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12451
January 17th, 2009 10:00
The Windows Installer service could not be accessed
I've been trying to install an antivirus program on my wife's XPS 140 laptop. The operating system is Windows XP media Center 2003 service pack 2. I consistently receive an error message that "The Windows Installer service could not be accessed...." This occurs whenever I'm trying to install or delete any kind of program using Windows installer .
I located Microsoft Article ID: 315346 -- Error message when you try to add or remove a program on a computer that is running Windows XP or Windows Server 2003: "The Windows Installer service could not be accessed". This article contains detailed instructions on how to edit your registry, etc. There are three steps outlined in the article, which require you to locate the service and then to edit the registry.
Unfortunately, I have done everything recommended in the Microsoft Article in excruciating detail only to discover that everything on my computer is correct. Indeed, on the third step I could not even install the download from the Microsoft website, because my computer tells me that what I have already is more recent. It appears that my Windows Installer service is just fine despite the error message. I cannot install any kind of antivirus program.
I would appreciate some help.
TheRealFireblad
4 Apprentice
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4.6K Posts
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January 17th, 2009 12:00
Try downloading/installing Windows Installer 4.5, to see if it cures the problem?
I've used it successfully myself in the past :emotion-55:
Mr._Pseudonym
2 Intern
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315 Posts
1
January 17th, 2009 13:00
:^/ Sometimes the more obvious things are the easiest to miss. Installing software -especially software which accesses the system the way anti-virus software does- requires one to be logged in with Administrator access, and not regular user access.
ert1953
4 Posts
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January 20th, 2009 17:00
thank you very much . This worked like a charm. problem solved.
ert1953
TheRealFireblad
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4.6K Posts
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January 21st, 2009 13:00
Glad you got the problem fixed :emotion-21:
But... for the benefit of anyone with a similar problem in future - who happens upon this thread, please indicate which of our posts included the solution... and mark the problem/thread as 'Solved' :emotion-5:
ert1953
4 Posts
0
January 27th, 2009 09:00
Thank you very much. This worked and nothing else would. I have now had a small problem trying to load another program. It seems to think that the Windows installer is not legitimate, although it is. This is not a big deal and I was able to get the antivirus loaded just fine.
How do I label this as a solved problem and give you credit for helping me? Thank you again.