Summary: Windows Installer can get into a state where it attempts to run on every reboot. There's a free tool that can help clean up Windows Installer.
On my 2004 HPa430n (Win XP SP2), "Windows Installer" launches at start up, trying to install a Fax. When it can find the installation file it wants, the next window requests you insert the Fax disk in the CD drive. The Source box has the numeral 1 in it. When you click Browse the filename box contains "fax.msi".
In Task Manager > Processes two instances of msiexec.exe are running. One belongs to SYSTEM, the other to Owner. When I try to "Cancel" out of the installer, msiexec chews up all my CPU time. When I use Task Manager > Applications > "End Task" the task named Fax, the installer is killed (msiexec.exe Owner) until the next time you boot or re-boot.
Neither HP nor MS offer a solution. Ad-aware, RegCure, Xoftspy and eTrust haven't helped. No other weirdness obvious to me.
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It's deja vu all over again for me. I had a very similar problem - whenever I tried to scan something, upon completion, Windows Installer would run attempting to install some additional HP software component. Cancelling that worked ok, but it was an annoyance I had to face with every scan.
And it's an annoyance many people face with every reboot.
The good news is that there's a free tool that might help.
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The Windows Installer CleanUp Utility is a free download from the Microsoft support web site. Its job is very, very simple.
Caution: its job is simple, but let's be clear about its job before we go any further. It is not an uninstaller. The correct way to uninstall software is to use the Add/Remove programs utility in Control Panel, or the uninstall program that accompanied the software. The Windows Installer CleanUp Utility is a last resort utility for cleaning up issues related to Windows Installer. It does not actually install, or uninstall, any software.
When you run the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility, it presents a list - typically a long list - of items known to the Microsoft Installer:
These are all various components that the Windows Installer service knows about.
Now, backup. First. We're about to make changes to your system, and if something gets screwed up, you'll want to be able to recover, right?
In your case, we'll scan the list looking for something that appears to be FAX related, and something that matches any additional clues you might be seeing from the Microsoft Installer messages on your reboot. For example if it's HP Fax software that the installer is looking for, then look for HP Fax related software in the cleanup utility.
Once you're certain you've found the right thing ... remove it.
Now reboot, and see if that didn't make the problem go away. In many cases if you've selected the correct item it will.
If you then actually do want to install or reinstall the software in question, you'll need to start from scratch with a clean install of that particular package.
Related:
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Ask Leo! - Why do I get "Window Installer, Preparing to install" each time I boot Windows?
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Ask Leo! - What's all this stuff running after I boot Windows?
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Microsoft - Windows Installer CleanUp Utility
Article C2686 - June 12, 2006
i installed errorfix in my computor two days ago,
Posted by: clyde henderson at March 26, 2009 3:18 PMi still have the same problem with windows install trying to load fax
I used Windows Installer CleanUp Utility and found 2 items that should not have been there so I removed them. After a restart windows installer did not show up, my problem was also when I right clicked on anything on the desk top windows installer would start, but no more
Posted by: John Perry at June 16, 2009 3:21 PMBEWARE of registry mechanic. I used it for a long time till it became the cause of the dreaded blue screen. the result total reinsatall of XP pro along with the long long reinstall of all updates.
Posted by: Brian Bevan at June 16, 2009 6:35 PMI emailed Reg Mech under my subscription for help but they did not even respond to any messages. They took my money and ran.
So why all the praise?
I also had the problem of Windows XP Installer coming up on restart and asking for the file "fax.msi" on both my PC's. I have an all-in-one HP 2610 printer. Problem started with Iolo System Mechanic 8.0; specifically the Registry Cleaners/Defragmenters. Leo's suggestion of Windows Installer Cleanup Utility aka."mscicuu2.exe" doesn't even run as his screen prints show. I ran that program and... nothing. The screen just sat there as if I clicked nothing. Take out your registry "cleaner" and reinstall your HP printer software and don't use registry cleanup/ defrag software. I still use System Mechanic 8.0 on both PC's, but not the registry tools. Leo's suggestion did not work in my case, yours may be different.
Posted by: Michael Winsko at July 26, 2009 1:46 PMThis seems applicable so I'll try it, but I am not sure. Cookie Spook, an application that eats some cookies, I once had on my system. Well, I installed it from time to time, and uninstalled, it.
Now, every time I run Firefox or restart the computer, or just about anything, Cookie Spook tries to install.
Yes I have deleted all of it from the system, even using the Revo uninstaller, and have no idea how the installer that doesn't exist is running, to then not find a component in the folder the installer was in....I think it should just come up with a banner "welcome to Microsoft's version of a product ready for sale to the public" as that seems more appropriate to so many of these errors, many of which have been here since windows 95, 98, etc. I'd buy 7 if not for Vista and this type of ongoing error from 95 to XP. I have little faith in issues being fixed that seem to persist even when Microsoft revamps the engine.
Posted by: Bill Thompson at February 1, 2010 11:09 AM