Problem with windows

[pwig]

Hi FOlks, had a problem with windows (I think I wire came out my hard drive) and it needed a restart. Now, every time i open up a new window in IE It comes up with 'Windows Installer' and wont do owt for a min or so till It goes. If I open up two windows, the second will open up instantly.

When I try to start most programs it cmoes up with this windows installer, (Apart from Firefox for some reason) and when I try to load Windows Media player once I have started my comp each morning, it says I need to re-install it. Once I do that, it is fine.


Now, short of a re-install of windows, is there owt I Can do?

[zoidberg]

If you have the original windows disk you could try the "repair" rather than "reinstall" option.

[pwig]

Ahhh good thinking batman.

Shall try that next!

[aldi]

Could try looking at the installer events in the application log (start/run/eventvwr/OK) to see what these dialogs relate to, and uninstall/reinstall/nuke from orbit whatever it turns out to be.

[pwig]

aldi said:

Could try looking at the installer events in the application log (start/run/eventvwr/OK) to see what these dialogs relate to, and uninstall/reinstall/nuke from orbit whatever it turns out to be.

Right done that and It appears to relate to office 2003 and 'handwritingfile'.


Hmmm... so I got to remove office and this comes up 'This Patch could not be opened. Verify the patch exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid windows installer patch packaged'

[aldi]

Interesting

Have you got a little 'en' icon near the bottom right of your screen? You could try right clicking, settings, remove the handwriting recognitiion and infact everything except the UK keyboard.

If that doesnt work have you got the origional O2K3 CD?

[pwig]

I have the windows CD yes. Where is this 'repair' function that the other chap mentions?

[pwig]

Right bit more info. It only happened when I turned system restore off a few months ago. I turn it on after that. It no fixed itself though

[pwig]

Anyone?

[greenlandy]

Boot to your original XP cd and it should find your installation and offer to repair windows.
www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[spitfire-ian]

pwig said:

aldi said:

Could try looking at the installer events in the application log (start/run/eventvwr/OK) to see what these dialogs relate to, and uninstall/reinstall/nuke from orbit whatever it turns out to be.

Right done that and It appears to relate to office 2003 and 'handwritingfile'.


Hmmm... so I got to remove office and this comes up 'This Patch could not be opened. Verify the patch exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid windows installer patch packaged'

Have you tried repairing Office rather than uninstalling it? Insert the Office CD and it's one of the options that comes up along with remove.