Launcher error, cannot start or reinstall

[alatnet]

Hi, having a problem starting the launcher so i tried to uninstall and reinstall it but it will not reinstall.
I keep getting "Application cannot start" dialog.
Here's the detailed info of the error:


PLATFORM VERSION INFO
Windows : 6.1.7601.65536 (Win32NT)
Common Language Runtime : 4.0.30319.261
System.Deployment.dll : 4.0.30319.1 (RTMRel.030319-0100)
clr.dll : 4.0.30319.261 (RTMGDR.030319-2600)
dfdll.dll : 4.0.30319.1 (RTMRel.030319-0100)
dfshim.dll : 4.0.31106.0 (Main.031106-0000)

SOURCES
Deployment url : file:///C:/Users/alatnet/Downloads/Launcher.application
Deployment Provider url : http://launcher.gro-ncsa.ubi.com/Launcher/Launcher.application
Server : Microsoft-IIS/7.5
X-Powered-By : ASP.NET
Application url : http://launcher.gro-ncsa.ubi.com/Launcher/Bin/Launcher.exe.manifest
Server : Microsoft-IIS/7.5
X-Powered-By : ASP.NET

IDENTITIES
Deployment Identity : Launcher_NCSA-Live.app, Version=1.23.9297.2, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=59711684aa47878d, processorArchitecture=x86

APPLICATION SUMMARY
* Installable application.

ERROR SUMMARY
Below is a summary of the errors, details of these errors are listed later in the log.
* Activation of C:\Users\alatnet\Downloads\Launcher.application resulted in exception. Following failure messages were detected:
+ Specified cast is not valid.

COMPONENT STORE TRANSACTION FAILURE SUMMARY
No transaction error was detected.

WARNINGS
There were no warnings during this operation.

OPERATION PROGRESS STATUS
* [3/31/2012 6:54:54 PM] : Activation of C:\Users\alatnet\Downloads\Launcher.application has started.
* [3/31/2012 6:54:58 PM] : Processing of deployment manifest has successfully completed.
* [3/31/2012 6:54:58 PM] : Installation of the application has started.

ERROR DETAILS
Following errors were detected during this operation.
* [3/31/2012 6:54:58 PM] System.InvalidCastException
- Specified cast is not valid.
- Source: System.Deployment
- Stack trace:
at System.Deployment.Application.DownloadManager.Veri fyRequestedPrivilegesSupport(String requestedExecutionLevel)
at System.Deployment.Application.DownloadManager.Down loadApplicationManifest(AssemblyManifest deploymentManifest, String targetDir, Uri deploymentUri, IDownloadNotification notification, DownloadOptions options, Uri& appSourceUri, String& appManifestPath)
at System.Deployment.Application.DownloadManager.Down loadApplicationManifest(AssemblyManifest deploymentManifest, String targetDir, Uri deploymentUri, Uri& appSourceUri, String& appManifestPath)
at System.Deployment.Application.ApplicationActivator .DownloadApplication(SubscriptionState subState, ActivationDescription actDesc, Int64 transactionId, TempDirectory& downloadTemp)
at System.Deployment.Application.ApplicationActivator .InstallApplication(SubscriptionState& subState, ActivationDescription actDesc)
at System.Deployment.Application.ApplicationActivator .PerformDeploymentActivation(Uri activationUri, Boolean isShortcut, String textualSubId, String deploymentProviderUrlFromExtension, BrowserSettings browserSettings, String& errorPageUrl)
at System.Deployment.Application.ApplicationActivator .ActivateDeploymentWorker(Object state)

COMPONENT STORE TRANSACTION DETAILS
No transaction information is available.

[UbiLauren]

Hey,

If you would, please submit a ticket with the error info and your DXDiag to support: ghostrecononline.us.ubi.com/support.

Please send us your dxdiag, if you are unsure how to retrieve this information please follow the instructions below
1. From Windows, click Start->Run
2. In the Open: box, Type DXDIAG
3. Click the save ****on to save the file as a text file in your Desktop.
4. Click the back ****on in this browser and attach the file at the bottom of the page.

[alatnet]

Sent.
also sent the dxdiag of both 32 bit and 64 bit.

[SKI008]

I am having the same exact problem. Did you try to install the game into anywhere other than the default directory (C:/Ubisoft/GRO)? That seems to be what caused it for me. I have deleted the entire folder the game creates in C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Apps (the folder is called 2.0) and now the launcher runs. Am redownloading the game now so try that.

[alatnet]

I cant even reinstall the game.
Here's what i said in the support ticket:

I have tried reinstalling the .net framework 4.
I have executed "sfc /scannow" which reports that everything is ok.
I have even tried via the windows features of uninstalling and reinstalling .net framework 3.5.1.
Nothing is working.
I believe that this is a programming problem because I have even tried going to "C:/Users/<username>/AppData/Local/Apps" and renaming "2.0" folder to "2.0.back" which still produced the error.
It doesnt even get to the point of downloading files. No launcher.exe.manifest file, nothing!

[alatnet]

ok, i think i may have figured it out.
UAC does not like clickonce installation for some strange reason even though it worked before.
I am able to get the launcher.application to work by turning off UAC by going into Control Panel then into User Accounts or User Accounts and Family Safety then User Accounts. There is a link called, "Change User Account Control Settings". Drag the slider to the bottom, be sure to note the original state so that you can restore UAC.

So I'm thinking that this is a permission error with ClickOnce and win 7 UAC and/or the launcher.application file...