Hi,
I have this weird problem, some programs after the setup file finishes installing them, the program appears as if it's not installed,,,, i go check the "Program Files" folder and i don't find the program's directory, i click on the setup file again & after it finishes the program is still not there

Some programs? But not all? Any similarity in these programs? Are these P2P programs? Kazza? etc.?
Are you shutting down all other programs during install?

Do the Startup Icons or shortcuts install? Do the programs appear under All Programs & or Add/ Remove programs?
Any error messages anywhere? Are these online downloads or CD? Compressed downloads?


...

yes some programs, till now it happened 3 times, there is no similarity between them (Nokia Suite, Tribes: Vengence demo, StuffIt) they're not P2P programs and yes i do shut all the other programs even Norton Antivirus....

No the Startup Icons and/or shortcuts don't get installed, nothing gets installed... They don't appear under All Programs nor Add/Remove programs... In "Nokia Suite" & "Tribes: Vengence" at the end it says "Setup is interrupted" but in "StuffIt" the setup ends without any error messages, they're not online downloads nor CD, and also not Compressed downloads... I hope I answered all your Q's

they're not online downloads nor CD, and also not Compressed downloads

what is the source of the program?

Have you tried installing in Safe Mode? (may or may not work; depending on program).

Also do a search for the program & delete any files that might have got on your system.

Also clean the installer:

Start/run services.msc, scroll down to "Windows Installer" and double click
it. Stop the service if it is running, set the startup type line to
disabled. Click apply/ok and reboot.

Delete the contents of the temp folders, there may be a file in there
interfering with the setup routine of the installer. Get both:

C:\Windows\temp
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\local settings\temp

Now reverse the first set of steps and reenable the Windows Installer (You
can just set the startup type to manual). Reboot.

Turn off all other running programs, especially your antivirus software. Use
ctrl+shift+escape, if necessary, to "end task" on everything.

Now retry installing some software.

OR Also try this utility:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;290301

Originally Posted by jephree

what is the source of the program?

It's ".EXE" so i guess compressed....

Start/run services.msc, scroll down to "Windows Installer" and double click it. Stop the service if it is running, set the startup type line to disabled. Click apply/ok and reboot.

the service was already stopped

However, i tried all what u said but nothin worked plus whenever i go 2 safe mode after i click on my user name the PC restarts,,,, and i intalled "Windows Install Clean Up" but i don't know how to use it

When i try the setup files on my house-mates PCs they work, so that means they're not corrupted

Originally Posted by ThuG_PoeT

It's ".EXE" so i guess compressed....

setup.exe ? But my question is where did it come from? For example Nokia Suite; do you have the CD? or did you download from the web site?

Originally Posted by ThuG_PoeT

the service was already stopped

Is it set to "Manual"?

Originally Posted by ThuG_PoeT

However, i tried all what u said but nothin worked plus whenever i go 2 safe mode after i click on my user name the PC restarts,,,,

Are you logged on as the Administrator?

Try from Msconfig. Start/Run, type msconfig, click OK. Click Boot.Ini tab,
check /SAFEBOOT. When you restart you should be in safe mode.
Of course, it will continue to start in safe mode until you uncheck it.

A point about Safe Mode is that it bypasses loading regular Windows
drivers, to use basic ones; especially for the Video. So it sounds very
possible that one of these basic driver files is damaged, and only
causes trouble when used - in Safe Mode.

So refresh the system files - have the CD in the drive in advance,
exiting auto-run, then go to Start - Run and run
SFC /SCANNOW

Originally Posted by ThuG_PoeT

and i intalled "Windows Install Clean Up" but i don't know how to use it

If you see any of your problem programs listed in the Installer List; Remove them.

Originally Posted by ThuG_PoeT

When i try the setup files on my house-mates PCs they work, so that means they're not corrupted

Again; are you using a CD? or the Internet?

setup.exe ? But my question is where did it come from? For example Nokia Suite; do you have the CD? or did you download from the web site?

I downloaded all 3 from the internet

Is it set to "Manual"?

Yes

Are you logged on as the Administrator?

Yes

If you see any of your problem programs listed in the Installer List; Remove them.

None of them is there

just to clarify:

your windows installer service is set to manual?

also:

were you able to get into safe mode? (via boot.ini)

have you run a Search on these programs & deleted all finds?

Yes the windows installer service is set to manual...
but since i dont have the Win XP cd i can't fix the basic driver files, so i can't go 2 safe mode....

http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html