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Stack Exchange
Stack Exchange
21:29
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A: How to find and delete multiple Windows registry entries?

Doktoro ReichardLike I said in the comment, you can delete registry keys all you want, either using the command prompt, or manually with Regedit. Now, the big problem is your first point. Find all keys, values, and data containing "something". Unless you were monitoring / auditing the registry when y...

Sammy
Sammy
Don't mind newer versions of Windows, this problem is on Windows XP. So that suits me nicely. It's XP Pro SP3.
The program I removed was Microsoft Office 2007. I didn't want to uninstall it. But after installing a newer version of Windows Installer (from 3.0 to 3.1) and then SP3 (with bundled Windows Installer 4.5) the problem arose. Basically all MSI or Windows Installer based programs started misbehaving. When I would log on to Windows I would get a "Windows Installer" dialog box "preparing to install" and it would say the "network resource" is unavailable. It looked similar to this one! If I clicked Cancel it would come up again.
I had to kill the process to get out of this loop. Then another program, "Logitech Communication Manager" would start messing with me. If I tried to use the uninstaller for any of the two programs, it would bring me the "installer" instead. So it was like stuck, trying to install something, from a "network resource" supposedly???... I couldn't take it anymore, so I had to forcefully kill them both! I don't care for any of them. I did try to follow different Microsoft KB articles, this one among others. But to no avail...
Doktoro Reichard
Doktoro Reichard
That being said, the problem might not even have to do with registry settings. Had you any reason to suspect that? If not, why not post another question detailing your real problem. It might attract people that might know a way to solve it. Also relevant is whether it only happens with that MATLAB .msi or everything in general.
Sammy
Sammy
So that was the background. No, Matlab MSI file is no my problem. I posted the link to someone elses screenshot. Just to showcase the type of dialog box/prompt I was getting. Mine had something to do with Logiteche Communication Manager, and the other one was Office 2007 related.
Doktoro Reichard
Doktoro Reichard
Like I said, your original question is misleading. With this solved, post another question detailing all this you have said. The problem might not be registry related.
Sammy
Sammy
Alright, will do. Just to confirm, the Reg Query command can only display the values inside a key? It cannot do a value search or a data search in e.g. a root key á la RegEdit style?
Doktoro Reichard
Doktoro Reichard
21:29
It can, but you would need to know the path beforehand, which would give you a lot of trouble.
Sammy
Sammy
If you care to read, here is the new question I just posted.

http://superuser.com/questions/647241/how-do-i-get-rid-of-this-windows-installer-error
Doktoro Reichard
Doktoro Reichard
I read it. Best thing I could say to you was to check startup files and msconfig.
That particular problem was quite common on my old secondary school, because all computers were installed from within a network. Don't know how it relates to a home user.
Sammy
Sammy
I did download and install what is called "Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers".
Right here: microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=24
I was very suspicious about that "network installation package" part of the name.
So much so, that I consulted other SU users in the Root Access chatroom.
in Root Access, 10 hours ago, by Sammy
@JourneymanGeek Yeah, I found that one, but it says "Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers".
in Root Access, 10 hours ago, by Journeyman Geek
It just has an arse backwards name.
Could this still be the reason why I am having this problem now?
This got me thinking now... wondering if it wasn't a wrong EXE file for SP3 for XP that I have installed.
Microsoft instructions for this download were dull.

"Click the Download button on this page to start the download, or choose a different language from the drop-down list and click Go.

To copy the download to your computer for installation at a later time, click Save or Save this program to disk.

To start the installation immediately, click Open or Run this program from its current location."
They do say this:

"DO NOT CLICK DOWNLOAD IF YOU ARE UPDATING JUST ONE COMPUTER: A smaller, more appropriate download is now available on Windows Update. The best way to ensure you get Windows XP Service Pack 3 is by turning on the Automatic Updates feature in Windows XP. You can use our step-by-step instructions or, if you prefer, let us do it for you."

There are two links in this last text. One takes you to "Safety & Security Center". The other takes you to "We are sorry, the page you requested cannot be found."
They are sorry... right.

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