Windows Installer Problem

[Guest]

Windows XP Pro SP2 (fully patched)

Non-Microsoft updates (Adobe Acrobat Pro) and other updates will not install.

When trying to install updates, I get the "The Windows Installer Service
could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in safe mode
or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support
personnel for assistance." message.

Checking Services, Windows Installer is set to MANUAL. If I try to start it,
I get "Could not start the Windows Installer service on local computer. Error
5: Access is denied."

Looking at the Event Viewer, I have 2 fatal errors in SYSTEM log:

The Windows Installer service failed to start due to the following error.
Access Denied.
DCOM got error "Acces is denied" attempting to start the service MSIServer
with arguments "" in order to run the server.
{000C101C-0000-0000-000000000046}.

DCOM Launcher is STARTED.

I'm running on my personal account (member of Administrators) and appear to
have necessary rights, but maybe not??

I also suspect a registry problem with Windows Installer not properly
registered.

All of the above only became evident after installing the last round of
Windows updates, last week.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Unregister and register msiexec.exe...
At the command prompt, type: msiexec.exe /unregister and then press
ENTER.
Type: msiexec /regserver and then press ENTER.

"The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" error message when you
install a program in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315353

Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

Thanks for replying, Wesley.

I've tried to unregister msiexec and get a Windows OInstaller message
"Access is Denied."

I also can't use the Installer Cleanup Utility, becuase when I try to
oinstall it, I get "Windows Installer could not start ..."

Seems like a bit of a pickle. The only solution I can see short of a
complete reinstall is to figure out if a rights problem is at the root of
this issue.

Jim

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Jim,

You did all the steps here, except repair Windows?

"The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" error message when you
install a program in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315353

Here's some more things to look at/try.

Check if the ImagePath in the Registry is correct.

1. Click Start then click Run.

2. In the Open box, type regedit and then click OK.

3. Locate and click the following registry key:

4. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSIServer

5. In the right pane of the Registry Editor window, double-click ImagePath.

6. In the Edit String dialog box that appears, make sure that the string in
the Value data box contains the correct path to the Msiexec.exe file. The
following is the correct path, where C is the drive in which Windows is
installed:

7. C :\Windows\System32\msiexec.exe /V

If the ImagePath was incorrect, correct it and reboot you machine.
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1016826734
-----

Some of the links here are not live, you have to copy and paste into Address
bar.

How to resolve Common "Windows Installer" Problems
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555175

XP Pro Restrictions?

Start | Run | Type: gpedit.msc | Click OK |

Local Computer Policy\Computer Configuration\Administrative
Templates\Windows Components\Windows Installer\
Local Computer Policy\User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows
Components\Windows Installer\

Always install with elevated privileges
[[Note: This setting appears both in the Computer Configuration and User
Configuration folders. To make this setting effective, you must enable the
setting in both folders.]]
-----

"Error 1719. The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" Error
Message When You Try to Add or Remove a Program
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315346

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

Wesley,

Issue ressolved. The problem turned out to be - Wait for it !

OPERATOR ERROR.

Over the course of the last week, I have tried many things. I found most/all
of the knowledgebase articles you referenced early on, but the proposed
resolutions did not seem to work for me. I had just about concluded I had
seriously corrupted XP and was thinking about starting over from scratch.
This morning, I decided to hit my head against the wall some more.

I went back to the primary kb article for my reported error (315353). After
confirming the correct registry entry for msiexec, I decided to look again at
my firewall software - ZAP. I checked the Program Control settings, and to
my astonishment, discovered that Windows Installer had a
suspicious/restrictive configuration. I changed the ZAP settings for Windows
Installer, then for good measure killed ZAP.

This time, when I tried to unregister msiexec, I did not get "Access is
Denied." Instead it worked. I re-registered, rebooted and successfully
installed updates. I believe my problem is solved.

