HowtotroubleshootWindowsInstallererrors
Sign in
Microsoft ended support for Windows XP on April 8, 2014. This change has affected your
software updates and security options. Learn what this means for you and how to stay
protected.
Microsoft ended support for Windows Server 2003 on July 14, 2015. This change has affected
your software updates and security options. Learn what this means for you and how to stay
protected.
Symptoms
When you install, uninstall, or update a program on a Windowsbased computer, you may receive
one of the following error messages.
Error message 1
The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed.
Error message 2
Windows Installer Service couldn't be started.
Error message 3
https://support.microsoft.com/enus/kb/2438651
1/12
3/16/2016
HowtotroubleshootWindowsInstallererrors
Could not start the Windows Installer service on Local Computer. Error 5: Access is denied.
Resolution
https://support.microsoft.com/enus/kb/2438651
2/12
3/16/2016
HowtotroubleshootWindowsInstallererrors
2. Click Change date and time. When the User Account Control dialog box appears, click
Continue.
3. Do one of the following, depending on what happens when you click Continue:
If your computer does not prompt you for a password, you are already logged on
with an administrator account. Click Cancel two times to close the Date and Time
dialog box. You are ready to fix the Windows Installer issues.
If your computer prompts you for a password, you are not logged on with an
administrator account.
3/12
3/16/2016
HowtotroubleshootWindowsInstallererrors
timedate.cpl
If you receive the following message, you are not logged on as an administrator:
After you've verified that you're logged on to your computer as an administrator, you can start
troubleshooting Windows Installer issues.
4/12
3/16/2016
HowtotroubleshootWindowsInstallererrors
Use the following methods to identify any Windows Installer issues that may be causing problems
when you install, uninstall, or update programs.
Method 2: Make sure that the Windows Installer service is not set to Disabled
1. Click Start
, type services.msc in the Search box or click Run then type services.msc in
the dialog Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, and then press Enter to open Services.
2. Rightclick Windows Installer, and then click Properties.
3. If the Startup type box is set to Disabled, change it to Manual.
4. Click OK to close the Properties window.
5. Rightclick the Windows Installer service, and then click Start. The service should start
without errors.
6. Try to install or to uninstall again.
Method 3: Check your version of Windows Installer, and upgrade to the latest
version if necessary
Important This method applies to Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, Windows
Server 2003 R2, and Windows Server 2008 only.
1. Click Start
, type cmd in the Search box or click Run then type services.msc in the
dialog Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, and then press Enter to open a Command
Prompt window.
2. At the command prompt, type MSIExec, and then press Enter. If the MSI engine is working,
you should not receive any error messages, and a separate dialog box should open. This
shows the MSI version.
3. If the installer is not version 4.5, download and install Windows Installer 4.5.
4. Try to install or to uninstall again.
5/12
3/16/2016
HowtotroubleshootWindowsInstallererrors
Important This method applies to Windows XP and to Windows Server 2000 only.
1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click Command Prompt.
2. At the command prompt, type the following, and then press Enter after each line:
MSIExec /unregister
MSIExec /regserver
3. Try to install or to uninstall again.
Method 2: Copy the installation files to your computer or to other removable media
When you do this, note the location, and then run the installer from that location. The installation
file is typically named Autorun.exe or Setup.exe, but this may vary. If you're not sure, check the
Readme file in the folder for instructions about how to run the installation process. If an
executable file .exe is available, we do not recommend that you run .msi files directly without
specific instructions from the
https://support.microsoft.com/enus/kb/2438651
vendor.
6/12
3/16/2016
HowtotroubleshootWindowsInstallererrors
Programs that are currently running on your computer are interfering with the
installation process
Disable programs that might be interfering with the installation process. To do this, follow these
steps:
1. Click Start
, type msconfig in the Search box, and then click msconfig.exe.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password,
or provide confirmation.
2. On the General tab, click
https://support.microsoft.com/enus/kb/2438651
Selective startup, and then clear the Load startup items check
7/12
3/16/2016
HowtotroubleshootWindowsInstallererrors
2. On the General tab, click Selective startup, and then clear the Load startup items check
box.
3. Click Services, click Hide all Microsoft services, and then click Disable all.
4. Click OK, and then click Restart.
5. Try running your software program installation.
6. When you are finished troubleshooting the problem, restart the computer in Normal
Startup mode. To do this, follow these steps:
a. Click Start
, type msconfig in the Search box, and then click msconfig.exe.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the
password, or provide confirmation.
b. On the General tab, click Normal startup, click OK, and then click Restart.
For more information about how to use MSConfig, see How to troubleshoot a problem by
performing a clean boot in Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista.
2. Select the folder for the program that you are trying to uninstall, and then open the folder.
3. If there is an uninstall option, try using it.
https://support.microsoft.com/enus/kb/2438651
8/12
3/16/2016
HowtotroubleshootWindowsInstallererrors
Enable MSI logging, and then read the .msi verbose log files
Most programs create an installation log. If you can't locate such a log, you can enable verbose
MSI logging. For more information, see How to enable Windows Installer logging.
Note If you're running the .msi log file without the bootstrapping application .exe, you can add
parameters for verbose logging. For example, you can run the following command:
Msiexec path\your_msi.msi /L*v path\your_msi_log.txt
For a list of msiexec commandline parameters, see Commandline options.
A failed installation typically logs "Return Value 3" where the problem occurred and where the
installation rollback began. The description of the failure appears immediately before the Return
Value 3 log entry.
it impossible to delete it, it's likely that this same antivirus software
9/12
3/16/2016
HowtotroubleshootWindowsInstallererrors
program file and making it impossible to delete it, it's likely that this same antivirus software
was preventing you from uninstalling the program by more traditional means.
More information
For general information about how to install or to uninstall a program, see the following:
Install a program
Uninstall or change a program
Installing programs: frequently asked questions
Properties
Article ID: 2438651 Last Review: 09/08/2015 14:32:00 Revision: 37.0
Applies to
Windows 7 Enterprise
Windows 7 Home Basic
Windows 7 Home Premium
Windows 7 Professional
Windows 7 Starter
Windows 7 Ultimate
Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Enterprise
Windows Vista Home Basic
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Starter
Windows Vista Ultimate
Microsoft Windows XP Home
https://support.microsoft.com/enus/kb/2438651
Edition
10/12
3/16/2016
HowtotroubleshootWindowsInstallererrors
https://support.microsoft.com/enus/kb/2438651
11/12
3/16/2016
HowtotroubleshootWindowsInstallererrors
Support
Security
Contact Us
https://support.microsoft.com/enus/kb/2438651
Trademarks
2016 Microsoft
12/12