"Windows Installer Cannot be Accessed"

[[email protected]]

I'm running Windows XP, Version 2002, service pack 2. First let me say.
I did something I shouldn't have. Lately every time I opened MSWord it
would try to reinstall itself. I did some searching on the net and was
refered to this page:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

I downloaded and installed item #94 -Windows Installer Fix. My problem
with MSWord went away. So far so good. Then later in the day Norton
Antivirus failed to perform a live update. When I tried to install
their Autofix tool to troubleshoot the problem, I got a message that
"Windows Installer could not be accesed". I then contacted
Symantec/Norton and they persuaded me to uninstall and reinstall my
Norton Antivirus pogram. The uninstallation was successful, but when I
tried to reinstall I got the "Windows Installer could not be accesed"
message again. I guess that I have disabled Windows Installer and now
am unable to install any programs (apparently a lot) that require it.
Can anyone offer me some help. Thanks in advance.

Howard

[JS]

Try this:
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_reinstall_the_windows_i.htm

Also:
Common Windows Installer Problems
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=555175

JS

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> I'm running Windows XP, Version 2002, service pack 2. First let me say.
> I did something I shouldn't have. Lately every time I opened MSWord it
> would try to reinstall itself. I did some searching on the net and was
> refered to this page:
>
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
>
> I downloaded and installed item #94 -Windows Installer Fix. My problem
> with MSWord went away. So far so good. Then later in the day Norton
> Antivirus failed to perform a live update. When I tried to install
> their Autofix tool to troubleshoot the problem, I got a message that
> "Windows Installer could not be accesed". I then contacted
> Symantec/Norton and they persuaded me to uninstall and reinstall my
> Norton Antivirus pogram. The uninstallation was successful, but when I
> tried to reinstall I got the "Windows Installer could not be accesed"
> message again. I guess that I have disabled Windows Installer and now
> am unable to install any programs (apparently a lot) that require it.
> Can anyone offer me some help. Thanks in advance.
>
> Howard
>