Setup.exe hangs

[dcwightman]

Folks, I have just purchased Enclosure shop and am trying to install it. CD Autorun runs Setup.exe and setup hangs just after displaying the setup box but before displaying any text.

System :
Windows XP SP3
4Gb RAM
Ample disk space
PNY NVIDIA GEForce 9600 GT with up to date drivers
No dodgy utilities running in the background.
Administrator level privileges.

Are there any setup logs that might point to the problem ?
I have checked the Event Logs and there is nothing relating to Setup.exe
The demo version does exactly the same thing in the same place
I have Sysinternals utilities so can provide system / program information as required.
I have never had this or a similar problem ever before.
Many thanks.

[cstrahm]

I have heard of this kind of problem being reported a couple times, but no one has yet provided feedback on what their cause or solution turned out to be.

Do you have any antivirus software running? If so that can block installs. Perhaps other security features in XP or SP3 may be causing this.

I note that you are running XP/SP3. There have also been many reports of problems with SP3. The following links may or may not be relevant.

http://blog.corkrum.com/2008/09/xp-s...continues.html

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/842242

[dcwightman]

Hi Chris,
Thank you for your quick response.
My work machine is running XP / SP3 and Enclosure Shop installed no problem. This has an intel based graphics chipset.
Windows Firewall /Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) service is disabled.
I am beginning to think it may be hardware related as I have uninstalled McAfee and Zone Alarm Pro (firewall) and re-installed XP from an original (pre-SP1) CD using the Repair install; also I have no previous experience of PNY hardware and therefore no knowledge of compatibility, stability or reliability. The latest standard NVIDIA drivers were downloaded and installed without issue.
At each point Setup.exe was run to test but always hung in the same place, just before any text is displayed.
Of course, it could be Installshield - if your programs use that. As I explained in my first post, I have a range of Sysinternal utilities and can also bring in debugging tools if necessary, I just need a little help getting started and where to look.
I also have another Graphics card - an XFX GeForce 8800GT arriving today although I am not absolutely convinced it is hardware related, just being cautious.

[cstrahm]

>> This has an intel based graphics chipset.

The installer cares nothing about the video system. Irrelevant for install.

>> it could be Installshield

Not used, not involved.

>> Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) service is disabled

Hmmm, not sure about this. You may try changing its settings.

My feeling is Setup.Exe is requesting somekind of info from the Win system, and is stuck waiting for a reply. Note, you do not receive any error msg. The question of course is, what is it waiting for. I really do not know. Something is different on your system that it is not expecting, or some kind of odd difference in your setup/configuration. The Setup.Exe app has been installed on thousands of PCs. This kind of issue is extremely rare. You might try running setup under Safe mode and see what that acts like.

[dcwightman]

I will try changing ICS to either manual or automatic - but this will add another potential blockage surely ?

Setup hangs in exactly the same place when running under safe-mode as well.

You could be on the right track with services. I have disabled or set to manual most of the standard XP services simply because they are not usually needed and take up CPU cycles when enabled and running i.e. noticably slowing down system response.

Maybe you could tell me which services the installer needs ?

Although I have installed other software recently without issue.

>>Waiting for information ??

What information does setup.exe need ? Apart from displaying a few basic stats about which version of the software is being installed, the license agreement and installation drive, the only system information is free space on the intended installation drive.

Maybe setup.exe is waiting to access something or somewhere it can't. I will re-activate all my standard XP services tonight and try from that angle.

I will also fire up a few of the Sysinternal utiliities although they have not been much use so far.
Thanks Chris.

[dcwightman]

Solution. Make sure all system services are in the default state, i.e. that they are not in either the 'Disabled' or 'Manual' state when they should be 'Automatic'. For further information on the default state of Windows XP various Service Packs visit URL http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm.
Many Thanks Chris for your prompt and valuable help.