Whenever a try to install a program — ANY program, not just one from Miscrosoft — or open Explorer, I immediately receive a “Preparing to install” message, which, after some delay, is followed by the following message:
“The patch package could not be opened. Verify that the patch package exists and that you can access it, or contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows Installer patch package.”
If I cancel the original message — which takes some time — or click OK for the second, the installation stops but Explorer eventually opens.
I have tried every suggested / posted remedy that could find — downloading a later version of MS Installer, running “msiexec.exe /unregister” and “msiexec.exe. /regserver” from a command line, installing Windows Installer Cleanup Utility (the warning with which make it seem very scary to use).
I am attempting to migrate to a new computer and am all but totally hamstrung. I would be most appreciative of any guidance.
Gordon Schochet
schochet@rci.rutgers.edu
