can't extract self-extracting cabinet

[cov]

I want to install Silverlight on a Windows xp sp3 machine. I downloaded
silverlight.exe. The problem is that i can't extract that file: when i
doubleclick, there appears a window, that disappears immediately (i have no
time to read what appears).

I have executed 'msiexec' from the dos-prompt and i get no errors (windows
installer is version 3.xxxx).

In Msconfig, the Service 'Windows Installer' is flagged.

I have administrator rights.

Is the problem Windows Installer or the software to extract the file?

Is installing a newer version of Windows installer the solution? I found
'WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe' on the website of Microsoft. But maybe i
will have the same problem to use that file: is it also a self-extracting
cabinet (like silverlight.exe)?

Or have i to reinstall servicepack3?

Hugo