Quick Fixes for Windows Installer Errors – Step-by-Step

Published: 17 Feb 2025

If you have ever encountered a problem while attempting to install an application, then it’s more than likely that you have come face to face with a Windows installer error.

These errors arise because of several different reasons Windows installer error indicates that there is a problem with the installer package which is prohibiting it from completing the installation process. Repairing this problem is possible, but the exact solution may vary.

The basic idea behind an installer error is essentially the computer system’s inability to read a particular file or files that are required for the installation process to be run, this in turn prevents the end user from installing the application. Fixing this problem first requires the end user to figure out, exactly what is causing the problem, and from there they can attempt to repair it.

That said there are several general fixes that you can attempt. All of which I have chosen to outline below.

Table of Content

Ensure Windows Installer Service is started
Delete the MSIEXEC File
Update Windows Installer
Unregister and Re-register Windows Installer
Run System File Checker
Modify Remote Procedure Call Service
Conclusion

Ensure Windows Installer Service is started

The first thing you’ll want to be sure of, before anything else is that Windows Installer is actually running. Establishing this is relatively simple, just do the following:

1. First, boot into your computer with administrative privileges.

2. Then press Windows Key + R, to open the Run Command box, and type Services.msc into it and click on OK.

Accessing Windows Services manager through the Services.msc command — Quickly access the Services manager by typing Services.msc.

3. Once Services loads up, navigate to Windows Installer and double click on it.

Accessing Windows Installer service settings — Exploring the Windows Installer options in Services.

4. This will open up Windows Installer Properties; from here you can determine whether or not the service is running, under Service Status, if it is not, simply click on Start, then OK and attempt to install the application again.

Managing Windows Installer service with Start and OK buttons

Delete the MSIEXEC File

Another thing that is capable of causing Windows Installer to not work correctly is the creation of a second MSIEXEC file. Sometimes there will be a second one of these files located in the following directory:

C:WindowsSystem32

By default, you should only have one of these files in that location; typically the second one will have a file size of 0 KB with no file extension. If you find that there is a second file in your case, then you should rename the second MSIEXEC file to MSIEXEC.OLD. Once you have successfully renamed the file, you can restart the Windows Installer service, using the instructions above.

Update Windows Installer

Apart from the possible solutions above, it’s always a good idea to ensure you have the most up-to-date version of Windows Installer running on your computer. There is a good chance that your version of Windows Installer is outdated without you even knowing it. In this particular situation, upgrading it should be sufficient in fixing any installation problems you may be having.

Unregister and Re-register Windows Installer

Another method that has proven to be quite effective at fixing any problems with the Windows Installer entails re-registering the Windows services. To do this, simply do the following:

1. First, boot into your computer with your administrative user profile. 2. Then press Windows Key + R, type cmd into the Run Command box and click on OK.

2. Then press Windows Key + R, type cmd into the Run Command box and click on OK.

Entering cmd in Windows Run dialog to launch Command Prompt

3. When Command Prompt loads up, type MSIEXEC /UNREGISTER, and then press Enter.

Unregistering Windows Installer using msiexec command

4. Lastly, type MSIEXEC /REGISTER and press Enter.

Running msiexec /register command in Command Prompt

Now you can try installing the application you were having problems with.

Run System File Checker

System File Checker is a built-in Windows tool designed for restoring previously damaged or erased Windows system files. Since Windows Installer is a system process, the integrity of the system files will determine whether or not it and many other processes will function optimally. Thankfully, System File Checker is available to both check these files and replace them were necessary.

Anyway, you can run this powerful tool by doing the following:

1. First, boot into your computer with full administrative rights.

2. Then press Windows Key + R, type cmd (into the Run Command box) and click on OK.

3. Once Command Prompt loads up, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.

Running sfc /scannow command in Command Prompt

Note:
If System File Checker is unable to replace a file using the cache folder on your hard drive, it will request you put the Windows CD into the CD-ROM drive in order to continue.

Modify Remote Procedure Call Service

Sometimes problems with the Windows Installer can be caused by the Remote Procedure Call service. To fix or rather eliminate this as a prime culprit, simply do the following:

1. First, boot into your computer, with administrative rights.

2. Then press Windows Key + R, type Services.msc into the Run Command box and click on OK.

Running Services.msc in Run dialog to open Services manager

3. Once Services loads up, double click on Remote Procedure Call.

4. This will load up the Remote Procedure Call Properties, from here click on the Log On Tab, then select Local System Account for Log on as, and tick the box next to Allow services to interact with desktop and click on OK.

Enabling RPC service to interact with desktop in Windows

5. Restart your computer and try and install the application again.

6. If it still doesn’t work, then using steps 1 – 3, click on the Log On Tab, then click on this account, from here click on the Browse button.

Browsing account settings for RPC service in Windows

7. Then type Network Services into the Enter the object name to select box and click on Check Name, followed by OK.

Selecting the NETWORK SERVICE user in Windows

8. The password should fill automatically. So click on OK, to close the Properties applet and restart your computer.

Entering password for NT AUTHORITYNetworkServ in RPC settings

Conclusion

In this post, We’ve discussed how to fix Windows Installer errors. Checking the Windows Installer service and updating system files are two steps that will help you quickly fix the problem. Begin with the simplest options, such as restarting the service, before progressing to more complicated fixes. Don’t let installation problems hold you back—use these fixes right away! Please share this guide with others who might need it if it helps you.