SXS.DLL: Syntax error in manifest or policy file

[Ken Roser]

I'm getting the error shown in the subject when attempting to install Windows XP Professional.  Previous posts seem to indicate this error results when you've incorrectly burned an ISO image.  Not the case here.  This is a retail boxed CD straight from Microsoft.

Taking this a step further I figured that possibly the mass produced CD is marginal and might not read reliably.  I copied it over to CD-R on another computer and did a file comparison on every file to verify all was fine.  I then installed from the copy I made on CD-R.  That worked fine.

Are there problems with some of the mass produced CDs.

Following is the complete text of the error in setuperr.log:

Error:
SXS.DLL: Syntax error in manifest or policy file "I:\I386\asms\1000\MSFT\WINDOWS\GDIPLUS\GDIPLUS.MAN" on line 4.

***

Error:
Installation Failed: I:\I386\asms. Error Message : A component's file does not match the verification information present in the
component manifest.
 

***

Fatal Error:
One of the components that Windows needs to continue setup could not be installed.

A component's file does not match the verification information present in the
component manifest.
 

***
 
 

[Carey]

It is quite possible that your CD Drive has a dirty optical laser lens and
is not reading the XP CD correctly. Go out and buy a CD Laser Lens cleaner
CD and run it. They cost less then $10.

[James]

During the first part of setup after the first reboot. I
recieve an error that it is unable to install a component
needed by windows. I added in the attachment the
highlights of my error logs.

I have a Dell 933 with 60 gig HD with 6 gig free 256 MB
RAM.

I have both Windows 2000 and Me on this computer. I was
installing to a new directory.

[James]

My attachment appears not to work so here is the
information on my error logs:

Setupact.log

GUI mode Setup has started.

SXS.DLL: Syntax error in manifest or policy file

"E:\I386\asms\6000
\MSFT\WINDOWS\COMMON\CONTROLS\CONTROLS.MAN"
on line 0.
Failed to install assembly from manifest:
"E:\I386\asms\6000
\MSFT\WINDOWS\COMMON\CONTROLS\CONTROLS.MAN";
Win32 Error Code = 14055
Installation Failed: E:\I386\asms. Error Message :
Manifest Parse Error : Invalid at the
top level of the document.

One of the components that Windows needs to continue setup
could not be installed.

Manifest Parse Error : Invalid at the top level of the
document.

GUI mode Setup has ended because of a fatal error.
GUI mode Setup has started.

SXS.DLL: Syntax error in manifest or policy file

"E:\I386\asms\6000
\MSFT\WINDOWS\COMMON\CONTROLS\CONTROLS.MAN"
on line 0.
Failed to install assembly from manifest:
"E:\I386\asms\6000
\MSFT\WINDOWS\COMMON\CONTROLS\CONTROLS.MAN";
Win32 Error Code = 14055
Installation Failed: E:\I386\asms. Error Message :
Manifest Parse Error : Invalid at the
top level of the document.

One of the components that Windows needs to continue setup
could not be installed.

Manifest Parse Error : Invalid at the top level of the
document.

DUError: DuInitialize: failed to expand
C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\updates.cab to
C:\WINNT\setupupd\updates\i386 (2)

SXS.DLL: Syntax error in manifest or policy file

"E:\I386\asms\6000
\MSFT\WINDOWS\COMMON\CONTROLS\CONTROLS.MAN"
on line 0.
Failed to install assembly from manifest:
"E:\I386\asms\6000
\MSFT\WINDOWS\COMMON\CONTROLS\CONTROLS.MAN";
Win32 Error Code = 14055
Installation Failed: E:\I386\asms. Error Message :
Manifest Parse Error : Invalid at the
top level of the document.

One of the components that Windows needs to continue setup
could not be installed.

Setuperr.log

Error:
SXS.DLL: Syntax error in manifest or policy file

"E:\I386\asms\6000
\MSFT\WINDOWS\COMMON\CONTROLS\CONTROLS.MAN"
on line 0.

***

Error:
Installation Failed: E:\I386\asms. Error Message :
Manifest Parse Error : Invalid at the
top level of the document.

***

Fatal Error:
One of the components that Windows needs to continue setup
could not be installed.

Manifest Parse Error : Invalid at the top level of the
document.

Setuplog.txt

12/15/2001
13:41:56,d:\xpclient\base\ntsetup\syssetup\log.c,133,,DUErr
or: DuInitialize:
failed to expand C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\updates.cab to
C:\WINNT\setupupd\updates\i386
(2)

12/15/2001
13:41:56,d:\xpclient\base\ntsetup\syssetup\log.c,133,,Error
12/15/2001
13:41:56,d:\xpclient\base\ntsetup\syssetup\log.c,133,,:

12/15/2001
13:41:56,d:\xpclient\base\ntsetup\syssetup\log.c,133,,DUErr
or: DuInitialize:
failed to expand C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\updates.cab to
C:\WINNT\setupupd\updates\i386
(2)

12/15/2001
13:41:56,d:\xpclient\base\ntsetup\syssetup\log.c,133,,
***

12/15/2001
13:42:08,d:\xpclient\base\ntsetup\syssetup\log.c,133,,One

of the components
that Windows needs to continue setup could not be
installed.

Manifest Parse Error : Invalid at the top level of the
document.

12/15/2001
13:42:08,d:\xpclient\base\ntsetup\syssetup\log.c,133,,Fatal
Error
12/15/2001
13:42:08,d:\xpclient\base\ntsetup\syssetup\log.c,133,,: