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5 Replies Last post: Nov 4, 2009 4:32 AM by continuum  

BUG + workaround: can not do a fresh install on Windows posted: Nov 2, 2009 5:08 AM

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continuum
12,680 posts since
Dec 18, 2003
BUG + workaround: can not do a fresh install on Windows

I thought I was the only one getting this but I just saw the first post of another user running into the same thing ....
This problem has been seen on 2k3-32bit and Windows 7 - 64bit and may occur with Workstation7 and VMplayer3

When trying to do a fresh installation the setup fails with non-helpful message "The MSI fails" - this only applies to fresh install - not upgrades.

WORKAROUND:

this is a stupid bug in the installer - it does not even consider that you are not upgrading but doing a fresh install.
The setup then tries to uninstall a non-existing earlier version.
It tries to find this non-existing earlier installation but gives up as it does not find anything ... http://sanbarrow.com/gifs/frusty.gif

So you must run the installer with a special command line to tell it that you are really planning to do a fresh install and that uninstalling older versions really is neither necessary nor wanted.


VMware-*-203739.exe /z "action"="install"


Ulli
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VMX-parameters- VMware-liveCD - VM-Sickbay

Re: BUG + workaround: can not do a fresh install on Windows

1. Nov 2, 2009 6:03 AM in response to: continuum
Click to view Tom2k8's profile Enthusiast
Tom2k8
87 posts since
Sep 28, 2008
On the 31st of October I've received my new I7 computer with 6gigs of Memory. Before installing anything I've done all pending essential updates and I've checked and installed updates again until there are no more updates left. After this I've run the VMWare Player 7 installer file (without any options like '/z install') as Administrator and everything went smooth. Not a single stupid error message like 'MSI failed' or 'Error ####'. Especially I detest error messages containing only error codes like 'Error 1961 occurred!' and nothing meaningful else.

I think you have a problem with your MSI installer software, but I might have it wrong....

Re: BUG + workaround: can not do a fresh install on Windows

2. Nov 2, 2009 6:11 AM in response to: Tom2k8
Click to view continuum's profile Guru
continuum
12,680 posts since
Dec 18, 2003
I would not have posted this if this had happened on my systems only.

I guess this was introduced with Workstation 7 - it happened with earlier betas as well - same systems do install other MSI-packages or older 6.5 versions fine

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VMX-parameters- VMware-liveCD - VM-Sickbay

Re: BUG + workaround: can not do a fresh install on Windows

3. Nov 2, 2009 6:20 AM in response to: continuum
Click to view RDPetruska's profile Guru
RDPetruska
15,877 posts since
Jan 11, 2005
Might only be with 64-bit OS's, Ulli. I formatted my laptop, installed Win7 Ultimate 32-bit fresh/clean on it. The first VMware installation I did was the release version of Workstation 7. The only problem I had was when trying to install the FULL version, it complained about corrupted source files (even though the md5 checksums were correct on my download). When I tried installing the Lite version, it worked flawlessly. I then immediately forced a download of all components, so in essence I installed the Full version. So, to sum up, I DID in fact do a fresh install of Workstation 7 on a fresh install of Windows... so it is possible.

Re: BUG + workaround: can not do a fresh install on Windows

4. Nov 3, 2009 5:31 PM in response to: continuum
Click to view hlin's profile Enthusiast
hlin
87 posts since
Nov 14, 2007
Sorry to hear your problem Ulli. Not sure why the installer thinks your fresh install is an upgrade install. If you can upload your %temp%\vm*.log, I will take a look. If you hit this again, maybe try running the installer with a /clean parameter to see if that helps. Thanks.

Re: BUG + workaround: can not do a fresh install on Windows

5. Nov 4, 2009 4:32 AM in response to: hlin
Click to view continuum's profile Guru
continuum
12,680 posts since
Dec 18, 2003
Rob - I have seen this on 32bit and 64bit hosts. But as it seems to happen in a few cases only I have not found a pattern.

Hlin - you already looked at this - we discussed this in the beat-section already - I just did not know the workaround then

___________________________________

VMX-parameters- VMware-liveCD - VM-Sickbay

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