A Reader's Problem with MSI Installs

Christopher Rice

I recently received an e-mail from an administrator (just like you) who is having a problem every time he tries to install MSI apps.  He gets a service access error that I am not sure how to solve.  He and a friend (who was having the same problem) have taken the issue up with Microsoft and have received the following information.  The problem is that the edits listed below have not solved the problem (although they might for you).  Have any of you seen similar issues?  Do you have a different solution?  Please let me know.

From Microsoft: I recently received an e-mail from an administrator (just like you) who is having a problem every time he tries to install MSI apps. He gets a service access error that I am not sure how to solve. He and a friend (who was having the same problem) have taken the issue up with Microsoft and have received the following information. The problem is that the edits listed below have not solved the problem (although they might for you). Have any of you seen similar issues? Do you have a different solution? Please let me know.

In your case you've indicated: 'When I try to install a program with
Windows Installer on a computer, I get the following message:' 

- "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." 

We shall be working to resolve this specific issue through the course of the
case. If I have misunderstood your concern please let me know. 

Please follow these steps to solve this issue: 

1. Click Start, click Run, type REGEDIT, and click OK. 

2. In Registry Editor, go to 

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSIServer
   by clicking the PLUS(+) sign. 

3. Highlight the MSIServer folder in the left pane, and double-click the
ImagePath entry in the right pane. 

4. Please set the value to the following path: 

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

5. Click OK, and then exit the Registry Editor. 

6. Restart the computer. 

7. Keep press F8 key until the Windows Startup menu appears. 

8. Choose the Safe Mode, and press Enter. 

   Note: In the Safe Mode, your system display and Desktop will look 
   and perform differently than in Normal Mode. This is only temporary. 

9. Click Start, click Run, type COMMAND, and click OK. 

10. After the DOS prompt appears, type the following command: 

    msiexec /regserver

11. Restart the computer in Normal mode, and then try to install a program
again.

As always, send me mail with any questions, comments, or feedback.