Please help "The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed"

I'm using Windows Vista x64 Home Premium (my system see below).

I have problems with the Windows Installer.
For example if I want to uninstall "Microsoft Visual C++ 2005
Redistributable" I receive the following error message:
"The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if the
Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel
for assistance."

I'm getting the same error if I try to install/un-install other programs as
well.

How can I fix this error?

Thank you in advance!

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Gigabyte 965P-DS3P, Intel Core2Duo 6420, BFG GeForce 8800GTS, MDT 2GB DDR2
800, Scythe Infinity + Socket 478 Retention Modul + Cool Laboratory Liquid
MetalPad, 2x Samsung Spinpoint 2504C SATAII 250GB, Samsung Spinpoint HD321KJ
SATAII 320GB, LG GSA-4167, Chieftec Mesh, Thermaltake Purepower 460W, 120mm
Coolermate Fan ALF-12S, 2x 92mm Coolermate Fan ALF-9A, HP W2207, Windows
Vista Home Premium 64Bit

I've seen that this article gives support, but the issue is the article is
only for older Windows versions and not for Vista:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315346/EN-US/

in the meantime I tried "Method 1: Re-register the Windows Installer" from
this support link:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315346/EN-US/
-> It's not working

Therefore I tried "Method 2: Reinstall the Windows Installer" from the above
support link:
I identified that the files msi.dll, msiexec.exe and msihnd.dll given in
Step 4. are in the folder "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32" and not as described as there
(I'm using Vista.)
My problem is I can't rename those files, I always receive the message
"Access is denied" (in the command prompt) or "You need permission to perform
this action" (in the Explorer). How can I rename those files? If I know this
I can try if "Method 2: Reinstall the Windows Installer" works.

Get permission. Right click the System 32 folder by typing
C:\Windows\System32 in your IE address bar.


Right click the system 32 folder>properties>security tab>add/or edit>type
"users" (no quotes) in the object box>check all the permission boxes>close.
You may want to grant the permission temporarily to fix your MSI (Windows
Installer). Or you could go to msconfig>tools tab> and turn the pesty UAC
off **temoprarily to get your job done.

Hi,
I right clicked on the folder "System32" - "Properties".
In the "Group or user names" box I highlighted "Users" and checked all boxes
on "Allow".
-> I receive the error message "Access is denied"

I also tried the second thing you mentioned:
Start - Run typed in "msconfig" and went to the "Tools" tab.
There I can see two entries:
- "Disable UAC"
- "Enable UAC"
-> What exactly should I do now?

either right click the folder (as I also said)>permissions>add> TYPE USERS
IN THE OBJECT BOX) then put checks in all the permission boxes for users and
if no joy there then do this:

***SFC as a Remedy***:

SFC or System File Checker is a bit like the spare tire in your car or a
backup battery I suppose. In Vista of course, they have changed it somewhat
and come up with a new name--Redmond stands for name it something different
twice a year and now it's part of WRP or Windows Resource Protection. It
scans protected resources including thousands of files, libraries, critical
folders, and essential registry keys, and it replaces those that are
corrupted with intact ones. It fixes a lot of problems in Windows XP, OE,
Windows Vista, Win Mail, IE6, and on Vista or if it is installed on XP, IE7.
It protects these things from changes by any source including
administrators, by keeping a spare of most of them.

How to Run SFC:

Type "cmd" into the Search box above the Start Button>and when cmd comes up
at the top of the Start menu>right click cmd and click "run as Admin" and
when the cmd prompt comes up at the cmd prompt type "sfc /scannow" no quotes
and let it run. This may fix things quite a bit. It replaces corrupt files
with intact ones, if you're not familiar with it.

***Startup Repair from the Vista DVD***

How to Use The Vista DVD to Repair Vista (Startup Repair is misnamed by the
Win RE team and it can be used to fix many Vista components even when you
***can boot to Vista)

If you elect to run Startup repair from the Vista DVD (it can fix major
components in Vista--I've verified this many many times; it's good for more
than startup problems, and the Win RE team simply screwed up when they named
it not understanding its full functionality):

Startup Repair will look like this when you put in the Vista DVD:

You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
also sometimes effective):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)

It will automatically take you to this on your screen:

That will allow you to go to the Vista setup that has a Repair link on
thelower left corner>click it and then you'll see a gray backgrounded list
and I want you to click Startup Repair from it and follow the directions.

The gray screen after you click the first link in the above pic will look
like this

Click Startup Repair, the link at the top and after it scans>click OK and
let it try to repair Vista. It will tell you if it does, and if it
doesn't, try System Restore from the Recovery Link on the DVD. If these
don't work booting into Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key and using System
Restore from one of the safe modes besides VGA may work. That means you
have the option to try 4 different safe modes to get to system restore, (one
from the Recovery link on the DVD) and sometimes one will work when the
others won't.

