Windows Questions and Answers - Windows Installer Pop Up Message

Craig writes in with a Windows question:
Question:When I open internet explorer or outlook express, the windows installer will pop up and hang for at least 1 minute. Sometime the program that I am trying to open will not work. How do I get it to stop?

Answer: Does it say anything about inserting a CD for a particular program or any other message? Its most likely from an application not being installed properly or missing something. Did you install anything new or do any Windows updates recently? If it is asking for the CD you should be able to put it in and let it finish its thing and you should be ok.

Do you have Microsoft Office installed? If so do you use the Office Shortcut Bar? If so, close it and run Internet Explorer again, let it install and re-open the shortcut bar. If it says something about installing Office you can check out this link.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q265194

It may also be related to Norton Antivirus or Internet Security? Did you recently install or uninstall it or any other programs?

You can try installing and running the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility from Microsoft.

After you run it look on the list for any programs you no longer have installed and then remove them.

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