Encountering errors when running Windows applications can be frustrating and what can be even more frustrating is trying to figure what causes them, and how to fix them. One error that is commonly encountered is the Installer Error 2809, but what does this error message mean, and how can you easily fix it with little technical know-how. Here are a few tips to fixing this common Windows Installer Error message!

What is Installer Error 2809?

If you look up Windows Installer Error 2809, you are likely to get a message that reads something like this.

“On the Dialog [2] the next control pointer does not form a cycle. There is a pointer from [3] to [4], but there is no further pointer”

Let’s face it, unless you have a PhD in Computer Science this message will probably mean nothing to you. The only thing you really need to understand when you get installer errors is how to fix them, and in most cases a few easy steps will fix the problem.

Try the Easy Stuff First

Before “Googling” the problem and following complicated steps to fixing specific error messages, the first step should always be to restart your computer. Close down all the programs you have running, save any opened documents and restart the computer. In more cases than not, this simple step can automatically fix any errors that may have occurred. If this doesn’t work then you’ll want to move on to the next strategy.

Reinstall

If you are receiving this error message then odds are you have recently installed a new piece of software, or an update. If restarting your computer doesn’t fix the problem, then you’ll want to consider reinstalling that software. These steps can take you through that process.

Click Start> Control Panel> Programs> Programs and Features> Installed Updates

From here you can select recent updates and uninstall them. If you are reinstalling software, make sure you back up any associated files first. After you have uninstalled these updates or software, reinstall them, and in most cases this should fix the problem.

Last Simple Fix

If these methods don’t work, or you don’t want to uninstall your software or updates, then you can unregister Windows Installer and then re-register it. This process is a little more intimidating for those that have never used the Run feature of Windows before, but is really fairly simple and will usually solve the problem.

1. Click Start > Run


2. Type msiexec /unreg in the pop-up box, and press “ENTER”


3. Again click Start > Run


4. Type msiexec /regserver in the pop-up box, and press “ENTER”

If these three methods don’t fix the problem, then there may be a larger underlying issue with your computer that you may want to get resolved. In most cases, however, these types of Installer Errors, such as the Installer Error 2809 can be fixed using these simple tricks.