You could also try a Repair Install with Vista which is done exactly the
same way as in XP:

***Repair Install Steps*** (can be used for Vista) MVP Doug Knox
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ps/doug92.mspx


***Using the F8 Environment***

***Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options Menu)
by starting the PC and tapping F8 once per second when the firmware screen
with the pc manufacturer's name shows a few seconds after restarting***:

The F8 options in Vista are the same as XP, and the link for Safe Mode Boot
options is labled XP by MSFT but they are the same for Vista (they haven't
updated to add Vista to the title as they have with several MSKBs that apply
to both).

Again, pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a
generic way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.

You could also:

Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
Configuration


Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a
choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
Prompt.

These methods are outlined in

A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore from MSFT:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro.../faqsrwxp.mspx

System Restore can be run from the Win RE recovery environment from the same
link as Startup Repair, and sometimes it will work from one F8 safe mode
location or from the Win Recovery Environment when it won't work from other
locations.

How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304449

I already tried what you said
I can already see "USERS" in the object box and allowed everything (except
"Special permissions" which can't be ticket). Then I click on "Apply" and
receive the error message "Access is denied."
The same happens if I try it with "ADMINISTRATORS".

Seems like it's not possible to change anything in the "System32" folder. I
hate this, how can I de-activate this whole bullsh*t, I'm the owner of my
computer and therefore want full control!
Is there no way to run everything as an administrator and have the
possibility to delete or rename all the files you want?

I also have been having the same problem.

I tried the cmd method, but that didn't work. I was able to log on as
administrator, but the thing didn't work anyway.

I had the same problem with the Windows Installer, both in Vista & Win7
x64's. After 5 hours of searching and trying just about every solution,
I was about ready to give up. Then I stumbled upon this thread and
Leokev's advice. Since I knew it was a 64 bit installer issue, changing
the WOW64 setting made sense and worth my last try at the problem. IT
WORKED!!

the repair method does not work on vista, because vista uses windows
installer 4.0 and it is not for download. The repair method only works
for older versions you can download. I think they give you instructions
on how to get full control over the files using command prompt commands,
if not theres another kb that does.

I am running vista and get the following error too, "the windows
installer service could not be accessed. this can occur if the windows
installer is not correctly installed. contact your support personnel for
assistance." when trying to install certain programs, but not all of
them. I have treid all the suggestions i could find on microsofts kb.
Along with, checking that the service is running and is set to manual
and is started, trying to install in safe mode, trying to do a clean
boot with needed services, cleaning my registry, sfc scan, and quite a
few other things.

[leokev]

I have a new computer that came with Vista at 64x. Could not get iTunes or any other program to load or uninstall. Tried everything that I could think of or find on these forums. This is what finally worked for me:

1. At Start type "regedit"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
SYSTEM
CurrentControlSet
Services
MSIServer

right click on WOW64, select "Modify"
Change Value data from "1" to "0"

2. At "Start" type "run"
type "services.msc"
go to "Windows Installer" and stop and start the program.

3. Reboot computer.

Hope this helps someone else.

[nert]

leokev
what you suggest seems so random!!!! i have tried everything. This is a brand new computer. HP could not help. (they tried) I tried, looked at a lot of web pages, downloaded a lot of "free" software. NOTHING works!!

Except what you said to do. FANTASTIC!! But what did you do? and how on earth did you come up with such a repair. In any case, I am SOOOOOOOOO happy to have it fixed. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

[branchranch]

I am having the same problem. The only thing is I don't have WOW64 under the msiserver folder. What should I do?

Thanks!

I had to register and let you know that your very easy to follow instructions posted on 04/18/2009 fixed my very frustrating problems with the windows installer!!!!

No, I have the problem that I can not install msu or msi programs!
I receive the error : 'the windows installer service could not be
accessed...'

So I read in this article that it was solved for vista 64-bit version.

And I have a 32-bit version.

I hope someone can help solving this BIG problem.

Need more help --I've been having the Windows installer problem for a
couple weeks and thought this sounded great. Then I edited the registry
as Leokev says and can't find the WOW64 entry. The entried have names
like 'DependOnService', 'Description', 'ObjectName', 'ImagePath',
'ErrorControl'. Not a WOW64 in the bunch, does it have a different
name??? Thanks

[DEM66]

I am also getting the message "The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if the
Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel
for assistance." And my windows updates won't install.

Like Phil88 I am running Vista on a 32 bit system. I have spent days searching online for a fix and haven't found anything to work.

Does anyone know how to cure this on a 32 bit system?

[skinsgamer]

Leokev,

Your solution did the trick!! Thanks, we've been ignoring the update for a long time.

Leokev's solution:

1. At Start type "regedit"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
SYSTEM
CurrentControlSet
Services
MSIServer

right click on WOW64, select "Modify"
Change Value data from "1" to "0"

2. At "Start" type "run"
type "services.msc"
go to "Windows Installer" and stop and start the program.

3. Reboot computer.