When attempting to install SocketTools, an error message is displayed that states IKernel.exe could not be installed. This error typically occurs when an instance of the InstallShield engine is already running or one of the InstallShield components are flagged as read-only.
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SocketTools uses InstallShield to perform the installation and it copies the setup engine to the hard disk during the installation process. If these files cannot be copied or loaded by InstallShield, this error message will be displayed. If you have recently performed another installation, it may be that the InstallShield engine is still running. Try rebooting the system and attempting the installation again. If the same error occurs after a reboot, follow these steps:
Open an administrative command prompt. If you are installing on Windows 7, select Command Prompt in Programs | Accessories and right-click, then select "Run as Administrator". If you are installing on Windows 8 or Windows 10, right-click on the Windows icon in the taskbar and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" from the menu. You must have Administrator access to correct this problem.
Change your current working directory to the C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield folder. On 64-bit versions of Windows, change your current working directory to the C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\InstallShield folder. Rename the Engine folder to a different name, such as OldEngine. If you cannot rename it, then another process has the folder open, so you may need to restart the system and then rename it. After the folder has been renamed, restart your system and attempt the installation again.
If you are installing SocketTools on Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 or later versions of Windows, the installer should display a UAC prompt, notifying you that it requires elevated privileges. If you're not getting this prompt for some reason, try explicitly launching the installation by right-clicking on the setup executable and selecting "Run as Administrator".
See Also
Installation Fails with Feature Transfer Error
Installation Runtime Error
DllRegisterServer Fails with Error 0x80040200