Can not run .msi file (installer), how can I fix this?

Thanks for the info and references, I will try the process suggested by Grif.

Bruce.

I have tried the excellent info in the link provided by Bob (above), and while I did find some malware it hasn't fixed the issue. One obvious solution is the re-install Windows 8...... however I have yet to update to Windows 8.1 (just haven't gotten to it, and everything has worked so well with 8.0 so far until now). I'm not sure how much of the OS is replaced by upgrading to 8.1, and even if something like this would propagate through the upgrade, but is this a possible solution?

Thanks, Bruce.

One of the old issues with Windows is that if something dinged up the OS bad enough, upgrading may carry it over.

Did you try a new user account?

And what app is associated with this file?
Bob

Thanks Bob.

Right-clicking the file and "Open With" gives this:

"How do you want to open this file?

Keep using FreeFileViewer.Client"

(Then a list of other apps are given, such as IE, MS Office apps, etc, and finally a windows explorer launch to choose any app).

But I'm not sure if this is what you are asking- if you mean something different then please let me know- since I assume that the .msi file is designed to open the MS Installer, and not the other way around.

Thanks, bruce.

1. http://www.freefileviewer.com/formats.html didn't list .MSI so let's look for an association fix.

2. http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/8486-default-file-associations-restore-windows-8-a.html shows what it should be associated with.

3. Associations may or may not survive OS upgrades.
Bob

Hi Bob,

If you lived nearby I would come around and hug you.. Thanks so much, that did it- now double-clicking on an .msi file opens the MS Installer...

The funny thing is... I installed a program a few days ago that I had too download in portions (.cab files, as well as a setup.exe file and an .msi file). As instructed, I used the setup.exe file to launch the installer, the read me said that the setup.exe would call the .msi file to launch an installer GUI. That worked OK, just not when I tried to install an update which just had an .msi file... so I could;t run the .msi file but the setup.exe could....

Anyway- thanks so much Bob, you have been extremely helpful!

Bruce.

I was worried for you but you kept at it and wrote more which helps me narrow it down, find ideas and see if there are web pages that can help. So you did the work and thanks for the kind words.
Bob