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castledun
Participating Frequently
April 12, 2012
Answered

How do I resolve "Installation failed to Initialize" message?

  • April 12, 2012
  • 1 reply
  • 6906 views

I've used Adobe products for over 20 years. Now I'm truly stuck, and live chat hasn't been helpful at all (no responses to my questions, just instructions ignoring what I'm saying, which is basically that I tried all the suggestions/instructions already, and they didn't work). My OS is Windows 7, Home Professional. I purchased CS5.5 Design Premium on a CD and attempted to install it. The CD seemed to work; the installation started. Then nothing happened for over an hour, so I cancelled the installation and rebooted my machine. Now when I try to install, I receive a message saying that the "Installation failed to initialize" and that I must clink on the link for Support Advisor. When I do this, the Manager finds no errors. I can't find installation logs. Live chat suggested that I change the ODBE (or something like that) file to "old" and then try again. This didn't work. I downloaded the Application Manager. This didn't help, either. Copying the contents of the CD to the desktop didn't get better results. Live chat suggested that I download the trial version and then attempt to use my legitimate serial number. I said this probably wouldn't work either, because the issues from the first CD attempt hadn't been resolved. Nine hours later the trial version finished downloading, and after all that, I got the same failure to initialize message. I replied to my "case file", and, so help me, the same customer rep responded, telling me to download the trial version. In other words, he completely ignored the fact that I'd tried and it didn't work. I've looked on the forum, and there was a discussion about this "failure to initialize", but the discussion was completely in German, which doesn't help me at all. I'm hoping that someone on this forum can help me through this process; this software is mega expensive and should come with better support.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Jeffrey_A_Wright

    4/12/2012 13:43:45 [INFO] Setup - Build Version - 2.0.242.0

    4/12/2012 13:43:45 [INFO] Setup - Logging Level verbosity Set  to 4

    4/12/2012 13:43:45 [INFO] Setup - Start Adobe Setup

    4/12/2012 13:43:45 [INFO] Setup - TimeLog: Bootstrapper Start

    4/12/2012 13:43:45 [INFO] Setup - TimeLog: Start initial checks

    4/12/2012 13:43:45 [INFO] Setup - Dictionary Path: D:\Adobe CS5_5\resources\Dictionary\en_US\stringTable.zdct

    4/12/2012 13:43:45 [INFO] PIM - Trying to access xml at path:D:\Adobe CS5_5\resources\setup.xml

    4/12/2012 13:43:46 [INFO] PIM - XML is valid

    4/12/2012 13:43:46 [WARN] PIM - Failed to find Node

    4/12/2012 13:43:46 [INFO] Setup - Found 3 packages in setup manifest

    4/12/2012 13:43:47 [INFO] PIM - Build Version - 2.0.242.0

    4/12/2012 13:43:47 [INFO] PIM - Logging Level verbosity Set  to 4

    4/12/2012 13:43:47 [WARN] PIM - Detected Old content in USF trying to delete it...

    4/12/2012 13:43:47 [INFO] Utilities - Unable to remove file:5

    4/12/2012 13:43:47 [WARN] PIM - Failed to delete Old content in USF.

    4/12/2012 13:43:47 [WARN] PIM - pim db in USF exists.

    4/12/2012 13:43:47 [FATAL] Setup - Unable to create PIM object

    4/12/2012 13:44:18 [WARN] PIM - PIM library reference not initialized or invalid libref.

    4/12/2012 13:44:18 [INFO] PIM - Build Version - 2.0.242.0

    4/12/2012 13:44:18 [INFO] PIM - Logging Level verbosity Set  to 4

    4/12/2012 13:44:18 [FATAL] PIM - Error Invalid Library reference.(PIM_STATUS_INVALID_LIBRARY_REF)

    4/12/2012 13:44:18 [ERROR] Setup - Unable to free PIM object

    4/12/2012 13:44:18 [INFO] Setup - End Adobe Setup. Exit code: 1

    Does any of this make more sense?


    Yes it looks as if you are running into a permission issues when the installer is trying to write to your drive.  I would recommend creating a new local administrator account and trying the installation under that account.  You might also consider running the installation in a selective start up to minimize any potential interference from other applications or services.

    The following documents should help if you need any guidance regarding these steps:

    Create local administrator account | Windows 7, Vista - http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/create-local-administrator-account-windows.html

    Restart Windows in a modified mode | Windows 7, Vista - http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/restart-windows-modified-mode-windows.html

    If this fails you may also want to try Log in using the built-in Administrator account (Windows 7 and Vista) - http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/log-using-built-administrator-account.html and try the installation with the built-in admin account.  I advise the creation of a local user account first though in case your existing user accounts have had their permissions compromised.

    If you can please respond back with the results it would be appreciated.  If you have any additional questions about the steps listed please feel free to respond to this thread as well.

    1 reply

    Jeffrey_A_Wright
    Community Manager
    Jeffrey_A_WrightCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    April 12, 2012

    Castledun the failure to initialize error message can be a bit generic.  I would recommend reviewing the Analyze the Creative Suite 5 or CS5.5 PDapp log section of Troubleshoot with install logs | CS5, CS5.5 - http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/troubleshoot-install-logs-cs5-cs5.html#main_Analyze_the_Creative_Suite_5_PDapp_log.  Reviewing the PDapp.log should reveal the point of failure.

    C
    castledunAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    April 12, 2012

    Thank you for the information. What I found was [WARN] PIM-Fail to find node. I couldn't find anything in the knowledge support. Is this making more sense, and is there some other file I should look at, other than the PDapp log? The only log I see, by the way, represents the initial attempt with the CD a week ago; all the attempts made through live chat and adobe connect aren't there, and I did look at the dates. Jeff, if you can help, I'd really appreciate this!

    Jeffrey_A_Wright
    Community Manager
    Jeffrey_A_WrightCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    April 12, 2012

    I would recommend that you delete the log and try the install again.  This will give you the most recent version of the PDapp.log.  Beyond that the key thing you want to look at is doing searches on [ERROR] and [FATAL] per step 3.  These are sign posts which can help you identify the point of failure.  [WARN] is just a warning but is not a critical failure.  [ERROR] and [FATAL] are where the difficulties are located.

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