When you try to install Windows Internet Explorer 7, you receive an error message: "Internet Explorer 7 could not be installed"
View products that this article applies to.
Article ID : 917925
Last Review : April 10, 2008
Revision : 11.3
IMPORTANT
When Windows Internet Explorer 7 is not installed successfully, an icon is placed on your desktop. This icon is not a shortcut to Internet Explorer 7. Instead, it is a shortcut to this Microsoft Knowledge Base article about how to troubleshoot Internet Explorer 7 installation problems. If Internet Explorer 7 is not installed, you can review the information in this article to help you troubleshoot the setup problem.
To determine whether Internet Explorer 7 is installed, click Help, and then click About Internet Explorer. The About Internet Explorer dialog box displays the version number of Internet Explorer that is currently installed on your computer. If Internet Explorer 7 is successfully installed, and you no longer need this troubleshooting information, you may want to remove this shortcut from your desktop. • To remove the shortcut to this article from your desktop, right-click the shortcut and then click Delete.
• To visit your home page now without restarting Internet Explorer, press ALT+HOME.
• To automatically open your home page when you start Internet Explorer, use the Internet Explorer icon in the Windows Start menu, or use the Internet Explorer icon on your desktop. If you do not have an Internet Explorer icon on your desktop, you can drag the Internet Explorer icon from the Start menu to your desktop.
On This Page
SUMMARY
Symptoms of the problem
Troubleshooting methods to install Internet Explorer 7 successfully
General troubleshooting
Method 1: Disable any antivirus or antispyware programs before you install Internet Explorer 7
Advanced troubleshooting
Method 2: Reset permissions for any unwriteable registry subkeys
Method 3: Check for any files that cannot be backed up or updated
Method 4: Reregister Cryptographic Services files
MORE INFORMATION
Similar problems and solutions
References
STATUS
SUMMARY
When you try to install Windows Internet Explorer 7, the installation wizard finishes. However, you receive an error message that states that Internet Explorer 7 could not be installed.
This article contains step-by-step troubleshooting methods that both beginner and more experienced computer users can try to install Internet Explorer 7 successfully. This article also provides additional information about the problem and about where you can go for more help if you cannot resolve the problem yourself.
This article is intended for a beginning to intermediate computer user.
You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.
Back to the top
Symptoms of the problem
When you try to install Internet Explorer 7, the installation wizard finishes. However, you receive the following error message:
Internet Explorer 7 could not be installed. You must restart your system to confirm that any changes to your system are undone.
After you restart, follow the "Internet Explorer Troubleshooting" shortcut on your desktop to get more information.
Back to the top
Troubleshooting methods to install Internet Explorer 7 successfully
Problems with installing Internet Explorer 7 can be caused by different issues. That is why this article offers several troubleshooting methods. Although you may have to try more than one method to solve your problem, each method offers step-by-step instructions. Even if you are a beginning computer user, the "General troubleshooting" section offers an easy-to-follow method, and we will help you with each step. The "Advanced troubleshooting" section offers methods for the advanced computer user.
In most cases, one of these methods will solve your installation problem. However, if you cannot resolve your issue on your own by using the methods in this article, we offer free telephone support for application installation and for setup. For more information about how to contact Microsoft customer support, see the More Information section.
We know how important it is for you to be able to install and to use Internet Explorer 7, so let us get started.
Back to the top
General troubleshooting
Method 1: Disable any antivirus or antispyware programs before you install Internet Explorer 7
Important These steps may increase your security risk. These steps may also make the computer or the network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We recommend the process that this article describes to enable programs to operate as they are designed to or to implement specific program capabilities. Before you make these changes, we recommend that you evaluate the risks that are associated with implementing this process in your particular environment. If you decide to implement this process, take any appropriate additional steps to help protect the system. We recommend that you use this process only if you really require this process.1. First, we have to make sure that you are using a user account that has administrative credentials to log on to your computer.
Note If you already know that you are using a user account that has administrative credentials to log on to your computer, go to step 2.a. Click Start, click Run, type timedate.cpl, and then press ENTER. The Date and Time Properties dialog box opens.
b. If you receive the following message, you are not logged on as an administrator:
Date and Time Properties
You do not have the required permissions to change the system time.
