First, I would click here to download/run the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility. It will download automatically; Double-click the executable (from wherever you save it) to install; Launch it by selecting it from the Start Menu. I'm not sure if it applies to the Sony Ericsson updater or not, but if it's on the list displayed by the CleanUp utility select it and click Remove.
If it's not listed or it doesn't resolve the issue of a clean installation being blocked, download/run RegSeeker. With RegSeeker running, select "Clean the Registry" from the left column, then click OK. Let it run for a minute or two, and when it finishes (you'll know because the very bottom part of the window will display the time as opposed to changing lines of text), press ctrl + A and then delete. Confirm, then try installing the cell phone updater again.
Normally I would also suggest System Restore, similar to Mac OS X v10.5's (Leopard's) upcoming Time Machine, but Windows 2000 lacks that feature. 
Hope this helps,
John
I am a Mac user and I am fluent with OS X can troubleshoot and solve most issues for my self. I also have a Hewlett Packard Vectria running Windows 2000. I have only ever used it to browse the web as I don't know how to manage files in Windows.I am a total beginner on the computer, and do not understand the system.
Now I need help with some very basic stuff. My inexperience has gotten me into trouble. There is a Sony Ericsson Software Updater which is intended to be installed on Windows so it can then download the latest settings for my phone.
The software is a download from the Sony Ericsson web site. The Sony software said system requirements are for Windows 2000 as well as XP, but needed the Macromedia flash player. I successfully installed Flash player - it was totally automatic. So far so good.
When I downloaded the .exe file for the Sony Ericsson Updater it asked where to put it. I couldn't see anything that looked like an applications folder so I just selected desktop. It asked me if I wanted to install it and for a location so I left the installation destination as the desktop. It appeared to install successfully after agreeing to the software licence. But 2 icons appeared on the desktop, one called "Update Service Set" Which is what the software is supposed to do so I presume that was the program itself.
The other icon appeared to be an alias to that software so I clicked it. It gave me a pop up window that said that the program was already in use. when I shut the pop up a Sony Ericsson window opened which announced that it was going to check the internet for the latest settings so I clicked continue and all appeared to be working.
About 30 seconds later I get a pop up window that said errors had developed and it could not download the settings and had the suggestion that I should download another copy of the application.
When I tried to download a second copy that I got a pop up window saying it could not install because the other version has to be uninstalled first.
You think installing on the desktop was dumb? Well what I did next may have been dumber. I asked a guy if he knew how to uninstall programs. It didn't take long to discover he is a "click the nearest option and hope for the best" type of guy. He appeared not to know what he was doing really. He knew more than me, but not much more. He uninstalled first by going to "add/uinstall program" he couldn't find the program that way so he highlighted the icon on the desktop and clicked delete. The icons did disappear. He told me it was fine and left me to it. and told me to install the new copy to "c drive"
So I tried to download from the Sony Ericsson web site again, navigated to c drive and found a program files folder. It downloaded there but when I tried to install it I get a pop up window that says that it can't install as the program is already installed. When I close that window there is another one underneath it that says "Installation Aborted"
So now I appear to have a program that I can't install because I don't know what to do with the previous situation. and a program I need to install. It is dumb newbie stuff I know and I don't know where to start for trouble shooting. I have a Windows 2000 for dummies book but it doesn't seem to help much.
I have to admit to being someone who can barely turn on the Windows computer and use Internet Explorer to find a web site. I have never installed any programs on it before except a Norton update. Windows is mostly a big mystery to me and I do not know anything beyond the desktop. So, assume intelligence and the ability to use a computer with OS X installed but total inexperience with everything to do with Windows.
Any and all suggestions appreciated.
Tony
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