Win 7 Pro 64 bit - The Windows Installer service could not be accessed.

[dbdan22]

Hi,

Windows 7 Pro 64 bit system

Noticed that the Office 2010 Icons were all messed up.

Attempted to do a repair (Start / All Programs / Microsoft Office / Microsoft Office 2010 Tools / Microsoft Office Picture Manager / Help / Detect and repair)

Got an error almost immediately:

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.

Researched the troubleshooting steps for the above Windows Installer error. Such as unregistering and registering both 32 and 64 bit installers, then rebooting. Starting the Windows Installer service. Etc. Etc.

They are all basically variations on this article:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...vice-could-not-be-accessed-error-when-you-try

Nothing works.

Please help.

sfc /scannow runs to completion, no errors.

CBS folder, components in https://1drv.ms/u/s!AnHOxq7pxsngjECNWpacazzPj0_S

Thanks

 

[dbdan22]

[Continued...]

So I did a little more research, and I found this:
[h=3]Method Four. Reinstall Windows installer[/h] If all the methods above all fail to help you, the last choice is to reinstall the Windows installer.
1. At the start, search for CMD.
2. At the command prompt, type the following lines. Press ENTER after you type each line.
cd %windir%\system32
ren msi.dll msi.old
ren msiexec.exe msiexec.old
ren msihnd.dll msihnd.old
3. At the command prompt, type exit, and then press ENTER.
4. Restart your computer.
5. Update the Windows Installer files to the latest version. To do so, visit the Microsoft Web sites, and then download and install Windows Installer.
6. After the installation of the Windows Installer is complete, shut down and restart your computer normally before you install programs.

This article does not quote a source.

Can anyone say whether these instructions are accurate or not?

Here's the thing.

Windows 7 has Windows Installer 5.0.

But there is no redistributable for Windows Installer 5.0

Windows Installer Redistributables - Windows applications | Microsoft Docs

says very clearly, quote:

The Windows Installer 5.0 is part of the Windows Server 2012, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows 7. There is no redistributable for Windows Installer 5.0.

So...

How do you reinstall Windows Installer on Windows 7 ????? :huh::huh::huh:

 

[plodr]

Here's an article about repairing because apparently you can't remove it.
Repairing the Windows Installer service on a 64-bit OS – Aaron Stebner's WebLog

If the repair steps don't work, read the comments and you might find something suggested that does work.

 

[dbdan22]

Hi,

A belated thank you for your reply.

You are right, the correct answer in that post is indeed in the comments. You have to read all the way to the end.

Repairing the Windows Installer service on a 64-bit OS – Aaron Stebner's WebLog

The correct comment is this:

Kim Hoon says:       
            July 22, 2012 at 11:28 pm       
In Registry Editor, navigate to:
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSIServer
then change the ImagePath value to: (Do not change the DisplayName value ^^)
C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\msiexec.exe /V

ImagePath should be C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\msiexec.exe /V
Do NOT repeat do NOT change the DisplayName value (as an earlier poster suggested), that is wrong.
Unregister and reregister everything as per the original post.
Reboot.

Nothing else worked.

Thanks again.

Here's an article about repairing because apparently you can't remove it.
Repairing the Windows Installer service on a 64-bit OS – Aaron Stebner's WebLog

If the repair steps don't work, read the comments and you might find something suggested that does work.

 

[dbdan22]

I'm really confused.

I looked at another Win 7 Pro 64 bit PC where Windows Installer is just fine, and this is what I see in the msiserver key:



ImagePath is system32... and yet it works????

Here's an article about repairing because apparently you can't remove it.
Repairing the Windows Installer service on a 64-bit OS – Aaron Stebner's WebLog

If the repair steps don't work, read the comments and you might find something suggested that does work.

 

[plodr]

I have no Windows Pro 64 bit computers in the house to check.
I have one 32 bit Home, one 32 bit Pro and two 64 bit Home computers.

 

[SleepyDude]

Hi,

I'm really confused.

I looked at another Win 7 Pro 64 bit PC where Windows Installer is just fine, and this is what I see in the msiserver key:

View attachment 43730

ImagePath is system32... and yet it works????

I have the same ImagePath on a Windows 7 Pro x64. I have some doubts that is good idea to use the 32-bits version of msiexec.exe on a 64 bits OS...


Download Windows Repair (All-in-One) Portable

• extract the tweaking.com_windows_repair_aio.zip to c:\Windows\TEMP the zip will extract to a folder called Tweaking.com - Windows Repair
• execute the file Repair_Windows.exe from the Tweaking.com - Windows Repair folder, accept the Security warning and the EULA
• click the button Jump To Repairs
• accept the tool prompt and let the System Restart in Safe Mode to execute the next steps
• In Safe Mode execute again the file Repair_Windows.exe from the Tweaking.com - Windows Repair folder
• click the Open Repairs button to access the following screen:
  
  
• click the box All Repairs to uncheck all the box's
• check only the following box's:
  • 03 - Reset Service Permissions
  • 20 - Repair MSI (Windows Installer)
  • 25 - Restore Important Windows Services
  • 26 - Set Windows Services to Default Startup
• check the box Restart/Shutdown System When Finished > Restart System
• click the Start Repairs button