I had stopped ZAP before, but only for some of my previous efforts. I'm
puzzled by the unusual ZAP settings for Windows Installer, but have concluded
this was a self-inflicted injury. The default ZAP settings are beneign. I
must be the culprit.

My sincere thanks to you for your help and support. The knowledge that you
suggested the same kb articles I found reassured me that my problem was not
something new or undocumented. It helped me to keep plugging away until I
found my error.

Many thanks,

Jim

Jim,

You did all the steps here, except repair Windows?

"The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" error message when you
install a program in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315353

Here's some more things to look at/try.

Check if the ImagePath in the Registry is correct.

1. Click Start then click Run.

2. In the Open box, type regedit and then click OK.

3. Locate and click the following registry key:

4. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSIServer

5. In the right pane of the Registry Editor window, double-click ImagePath.

6. In the Edit String dialog box that appears, make sure that the string in
the Value data box contains the correct path to the Msiexec.exe file. The
following is the correct path, where C is the drive in which Windows is
installed:

7. C :\Windows\System32\msiexec.exe /V

If the ImagePath was incorrect, correct it and reboot you machine.
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1016826734
-----

Some of the links here are not live, you have to copy and paste into Address
bar.

How to resolve Common "Windows Installer" Problems
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555175

XP Pro Restrictions?

Start | Run | Type: gpedit.msc | Click OK |

Local Computer Policy\Computer Configuration\Administrative
Templates\Windows Components\Windows Installer\
Local Computer Policy\User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows
Components\Windows Installer\

Always install with elevated privileges
[[Note: This setting appears both in the Computer Configuration and User
Configuration folders. To make this setting effective, you must enable the
setting in both folders.]]
-----

"Error 1719. The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" Error
Message When You Try to Add or Remove a Program
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315346

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Thanks for replying, Wesley.

I've tried to unregister msiexec and get a Windows OInstaller message
"Access is Denied."

I also can't use the Installer Cleanup Utility, becuase when I try to
oinstall it, I get "Windows Installer could not start ..."

Seems like a bit of a pickle. The only solution I can see short of a
complete reinstall is to figure out if a rights problem is at the root of
this issue.

Jim

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Jim,

<LOL>

Why do you bang your head against the wall?
Because it feels so good when I quit.

Glad you got it sorted out.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Wesley,

Issue ressolved. The problem turned out to be - Wait for it !

OPERATOR ERROR.

Over the course of the last week, I have tried many things. I found
most/all of the knowledgebase articles you referenced early on, but the
proposed resolutions did not seem to work for me. I had just about
concluded I had seriously corrupted XP and was thinking about starting
over from scratch. This morning, I decided to hit my head against the
wall some more.

I went back to the primary kb article for my reported error (315353).
After confirming the correct registry entry for msiexec, I decided to
look again at my firewall software - ZAP. I checked the Program Control
settings, and to my astonishment, discovered that Windows Installer had a
suspicious/restrictive configuration. I changed the ZAP settings for
Windows Installer, then for good measure killed ZAP.

This time, when I tried to unregister msiexec, I did not get "Access is
Denied." Instead it worked. I re-registered, rebooted and successfully
installed updates. I believe my problem is solved.

I had stopped ZAP before, but only for some of my previous efforts. I'm
puzzled by the unusual ZAP settings for Windows Installer, but have
concluded this was a self-inflicted injury. The default ZAP settings are
beneign. I must be the culprit.

My sincere thanks to you for your help and support. The knowledge that
you suggested the same kb articles I found reassured me that my problem
was not something new or undocumented. It helped me to keep plugging away
until I found my error.

Many thanks,

Jim

Jim,

You did all the steps here, except repair Windows?

"The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" error message when
you install a program in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315353

Here's some more things to look at/try.

Check if the ImagePath in the Registry is correct.

