Frequent NSIS Error - NSIS Forums

essemar
21st March 2006 06:28 UTC

Frequent NSIS Error
This is similar to a previous post (http://forums.winamp.com/showthread....ght=nsis+error). I seem to be having the same sort of problem.

I keep getting the following error on many different files I've tried to install:

<quote>
NSIS Error

The installer you are trying to use is corrupted or incomplete. Thes could be the result of a damaged disk, a failed download or a virus.

You may want to contact the author of this installer to obtain a new copy.

It may be possible to skip this check using the /NCRC command line switch (NOT RECOMMENTED).
</quote>

The first time it happened was trying to install the latest version of Azureus. I downloaded an older version, which installed fine, had it auto-update, and that worked.

The next was rarx. I can't remember how I got it to eventually install, but I did finally get it to work.

I've gotten this error trying to install new drivers for my Philips Shoqbox.

Most recently, and frustratingly, I get this error with DefilerPak and vlc. (I can listen to my .avi files, but I want to watch them too.)

Every file I download, I scan with Avast(hey, it's free) to make sure it's virus free, so it shouldn't be that. The first couple times this happened, I was willing to believer there was some sort of corruption somewhere, even when I tried downloading the file multiple times from multiple mirrors.

Now it's getting to the point where I think there must be something wrong with how my 'puter interacts with NSIS files. I ran a Kaspersky virus scan (from their website) in addition to my Avast. All clean. I ran Microsoft Antispyware and found nothing. Finally, I ran chkdsk. No problems there.

Could it be some sort of decompression issue? When I was trying to install Defiler and got the above error message with the self-executable, I tried downloading a .zip version of the installer. When I used the windows 'extract all' command on it, I got this error:

<quote>
<title>Compressed (zipped) Folders Error</title>

Error reading the file
</quote>

Once again, same problem from multiple downloads and multiple mirrors. Also, I just uncompressed a large batch of files I had archived with no troubles.

Sorry if this isn't the right place to post this problem, but I've tried a few other places, and no one seems to have any advice beyond what I've already tried.

Any of you have any ideas?

thanks,

RobGrant
21st March 2006 08:50 UTC

You might want to check out your RAM - memtest is a useful tool for that.

Joel
21st March 2006 14:14 UTC

This is your awnser:

The installer you are trying to use is corrupted or incomplete. Thes could be the result of a damaged disk, a failed download or a virus.

Chances of Azureus installer was corrupted during uploading, downloading, even virus by the developer are also pretty high.

essemar
21st March 2006 21:20 UTC

Yeah, if it had only been Azureus, I wouldn't have worried about it. It's when it started being a consistant error that I started to think something was wrong.

I downloaded MemTest, and I've been running it for about an hour now with no errors found. I'll go ahead and let it run for a few days just to make sure, but it doesn't look like a memory problem. Thanks for the tip Rob.

Does anyone else have any ideas? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

JasonFriday13
22nd March 2006 01:08 UTC

Try using Free Download Manager to download the file. I have had a few download corruptions in the past and this little program prevents corrupting the file during download.

essemar
22nd March 2006 04:57 UTC

Funny thing Jason. I tried downloading the download manager manager you suggested, but when I tried to install it, I got an error message:

"The setup files are corrupted. Please obtain a new copy of the program."

I'm assuming it uses NSIS like every other piece of software that has an installation procedure. I tried downloading a couple times from the site. I couldn't find any mirrors, and I couldn't find older versions available for download, so I wasn't able to try those.

Seriously, I think there is something weird going on with winxp that is making it so it won't play nice with NSIS. Does this sound at all plausible? I don't know how it interacts with the OS. I still think it's some issue with how NSIS compresses/decompresses the data.

Thanks again everyone for your help.

Afrow UK
22nd March 2006 10:28 UTC

Have you scanned for viruses?
If so, what antivirus software do you have installed?

This has happened in the past where antivirus software has falsely detected a virus in an NSIS installer and 'repaired' the executable making it corrupt.

Here's an idea: Download and install NSIS from the nightly build Zip: http://nsis.sourceforge.net/nightly/nsis.zip
Run NSIS\makensisw.exe and open one of the example scripts in the NSIS\Examples folder. Then click Test Installer. If the same error occurs then my assumptions would be correct.

-Stu

JasonFriday13
22nd March 2006 20:55 UTC

Actually, Free Download Manager uses Inno Setup for its install program.

Afrow UK
22nd March 2006 22:06 UTC

Do you use Internet Explorer to download files?

-Stu

essemar
23rd March 2006 09:23 UTC

Stu,

Avast! antivirus (the free one)
&
Firefox for all my internet needs.

I haven't tried out your idea yet, but when I get a chance I will.

btw, I did successfully install fddshow yesterday. I don't know if that tells anyone anything.

