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During each boot-up the last few days I am getting a strange Popup window labeled "Windows Installer" what does it mean and how to fix the problem. I run memtest86 for about 25 hours and nine full cycles and all was well. The SFC and DISM did not help either.
This seems to be coming from msiexec.exe. But I am lost trying to find what is wrong.
It means something is calling msiexec with invalid syntax. I would open task manager and look in the Startup tab for the culprit. Autoruns can also be used to id and remove the offending startup entry https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/.../bb963902.aspx
I have Autoruns in my utilities folder but had forgot about it. I have been using System Explorer. I have reduced my Startup listings down to ten programs. I also Searched my "C" partition for msiexec/* and then msiexec and nothing was found.
I have gotten to the point where one could define my efforts as insanity.
What am I doing wrong?
rfrharbin,
That appears to be the latest version of Windows Installer. (C:\Windows\System32\msiexec.exe v5.014393.0 ) It is on my Windows 10.
Consider re-registering the Windows Installer engine.
Open a Command Prompt (Right click the white Windows logo and select: Command Prompt (Admin))
At the Command Prompt, type the following and hit Enter:
To register msiexec again, at the Command Prompt, type the following and hit Enter:msiexec /unregister
Restart the computer.msiexec /regserver
Let us know what happens.
I could not tell that anything happened. The popup window appeared on both restarts.
Thanks for the effort though.
Last edited by rfrharbin; 03 Dec 2016 at 09:29.
Is it showing in the Process tab of Task Manager?
If so, terminate the msiexec.exe process manually and see if it appears again:
Right-click on the Taskbar and select: Task Manager
Under the Process tab, look for the msiexec.exe process.
Right-click on it and select: End task
Does it come back?
It is not in the process tab, it is in the startup tab and when disabled the popup does not appear on booting up. It is running as a service and is needed to install .msi programs.
I have googled msiexec but what info brought up quickly gets over my head. From what I gather I do not need it unless I try to use a command line to install msi or msp programs from one sites answer but under the Administrative Tools > services > Windows installer; The description says "If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start. I gather this tool has been around in earlier Windows op sys and I wonder if it may have been changed as the years went by and this is adding to my novice type confusion. Like why did this suddenly become a problem and how is it supposed to work?
Thanks for persevering.
This one is a good head scratcher!
What is the Startup Type of Windows Management Instrumentation in the Services console?
To get to it, in Cortana, type in: services.msc
Also, do you use System Restore?
Try going back to a previous Restore Point:
System Restore Windows 10
Select Option Two: Do a System Restore of Windows 10 in Windows 10
Be aware of programs and drivers that will be affected!
Restart the computer, and let us know if you still get the prompt.
If you prefer not to restore to a previous point, you can do the following:
Temporarily disable System Restore
In Ask me anything, type: restore
In the results, click: Create a restore point
This gets you to the System Restore options.
In the prompt that appears, click: Configure
Next, click: Turn off System Protection
Click: Apply and OK
Restart the computer, and let us know if you still get the prompt.
Last edited by cottonball; 04 Dec 2016 at 18:58.
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