Can't install MSSE anymore...

This morning MSSE greeted me with the orange box, asking for an update, but the update failed. So I completely unsinstalled MSSE, and re-downloaded the full installation package from Microsoft. However, the install fails every time, with an installer error 0x80070643. I browsed the web for solutions, but none of them seem to apply, or work. Most interestingly, if I check the installation log files, the installation log has no error messages in it at all, and ends with a "installation successful message". However, right after the installer then runs the uninstaller, so I never get MSSE working on my system.

Anybody have any ideas what could be wrong?

 

I have been getting sporadic update definition (internet connection failed messages) failures. But, now it's working as supposed to.
I will advice you to delete all the MSE related files in all the folders (Program files, App data, common files, etc, and use Ccleaner to delete any superficial registry entries). Then install MSE.

 

I can't install Microsoft Security Essentials

Step 1: Remove any existing Internet security programs

1. In Windows XP, click Start, click Run, type appwiz.cpl, and then press ENTER.
   
   –or–
   
   In Windows Vista or Windows 7, click Start, click in the Start Search box, type appwiz.cpl, and then press ENTER.
   
2. In the list of installed programs, uninstall any third-party Internet security programs.*
   
3. Restart your computer, and then try to install Microsoft Security Essentials again.

Note:
*Some Internet security applications do not uninstall completely. You may need to download and run a cleanup utility for your previous security application in order for it to be completely removed.

Caution:
When you remove Internet security programs, your computer is unprotected. If you have problems installing Microsoft Security Essentials after you remove existing Internet security programs, contact Microsoft Security Essentials Support immediately by submitting a case online.

Step 2: Make sure the Windows Installer service is running

1. In Windows XP, click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then press ENTER.
   
   –or–
   
   In Windows Vista or Windows 7, click Start, click in the Start Search box, type services.msc, and then press ENTER.
2. Right-click Windows Installer, and then click Start. If Start is unavailable and the Stop and Restart options are available, the service is already started.
3. In the Services window, on the File menu, click Exit.
4. In Windows XP, click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then press ENTER.
   
   –or–
   
   In Windows Vista or Windows 7, click Start, click in the Start Search box, and then type command prompt. Right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.
5. Type MSIEXEC /REGSERVER and then press ENTER. Note that there will be no indication that this command has succeeded or failed.
6. Try to install Microsoft Security Essentials again.

Step 3: Start Windows in Selective Startup mode

1. In Windows XP, click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then press ENTER.
   
   –or–
   
   In Windows Vista or Windows 7, click Start, click in the Start Search box, type msconfig, and then press ENTER.
2. In the General tab, click Selective Startup, and then clear the Load Startup Items check box.
3. On the Services tab, select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then clear all the check boxes for the services that remain in the list.
4. Click OK, and then click Restart to restart the computer.
5. Try to install Microsoft Security Essentials again.

Source

--L.

 

I've done all that, at least I thought I did, but still no luck. However, here's one more piece of information: I just saw that there is another installer log file (mp_ambits.log), and this one does have an error message, saying that the Microsoft Malware Protection application is already installed, and to remove it first. This is what seems to derail the installation. The question is, how do I remove it???

 

It looks like "mp_ambits.log" appears to be a log for Microsoft Forefront, the enterprise version of Microsoft Security Essentials - they use the same detection engine, but that's about the end of the similarities.

You don't have Forefront installed do you?

--L.

 

No, not knowingly, but it seems that this particular package is in fact part of the current version of MSSE. This log file is created every time I try to install MSSE. I went through all entries in "Programs and Features", searched the registry, used the Windows Installer Cleanup tool, and checked running services and startup programs, and I simply cannot find any reference to Microsoft Malware Protection, mp_ambits.msi, or anything even vaguely related. If only I knew why that installer thinks I have this installed, I could probably fix the issue...

 

Did you uncheck "Hide protected OS files" in folder options and delete the folder "Microsoft Antimalware" found in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft?

What does your Action center (Windows 7) report for security?

 

If you've uninstalled MSE, deleted any folders & files associated with it and used CCleaner (or something like it) to wipe out any remaining traces, it's possible the problem is with Windows Installer Service and not MSE.

Try re-registering the Installer Service as indicated in Step 2 #5 in my first post.

If that doesn't work, try reading a bit more at these links:

A couple of folks found MSE was failing to install when it couldn't place a shortcut on the "All Users" desktop because the desktop folder was missing or the folder's permissions prohibited the installer from writing to the folder.
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en/msestart/thread/908fad3e-f9fc-4d8a-be83-ae7d3bc48db5

One user was able to install MSE by actually running the mp_ambits.msi file in the temp install directory created by the msse.msi installer.
http://social.answers.microsoft.com...t/thread/85838733-f8e3-4188-a273-1e22122de78d

A different uninstall & wipe method:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com...t/thread/16ed960a-4b67-485c-86cf-406b5159f025

--L.

 

Yep, no such folder exists. Security center says there's no anti-virus, duh...

Tried that, no go.

No, that's not the problem. During the install, I can actually see that icon appearing on the desktop, and then disappearing when MSSE uninstalls itself after mp_ambits.msi fails.

That one is interesting, but didn't work, either. Running mp_ambits manually produces a complaint that it's already installed. I then ran "msiexec /uninstall mp_ambits.msi" from a command prompt in that folder, got a message that Windows is removing the package, but then again, when trying to install it received an error message saying the package is already installed...

Looks like I'm stuck...

P.S.: I have this sinking feeling that what I am dealing with here is a corrupt Windows Installer database. If that is the case, we may be talking OS re-install here...

 

System Restore to an earlier date, say last week? You could then try manually uninstalling and updating MSE.

If all else fails, I'd suggest submitting a support case with Microsoft: https://support.microsoftsecurityessentials.com/

--L.

 

Yep, that's what I just did. Let's see if that leads anywhere...

 

hmmmm....sounds like what you said, or a registry problem....have you run Advanced System Care on the registry to see if it picks up something that shouldn't be there?

 

encountered that problem with my daughter's netbook. It was infected by this bogus mse. I successfully deleted this slimy software but was not able to install the original MSE. Tried everything but it was a no go. Any anti-virus can't be installed which resulted me to use clamwin portable in my usb thumbdrive but it didn't detect any malware or virus remaining in the system. found some information from the internet which I already forgot what it is, I used this malwarebytes to scan my system and found some unwelcome softwares/files/registry items and all the craps. deleted all of these then installed the MSE and this time it is a success. Hope this will help.