MySQL Bugs: #88177: MSI Installer hangs with "Please wait while Windows configures MySQL Installer"

Bug #88177	MSI Installer hangs with "Please wait while Windows configures MySQL Installer"
Submitted:	22 Oct 2017 15:20	Modified:	28 Nov 2022 15:41
Reporter:	Anthony Marston	Email Updates:
Status:	Closed	Impact on me:	None
Category:	MySQL for Windows: Installer	Severity:	S1 (Critical)
Version:	1.4.20.0	OS:	Windows (Windows 10)
Assigned to:		CPU Architecture:	Any

Description:
When using the msi installer to upgrade MySQL community server from 5.7.19 to 5.7.20 it would get to "Please wait while Windows configures MySQL Installer - community" and then hang. I reran the installer so that it produced a log file, and the last entry stated "Creating scheduled task if doesn't already exist" so I investigated problems with my Task Scheduler. This is the list of steps which I tried:

1) I tried to change the setting for "Automatic Catalog Update" on the "MySQL Installer Options" screen, but whenever I pressed the CLOSE button that would hang as well, and I had to terminate the task using Task Manager. 

2) I have a 2nd PC which was working perfectly, so I exported the task from that Scheduler and imported it into the faulty PC, but when I tried to update the user account from PC#2 to PC#1 it failed to do anything when I pressed the OK button. 

3) I suspected a fault with the Task Scheduler, so I downloaded and ran the RepairTasks program from https://repairtasks.codeplex.com/releases/view/617575 which found and fixed one problem. When I reran step #2 above the OK button did not hang, but it did produce an error message saying that a task with the name "ManifestUpdate" already existed even though it did not show up in the list of tasks. 

4) I then compared the registry entries for "ManifestUpdate" on both PCs, and I noticed that the entry in \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\TaskCache\Tasks\ on the faulty PC had fewer lines, so I deleted this entry as well as the one in \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\ 

5) I then reran step #1 above, and this time it worked. I then reran the latest msi installer and that worked as well!

How to repeat:
Run the msi installer with a corrupt entry in Task Scheduler.

Suggested fix:
You might want to examine the exiting Task Scheduler entry to see if it is valid or not, and delete/recreate it if it is.

Thanks for the bug report Anthony.
It is a good suggestion, we'll review this.

Same problem with installer 5.0.28. Same solution.

Irrrrgg: MySQL Community Installer 8.0.28

Posted by developer:
 
Starting with Installer 1.4.36 a scheduled task is no longer created.
If when upgrading MySQL Installer it is determined that a scheduled task exists it will be deleted.
This should no longer be an issue going forward.

Posted by developer:
 
Updated an existing entry in the MySQL Installer 1.4.36 changelog.

Hey Anthony,

I totally get where you're coming from, man. Dealing with that MySQL upgrade hiccup must've been a real headache, but I've gotta hand it to you, your determination to tackle it head-on is seriously impressive. I mean, not everyone's out there diving into the nitty-gritty of Task Scheduler and registry entries to fix things, right? 

Your solution is pretty darn solid. Checking and recreating that Task Scheduler entry is a smart move. And here's a little extra flavor for your solution, my friend: make sure the Task Scheduler service itself is running like a well-oiled machine. Sometimes, these kinds of problems can be traced back to hiccups in the underlying services. I read about it here: https://www.theengineeringprojects.com/2023/10/generative-ai-in-software-development-boost...

I've had my fair share of run-ins with software upgrade glitches, but I've gotta admit, your approach is way more thorough than my usual hit-and-miss attempts.