To continue to troubleshoot your Internet Explorer installation problem, you must first log off and then log back on to Windows by using an account that has administrative credentials. If you do not know how to do this, and if this computer is part of a network at work, you can ask your system administrator for help. However, if you must do this on a home computer that is not part of a network, you must know the administrator user account password. Unfortunately, if you do not know the password for any computer administrator user account on your computer, and you cannot log on to Windows with an account that has administrative credentials, you will be unable to follow these methods to resolve your Internet Explorer problem.
If you do not receive this message, and the Date and Time Properties dialog box opens, you are logged on as an administrator. Close the Date and Time Properties dialog box.
2. Temporarily disable any antivirus or antispyware program.a. Locate the antivirus or the antispyware icon in the notification area. You can find the notification area at the lower right of your screen in the taskbar area near the clock. The notification area displays the icons of the programs that you are currently running. When you move your pointer over the icons, Windows displays the name of the program.
b. Right-click the antivirus or the antispyware icon, and select Disable Auto-Protect. A red "X" will appear over the icon in the notification area to show that the application is now disabled.
Note Antivirus and antispyware programs differ in how they work. If the previous steps did not help you disable your program, you may have to look in the antivirus program's Help system for steps on how to do this task. Also, you can usually find the steps to disable the antivirus program on the Internet. To find the steps to disable the program by using your favorite Internet search engine, type "disable virus scan," type the name of your antivirus program, and then click Search.
3. Install Internet Explorer 7. If the installation finishes, go to step 3 of Method 1.
Note If the installation wizard never finishes, you are experiencing a different problem than the problem that this article describes. For more information about how to resolve the problem that the installation wizard never finishes, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
926716 (
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926716/) The Windows Internet Explorer 7 installation program stops responding when you select the "Install the latest updates for Internet Explorer and the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (recommended)" check box
4. Turn on (re-enable) the antivirus or the antispyware program. To do this, right-click the antivirus or the antispyware icon in the notification area, and then click Enable.
Antivirus and antispyware products protect the system from computer viruses and malicious attacks. Because new viruses are created every day, and the system is susceptible at any time, it is important to keep the antivirus and the antispyware products enabled (turned on).
Back to the top
Advanced troubleshooting
Always try the general troubleshooting steps before you try the advanced troubleshooting methods. If the general troubleshooting steps in this article do not resolve your issue, you can follow the advanced troubleshooting steps in this section.
This section is intended for advanced computer users. If you are not comfortable with advanced troubleshooting, you might want to ask someone for help or contact support. For information about how to contact Microsoft support, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.support.microsoft.com/contactus (
http://www.support.microsoft.com/contactus)
For information about Internet Explorer 7 support, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/iefaq.mspx (
http://www.support.microsoft.com)
Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
322756 (
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/) How to back up and restore the registry in Windows
Method 2: Reset permissions for any unwriteable registry subkeys
1. Determine whether a problem is preventing the registry from being updated:a. Click Start, click Run, type %windir%\ie7.log, and then click OK to open the ie7.log file.
Note By default, the ie7.log file is located in the C:\Windows folder.
b. Press CTRL+END to move to the end of the ie7.log file.
c. On the Edit menu, click Find.
d. In the Find what box, type IECUSTOM: Key is still unwriteable.
e. Under Direction, click Up, and then click Find Next.
If you find the "Key is still unwriteable" text, a problem is preventing the registry from being updated. For example, text that resembles the following in the log file indicates that a problem exists:
time_stamp: IECUSTOM: Key is still unwriteable registry_subkey
In this example, registry_subkey is the name of the registry subkey that is causing the problem.
If you do not find the "Key is still unwriteable" text in the ie7.log file, go to step 2 for additional troubleshooting steps.
2. Reset the registry permissions for the registry subkey that has the incorrect permissions. To update the permissions of the registry subkey, follow these steps: a. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
b. Locate and then right-click each registry subkey that you noted in step 1e, and then click Permissions on the Edit menu.
Note The ie7.log file contains the following abbreviations: • HKCR = HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
• HKLM = HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
• HKCU = HKEY_CURRENT_USER
c. Under Group or user names, click Administrators.
d. Under Permissions for Administrators, make sure that the Allow check box is selected for the following entries: • Full Control
• Read
Make sure that the Deny check box is not selected for any users or groups.
For more information about how to modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
310426 (
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310426/) How to set or change registry editing permissions in Windows XP or in Windows Server 2003
e. Click Apply, and then click OK.
f. On the File menu, click Exit.
g. Try to install Internet Explorer 7 again. You may have to repeat these steps if there are other keys that have permissions that prevent Internet Explorer 7 from installing.
