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Windows Installer during startup

Whenever I start my notebook, I get a message box saying «Windows Installer — Preparing to Install». It then proceeds to install something called TrayApp because the next message box I get will say «Please wait while Windows configures TrayApp». If I don’t do anything, it just continues re-starting itself and never goes beyond this point. If I cancel, it will attempt the same thing with the following: C4580, HP Product Assistant, MarketResearch, HP Photosmart Essential, and then Status.

Cancelling out of each one does not resolve the issue because it will begin all over again. Then, after I have cancelled for about 3 minutes, it stops.

I have an HP Pavilion dv7 running Windows Vista SP 2.

Dave1313,
Thank you for visiting the Microsoft Answers community forum.

It sounds like some custom application from HP that keeps trying to install but never completes so it keeps trying on each startup. It could be having difficulty installing due to your security software or settings, or the setup file could be corrupt. You can try to figure out why it is not installing and help it finish installing, or you can just stop it from trying to install.

To stop it from trying to install:
To start the system configuration utility (msconfig):
Click Start, and then type msconfig in the Start Search box.
In the Programs section, click Msconfig.exe.
On the Startup tab you will have to look for the application that keeps trying to start and uncheck the box next to it. This takes it out of the startup so it will not run each time Windows starts.

To try and find out what is keeping it from installing, do a clean boot:
How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Let us know if you still need help.
Thank you,
Gloria
Microsoft Answers Support Engineer
Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

How to launch application at logon/startup

If you always open the same programs after starting your computer, you might find it convenient to have them start automatically when the Windows starts. The following article explains how to launch the application at startup, when the user logon.

To achieve this, you can use two approaches:

1. Using a shortcut

Create a shortcut as explain in the create shortcut article and place it in the Start Menu -> Startup folder. For details, please check the Paths of the folders in the «Files and Folders» Page article.

The next time you start Windows, the program will run automatically.

The installer sets the StartupFolder property to the full path of the Startup folder. If a per-machine installation will be performed, then the shortcut will be available for all users. That means at each logon of any users, the application will start since it is placed in a public location:

If a per-user installation will be performed, then the shorcut will be available only for the user that installed the application. The StartupFolder property being set with the following value:

You can set the installation type, per-user or per-machine in the Install Parameters view.

2. Using a scheduled task

You can launch your application when the user logon using a scheduled task. In the Scheduled Tasks page and add the application from your project to the Windows Task Scheduler.

Using the [ New Task ] toolbar button or the “New Task” context menu item, the Edit Task dialog will be displayed allowing you to specify the task settings. In the Schedule tab you can specify the task to be executed at user logon. For this, you can select the At Logon option from the drop-down list.

Unable to start and change the startup type of Windows Installer service and Unable to install a program

I am using Win 8.1. It was working find until a few days ago. I didn’t install or do anything different to the computer. I was trying to install a new program and it would not install. It just sat there doing nothing. I did some investigation and research and discovered that the Windows Installer maybe the problem.

Looking in the Services, Windows Installer is in Manual mode, not running, can’t be started and can’t be changed to automatic. I tried using most of the fixes I have found here but to no avail. Any ideas?

Original Title: Windows Installer

It would be great if you can answer these questions for a better understanding of this issue.

1) What is the name of the program that you are trying to install on the computer?

2) What exactly happens when you try to start and change the startup type of the “Windows Installer” service on the computer?

3) Do you get any error message? If yes, then what is the exact error message that you get?

4) Do you get any third part security program installed on the computer?

I would suggest you to try the following methods and check if that resolves the issue.

Method 1: Unregister and Re-register the Windows Installer Service

a) Press “Windows Logo” + “X” keys on the keyboard.

b) Select “Command Prompt (Admin)” from the menu.

c) In the Command Prompt windows, type the following commands, one by one and then press “Enter” after each command.

msiexec.exe /unregister

msiexec.exe /regserver

d) Check if the command were processed successfully on the computer.

e) If it was successfully processed, then type “Exit” and press “Enter”.

Now, check the status of the “Windows Installer” service from “Services.msc”. If that doesn’t help, then try the next method to check if this is caused by any system file corruption or any other integrity issues on the computer.

Method 2: Run an SFC Scan

The “sfc /scannow” command scans all protected system files and replaces incorrect versions with correct Microsoft versions.

a) Press “Windows Logo” + “X” keys on the keyboard and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” from that menu.

b) On the command prompt window, type the following command, and then press “Enter”

sfc /scannow

c) Follow the on-screen instructions and complete the scan.

For more information, you may refer to the article given below:

Windows Installer Running At Start Up

You are facing this issue because of the startup programs on your computer. Once your computer starts the startup items are loaded. One of the startup items is initiating an install. We need to follow a clean boot procedure in order to find out which startup item is causing the issue. Please follow the steps below for clean boot procedure:

1. Log on to the computer by using an account that has administrator rights.

2. Click Start Collapse this imageExpand this imag , type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER to start the System Configuration Utility. Collapse this imageExpand this im If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type your password, or click Continue .

3. On the General tab, click Selective Startup , and then click to clear the Load startup items check box. (The Use Original Boot.ini check box is unavailable.)

Note Following this step lets Microsoft services continue to run. These services include Networking, Plug and Play, Event Logging, Error Reporting, and other services. If you disable these services, you may permanently delete all restore points. Do not do this if you want to use the System Restore utility together with existing restore points.

4. Click OK , and then click Restart .

Determine whether the problem returns

Enable half of the Startup items

1. Perform a clean boot by repeating step

a. Click the Startup tab, and then click to select half of the check boxes in the Startup Item list.

b. Click OK , and then click Restart .

If the problem still occurs, repeat step 1 and step 4. In step 4, click to clear half of the check boxes that you originally selected in the Startup Item list.

If the problem does not occur, repeat step 1 and step 4. In step 4, select only half of the remaining check boxes that are cleared in the Startup Item list. Repeat these steps until you have selected all the check boxes.

If only one startup item is selected in the Startup Item list, and you still experience the problem, the startup item that is selected in the list is the service that is causing the problem.

Resolve the problem

After you determine the startup item or the service that causes the problem, contact the program manufacturer to determine whether the problem can be resolved. Or, run the System Configuration Utility, and then click to clear the check box for the problem item.

Reset the computer to start as usual

After you have finished troubleshooting, follow these steps to reset the computer to start as usual:

a. Click Start Collapse this image Expand this image , type msconfig.exe in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER. Collapse this image Expand this image If you are

b. prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type your password, or click Continue .

On the General tab, click the Normal Startup option, and then click OK .

c. When you are prompted to restart the computer, click Restart .

You can also follow the link below for the KB article: