
/q[n|b|r|f]
Sets user interface level
n - No UI
b - Basic UI
r - Reduced UI
f - Full UI (default)
/help
Help information
Restart Options
/norestart
Do not restart after the installation is complete
/promptrestart
Prompts the user for restart if necessary
/forcerestart
Always restart the computer after installation
Logging Options
/l[i|w|e|a|r|u|c|m|o|p|v|x|+|!|*] <LogFile>
i - Status messages
w - Nonfatal warnings
e - All error messages
a - Start up of actions
r - Action-specific records
u - User requests
c - Initial UI parameters
m - Out-of-memory or fatal exit information
o - Out-of-disk-space messages
p - Terminal properties
v - Verbose output
x - Extra debugging information
+ - Append to existing log file
! - Flush each line to the log
* - Log all information, except for v and x options
/log <LogFile>
Equivalent of /l* <LogFile>
Update Options
/update <Update1.msp>[;Update2.msp]
Applies update(s)
/uninstall <PatchCodeGuid>[;Update2.msp] /package <Product.msi | ProductCode>
Remove update(s) for a product
Repair Options
/f[p|e|c|m|s|o|d|a|u|v] <Product.msi | ProductCode>
Repairs a product
p - only if file is missing
o - if file is missing or an older version is installed (default)
e - if file is missing or an equal or older version is installed
d - if file is missing or a different version is installed
c - if file is missing or checksum does not match the calculated value
a - forces all files to be reinstalled
u - all required user-specific registry entries (default)
m - all required computer-specific registry entries (default)
s - all existing shortcuts (default)
v - runs from source and recaches local package
Setting Public Properties
[PROPERTY=PropertyValue]

Consult the Windows ® Installer SDK for additional documentation on the
command line syntax.

Copyright © Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Portions of this software are based in part on the work of the Independent JPEG Group.

I don't see any errors, and Windows installer is indeed enabled. I tried to re register the installer engine as well, and there is no change whatsoever. I am still unable to install.

 

[Ravi Gagan]

I think clean install of Windows would be the solution

 

[Norjoker]

I did that a couple months ago, i had the problem before, and as you can see it persists.

 

[Ravi Gagan]

try this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3uUwu0AwBI

 

[Norjoker]

Nope, no difference. Also it seems that i can't install certain .exe files either. Trying to install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redist. but no such luck. It's just stuck "initializing".

 

[Yazan Al-Habal]

Your Windows Installer has corrupted either or the service (Windows Installer) service has stopped, Check the Windows Installer Service and run, If not found Windows Installer Service or stopped, Rerun the service or installing Windows Installer 4.5 by website: (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8483) and check to see if the problem still persists by reopening any installers that include Windows Installer, If no, then release your computer, If yes, Reinstall Windows and check to see if the problem still persists, If still yes, Contact your computer manufacturer or replace computer (if you have 2 computers), If still no, Then re-download and reinstall any apps that includes Windows Installer, Reinstall Windows Installer 4.5 by website: (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8483), restart the service "Windows Installer" and check if the problem still persists, If still no, Then release your computer, If still yes, Just contact your computer manufacturer either or disability answer desk (chatting, messaging via email, calling) from Microsoft to send you via email, text message or number.