wix - Windows Installer "This action is only valid for products that are currently installed" - "MSI_DBG: Provided descriptor less than minimum size" -

i've encountered strange issue running wix installer on windows 8 machine. when click msi message "this action valid products installed". running msi logging shows following:

=== verbose logging started: 3/11/2014  9:46:49  build type: ship unicode 5.00.9600.00  calling process: c:\windows\system32\msiexec.exe === msi (c) (20:c4) [09:46:49:933]: font created.  charset: req=0, ret=0, font: req=ms shell dlg, ret=ms shell dlg  msi (c) (20:c4) [09:46:49:934]: font created.  charset: req=0, ret=0, font: req=ms shell dlg, ret=ms shell dlg  msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:49:956]: resetting cached policy values msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:49:956]: machine policy value 'debug' 0 msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:49:956]: ******* runengine:            ******* product: myinstaller.msi            ******* action:             ******* commandline: ********** msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:49:976]: machine policy value 'disableuserinstalls' 0 msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:014]: note: 1: 1402 2: hkey_current_user\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\policies\explorer 3: 2  msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:766]: software restriction policy: verifying package --> 'e:\myinstaller.msi' against software restriction policy msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:766]: note: 1: 2262 2: digitalsignature 3: -2147287038  msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:766]: software restriction policy: e:\myinstaller.msi not digitally signed msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:778]: software restriction policy: e:\myinstaller.msi permitted run @ 'unrestricted' authorization level. msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:793]: cloaking enabled. msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:793]: attempting enable disabled privileges before calling install on server msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:799]: end dialog not enabled msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:799]: original package ==> e:\myinstaller.msi msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:799]: package we're running ==> c:\users\patri_~1\appdata\local\temp\50d229a.msi msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:804]: msi_dbg: provided descriptor less minimum size msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:807]: appcompat: compatibility mode property overrides found. msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:808]: appcompat: looking appcompat database entry productcode ''. msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:808]: appcompat: no matching productcode found in database. msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:849]: mscoree not loaded loading copy system32 msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:859]: machine policy value 'transformssecure' 0 msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:859]: user policy value 'transformsatsource' 0 msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:860]: appcompat: looking appcompat database entry productcode ''. msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:860]: appcompat: no matching productcode found in database. msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:860]: transforms not secure. msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:860]: property change: adding msilogfilelocation property. value 'e:\installlog.txt'. msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:860]: command line: currentdirectory=e:\ clientuilevel=0 clientprocessid=800 currentmediavolumelabel=?  msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:860]: property change: adding packagecode property. value '{9c098fbe-3c8f-452d-a0c4-b543717b6e3d}'. msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:861]: product code passed engine.initialize:           '' msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:861]: product code property table before transforms: '' msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:861]: product code property table after transforms:  '' msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:861]: failing install, missing product code action valid products installed. e:\myinstaller.msi msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:862]: note: 1: 1708  msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:863]: product:  -- installation failed.  msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:865]: windows installer installed product. product name: . product version: . product language: . manufacturer: . installation success or error status: 1605.  msi (c) (20:40) [09:46:50:871]: mainenginethread returning 1605 === verbose logging stopped: 3/11/2014  9:46:50 ===` 

the odd thing same installer works fine on win7 machine , older version of installer works on win8 machine. not sure why product code empty since has valid guid on win7.

does have insight why i'm getting error?

edit: using orca can see productcode property of msi set valid guid

edit2: swapping out guid in product code using orca guid version of installer, can work, when building wix productcode='*', it's not working though guid gets put in product code seems valid.

just couple of suggestions: 1. valid guid includes being uppercase, in case windows 8 has tightened rules, check that. 2. appcompat overrides imply there app compatibility thing going on, such pretending system (for example) windows 7 or xp have install because otherwise won't install on 8. or windows faking internally. see if msi file has compatibility settings in properties->compatibility. may honking things somewhere.