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Andym1959's avatar
Andym1959
Copper Contributor
Sep 01, 2022

msiexec.exe errors

Since some recent windows 11 update (if I re-install windows pre from a support-led iso it is OK) I can not install/uninstall or update various third party programs (popular ones like Paint.net, charles Proxy etc.)

I may get msiexec.exe Application error. The application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000142)...

or I get (1601) The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed.

 

But windows support refuse to deal with msiexec failures because... third party programs.

 

Any known issues/fixes?

 

Note Windows Installer Service is not running and I can not make it run

  • jantje19's avatar
    jantje19
    Copper Contributor
    I have this exact issue too. Trying to start the Windows Installer service will also not work for me.
    I've tried everything except re-installing Windows.
    • jantje19's avatar
      jantje19
      Copper Contributor

      I seem to have fixed it!

      When I started msiexec.exe in a debugger, I noticed a message about application verification. After some googling, I started appverif.exe. I added msiexec.exe to this and then pressed 'restore to defaults' and removed it again. After that everything works

    • Andylm's avatar
      Andylm
      Copper Contributor
      jantje19 Reinstalling windows was the only that that worked for me unfortunately. Microsoft support was not very helpful on this issue - though eventually they did tell me how to do this

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