Access Runtime Installation problem with "msi" file

Question

I've built an Access database and am trying to use Runtime to distribute it. I have a laptop that I'm using to test this process with Windows 7 Home. I had an earlier version of the database that I managed to run on that computer, but only after I'd gotten a message that said "Can't locate the msi file specifice in C;\Path\FILES\SETUP\setup.INI", had gone in through "Start", typed "?run" then scrolled to "Run" and typed in "msiexec". After I clicked on OK, I was able to go back and install the database.

Now I've made some adjustments. I went back to my laptop, UNINSTALLED the program, and then tried to install a new program. I got the same error message about the msi file. Even though I've rerun the msiexec, I keep getting this message.

Anyone have a clue on how to solve this problem?  Thanks in advance for ANY help you can give me.

Answer 1

Back again with more information for those who might read this later.  I've discovered another thing about "msi" problems. Apparently the "msiexec" file can become "fragmented" and won't work until you (or in my case, my users) have defragmented your computer.

Defragging is always a good thing to do on a fairly regular basis, but it's just one more solution to the problem of working with Access Runtime and the msiexec.

Happy computing!

Answer 2

Hi. It's me again. I have managed to solve this problem and so I'm posting my own answer in the hope that others may be spared the struggle in the future.

Strangely, the error message I was receiving was not telling me the exact truth. The solution to the problem was that I needed to uninstall TWO programs instead of just the Access Runtime database I had built and installed. I also needed to uninstall "Microsoft Access Runtime" from the computer before I could install the new version of the database packaged with Runtime.

Later, even this process began to fail. When it does, I've discovered there's something called "Fix It" programs available free of charge at

support.microsoft.com/fixit

One of these programs just fixes problems with installing and uninstalling. Thanks Microsoft!