Is it always me that gets bizarre errors, or do you all get them and never post it on the Internet? I tried to install VS2008 on my nearly clean Windows 7 install on my main development machine. I have no idea why, but as VS was starting to install, before the product key, it dropped out with:

“A problem has been encountered while loading the setup components. Cancelling setup.”

I tried all the obvious, Run as Administrator, Compatibility Mode, etc etc … 40 minutes later trawling the Internet and generally cursing, I come across a window hidden behind a few others. It seems Windows 7 is good enough to know about this problem, but it failed to make me properly aware of it.

This helpful window contained the following (which also happened to solve the problem):

Solve a problem with Windows 7 beta

An issue with the Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP) client in Windows 7 beta is causing Explorer and some MSI-based installers to stop working properly.

To solve this problem, follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button , click All Programs, and then click Accessories.

2. Right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. In the User Account Control window, verify that Program name is Windows Command Processor, and then click Yes.

3. In the Administrator: Command Prompt window, type or paste the following text at the prompt:

   reg delete HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SQMClient\Windows\DisabledSessions /va /f

4. Press Enter to install the solution.

5. If The operation completed successfully displays, close the Administrator: Command Prompt window to complete this procedure. If "ERROR: Access is denied" displays, repeat this procedure from the top, making sure you clicked Run as administrator in step two.