Windows Installer Problem and Generic Host Process

Something has hijacked your system...try running something like Super Anti-Spyware (free).

It could be a virus like swwench suggested, but there are other reasons that this can happen.

The one that I have seen the most are registry errors. Sometimes because of substandard install/uninstall programs, that don't clean up after themselves properly. Or an install/uninstall got interrupted, and left an artifact behind, that makes windows installer thinks it needs to do an install/uninstall.

Try doing a search for "registry error". My search turned up a lot of hits the first of which was http://www.pctools.com/registry-mechanic/?ref=ov&utm_source=ov&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=registry-mechanic&OVRAW=%22registry%20error%22&OVKEY=registry%20error&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=34368948512&OVKWID=242795813012

No affiliation on my part: Usual disclaimer goes here<>.

I agree...registry error is probably the problem...I responded too quick! Just be careful when editing the registry. You can also search the knowledge base on Microsoft for "windows installer error", I know I've done it before and the solution actually worked!

YOU GOT THAT WORM !

A couple of questions...

What are you booting from? Your hard drive or a CD or something else?

What version of Windows are you running?

Are you running a genuine copy of Microsoft Windows? Over the last year or so, Microsoft has become really nasty about pirated software. If it isn't a genuine copy, they know it and could "potentially" mess it up.

i have just uninstall xp service pack 2 from the c drive and reinstall fresh copy. but it gives the same error after and before reinstallation. I have formatted C drive only in which xp was already installed to reinstall the xp service pack 2. other drives are as it is.

OK. One more question... Why did you un-install XP from your drive? How did you do this? By formatting your C drive???

Also, do you have a CD that contains XP, and is it in an installable format - can you boot from the CD containing XP to start the install process?

i reinstall system because xp (system) after restarting and reaching on desktop, it does not respond many times and also "MSPAINT' AND CALCULATOR are missing in the system because RUN does give error that "specified application does not exists". so i have reinstalled it from bootable xp cd of service pack 2.

it has just showed the same error message of generic host process during reply to your question ( at moment ). means it shows error every time i reboot. and also one MORE PROBLEM that i cant not play mp3 file with any player but when i restart the pc it play after that.. so what is the problems...please help....it all depend on your valuable respond and reply which will sure help me in my problem....thanking you....

The way you worded that, it sounds as if you deleted XP, and are now trying to reinstall it with an XP Service Pack 2 CD. If this is true, then you're in trouble! A Service Pack 2 CD does not contain the entire XP operating system. It contains only stuff that Microsoft wanted to add to XP.

So, you don't have an actual copy of XP!!!

If you reformatted & reinstalled the operating system, then the only reason for those files to be missing is a bad boot cd.

Are you sure you reinstalled the operating system? There are 3 options when you boot from the cd: 1. Repair an existing copy of windows (I've never seen this one help anything). 2. A complete install - this will erase your currently installed operating system. 3. Install another copy of windows - this does not get rid of the old copy; it becomes a multiboot system.

Microsoft apparently knows they have issues with bad installs, because they have a utility for fixing partial/failed installations. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301 to review & download.

Although the utility should fix the problem with Windows Installer, it won't create missing files. f you have a bad CD, as Kilowatt0 suggests, you'll still have to get those missing files, or live without those functions.

thank you for your reply

Cloud hosting basically means instead of your usual one server based hosting, it uses many servers to keep data running across them, meaning if one goes down then your site doesnt, its faster and more efficient and i have just launched a eco friendly cloud hosting service so im keeping my fingers crossed it becomes popular.