Mysterious 2502 2503 errors when trying to install updates to programs

This began with my loss of access to an HP 8610 network printer. No matter what I did, I could not regain access. Two other PCs on my home network still access that printer just fine. I uninstalled and reinstalled the printer but still have no ability to print to it. I can even send it a fax and use it to scan, but it refuses to print.

That is where my problem began. Then I tried to update one of the programs that I own, Calibre. When I did, the microsoft installer stopped, first with error 2503 then with 2502. And I said HUH? Same thing happens with a number of other programs. Now, I have been using them and updating them just fine until some time in January. I don't do a lot of printing so it might have been screwed up earlier than mid-January, but that is when I first noticed it.

I run Norton so I did an entire system scan and found nothing. I ran Norton eraser. That found nothing too.

I ran Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool. That found nothing.

I enabled the hidden Administrator account in Windows 10. From there, I could update Calibre. The Microsoft Installer seemed to work just fine. (I am testing this problem using this program as Calibre sends an MSI file to do its update.).

This problem appears to be related to permissions but from here I am lost. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

IMO, it's about UIAccess.

Method 1 via GPO:
Computer Configurations > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options -> "User Account Control: Only elevate UIAccess applications that are installed in secure locations" to "Disabled".

Method 2 via Registry:

Code:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"EnableSecureUIAPaths"=dword:00000000

Not sure exactly what your problem is. A screen capture with snipping tool will be helpful to debug your problem.
In absence of screen capture and the fact you were able to do the update in Administrator account, my suspicion is that the permission somewhere not in order. Here is one thing you can try:
Check permissions within the Installer folder. To do this, follow these steps.
1. Click on File Explorer and drill down to the folder c:\Windows\installer. You may have to unhide system files using the File Explorer Options from your Control Panel to see this folder.
2. Right click on c: /windows/installer at the top under programs and click properties.
3. Click on the security tab > Verify if System and Administrator account has Full access permissions.
4. The Everyone account should have read and execute permissions, List Folder Contents, and Read.

Give it a try and let us know the result.

Snoopy... tried you suggestions first. Not worked.

Private - Looked through my windows 10 settings but could not find it. Went to regedit. Found the dword set to 1. I edited it to 0.
right now, that did not work, but I have yet to reboot and try again. I will do that next.

Rebooted. Then I checked the registry key just to make sure that it was still set to 0. It was. Nope. Not fixed. Still getting the dreaded 2503 followed by a 2502. Then installer bails on me.

This one is really kicking my butt all over town.

The bad news, both fixes did not work.
The good news, you have a secured system.
Will look at this later, wife want to go to early dinner!

TechnoBill said:

Snoopy... tried you suggestions first. Not worked.

You need to log into administrative account to make changes from these two methods.

TechnoBill said:

Private - Looked through my windows 10 settings but could not find it. Went to regedit. Found the dword set to 1. I edited it to 0.
right now, that did not work, but I have yet to reboot and try again. I will do that next.

Rebooted. Then I checked the registry key just to make sure that it was still set to 0. It was. Nope. Not fixed. Still getting the dreaded 2503 followed by a 2502. Then installer bails on me.

This one is really kicking my butt all over town.

You have to look through the Group Policy Editor. Press Win + R, type in -> gpedit.msc <- hit Enter. Group Policy Editor are only available for Pro and Ent of Windows 10, not in Home edition. For Home, use the Registry method.

To immediate applies this new policy changes, Press Win + X > choose Command Prompt (Admin) > type in -> gpupdate <- hit Enter.

If everything failed, create a new administrative account and use it primarily instead of the normal user account.

Home Edition. No Group policy editor.

As I stated above, I did use RegEdit to fix the variable
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"EnableSecureUIAPaths"

It was set= 1 I reset it to 0. That did not fix the problem.

Try this workaround:

Open Task Manager
Click on View details
Right click on Windows Explorer and choose End task
Click on File and select Run new task
Type in explorer.exe and tick the checkbox for Create this task with administrative privileges.
Click OK and exit Task Manager.

Now, test the installation, run it with or without admin rights, see if it works.

Private,
Sorry so long getting back. Verizon is killing me. They fix my phone and screw up my internet! AGGGHHH!!!!!

Okay. Enough rant. Sorry.

Tried what you suggested. That did not work.

Also tried - created a whole new user w/ administrator privileges. That didn't work too. But I am going to keep this second user account w/ administrator privileges. It might come in handy.

If I use the real Administrator account... it works.

TechnoBill said:

Private,
Sorry so long getting back. Verizon is killing me. They fix my phone and screw up my internet! AGGGHHH!!!!!

Okay. Enough rant. Sorry.

Tried what you suggested. That did not work.

Also tried - created a whole new user w/ administrator privileges. That didn't work too. But I am going to keep this second user account w/ administrator privileges. It might come in handy.

If I use the real Administrator account... it works.

I began to run out of ideas, sorry to say so.

What if you run the MSI installer as admin? Left click to select the installer and press the combinations of Ctrl+Shift+Enter keys.

How about re-register the Windows Installer? Win + X, choose Command Prompt (Admin), type in the commands as described in the following short article:

How to unregister and then reregister Windows Installer

What is your drive permissions? Refer below:

Error code 2503 Windows 10

Honestly, I can't figure out why is your system become so restrictive.