Windows Installer Problems at startup

Gemma32_2

I hope someone can help me with this or at least point me in the right direction. Earlier this week my antivirus software did an automatic update and ever since I have been having problems when I start up my computer. I get a pop up saying windows installer. It tries to install something to do with my CA Personal Firewall but then fails because the network resource is unavailable. The computer goes on to start but the windows installer pop ups continue and have to be stopped by using task manager. I tried to put the computer back to normal using a system restore but this didn't stop the problem and now the pop ups are getting worse and harder to stop and other error messages are popping up.

I would appreciate anyones help or advice. Has anyone else had a problem like this and how did you sort it out?

computerwoman

which anti-virus are you using and have you tried going to windows up-dates.

Gemma32_2

I have CA Security Centre. The first time the error came up it said it was looking for a file called CAPF.msi. I don't know if this information is useful at all. Oh and by pop ups I mean the boxes that say windows installer ... preparing to install ... but they never do anything they just pop up continuously until I stop them with task manager.

computerwoman

it sounds like you have up-dates trying to install but your firewall is blocking it try going into the settings of your firewall and allowing windows installer. then go to start/all programs/windows update. and check for any updates. when they start to downlosd you should get a pop-up from your firewall asking you to either block or allow, just click allow and all should be fine.

Gemma32_2

I can't get into my firewall settings because every time I open anything to do with my CA Security Suite the pop up messages begin again.

Gemma32_2

Windows automatically downloads updates to my computer. After I did the system restore tonight it downloaded and installed the updates successfully.

Gemma32_2

I've done a bit of looking around other techie forums but sometimes the information can be a bit beyond me. Some of them talk about a microsoft installer clean up utility. I'm afraid to run something and mess the computer up further by not knowing what I'm doing or if this is even the right thing to do.

albertross_2

have you tried searching your hard disk for CAPF.msi

Do you have anything like ccleaner running to clean up your temp area?

you could try an do it manually..

http://home3.ca.com/Support/techsupport/iss.aspx#

http://home3.ca.com/Support/AppDocs/PF/UpgradeTo_FirewallR9.aspx?sc_lang=en-US

Gemma32_2

Thanks for suggesting those sites. I found out that there was an automatic update for my firewall on the 22nd of Jan and this obviously hasn't worked properly for me.

Gemma32_2

One question - if I upgrade to version 9 of the firewall I won't be able to remove the previous version. Will that matter? Or would I be better off completly removing the virus software and redownloading the whole lot again and let it do its own automatic updates to bring it up to date?

computerwoman

I still think its a conflict with your firewall and windows installer you could try going to start/control panel/add and remove/ remove windows installer and then see if this stops it, if it does then go back to windows updates and re-install windows installer. hope this helps as I'm running out of ideas unless you format, but that seems extreme