Windows Installer fails to install MSI file

8,676

Create a verbose log file for the installation and flush each line to the log (this means msiexec.exe writes the log continuously and immediately instead of in delayed batches - important when you are dealing with crashes which this error message seems to indicate):

msiexec.exe /I "C:\Test.msi" /QN /L*V! "C:\msilog.log"

Then open the log file and search for "value 3" to find the right entry in the massive log file that will have been created (it is a verbose log file thanks to the /L*V switch).

Also see this answer on stackoverflow.com for more information.

8,676

pacoverflow

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Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

pacoverflow over 1 year

I am trying to install an MSI file on Windows 7, and I am getting the error message "There is a problem with this Windows Installer package. A program run as part of the setup did not finish as expected. Contact your support personnel or package vendor."

There's actually 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the MSI file, and both of them fail with the same error.

I tried the following things:

1) Checked services.msc and noticed the Windows Installer service was not running, so I started it, but the MSI file installation still failed with the same error.

2) Typed "msiexec /unreg" and "msiexec /regserver" from the command prompt, but the MSI file installation still failed with the same error.

3) Downloaded and ran this Microsoft fix, but it didn't detect any problems, and the MSI file installation still failed with the same error.

Re-installing Windows Installer doesn't seem to be an option, as it appears Microsoft does not offer a Windows Installer 5.0 download.

Any ideas?
- Admin almost 10 years
  
  Antivirus or the like?
- Admin almost 10 years
  
  @Mihai This computer's antivirus program tells me the last virus/malware/spyware/grayware was detected a few months ago, so I'm pretty sure it's not blocking any part of the installation. I don't have permission to disable the antivirus.
- Admin almost 10 years
  
  Have you tried running the installer as administrator? Is the application compatible with the OS? Do you have the latest Windows Installer version?
- Admin almost 10 years
  
  @BigChris Yes I did try installing as Administrator, and the program is compatible with Windows 7. I am running Windows Installer 5.0.7601.17514 (the latest version available from Microsoft is actually 4.5 - don't ask me why). Also, I just tried installing another MSI program and it worked fine, so I'm not sure why this one doesn't work.
- Admin almost 10 years
  
  I suppose your copy of UScreenCapture is indeed the latest version (2.0.15)? Also, does an older version install correctly?
- Admin almost 10 years
  
  Try it on another computer with win 7.It might be the antivirus.Or do you have EMET installed by any chance?
- Admin almost 10 years
  
  @BenjiWiebe Correct, I downloaded 2.0.15 from videohelp.com.
- Admin almost 10 years
  
  @BenjiWiebe I just tried installing 2.0.14 and it failed with the same error as well.
- Admin almost 10 years
  
  Also try re-downloading the installer and compare the md5 of it to what's advertised. You may have some corrupt installers. Try installing from a different account?
- Admin almost 10 years
  
  @Mihai EMET is not on this computer.
- Admin almost 10 years
  
  Also try the Windows Installer CleanUp utility.
- Admin almost 10 years
  
  Also try closing all open programs, copying C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Temp to Temp.old and then deleting everything in C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Temp
- Admin almost 10 years
  
  @BigChris The MSI file is actually contained in a zip file that I downloaded from videohelp.com. I used the "test" feature of a couple zipping programs and it tested fine, so it's not possible the MSI file was corrupted while downloading. Also, according to this page support.microsoft.com/kb/290301, the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility is no longer available.
- Admin almost 10 years
  
  Go to msconfig and do a selective startup but disable all non - Microsoft services. Once restarted in selective boot, try your installer.
- Admin almost 10 years
  
  You could also try step 2 here
- Admin almost 9 years
  
  Did you do "msiexec /unreg" and "msiexec /regserver" for both 32-bit and 64-bit as in the answer to Can't install iTunes because Windows Installer Service could not be accessed (unregister and register in folders %windir%\system32 and %windir%\system64)? I had great success with this, albeit for problems with an installer for another application.