Short of formatting the HDD & doing a clean install of Vista SP2, I can only think of two possible reasons you're having these problems (including the new "Windows Installer" issue): (1) "leftovers" from a preinstalled but not Activate Norton or McAfee free-trial [yes, I know what you told me earlier]; and/or (2) an infection of some kind.
DEALING WITH ANY NORTON AND/OR MCAFEE LEFTOVERS:
1a. Download the Norton Removal Tool, saving it to your desktop: ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe
1b. Download the McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool, saving it to your desktop:http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe
- Close all open applications (i.e., anything with an icon on the taskbar).
- Right-click on the file you saved in #1a above and select Run as Administrator to run the utility. Don't TOUCH your keyboard until the run completes, then reboot.
- Right-click on the file you saved in #1b above and select Run as Administrator to run the utility. Don't TOUCH your keyboard until the run completes, then reboot.
- Reset Windows Update per...
How do I reset Windows Update components?
[Access KB971058 via IE 32-bit only; Run the Fix It in DEFAULT and AGGRESSIVE modes]
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058
- Reboot again.
CHECKING FOR INFECTIONS:
Microsoft PCSafety provides home users (only) with no-charge support in dealing with malware infections such as viruses, spyware (including unwanted software), and adware.
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?&prid=7552&st=1
Also available via the Consumer Security Support home page: https://consumersecuritysupport.microsoft.com/
Otherwise...
- See if you can download/run the MSRT manually: http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
NB: Run the FULL scan, not the QUICK scan! You may need to download the MSRT on a non-infected machine, then transfer MRT.EXE to the infected machine and rename it to SCAN.EXE before running it.
2a. WinXP => Run the Windows Live Safety Center's 'Protection' scan (only!) in Safe Mode with Networking, if need be:http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm
2b. Vista or Win7=> Run this scan instead: http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/whatsnew.htm
- Now post the requested logs in an appropriate forum for assistance by an expert in such matters. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!!
I can recommend the expert assistance offered in these forums: http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0, http://www.spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5, http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup, http://www.bluetack.co.uk/forums/index.php, and http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30
Repost: **ALTERNATELY, YOU COULD JUST DO NOTHING**...if everything on your computer's working OK [the HP update aside}. If a Windws Update isn't a security update, you may not need it. If you install an application which depends on a certain
.NET Framework version and the version isn't already installed, the application will install it.
NB: I'd be able to provide much better guidance if I knew what .NET Framework versionss were installed*before* you ran any cleanup tools.
* * *
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) ~ MS MVP (IE, Mail, Security, Windows & Update Services) since 2002 ~ Disclaimer: MS MVPs neither represent nor work for Microsoft