SHLWAPI.DLL Access Violation

[joakes]

Today on an install created with IA10.0.3 an error message popped up.

Runtime error in setup script.
Line Number: 556

Access violation at address 77150F29 in module "SHLWAPI.dll".
Read of address 04ABA2C8

Line 556 is code that was put in by the template from IA - "Apply Install"

The user is on a Windows Vista 32-bit machine using the windows 98 theme/appearance.

Any ideas what would cause that? Clicking OK causes the installer to close.

[giaviv]

Dear joakes,

shlwapi.dll is a system library that deals with URL's, registry entries and more. It could be that your file is corrupted. Could you attach your installation script (or at least the part around line 556) and your shlwapi.dll file here (or send it to [email protected])?

Thanks,
Aviv Giladi
InstallAware Support

[joakes]

We have now had the same problem on another Vista machine and now an XP machine as well - both of these machines were clean windows installs. We cannot reproduce this in house but it is happening more frequently now that we are using the new IA10 installer.

Same line number, same message.

Here is the text from the installer where the problem occurs:

Code: Select all

  Comment: TO-DO: Insert any additional install commands here
  Register Library $TARGETDIR_X86$\PSCharge.dll
  Register Library $TARGETDIR_X86$\Ver1000X.ocx
  Register Library $TARGETDIR_X86$\CRUFLNCH.dll
  [compiler if Variable BUILDMODE Equals PATCH]
  Apply Patch (get result into variable SUCCESS)
  [compiler else]
  if Variable ADVERTISE Equals TRUE
    Apply Advertised (get result into variable SUCCESS)
    else
    Apply Install (get result into variable SUCCESS)            <--------issue happens here
    if Variable SUCCESS not Equals ERROR
      if Variable SUCCESS not Equals CANCEL

[giaviv]

Dear joakes,

Are there any other common denominators between all the computers on which this problem occurs? I need more information in order to be more helpful...

Thanks,
Aviv Giladi
InstallAware Support

[joakes]

We have not yet seen much of a pattern.

Our test machine works no problem (clean win7/32 and no windows updates applied).

On the problematic machines (client site) they have been XP and Vista so far but with all MS updates applied to them.

More recent info - same problem occurs on uninstall or modify. It gives an access violation error on apply uninstall or apply updates lines of code as well.
When you click OK to the error, the installer completely exits without warning.

[giaviv]

joakes,

This could definitely be a Windows Update issue, however I can not determine the problem with certainty unless I get to witness it.. Is there any chance you could get me a shlwapi.dll file from those machines?

Thanks,
Aviv Giladi
InstallAware Support

[joakes]

I have e-mailed the project files as well as the SHLWAPI.DLL file from an XP box as requested.
This particular error happened for this client on two XP boxes - again, both with all updates applied prior to running the IA installer.

Thanks!
- Jeff

[giaviv]

Dear Jeff,

The project seems fine. This might be a Windows issue not related to IA. I would suggest trying to run a very basic installer on those machines and seeing if you get different results.

Please keep me updated,
Aviv Giladi
InstallAware Support

[joakes]

Originally we had thought it was just a random occurence on a specific machine perhaps the result of a virus or something as you had suggested.

The problem is its happened now in the last two days to about 8 different machines of all sorts - XP, Vista, and even Win 7.

We have a product to roll out but our clients cannot get it because the installer is crashing on this error.

We are really stuck on what to do at this point.

Do you think it has anything to do with using the IA Installer method vs making it use the Windows Installer method?

[giaviv]

joakes,

Do you have an option to create a basic IA project that installs a single file e.g and run it on one of the problematic machines?

Aviv Giladi
InstallAware Support

[rrrmmm]

Check this shlwapi dll post.