Monday, July 14, 2014

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:
    STARTRun ➨ 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:
    STARTRun ➨ 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 2nd 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

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