How to create a detailed installation log file for the Microsoft Installer

Products

• Endpoint Encryption
• Endpoint Protection

Issue/Introduction

You need to create a detailed installation log file when you install Symantec AntiVirus, Symantec Client Security, Symantec Endpoint Protection or, Symantec Endpoint Encryption.

Resolution

Symantec Antivirus, Symantec Client Security, Symantec Endpoint Protection, and Symantec Endpoint Encryption use the Microsoft Installer. When an installation fails, the installation log files can help you troubleshoot the problem.

To create a detailed installation log file for Windows 2000, 2003, and XP

1. In the Windows Registry Editor, go to the following key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer
   
   If the Installer key does not exist, create it. Directions for how to add the key are in the Technical Information section of this document.
   
2. Right-click the Installer key, and then click New > String Value.
3. Type Logging for the name of the new value.
4. In the right pane, double-click the Logging value.
5. In the Value data box, type voicewarmup
6. Click OK.
7. Exit the Registry Editor.
8. Install Symantec Antivirus or Symantec Client Security.
   

To view the installation log file

1. Confirm that Windows is configured to show hidden and system folders.
   To show hidden and system folders, read How to make Windows show all files.
2. On the Windows taskbar, click Start > Run.
3. In the Open box, type one of the following text strings:
   
   %TEMP%
   %TMP%
   
   
4. Press Enter.
   Windows Explorer opens the temporary folder.
5. Find the log file.
   The file name starts with the letters MSI and ends with the extension .log.
6. Use Notepad to open the log file.

To troubleshoot installations by using the installation log file

1. Open the log file.
2. Search for the text value 3
3. The 20 lines of text above this entry will contain one or more errors.
4. Contact Symantec Technical Support with the information.

For computers that are running Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008:

1. Click the Start button, and then Run...
2. In the Run window, type notepad.
3. Type the following command lines into the Notepad window:
   
   Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
   
   [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer]
   "Logging"=dword:voicewarmupx
   "Debug"=dword:00000007
   
4. On the File menu, click Save As.
5. In the Save in list, click Desktop.
6. In the File name box, type EnableLogging.reg, click All Files in the Save as type list, and then click Save.
7. On the desktop, double-click the EnableLogging.reg file to add the registry values to the Windows registry.
   Note: If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
8. In the confirmation dialog box, click Yes, and then click OK.
9. Run the installation you would like logged. Windows will capture the complete installation information in the Microsoft Installer .log file.

Note: Collecting these logs can take several minutes, and the installation process may seem not to be functioning correctly. Please take the necessary time for the process to finish.

Important: As soon as the installation process has finished, disable Microsoft Installer logging. If you leave logging enabled, this will slow down your computer and create large log files that require large amounts of disk space every time that you install applications or updates.

To disable Microsoft Installer logging, follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button, and then Run...
2. In the Run window, type notepad.
3. Type the following command lines into the Notepad window:
   
   Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
   
   [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer]
   "Logging"=-
   "Debug"=-
   
4. On the File menu, click Save As.
5. In the Save in list, click Desktop.
6. In the File name box, type DisableLogging.reg, click All Files in the Save as type list, and then click Save.
7. On the desktop, double-click the DisableLogging.reg file to remove the registry values from the Windows registry.
   Note: If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
8. In the confirmation dialog box, click Yes, and then click OK.
9. Delete the EnableLogging.reg and DisableLogging.reg files from the desktop.

References
For more information about Windows Installer logs, read the Microsoft Knowledge Base article How to Enable Windows Installer Logging (Q223300).

Technical Information
To add the Installer registry key if it does not exist

1. Exit all open programs.
2. On the Windows taskbar, click Start > Run.
3. In the Open box, type the following text:
   
   regedit
   
   
4. Click OK.
5. Go to the following key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
   
   
6. In the left pane, right-click the Windows key, and then click New > Key.
7. For the new key's name, type Installer
8. Press Enter.
9. Exit the Registry Editor.