1. Click Start then click Run.

2. In the Open box, type regedit and then click OK.

3. Locate and click the following registry key:

4. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSIServer

5. In the right pane of the Registry Editor window, double-click
ImagePath.

6. In the Edit String dialog box that appears, make sure that the string
in the Value data box contains the correct path to the Msiexec.exe file.
The following is the correct path, where C is the drive in which Windows
is installed:

7. C :\Windows\System32\msiexec.exe /V

If the ImagePath was incorrect, correct it and reboot you machine.
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1016826734
-----

Some of the links here are not live, you have to copy and paste into
Address bar.

How to resolve Common "Windows Installer" Problems
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555175

XP Pro Restrictions?

Start | Run | Type: gpedit.msc | Click OK |

Local Computer Policy\Computer Configuration\Administrative
Templates\Windows Components\Windows Installer\
Local Computer Policy\User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows
Components\Windows Installer\

Always install with elevated privileges
[[Note: This setting appears both in the Computer Configuration and User
Configuration folders. To make this setting effective, you must enable
the setting in both folders.]]
-----

"Error 1719. The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" Error
Message When You Try to Add or Remove a Program
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315346

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Thanks for replying, Wesley.

I've tried to unregister msiexec and get a Windows OInstaller message
"Access is Denied."

I also can't use the Installer Cleanup Utility, becuase when I try to
oinstall it, I get "Windows Installer could not start ..."

Seems like a bit of a pickle. The only solution I can see short of a
complete reinstall is to figure out if a rights problem is at the root
of this issue.

Jim



:

Unregister and register msiexec.exe...
At the command prompt, type: msiexec.exe /unregister and then
press ENTER.
Type: msiexec /regserver and then press ENTER.

"The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" error message
when you install a program in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315353

Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In Jim <[email protected]> hunted and pecked:
Windows XP Pro SP2 (fully patched)

Non-Microsoft updates (Adobe Acrobat Pro) and other updates will not
install.

When trying to install updates, I get the "The Windows Installer
Service could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running
Windows in safe mode or if the Windows Installer is not correctly
installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance." message.

Checking Services, Windows Installer is set to MANUAL. If I try to
start it, I get "Could not start the Windows Installer service on
local computer. Error 5: Access is denied."

Looking at the Event Viewer, I have 2 fatal errors in SYSTEM log:

The Windows Installer service failed to start due to the following
error. Access Denied.
DCOM got error "Acces is denied" attempting to start the service
MSIServer with arguments "" in order to run the server.
{000C101C-0000-0000-000000000046}.

DCOM Launcher is STARTED.

I'm running on my personal account (member of Administrators) and
appear to have necessary rights, but maybe not??

I also suspect a registry problem with Windows Installer not properly
registered.

All of the above only became evident after installing the last round
of Windows updates, last week.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Guest]

Wesley,

Issue ressolved. The problem turned out to be - Wait for it !

OPERATOR ERROR.

Over the course of the last week, I have tried many things. I found most/all
of the knowledgebase articles you referenced early on, but the proposed
resolutions did not seem to work for me. I had just about concluded I had
seriously corrupted XP and was thinking about starting over from scratch.
This morning, I decided to hit my head against the wall some more.

I went back to the primary kb article for my reported error (315353). After
confirming the correct registry entry for msiexec, I decided to look again at
my firewall software - ZAP. I checked the Program Control settings, and to
my astonishment, discovered that Windows Installer had a
suspicious/restrictive configuration. I changed the ZAP settings for Windows
Installer, then for good measure killed ZAP.

This time, when I tried to unregister msiexec, I did not get "Access is
Denied." Instead it worked. I re-registered, rebooted and successfully
installed updates. I believe my problem is solved.

I had stopped ZAP before, but only for some of my previous efforts. I'm
puzzled by the unusual ZAP settings for Windows Installer, but have concluded
this was a self-inflicted injury. The default ZAP settings are beneign. I
must be the culprit.

My sincere thanks to you for your help and support. The knowledge that you
suggested the same kb articles I found reassured me that my problem was not
something new or undocumented. It helped me to keep plugging away until I
found my error.

Many thanks,

Jim

I tired your solution. It worked!