Thanks again.

essemar
24th March 2006 21:20 UTC

Here's an idea: Download and install NSIS from the nightly build Zip: http://nsis.sourceforge.net/nightly/nsis.zip
Run NSIS\makensisw.exe and open one of the example scripts in the NSIS\Examples folder. Then click Test Installer. If the same error occurs then my assumptions would be correct.

I tried it out, and it said that everything worked fine. No errors. I guess I was just having bad luck or there's some weird corruption somewhere in my OS. I've been thinking about reinstalling winxp anyways, so if the problem persists and gets annoying enough, I'll just do that.

Thanks again for all your help.

Afrow UK
24th March 2006 21:23 UTC

As you are using Firefox, what happens if you use Internet Explorer to download a file?
It could just be a Firefox issue...

-Stu

essemar
24th March 2006 22:08 UTC

As you are using Firefox, what happens if you use Internet Explorer to download a file?

OMG! :eek:

I downloaded the exact same file from the exact same place using IE, and it installed fine. :igor:

That really makes absolutely no sense to me.

Thanks for fixing my problem Stu. I never would have thought of such a simple solution on my own. I still wish I knew what the hell Firefox was doing that screwed it up.

Thanks.

Kafka47
24th March 2006 23:23 UTC

Essemar - I am having the exact problem as you on a brand new computer that is a mere few hours old. I scanned for virii and malware and the like, did a chkdsk, and the whole shebang. Still get the error on all downloaded install packages.

When I switch to downloading from MSIE, everything is FINE.

How does this NSIS script interpreter function exactly? Does every PC have it installed or something? I downloaded the nightly build and I still get this problem but, again, only from Firefox (v1.5.0.1).

I am at a loss for what causes this.

/Kafka

essemar
25th March 2006 07:46 UTC

Kafka,

I don't know what's going on, and I was pretty shocked when using IE made everything A OK.

I did submit a bug report to Bugzilla, and you probably should too. Someone else there has experienced the same problem.

kichik
25th March 2006 11:17 UTC

No PC has anything like NSIS interpreter installed. All NSIS installers are completely self-contained. In fact, as essemar has shown, it doesn't happen only with NSIS. Everything he downloaded was corrupted, including ZIP files and Inno Setup installers.

I really doubt this is a Firefox bug. I use Firefox and I've never had a corrupted download. It might be a problem with your connection, a bad Firefox extension or some program running in the background and interrupting, maybe even a bad driver.

Kafka47
25th March 2006 11:23 UTC

Thanks for your reply, kich... obviously, I have no idea if its Firefox per se. If its systemic as you suggest (eg. bad driver, bad connection) then that would affect MSIE as well, wouldn't it?

Also note that my entire install is absolutely pristine - brand new hardware across the board that passes every test I give it. The only observation that I have is that downloads work 100% in MSIE, and near zero percent in FF (including NSIS installers, zipfiles and the like).

/K

kichik
25th March 2006 11:32 UTC

Well, it could be something that only happens with Firefox and a driver, or a transparent-proxy on your ISP which acts weirdly with Firefox. But I seriously doubt such a noticeable problem with Firefox on its own goes undetected for so long by so many.

Afrow UK
25th March 2006 11:44 UTC

Well I have the latest version installed and I've never had a corrupt download (of any file type).

-Stu

Kafka47
25th March 2006 12:58 UTC

I've used FF on a zillion other PCs without ever seeing a problem (which is why I'm so surprised at this one).

You're probably correct in pointing out a compatibility issue between FF and something else. Likely not anything ISP side, as I have FF on other PCs in my house.

Thanks for your responses...
Cheers,
K

Afrow UK
25th March 2006 13:08 UTC

It may be something wrong with your Firefox profile. If you move the profile folder under Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles (.Default User) then it should create a new one with default settings.

-Stu

essemar
26th March 2006 04:52 UTC

You guys might be interested in taking this conversation over here:

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=327086

s793016
26th March 2006 06:59 UTC

Originally posted by essemar
OMG! :eek:

I downloaded the exact same file from the exact same place using IE, and it installed fine. :igor:

That really makes absolutely no sense to me.

Sorry, my English is very very poor.

In my experience about firefox. If you used an extension called "Down Them All" to download an execute file then you might got an broken execute file. So I droped it. I suggest you download it by other download manager, like Flashgot.

Afrow UK
26th March 2006 12:11 UTC

Kafka47, are you using Avast Antivirus by any chance?
What firewall software are you both using (if any).

-Stu

essemar
26th March 2006 21:54 UTC

Standard WinXP firewall and I'm behind a LinkSys router with its firewall turned on.

snne23
27th March 2006 13:05 UTC

i get the same NSIS error with about 50% of all zip files and install files i donwload.

i have tried to scan for virus with Avast Antivirus and AVG antivirus, and found non. i have also tried to download files with both IE and Firefox but i still got the NSIS error

***
Installer corrupted or incomplete

This could be the result of a failed download or corruption from a virus

If desperate, try /NCRC command line switch (NOT RECOMMENDED)
***

can anyone help?!!?

