Board index » Windows Vista » Errors encountered when uninstalling pre-installed software

Windows Vista22
My Dell XPS 410 with Windows Vista came with some demo software--including

Roxio Creator DE, which expired before I had opportunity to use it. Nice.



When I went to uninstall this software using Vista's Programs and Features

tool, there were five or six different Roxio entries. None of them had a name

that would indicate that it would uninstall the whole suite--so I uninstalled

them entry-by-entry. For each uninstall, the same type of error dialog

appeared:



"Error writing to file C:\Config.msi\cc1c24f.rbf. Verify that you have

access to that directory."



Each time, the file name was different, but the location was the

same--C:\Config.msi. Each time, I checked the contents of the C:\Config.msi

folder; it was empty--not even a hidden or system file.



I saw this with some other software that I uninstalled, too.



All of the software uninstalled--at least, I *think* it did; the entries no

longer appear in the Programs and Features list.



Is this error to be expected when uninstalling pre-installed software? What

causes it? I don't recall deleting the contents of the C:\Config.msi folder

myself.


-

Follow the instructions in this KB Article:



kb.roxio.com/content/kb/Creator/000127CR" >kb.roxio.com/content/kb/Creator/000127CR

--

Andre

Blog: adacosta.spaces.live.com" >adacosta.spaces.live.com

My Vista Quickstart Guide:

adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E8E5CC039D51E3DB!9709.entry" >adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E8E5CC039D51E3DB!9709.entry

"Chris" <cwaters@newsgroup.nospam>wrote in message



-

Thanks! I'll see how many of the steps are still applicable, since I already

uninstalled the software.



As I said though, I've seen this 'Error writing to file C:\Config.msi\...'

message when uninstalling other software--even though I've been logged on as

an administrator. What is the root cause of this?

-

This may be a security issue involving folder Ownership and Permissions.

Even though you're an administrator, you may not have access to some folders

because of these issues. I recommend clicking on the Program Files folder

and Taking Ownership, and granting yourself (your username) Full Control

permissions of all folders, sub-folders, and files for all your programs.

You should then be able to modify everything in the Program Files folder,

including uninstall it's programs. Instructions on how to do this are

included in this tutorial.



www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67717-take-ownership-file.html" >www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67717-take-ownership-file.html



In the event that your problem involves more than security issues, the Roxio

uninstaller programs that come with the programs may have become disconnected

from the programs such that Vista uninstaller can't really uninstall them.

You may also have a problem with failed install/uninstall debris blocking

proper install/uninstall processes. Instructions on how to fix this are

included in this tutorial.



www.vistax64.com/tutorials/87249-unable-install-latest-version-program-vista.html" >www.vistax64.com/tutorials/87249-unable-install-latest-version-program-vista.html





"Chris" wrote:

Thanks. Perhaps it *is* an ownership or permission issue. I find it strange,

however, that *none* of the files whose names are displayed in the dialog

boxes exist in the C:\Config.msi folder. In fact, the C:\Config.msi folder

has no files in it whatsoever.





"uvbogden" wrote: