The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in safe mode, or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance.

I keep getting this error.

I have tryed reinstalling the "installer" using all the steps on the microsoft website.
1. using msiexec /regserver
2. (ren msi.dll msi.old /ren msiexec.exe msiexec.old/ ren msihnd.dll msihnd.old)
renaming and reinstalling Windows Installer 3.1 v2

did not solve the problem.

The problem looks to only effect those that use the "msi" installer.

I want to solve this problem without rebooting my OS.

* cannot install anything so I can't install the cleanup utillity... if this would help at all...

Ive tried all these :
> > support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315353
> > support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314810
> > support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315346
> > support.microsoft.com/?kbid=324516

inside services.msc "windows installer". When i try to 'start' it I get this error message:

could not start the windows installer service on local computer. error 3: the system cannot find the path specified

One thing that sticks out to me is in msconfig "Windows Installer" is showing up, however the manufacturer is showing "Unkown" instead of "Microsoft Corporation" . this seems odd to me...

I think I need to do a repair of Windows XP however i do not have any disk. If I remember right there is a partition on my hardrive that has the "installation discs". If this is true, is it possible to sign on to it to do repairs? or is it only for rebooting the whole OS?

 

the model im working on is a Dimension 5100 if that helps any.

 

And if i were to need replacement " Windows XP Repair Installation" discs where would i find them?