msiexec.exe errors

[Andym1959]

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

[#2]

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.

[#3]

@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

[#4]

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

[#5]

It means your windows is corrupted. You should reinstall windows again and try. Before Installing any program make sure you have installed : https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe. And also try to run "sfc/scannow" in windows terminal as administrator.