Can't install PostgreSQL: An error occurred executing the Microsoft VC++ runtime installer on Windows XP

Question

I downloaded installer postgresql-9.0.1-1-windows.exe from the official site, ran it, and then got an error:

An error occurred executing the Microsoft VC+

Answer 1

I was having a similar issue and found a fix that worked for me from Garrett_H in this forum post:

http://forums.enterprisedb.com/posts/list/1747.page#6180

Go to file %windir%\inf\wsh.inf, right click and select 'Install'

re-run postgresql installer

I'm running Windows XP Pro, and I was trying to install postgresql-8.3.17-1-windows.exe. I originally received the following error:

An error occurred executing the Microsoft C++ runtime installer.

Answer 2

I had these same problems and tried

• manually installing MS VC++
• bypassing VC++ installation on postgres
• fixing windows update service

Still unsuccessful

Then I solved these problem by installing postgres manually:

• extract the PostgreSQL installation contents to C:\PostgreSQL (you can copy from successful installation on other machines)
• add C:\PostgreSQL\bin to PATH environment
• run pg_ctl register -D D:\pgdata -N postgresql -U postgres -P <your postgres password>