Unknown Installer Error

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I have encounter 2 problems, the first of which has lead me to report this 
problem

Problem 1:

I always update GE from the Help menu item, however after several attempts over 
different days it always fails with a unable to contact the server error.

I then attempted to just download and install a new copy, in 2 different ways.  
The first way was to attempt the installation without removing the previous 
copy, the second way was to attempt the installation after removing the 
previous copy.   Both attempts fail with an "Unknown Installer error".   I've 
attempted the installation (both ways) several times and even downloaded fresh 
copies (from the link on the GE Home page) of the installation file.

I am attempting the installation on a Windows XP system.  In the download 
selection process I unchecked both of the boxes related to the Chrome options.

I am using the most current version (MCV) of Firefox and use the MCV of 
Down-them-all addon to manage the downloads.   I've used this process for years 
and have not encounter any problems using it.

What steps will reproduce the problem?
1. described in detail above.
2.
3.

What is the expected output or behavior? What do you see instead?

Which plugin version are you using?0
Attempting to install the most current version

Which browsers and operating systems are affected?
Windows XP and Firefox

Please provide any additional information (code snippets/links) below.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by FPGe...@gmail.com on 9 Feb 2013 at 8:13

[GoogleCodeExporter]

In another attempt I used the "click here"link on the Ge home page to get the 
down load file.  This too failed with the same error.  However, the Download 
link on the GE home page downloads a file named "GoogleEarthSetup.exe" whereas 
the "click here" link downloads a file named "googleupdatesetup.exe".  

As stated neiother works but I did not expect to have different files 
downloaded. 

Original comment by FPGe...@gmail.com on 9 Feb 2013 at 8:19

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Using the same process as documented earlier but this time on a Win 7 system, 
with Firefox and the Down-them-all addon.

1. attempting to get the update from the GE Help returns the same error as 
encountered previously, "Unable to contact the server to check for updates" 
(note that the "Learn More" link in the error box works fine).]

2. Navigating to the GE home page and attempting to manually download GE (using 
Firefox and the addon), the download worked but the installer fails with the 
same error "Unknown Installer Error".

As stated this is a completely different system with Win 7 installed. 

Original comment by FPGe...@gmail.com on 9 Feb 2013 at 8:33

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Update to #2.

I did not uninstall GE in this attempt because if it didn't work I would be 
left without GE on both systems.

Original comment by FPGe...@gmail.com on 9 Feb 2013 at 8:36

[GoogleCodeExporter]

In this attempt I used Chrome to do the download on a Win 7 system and the 
installation worked fine.

Besides using Chrome the other difference is that the 2 Chrome check boxes that 
were encountered when using Firefox were not present.  After the install FF was 
still the default browser.  

Original comment by FPGe...@gmail.com on 9 Feb 2013 at 8:47

[GoogleCodeExporter]

This attempt uses Chrome on my Win/XP system.  Like my Win 7 system GE 
installed correctly.

It seems that there are 3 possible things that cause the problem:

1. Using firefox for the download,
2. Using Down-them-all for managing the download, and
3. Un-checking the Chrome related check boxes when using FF which were not 
available when using Chrome.

At this point GE has been updated on both of my systems and is working fine and 
Firefox is still my default browser so the installation process made no other 
changes.

Original comment by FPGe...@gmail.com on 9 Feb 2013 at 8:58

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Cannot seem to install GE up to a point; nasty message, GE encountered a 
problem, abort installation, or something to that effect. I use Win/Xp, Chrome 
or  IE.

Original comment by dangt...@aim.com on 20 Jun 2013 at 11:41