Are you getting any errors in your event logs? Are you having troubles installing anything else, or just the java?

Had a few errors, service control manager ones but dont seem to be connected to installer.

I have managed to install a game the other day but i have a new one which wont install... same error 1721

Something was broken at some point and reinstalling SP2 might be the easiest way to fix it . This will not change your installed applications or data but will undo some windows updates .

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=049c9dbe-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

This is the full SP2 installer . Download and install it , this will replace many of the XP dlls with fresh copies and reregister them .

Once this is done reboot and head to windows updates , install all of the critical ones (this may take a few trips) .

Now take another crack at install java .

tried that just now and it hasn't worked!
same error code...

"Error 1721.There is a problem with this windows installation package. A program required could not be run, Please contact the vendor...

I get this error whenever i try to install java... i have tried downloading the package from different locations, evern the official site and none of them will install. same error code when the installer gets to the point of "Extracting Installer".

Had the same problem trying to install a game too, but i have successfully installed other programs and games...

It seems that you are not alone with this problem. A Google search comes up with another possible solution.

http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5223478&messageID=9909048#9909048

I have tried all of these so called solutions before... thanks for the concern but nothing is working. I tried the re-registering of windows installer and didn't work. This really seems like a lost cause and a re-installation of windows is imminent... please tell me it's not so! it isn't a case of conflict with my firewall either... i have installed java before in the past and zonealarm has no problem with it. I use firefox as a browser but have tried downloading with internet explorer... just cant seem to work itv out...

There is a way to reinstall your OS without losing any data or most settings. You will have to do all of the Windows updates and may have to reinstall some drivers (so make sure you have them).

Do you have genuine Microsoft XP installation discs? You can borrow them from someone as long as they are the same OS and service pack level that is currently installed. You use them and your own product key code to do what's called an in-place reinstall.

WARNING: Recovery/restore discs that come with a lot of computers to restore them to factory settings will not work for this procedure.

I am still talking amongst my colleagues trying to find another way, though.

Hi and thanks fo your help. How do i do an "In-Place re-install" ?

One point to know - back when you were doing a SFC check, it was asking for your Windows XP SP2 disc - not the disc with *just* SP2, but a complete Windows XP cd with SP2 integrated - that is why you were running into the error message with SFC. One would think that M$ would have been smart enough to not ask for the *original* install disc in cases where a SP had been obtained through other means, such as WU or via mail, but then again....

It is ironic that I just happened to mention this very issue earlier today somewhere else and now I see it here....

Anyhoo, to answer your question about an "in-place install" - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

Hi guys. I tried an in place repair reinstall but the pc crashed and blue screened while in the process. it then stopped working altogether so i had to resort to formatting the hd and reinstalling from scratch.
Thanks for your advice anyway.

I am sorry that the in-place reinstall did not work for you. I have not seen it fail before.

Do you remember what the BSOD said? Not that it matters now, but we might be able to figure out what went wrong.

Sorry, cant remember what the bsod said... all works fine now though.
Thanks again

You're very welcome.