Windows 7 Windows Installer Internal 2303 for everything - Need to reset permissions (STARTED by Mitchell_A)

[Mitchell_A]

^^ The title is just so some members don't ignore the post as they see the last post was likely by me, which would usually mean it's me helping someone else.. but either way.

I had a real nasty virus a few days back, and ever since I finally got it removed, I've been unable to use the Windows installer, after the UAC pop-up, I immediately get internal error 2303 or "A fatal error has occurred, setup cannot continue" etc etc.

So I need to reset the permissions for all the system folders and temp directories, I'm wondering if there's any CMD commands available, and also what folders need to be reset.

The virus may have caused this.. or I may have caused this while trying to remove the virus..
Thanks a million




**** edit*

this has driven me completely insane in just 20 minutes, I have a few other problems with my current installation, so I'm backing up and doing a factory reset.
I'll be back tomorrow

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you've encountered some challenging issues with your system after dealing with a virus. Here's some guidance on resetting permissions for system folders and temp directories using Command Prompt (CMD) commands:

Resetting Permissions for System Folders and Temp Directories​

To reset the permissions for system folders and temp directories, you can use the following Command Prompt commands:

1. icacls Command: This command is used to display or modify Access Control Lists (ACLs) for files and directories. Here's how you can use it:

   bash icacls "C:\Path\To\Folder" /reset /t /c /l /q

   • /reset: Replaces ACLs with default inherited permissions.
   • /t: Performs the operation on files in the specified directory and all subdirectories.
   • /c: Continues the operation even if errors occur.
   • /l: Performs the operation on a symbolic link versus its target.
   • /q: Suppresses success messages.
2. Takeown Command: This command allows an administrator to take ownership of a file or directory. Here's how it can be used:

   bash takeown /f "C:\Path\To\Folder" /r /d y

   • /f: Specifies the file or directory.
   • /r: Recurse through all subdirectories.
   • /d y: Suppresses confirmation prompts.

     Important System Folders to Consider Resetting:​

     • C:\Windows: The Windows system directory.
     • C:\Program Files: Contains installed applications.
     • C:\Program Files (x86): Holds 32-bit applications on 64-bit systems.
     • C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData: Contains user-specific application data.
     • C:\Temp or C:\Windows\Temp: Temporary directories where applications store temporary files.

Getting Ready for a Factory Reset​

Since you're planning a factory reset, it's a good time to back up all your critical data to ensure you don't lose anything important. Here are some steps to prepare for a factory reset:

1. Backup Your Data: Copy important files to an external drive or cloud storage.
2. Create a List of Installed Programs: Make a note of the programs you use to reinstall them later.
3. Check for Driver Updates: Ensure you have the latest drivers for your hardware post-reset.
4. Create a Windows Installation Media: If needed, create a bootable USB drive with Windows installation files. If you face any challenges during the process, feel free to reach out for assistance. Good luck with the factory reset tomorrow, and hopefully, it resolves all the issues you've been experiencing!