Method 3: Check for any files that cannot be backed up or updated
1. Determine whether a problem is preventing the files from being backed up or updated. To do this, follow these steps: a. Click Start, click Run, type %windir%\ie7.log, and then click OK to open the ie7.log file.
Note By default, the ie7.log file is located in the C:\Windows folder.
b. Press CTRL+END to move to the end of the ie7.log file.
c. On the Edit menu, click Find.
d. In the Find what box, type ArchiveFileForUninstall:ArchiveSingleFile Cancelled.
e. Under Direction, click Up, and then click Find Next.
If you find the "ArchiveFileForUninstall:ArchiveSingleFile Cancelled" text, this indicates that there is a problem that is preventing an IE6 file from being saved for uninstall. For example, text that resembles the following in the log file indicates that there is a problem:
Time_stamp: ArchiveFileForUninstall:ArchiveSingleFile Cancelled
Time_stamp: DoInstallation:UpdSpCommitFileQueue for AlwaysQueue Failed: 0x4c7
If you do not find the "ArchiveFileForUninstall:ArchiveSingleFile Cancelled" text in the ie7.log file, use Method 4 for additional troubleshooting steps.
2. Reset the permissions for the Vgx.dll file. To set the permissions of the file to the default settings, click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK. At command prompt, type one of the following commands, and then press ENTER: • If you are running Windows XP, type the following command:
echo y| cacls "%CommonProgramFiles%\Microsoft Shared\VGX\vgx.dll" /P BUILTIN\Users:R "BUILTIN\Power Users:C" BUILTIN\Administrators:F "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:F"
• If you are running Windows Server 2003, type the following command:
echo y| cacls "%CommonProgramFiles%\Microsoft Shared\VGX\vgx.dll" /P BUILTIN\Users:R "BUILTIN\Power Users:C" BUILTIN\Administrators:F "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:F" "NT AUTHORITY\TERMINAL SERVER USER:C"
3. Try installing Internet Explorer 7. If Internet Explorer cannot be installed, check the log file again by following the steps in Method 2. If the log file shows a problem, repeat all the steps in this method.
4. If you repeat the process and Internet Explorer 7 still cannot be installed, but the log file is clean, go to the next troubleshooting method.
Method 4: Reregister Cryptographic Services files
Use this method if you receive an error message about the Cryptographic Services that resembles the following error message:
Setup could not verify the integrity of the file Update.inf. Make sure the Cryptographic service is running on this computer
For more information about what to do if you receive this error message, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
822798 (
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822798/) You cannot install some updates or programs
If the problem still occurs after you follow the steps in Microsoft Knowledge Base article 822798, your installation package may be corrupted. To correct this problem and download Internet Explorer 7 again, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=72018 (
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=72018)
Note If you still have problems, you might want to ask someone for help or contact support. For information about how to contact support, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus (
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus)
Back to the top
MORE INFORMATION
If no methods in this article solved your problem, visit the following Internet Explorer 7 Support Web page:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/support/default.mspx (
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/support/default.mspx)
You can also find additional information, bug reporting methods, and free telephone support for Internet Explorer 7 by visiting the Internet Explorer Support Web page.
The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.
Back to the top
Similar problems and solutions
If you are still experiencing problems, you may be experiencing a different problem. For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
945385 (
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945385/) A blank Web page is displayed when you start Internet Explorer 7
926716 (
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926716/) The Windows Internet Explorer 7 installation program stops responding when you select the "Install the latest updates for Internet Explorer and the Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (recommended)" check box
If these articles do not help you resolve the problem or if you experience symptoms that differ from those that are described in this article, search the Microsoft Knowledge Base for more information. To search the Microsoft Knowledge Base, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/ (
http://support.microsoft.com/)
Then, type the text of the error message that you receive, or type a description of the problem in the Search Support (KB) box.
Back to the top
References
For more information about this problem, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
920082 (
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/920082/) Problems that may occur if you are using a beta version of Windows Internet Explorer 7
For more information about the Windows Internet Explorer 7 Solution Center, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/ph/8722 (
http://support.microsoft.com/ph/8722)
Back to the top
STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
Back to the top
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPLIES TO
• Windows Internet Explorer 7
Back to the top
Keywords: kbresolve kbexpertisebeginner kbceip kbtshoot kbprb KB917925
Back to the top