Afrow UK
27th March 2006 14:32 UTC

I'm waiting to see if Kafka47 is using Avast Anti-virus as well. snne23 is using it so there may be a correlation here.

-Stu

Kafka47
28th March 2006 23:04 UTC

Turns out that the driver installation for my integrated nVidia NIC included a firewall that, although completely disabled, still munged downloads from Firefox.

I had disabled it immediately on setting up my system, but even in the disabled state it was still doing *something*. Once I removed this piece of crap everything returned to normal.

On a side note, I did use Avast - but only after I had started seeing the problem.

I'm going to give feedback to nVidia on this issue. Their NIC driver suite includes some pretty bizarre stuff (including an integrated CLI) and most of it is totally shoddy. Stick to graphics, nVidia, lol. :)

Thanks everyone for the support - sorry to bring this problem into your forums.

/Kafka

Afrow UK
29th March 2006 13:53 UTC

I have the ASUS A8N-SLi motherboard which also has an onboard nVidia NIC and nForce 4 chipset. During the installation of the Ethernet drivers, you can choose not to install the firewall software with it (a message box will appear).

So if you have to uninstall the drivers to remove the firewall software, you can safely re-install the drivers later.

-Stu

dwa04
2nd April 2006 19:43 UTC

I have the same problem, It would never let me install Mozilla after it was downloaded.

I have used multiple HDD's. Still the same problem (one sata one ide).

I think I always installed the NVIDIA FIREWALL, and then turned it on and off, is this what is causing this error on different downloads.

When I DL Ares, and install it works.

When I DL AIM, Winamp, an ingame download of a patch for Warcraft 3, nvidia grapics driver it DOESNT WORK.

PLEASE HELP ME!!!!

Afrow UK
2nd April 2006 19:50 UTC

Uninstall nVidia Firewall. If you aren't using Windows XP, you should use Zonealarm for example.

-Stu

dienjd
20th April 2006 04:07 UTC

Sorry to bring this back up, but I have a case of this happening with IE6. Could we get a pointer to where the error MessageBox text is defined in the NSIS source (or maybe even a special build that allows you to define the text)?

Afrow UK
20th April 2006 09:18 UTC

I would suggest redownloading the installer.
The message text is hard coded in the NSIS source code. You'll need to change it and recompile.

-Stu

dienjd
20th April 2006 15:25 UTC

It happened with one of my builds (it was just a bad download--user didn't get this error on the second try). I was wondering about the message text because I'd prefer to have it a little less alarming and without the /NCRC note. I'll poke around the source and try to find it.

erroneouz
9th September 2006 07:03 UTC

here is some great advise
I just went through the exact same problem as you are and have done dozens of searches across the internet for solutions. This is what solved my problem.

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

that is a RAM tester and is very simple to use. Heck I will even explain in simple steps so you dont have to read as much info.

1. Download the program
2. Open program and insert a 3.5 floppy into your disk drive
3. save to the disk and to desktop incase =)
4. turn off your pc
5. take out all of your RAM but 1 stick and restart
6. select first boot device as 3.5 floppy on your CMOS
7. (make sure your disk is in the 3.5 drive) let it run the program. You will see the RAM test run through a series of 6 tests if it says "successful" your good to go. If it says failure there's your problem.
8. hit "X" and turn off your pc. Use another stick of RAM and repeat step 7.

I can't tell you how many things I have tried from the windows installer updates to manually running /NSIS it took but that did it and I hope it works for you.

Good luck
-Erron
my email is jdm1998ex@hotmail.com if you have any questions shoot an email

gabrieloceano
23rd November 2006 20:33 UTC

error
hi!

I had the 'corrupted file' error trying to update my avg!

I formated my hd and unistalled the nvidia firewall and still get it!

Can someone gimme a light?

Thanks!!!

kichik
23rd November 2006 20:40 UTC

AVG has nothing to do with NSIS and there's no such error message in NSIS. The error in NSIS doesn't say a file is corrupted. It says "The installer you are trying to use is corrupted or incomplete...". Try reinstalling AVG and contact AVG support for further help with AVG installation and updates.

gabrieloceano
24th November 2006 01:29 UTC

I've downloaded the AVG installer again with the IE, but i got teh msg: 'Some installation files are corrupt. Please download a fresh copy and retry the installation.' Ive downloaded it twice but i got the same error again.

The same happens when I try to download it with the Firefox!

There is a way to resolve it?

Thanks for the help!!

kichik
24th November 2006 10:23 UTC

Download on another computer and copy using a CD or a disk-on-key. Your internet connection might be having problems. For further help, contact AVG.

alpilion
16th July 2007 02:54 UTC

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