Unable to install .Net Framework 4 Beta 2 on 64-bit Windows 7

Question

I have been unable to install the .Net Framework 4 Beta on Windows 7 x64.  Reviewing the log file we see the message

Action: Performing Action on MSI at D:\1fb3200a639e1042d53435393679fef8\netfx_Core_x64.msi
Returning IDOK. INSTALLMESSAGE_ERROR [The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance.]

I have already tried instructions found elsewhere regarding unregistering and reregistering the msiexec.  The service in the Services panel seems to be running.  The path to executable is C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msiexec.exe /V

Any help would be appreaciated.

--Michael

Answer 1

I'd like to take a look at the install logs to narrow down the issue.  Could you collect your .NET Framework 4 setup logs following the instructions at http://blogs.msdn.com/heaths/pages/collect.aspx and post them somewhere we can access? (you can use skydrive.live.com to post the logs).  I'd be happy to take a look to see what has happened.

Thanks,
Robert

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VS/.NET Framework Setup Team

Answer 2

Hi Robert,

I have run the collect.exe program and uploaded the vslog.cab file to my skydrive.  You should be able to get it from this link
http://cid-adb9315d62c661c0.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Public/vslogs.cab

I appreciate your help.

--Michael

Answer 3

Hi Michael,

From the log files, it looks like Windows Installer service is having problem and may not be working correctly on the machine.  Aaron Stebner has a great blog on how to repair the Windows Installer service.  From the logs, it looks like you are on a 64 bit operating system.  if that's the case, please follow Aaron's repair instruction at:

http://blogs.msdn.com/astebner/archive/2006/07/20/673408.aspx

Thanks,
Robert

---

VS/.NET Framework Setup Team

Answer 4

Hello Robert,

I followed Aaron's repair instructions, but to no avail.  The install fails with apparently the same error.  I have re-run the Collect.exe program and uploaded the latest log file to the following link.

http://cid-adb9315d62c661c0.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Public/vslogs%202009-11-10.cab

--Michael

Answer 5

Hello All,

I am still blocked on this issue.  Not able to install the Framework beta. 

Any assistance would be appreciated.

--Michael

Answer 6

Michael,

While I don't really know anything about all this, I am running on a Windows 7 64 ultimate, and under computer management / services the path it shows is:
C:\Windows\system32\msiexec.exe /V

That is, it appears to be running from system32 not sysWow64. Don't know why two different 64-bit installations would differ like this.

This is consistent with what I see in RegEdit:
HKLM / System/ CurrentControlSet / services / msiserver
  ImagePath  =  %systemroot%\system32\msiexec.exe /V

Similarly, other keys under msiserver refer to "system32\msimsg.dll" rather than "sysWow64\msimsg.dll".

I notice on that blog page of Aaron Stebner, that there is a user comment by fadildugolli, that talks about changing one of the keys to use path sysWow64. I'm thinking maybe what he is saying might help you?  Whatever path you have listed in registry to msimsg.dll, check whether the file does exist in that location in your system folder?
(I don't know what the relationship is between that dll and the .exe, but I figure they are both important!)


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Also, if you try to manually Start the installer from the Services window, are you able to do so?

Answer 7

Hello, I really appreciate your input on this matter.  I gave it a try, but no luck yet.  I made the changes to the registry as you mentioned and double-checked it against the comment by fadildugolli.  I believe that it partially worked in that I think the installer got farther along than it did before but ultimately quit with a failed error message.  Investigating the log file shows that it is still complaining about the Windows Installation service.  The service itself seems to be running.  I didn't change any other registry keys except for system32\msiexec.exe to sysWow64\msiexec.exe.