I have a problem right now. I had BOINC 7.4.42 running. I had seen the new version announce when 7.6.9 came out and fought to install it, failed, and put 7.4.42 back up. Today, I saw the 7.6.22 available message and thought I'd have another go. Worse this time, I can't get it to install, and when I try to reinstall 7.4.42 to recover my tasks, that now fails to install. Gives me...

Error 2718 Missing package name for product code
'("extensive hex info")'

... so I tried Windows de-install for BOINC, and THAT fails as well. The net result is that I am not crunching at the moment.

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Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

The error you have isn't a problem with BOINC its installer package but a problem with your Microsoft installer.

Try to re-register the Microsoft Installer service:
Open a Run window (Windows key+R), type cmd and press Enter, type

msiexec /unregister && msiexec /regserver

(note the four spaces) and press Enter. Finally, close the Command Prompt.

Then try to reinstall BOINC.

If the above does not work, Microsoft recommend to run the system file checker.

sfc /SCANNOW

from an elevated command prompt (run as administrator).
See https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929833 for how to do that.

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First option does nothing, or rather, has no effect on the problem. The second one is different, it gets about 10% of the way through then stops with a message saying that files that should be copied into the DLL cache are absent, that I should insert my XP installation disk. I will start looking for it, but have not used it for years, certainly not since before we moved to this house, may be a tricky hunt. I've got a Windows 8.1 install pack, but don't want to install it yet.

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Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

I found my XP Home Edition install disk. put it in the drive and Windows does not recognise it, it gives me a box saying...

The CD you provided is the wrong CD.
Please insert the Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive.

...the disk I have inserted is the only one I have had, it is an MS original with the artwork on the flip side. The only difference is the drive itself, the old CD drive I replaced with a DVD drive several years ago. It does play audio CD's okay. I have no way to proceed without loading the Windows 8.1 system, which, right now, I can't do. I am BOINCless.

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Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

Perhaps Windows Installer Error 1706: Setup cannot find the required files / 1714: older version cannot be removed / BOINC.msi cannot be found / The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable / Error 1325. is not a valid short name would help even though your error code isn't mentioned there.

This is seriously weird. I found out why I couldn't get my XP install disk to work and fixed it. So Jord's sfc ran through, started and stopped the CD a couple of times, and after about 15 minutes, exited. I rebooted, applied a couple of patches that it asked for, then tried to reinstall BOINC. I've never had any trouble installing BOINC older versions, so I started off with BOINC 7.2.42 with VirtualBox as the installer was to hand. THAT failed to install as well. I can't see what is wrong here.

Oddly, it says it can't find BOINC.msi in the Downloads/BOINC directory. I can, and I can run it, it gives me the same fail.

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Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

That's the classic sign of a corrupted MSI cache. What it means is that it can't find the *previous* boinc.msi file, for a version which it thinks it has to *uninstall* as a part of the (automatic) preparation for installing any different version.

You might be able to recover by re-installing exactly the same BOINC version as was most recently running on the machine: Windows (MSI) should detect that, and offer to repair the current installation, instead of going through the uninstall/reinstall cycle. If it does, that should get you past the missing file problem, and you should be able to uninstall fully and install the version you really wanted in the first place.

If that doesn't work, the procedures in the FAQ Juha linked are definitely the ones to follow.

Yes, Richard, progress at last. It is crunching again, 7.6.6, and suprisingly, all of the wu's that were there are still good and not past their return dates, so perhaps I'll set no new tasks and let them all finish before I start trying to get up to date. All the problems started when I tried to install 7.6.9. Thanks mate.

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Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

Yes, Richard, progress at last. It is crunching again, 7.6.6, and suprisingly, all of the wu's that were there are still good and not past their return dates, so perhaps I'll set no new tasks and let them all finish before I start trying to get up to date. All the problems started when I tried to install 7.6.9. Thanks mate.

Yes. "Uninstall" meaning remove programs, but leave data untouched, is by design - just as you wouldn't expect updating your word processor to delete your half-written novel. Glad you're back in familiar territory.

I allowed all current work units to finish, booted the box, re-downloaded the upgraded package, and tried the simple install. I ended up exactly where I was before. Of course, this time I knew how to recover, but the issue remains. I cannot get higher than 7.6.6 to install on this machine.

I am crunching, I don't think I NEED to upgrade, and shall continue as I am currently set.

Unless, of course, someone knows better.

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Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

I allowed all current work units to finish, booted the box, re-downloaded the upgraded package, and tried the simple install. I ended up exactly where I was before. Of course, this time I knew how to recover, but the issue remains. I cannot get higher than 7.6.6 to install on this machine.

I am crunching, I don't think I NEED to upgrade, and shall continue as I am currently set.

Unless, of course, someone knows better.

Sounds like the Registry is very corrupted...
1) Backup your BOINC data folder
2) Download, Install (if you use the installer) & Run CCleaner.exe (as ADMINISTRATOR) from http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/builds making sure you run the Registry Cleaner portion also and use CCleaner to remove old WINDOWS RESTORE POINTS.

Sounds like the Registry is very corrupted...
1) Backup your BOINC data folder
2) Download, Install (if you use the installer) & Run CCleaner.exe (as ADMINISTRATOR) from http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/builds making sure you run the Registry Cleaner portion also and use CCleaner to remove old WINDOWS RESTORE POINTS.

CCleaner propably does the cleaning as professionally as it can be done. Anyway, I have a habit of using also http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm. Sometimes that EFRC seems to find something too, although some of those "extra findings" are pretty much auto-generated back on next reboot. This is not meant to be an advertisement, but http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_defrag/registry_defrag.htm is a good third one. It can be useful to defrag the registry after cleaning... if it was a mess-up from a long time. I've been using those three programs for years (CCleaner the most) and all them are free.

Okay, my work unit queue is cleared again, I'll have a look at this.

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Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

... achieved zero. No change.

I've put 7.6.6 back again. It works, and I can crunch the projects I have.

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Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

Did you ever update to Windows Installer 4.5 on that system?
Did you reinstall it after you ran the system file checker?

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I don't recall. I have just downloaded 4.5 and installed it. I can set no new tasks again and try it, will not be for a few days, it has downloaded a shed load of new work units which I won't risk. This machine is ready for upgrading soon anyway, I'll see what happens, but am no longer concerned, it is crunching, all that matters really.

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Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.

I have tried, unsuccessfully, to find a solution to my install problems, as well.

I ran BOINC under two user names for years without incident. Each time updated software was released, the new software installed without incident. However, several years ago, the new software did not install.

I have tried to remove all references to BOINC and BOINC software on my computer . . . scrub the registry, delete files, wipe folders . . . nothing works.

When I download the install software, I get a dialog box asking for me to insert the BOINC install disk. It does seem to be looking for an MSI file; there was one at one time from the original install but I long ago deleted the old one.

I would love to return to running the programs, crunching data. But I've yet to find anyone with a solution to my problem.

Try the FAQ that Juha linked earlier in this thread. You'll probably want the solution listed as "Step 2".

Richard crashed my party 35 seconds before me. Deleted. :)

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My machine is crunching, I do not try to get it to more advanced versions now. Brien, try to re-install your last working version.

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Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream.