KB92180867: Imaging Engine - MPICH2 (Message Passing Interface) fails to install on Windows 8 or newer

Summary

Installing the Imaging Engine 14 DVD first installs the prerequisites, including a package called Message Passing Interface (MPICH2). This ends without warning. But afterwards it complains that the necessary prerequisite is not installed. You might get an error saying "The Message Passing Interface is too low" or "The Message Pass Interface is too low".

Symptoms

You cannot get past the necessary prerequisites check, but don't get a clear error either.

Solution

Root cause is the fact that the MPICH2 prerequisite itself needs .NET Framework 2.0 to be installed. This is, by default, part of the .NET Framework 3.5, but that version is no longer by default installed on Windows 8 or higher.

To get the necessary .NET Framework 3.5 installed, follow these instructions:

1. Open the Control Panel.
2. Select Programs and Features.
3. Click Turn Windows features on or off.
4. Toggle on .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0).
    
5. Click OK and let it install.
      
6. Go back to the Imaging Engine DVD and re-install the prerequisites!!
    

We will try to detect this situation and give a better error in future versions.

If you still have problems installing the .NET Framework 3.5, check this microsoft link:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2734782