You’ll occasionally run into an error when installing software on Windows. The installer may refuse to run, report an error code, say it’s unable to write to a folder, or even silently fail. You’ll need to troubleshoot the problem so you can install software normally.
Run as Administrator
Most Windows software needs to be installed with administrator privileges. Thanks to User Account Control (UAC), you’re probably using a limited user account. Most of the time, you won’t have to worry about this. Whenever you install a program you’ll see a UAC pop-up and can grant permission. Modern software installers will automatically ask for permission, while Windows will attempt to automatically run old software installers with the administrator privileges they require. However, every so often, a program will fail to install — perhaps the installer will say that it can’t write to a certain folder. In these cases, you’ll need to manually run the installer as administrator.
To do so, close the installer, right-click the installer file, and select Run as administrator. Agree to the prompt and the installer will run with administrator privileges, allowing it to write to system folders and install normally.
Consider x86 vs. x64
Most Windows computers now have 64-bit hardware and 64-bit versions of Windows. However, some Windows computers still have a 32-bit version of Windows. If you have a 64-bit version of Windows, you can install 32-bit software because it’s backwards compatible. However, if you have a 32-bit version of Windows, you can’t install 64-bit software. If you download a 64-bit software installer for a 32-bit version of Windows, you’ll see an error and the installer won’t run.
Check whether you’re on a 64-bit version of Windows or not. To avoid this problem, just download the correct installer for your system — many programs have download pages where they offer a choice between 32-bit and 64-bit software installers. 32-bit systems may be referred to as “x86,” while 64-bit systems may be referred to as “x64″ or “amd64.” For example, here’s what the option looks like on the 7-Zip website:
Run Microsoft’s Fix It
Microsoft offers a Fix IT troubleshooting tool that you can run when programs won’t install or uninstall. The Fix It fixes problems with corrupt registry keys. If software is failing to install on your system, you should give this tool a try — there’s no harm in doing so and it’s quick to run. To use it, just visit the Fix problems that programs cannot be installed or uninstalled page on Microsoft’s website, click Run now, and run the tool. It will repair these problems automatically and hopefully fix your issue.
Uninstall the Previous Version of the Software
In some cases, you may not be able to install a new version of a program over an old version of a program. To install the new version, you may first need to completely remove the old version and its related components. This normally isn’t necessary, but problems with programs can prevent easy upgrades. To do this, you’ll want to visit the Control Panel and uninstall the program. However, this may not always be good enough. You may need to look up instructions specific to that program to completely remove it. For example, Apple offers instructions for completely removing iTunes and related software. For antivirus programs, you may need to download a removal utility from the antivirus company’s website instead of simply using the uninstaller in the Windows Control Panel.
A third-party uninstaller may also be able to help here, removing all the junk left over from the old program. You normally shouldn’t need third-party uninstallers unless you encounter a problem. Uninstalling programs from the Control Panel is the simplest option if everything is working normally.
Check for Malware
A program may sometimes fail to install because it’s been corrupted or is malicious. If you have your antivirus program in silent mode, you may not see any antivirus warning pop-ups. The program may just fail to install over and over as the antivirus blocks it from installing. To check for this, disable silent mode in your antivirus and check its virus detection logs. You may also consider scanning the installer file with VirusTotal, a website that allows you to upload a file and have it checked by many antivirus programs.
Is the Program Compatible?
Some programs just aren’t compatible with current versions of Windows and won’t install properly. Even if they do install, they may not run properly afterwards. For more information on why a program may not be compatible and how to run it anyway, much of the information also applies to Windows 7.
Follow the instructions above and you should be able to nail down your problem. When in doubt, you may want to re-download the program’s installer — if the file was corrupted during the download process, it may fail to install properly.
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