Some common installation executables aren't running

Hi,

I've got a new Windows 8.1 laptop, and I've been installing the usual suspects. Most of these work, but I have had trouble with two:

dropboxinstaller.exe

chromesetup.exe

With both of these, upon running I don't even get the warning asking whether I want to allow the file to modify my computer. All that happens is that the cursor flicks to the "waiting" blue circle for a second or two, then... nothing.

Any ideas much appreciated.

You could right-click and then run the installer as Administrator.

Sounds like a serious problem though - most can install Dropbox and Chrome without any issue. Is it new?

Thanks for the reply. Yes, this is a brand new computer, just got it yesterday, and most other installation executables ran fine.

I wonder if the problem is the user I'm logged in as. When I first set up the laptop, it asked me for my Windows Live username, which I gave. I then did some googling and found out how to set up a localised user instead. This is now the user I want to have as my default user from now on. I've checked, and this localised user DOES have administrative permissions, so I thought that would be ok. Maybe not?

The first account you set up will automatically be part of the Administrator group. The second you define. What does this look like in control panel? Don't worry about the account called Administrator by the way.

And did you get dropbox and chrome from their respective sites?

This is my "Manage Accounts" page. It looks like maybe I just disconnected the account I first created (based on my Windows Live account) from the Live account, making it a local account, because I can't see my Live account on there any more.

To answer your other question, I downloaded the installers from the official sites. I followed your advice, and was able to install Chrome if I ran the installer as an administrator. However, with Dropbox, a warning appeared saying that Dropbox will not run properly if the installer is ran as an administrator. In either case, I shouldn't have to do this anyway, as you said in your original post. If you or anyone can figure out why that's happening I'd be very grateful.

Sorry, for some reason my screenshot didn't show. Trying again...

I notice here that it is in fact usual for administrator users sometimes to have to specifically give permission. But surely that shouldn't be the case for running the DropBox installer, or (another problem I'm having) running CrashPlan, or even (and this is more serious) trying to open the CrashPlan tray icon (which just won't open). I've set my UAC to the minimum, still have the same problem. I see other people have had it too -- what's the solution please?