Alternately, if you are constrained to read in just a few lines at a time 
use strict;
use warnings;
use diagnostics;

my @parsedline = ();
my $dataline = '';
while(<DATA>){
    chomp;
    $dataline .= $_;
    if(/\s*[*]\s*$/){
        @parsedline = split /\s*[*]\s*/,$dataline;
        print join("\n",@parsedline),"\n";
        @parsedline = ();
        $dataline = '';
    }
}
    
exit;
    
__DATA__
Microsoft Corporation - DirectShow 
Version 6.4.05.0809 * 
Microsoft Corporation - Internet Server Version 
4.02.0720 * Microsoft Corporation - Internet Explorer 
Version 5.00.2014.200 * 
Microsoft Corporation - Windows Installer - Version 2.0.2 * 
Excel Viewer Version 8.0 * Connectivity Version 2.10.2309 *

[download]

PJ
use strict; use warnings; use diagnostics;

In reply to Re: Need help parsing ambiguously formatted data by periapt
in thread Need help parsing ambiguously formatted data by Dismas

Title:
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