Windows Live Writer is one of the most sought-after offline blogging tools.
Perhaps one of the few Microsoft products that has been embraced by the community (and one which performs optimally), Windows Live Writer started out as a not-so-great application, and improved with each version.
Some of the reasons for Live Writer’s popularity is its range of plugins and extra functionality (adding new categories and tags). To install Live Writer, you must have the .net framework (download the latest here [mirror]).
When you execute a normal downloaded file, you will find that it proceeds to download the Live Writer application (to install it). However, it gets stuck at 99%. If Windows Live Writer has repeatedly stuck/interrupted at 99% download has occurred to you, then read on for the solution.
Fixing the Live Writer installer problems
Once you have downloaded the above mentioned files, download an older beta version of Live Writer (here). Then, install the beta version. Once you have completed the installation, uninstall it. No, that wasn’t a typo, and I’ll say it again – uninstall Live Writer.
Then, proceed to download and install the latest (non-beta) version from here (or use the non-beta installer if you have already downloaded it).
Complicated as it may sound, this can be summarized in the following:
- Download and install .net framework.
- Download and install any beta version of Live Writer.
- Uninstall Live Writer beta.
- Download and install the latest version of Live Writer.
Do leave a comment here about whether the method mentioned here worked for you, as it will also help others in trying this method.
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This is the software which had given me lot of headache as my xmlrpc file wa not being detected. Solved this issue after upgrading Wordpress.
@Nirmal: It might be a coincidence, but I had the same problem too. I was able to solve the xmlrpc without upgrading, but I lost the ability to tag. Upgrading made the tag field reappear. Also, WLW seems to be very sensitive to network problems.
But otherwise, WLW is a superb editor, which saves a lot of time. I wish they did away with their crappy thumbnailing, which makes me turn to FTP for uploads.
I tried this procedure and it did NOT work. I am behind corporate firewall (though there are no restrictions in installing applications). I see a Windows Live Setup Service started after I try to install this Live Writer. However, the old version of writer gets installed but I am not able to launch it. I run a Win XP Pro SP 2.
Any ideas?!
Thanks
Ramesh
@Ramesh: You may be restricted to running only pre-approved apps or something. You do not have to run WLW previous version to install newer version. Simply install older version, and run the newer version’s installer over it.
Thanks, just what i was looking for
tried many times, but since now days every thing comes as web installers could never get live on my office laptop, now i have