msiexec.exe

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Can anyone help with my 'msiexec' problem. Basically, I cannot uninstall or install Microsoft software (eg: Office). I get the 'MSIEEXEC has performed an illegal operation' message,details of which are as follows:

MSIEXEC caused an invalid page fault in
module CTLLC.DLL at 0167:61c05319.
Registers:
EAX=0075dee4 CS=0167 EIP=61c05319 EFLGS=00010202
EBX=00000000 SS=016f ESP=0075de88 EBP=0075dea8
ECX=00000004 DS=016f ESI=00000078 FS=21af
EDX=00000001 ES=016f EDI=ffffffff GS=0000
Bytes at CS:EIP:
66 83 39 00 8d 41 02 74 0a 66 8b 10 40 40 66 85
Stack dump:
61c04d37 00000004 00000000 00000078 00000000 00000001 00000004 61c04f17 0075debc 61c04f34 0075dee4 817c38d6 0075defc 0075deec 004d1844 fffffffe
(I can't understand any of this, but really want to sort this out as my Office installation needs re-installing!)
I've downloaded the Installer 2.0 package from Microsoft, but when I try to run 'instmsi', I get the same 'Illegal Operation' message. Any help will be very gratefully received.
Many thanks,
Ian
PS: I am running Win98SE, ver.4.10.2222A

I'd start by running the system file checker. Sounds like something's corrupt. (http://ask-leo.com/archives/000074.html ). And spyware and virus scan as well, naturally.

When I attempt to install Mcafee Internet Security software, I get a prompt to stop the MsiExec.exe script from running. What should I do?

I'd need to see the exact text of the message.

i'm having the same problem - when trying to install a newly purchased copy of mcafee internet security software, my symantec norton antivirus software stops the process, and prompts me to stop MsiExec.exe from running:

------
alert: malicious script detected
object: filesystem object
activity: getfile

your computer is halted and needs to do something about this script

file: msiexec.exe

what do you want to do?

action:

stop this script
allow this activity once
allow the entire script once
quarantine this script
authorize this script
-------

i'm figuring it's just norton being pissy, but want to make sure before i allow the script to run.

A agree. I'd like it run.

i did let it run, but the mcafee install still wouldn't work. in fact the whole thing turned into quite a mess - i had to uninstall, not just disable, norton for the mcafee install to to run and even then it ended up hanging at the end and freezing my system up - and upon reboot only the antivirus part of the app had installed, not the firewall, etc.

i ended up deleting absolutely everything related to both mcafee and norton including any and all traces of both apps from my registry, rebooted and started fresh with the mcafee install, which ran and installed without a hitch.

if it were for any other sort of app besides antivirus/firewall i would have tossed the whole thing aside, vowing to never use either company's products again.

I installed some software called DVDEO Professional. I thought I had then completely uninstalled it but I must have missed something.
Whenever I reboot the PC Windows Installer (msiexec.exe) automatically tries to reload it. It fails of course because it's not there.
It also tries to do this on the back of other software when it's loading. If I don't cancel msiexec.exe quickly it also cancels the legit software.
How can I stop msiexec.exe doing this?

Tracy: you just encountered an argument for a router instead of a software firewall :-). I don't run either of those products, but have a LinkSys router acting as my firewall.

Rob: I'd check to see what's automatically runnign at start up, and the disable the offending instance of msiexec. This article talks about windows startup programs:
http://ask-leo.com/archives/000025.html

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