Cannot Install Some Programs 1

[dan08]

I installed Windows 7 64-bit on a computer that was previously running Win7 32-bit. Everything ran fine and I was installing the basic software we put on all our systems. I was in a hurry and received an error when trying to install two programs at the same time. No problem, this has happened several times before, without causing other problems. However, after this error I was unable to install other programs, namely Office 2010. It seemed the problem was specific to .msi installation files, but I am not 100% sure. I reinstalled the OS and everything worked fine.

This was a weird problem that ended up eating up alot of my time. Has anyone come across a similar issue or have any ideas of what could have caused this, or a better way to fix it?

 

[spamjim]

Reinstalling the OS would refresh the registry and restart the install service. Both of these tweaks can be done manually without an entire replacement of the OS.

Related:

http://jon.netdork.net/2011/01/02/m...from-a-previous-install-or-update-is-pending/

 

[spamjim]

...also see:

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/Program_Install_and_Uninstall/

 

[dan08]

Thanks a lot, that looks really helpful. So do you think trying to install two programs simultaneously caused this larger problem?

 

[spamjim]

Because multiple active installers may overwrite each others' files and registry entries, it is a bad practice to attempt concurrent installations. The MSI service is supposed to prevent this, but only if the individual installers were crafted to comply with the service. This is why you noticed the problem with MSI installers.

The "larger problem" is actually a "feature" of an installation system intended to prevent concurrent installations from the user.

 

[linney]

error installing any software

http://social.answers.microsoft.com.../thread/1a57bbd2-f2d6-4cab-b5b9-1ca6d37e3981/