Troubleshooting Error Message 2908 (Msiexec) on Windows XP

This happened few horses, hours ago
I was trying to upgrade my Google App Engine SDK on my sweet Windows XP SP3, and boom, all of the sudden, package error, code 2908.
I tried to close the error message, but there it was, it couldn't be closed without using CTRL+ALT+DEL brute force.
Then of course, I tried to install it again, and BOOM, package error, code 2908.
I tried like, more than three times.
And booom, I wanted to punch something.

I knew that the msi package from Google Developers wouldn't have error in it, just a hunch. Mainly because the download was complete, and the metadata of that file was very clear.

So, what I did, I searched on the internet about troubleshooting the msiexec.

FYI, my computor is quite old and has some hardware bugs. That's just how I party.

Anyway

Good news, everyone!

I found a super sweet blog that covers all about Windows troubleshooting, you'll see the link below this post.

I've tried it, and it fixed everything.

---

Let me quote the steps the author wrote

Re-install the Windows installer

• Go to your command prompt. On Windows XP, it will be:
  START ➨ Run ➨ then type cmd.
• On the command prompt, go to your system32 folder of the Windows installation directory:
  cd %windir%\system32 ➨ hit ENTER.
• Then clear the dllcache folder:
  Type attrib -r -s -h dllcache ➨ hit ENTER.

  Info:

  ---

  • -r : clears the read-only file attribute
  • -s : clears the system file attribute
  • -h : clears the hidden file attribute
  • dllcache : the target folder to be cleared

• Rename the current msi.dll file:
  Type ren msi.dll msi.old ➨ hit ENTER.
• Rename the current msiexec.exe file:
  Type ren msiexec.exe msiexec.old ➨ hit ENTER.
• Rename the current msi handler msihnd.dll file:
  Type ren msihnd.dll msihnd.old ➨ hit ENTER.
• Exit from command prompt:
  Type exit ➨ hit ENTER.
• RESTART the computor.
• Download the Windows installer from Windows (free):
  http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8483 ➨ install it on your machine.
• RESTART the computor.

Install any msi you have.

---

If it's still throwing error, then

Clear the system registry

• Go to system registry:
  START ➨ Run ➨ type regedit.
• Find the:

  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
  ↳ SOFTWARE
  ↳↳ Microsoft
  ↳↳↳ Windows
  ↳↳↳↳ CurrentVersion
  ↳↳↳↳↳ Installer
  ↳↳↳↳↳↳ UserData
  ↳↳↳↳↳↳↳ S-1-5-21-1123561945-1935655697-1060284298-1003
  ↳↳↳↳↳↳↳↳ Components
  ↳↳↳↳↳↳↳↳↳ AD95649F068525549B26938D7D18FEA7

  If it's there, then delete the folder with everything in it.
• Close the Registry Editor
• RESTART the computor.

Then install again any msi you have.

---

I actually just:

1. Cleared the dllcache.
2. Renamed the msi thingies and without re-installing the new Windows installer
3. Continued with deleting the old registry key there on the 2^nd step.
4. Then RESTART-ed the computor.

Everything works normally afterward.

So the it depends on your current system setting or sumthin.
Some might need to completely re-install the Windows Installer package.

---

If it's STILL throwing error, then
Check (scan) whether your system contains some computor virus. Some viruses interrupt package installation. Use neat antivirus like Avast! or McAfee or Norton.
I use Avast! by the way. Uh huh, with the exclamation mark. It's splendid.

---

If it's STILL throwing error again, then
You should consider to re-install the Windows Operating System.

---

Reference

• Windows Error Helps: "Troubleshoot and fix Windows Installer error 2908 quickly" post
• Attrib documentation for Windows XP