Cannot install Adobe CS3, Installer fails

Question

Hi, everybody,
I hope somebody can help me here, as for almost 3 weeks now I am trying to install Adobe's CS3 Design Premium and I can't get it to work. Adobe's tech support is very friendly and comes with solutions and things to try now and then but first response time is really slow (48h) and secondly they haven't found a solution yet, though being escalated up in Tech Support levels already.
Problem:
Can't install CS3 (English version), Design Premium
Platform:
WinXP Professional SP2 2002 (all patches) US
Intel Pentium M 1.7 GHz
1.5 GB RAM
C:, D: Partition
On C: still 25 GB available
Computer is in domain.
Have tried to install it as local Admin and Domain-User (who is also in local Admin group with all rights).
Furthermore CS2 is installed, Macromedia, Office products etc.
Details:
1. Can start installer, all screens are accessible, can make entries everywhere.
2. Installation starts and progress bar appears.
3. Installers runs to the end (without any problem), summary screen comes.
4. Summary says that some products could not be installed.
5. Installer installed the "smaller" apps, like Acrobat, Device Central, Bridge etc. BUT NOT Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator etc.
Side effect is that, as Acrobat and Distiller cannot be activated by itself, I cannot use them anymore and the CS3 installer does remove these two CS2 products. Well, working with Reader currently :-(
Also, the numerous uninstallations (45 min!) remove also PDF plug-ins and Flash plug-ins, so a terrible situation to be in.
What I have tried so far (and which hasn't worked):
1. Ran CHKDSK over the hard disks, no issues.
2. Installed from hard disk (instead DVD).
3. Disabled all services and startups, as well as firewalls, virus scanners etc.
4. Let the cs3clean script run (provided by Adobe, which resolves problems if you had CS3 beta installed, which I didn't), with level 1 and 2.
5. Tried to install only specific applications (not all).
6. Ran MSCLeanup app.
7. Analyzed CS3 Install log for FAILED, Error Code 3 etc., no dramatic entries. Only thing that sometimes appears:
- Error 1303, not enough privileges for CONFIG.MSI, which seems to be a known MS issue when the hard disk responds too late. Of course privileges for CONFIG.MSI are there, also tried reapplying them, deleting folder etc.
8. Applied privileges new to all folders.
9. Ran a registry cleaner
10. Deinstalled Bridge 1.0
11. Tried it in Safe Mode, not possible (Installer says cannot be run in sfae mode).
More:
Adobe tech support also suggested to uninstall Bonjour, but I cannot find any entry and therefore have no idea how to uninstall. Add/Remove programs doesn't list it.
As the Installer runs about one hour, it is not only time-consuming, it also kills my productivity, as no Browser, Adobe or MS product can run when the installer is running.
Googled for error 1303 and CONFIG.MSI similar problems. Found numerous entries with CS3 installation issues, with some the CS3 Beta clean script helped, others had success with copying installation folder to hard disk, everybody something else (or no solution). And nothing that helped me.
As I know haven't heard from Adobe Tech Support for four working days, does anybody have any idea what else I could try?
Thanks
Matthias

Answer 1

There are log files that record the process of installation. If errors occur, they will be recorded in those log-files.
You should open up the log file in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Installers. The file is called something like Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium 1.0.log.gz (depending on your install type).
Pay attention to the file extension: it should be .log.gz and not just .log
To open it you should have a program like Winzip or Winrar, because it's an archive file containing a text file.
Search in the text file for the error message. Search for "Error ".
In my case it was "Error 1401.Could not create key \Software\Classes\.svg\OpenWithList\Illustrator.exe. Verify that you have sufficient access to that key, or contact your support personnel."
Now follow these steps:
1. Make sure you are logged in as an Administrator in Windows XP.
2. On the Windows TaskBar, choose Start, Run, type "regedit" (without quotes), and click OK.
3. Navigate to the following key that was of your error message (in my case it is: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\.svg\OpenWithList)
4. Right-click "OpenWithList" and choose Permissions.
5. Make sure your user name displays under "Group or user names."
NOTE: In the Windows XP Pro edition, the user name displays next to the word, Administrators.
In the Windows XP Home edition. the user name may display without the word, Administrator.
If you are not sure whether or not you are logged in as an Administrator, you can verify user rights in the Control Panel, User Accounts.
6. Verify that "System" also displays under "Group and User Names."
If the System name is not there, add it as follows:
7. In the Permissions for OpenWithList dialog box, click Add.
8. Type "System" (without quotes) in "Enter the object names to select" and click OK.
9. In "Permissions for System," make sure "Full control" and "Read" are set to "Allow."
10. Click OK, exit the Registry, and proceed with the install.
Read the tech note as well: http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=kb402035&sliceId=1
My problem was solved this way. Good luck!