Error 1603 when trying to install Microsoft Mouse & Keyboard Center

I've searched all over the internet to try to find a solution for this Error 1603 that I am getting when I am trying to install Microsoft Mouse & Keyboard Center. I did a recent in place upgrade for Windows 10 (Anniversary edition) and I was sure that this program was already installed.

The driver for the mouse works fine and is listed in Device Manager but I would like to have this software as it can enable you to assign certain functions for you mouse keys for specific apps. It's a Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 and the software for it is MouseKeyboardCenter_64bit_ENG_2.8.106

There is a Microsoft Program troubleshooter that I ran that didn't help one bit. Then I read in the Microsoft forums a suggestion of trying to install it by doing a clean boot, but that didn't work either. This Error 1603 seems to be a common problem but I have yet to find a solution to it.

I'm attaching a screenshot of the error message.

On top of that Windows Update is trying to install some updates for the mouse (and keyboard even though it's only a mouse that I have) and it is giving me error messages as well (see screenshot) I couldn't find any info online for the error message it gives which is Error 0x800705b3.

Has anyone else encountered a similar issue and if so, what did you do to resolve it?

Are you using the latest version from here for your OS 32 bit or 64 bit? https://www.microsoft.com/accessorie...eyboard-center

Hi Steve,

Yes, I am trying to install the latest 64bit version which is 2.8.106. I even got desperate and tried this free program called EaseUS Todo PC Trans Free http://www.easeus.com/free-pc-transfer-software/

It did manage to transfer over the program files for the Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center to my other laptop but when I tried to use it, it failed. I'm sure that it didn't correctly copy over the proper registry keys and all that so I wouldn't recommend this program to anyone who is thinking of moving an app from one machine to another.

I'm still perplexed as to why I'm getting this error message and have yet to find a solution.

Are you installing from an admin account and have you checked to see if your antivirus program is blocking the installation?

Yes I'm installing from my Admin account and running the app as an Administrator. I have no 3rd party anti-virus apps installed I only use Windows Defender. (I do have some other anti-virus/anti-adware tools that I use but they are portable .exe versions and are not intstalled like (Adwcleaner, TDSSKiller, RogueKiller, etc).

I also used CCleaner & a couple of other apps I have to clean the registry to remove all traces of any previous installations in the registry.

I tried installing that latest version Mouse & Keyboard centre v2.8.106. It installed OK but then didn't find my MS keyboard and mouse! I then went back to the old 2013 v2.1.177 I was using and that works fine. Maybe you could try using an older version? I found them here https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sear...board%20center. Like I said my old v2.1 works fine in Windows 10.

I found that older version you mentioned and tried to install but it wouldn't let me because it says there is a newer version (which is most likely the one I'm trying to install).

Did you uninstall the new version first from Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features then try installing the older version.

Also, check the latest supported version for your hardware. I checked my Digital Media Pro keyboard here and found the latest Mouse & Keyboard driver is 2.3 for Windows 8 - but it works fine in Windows 10. https://www.microsoft.com/accessorie...a-pro-keyboard

See also this link for supported mice & keyboards https://www.microsoft.com/accessorie...ported-devices Notice my older keyboard is not supported in v2.8!

PS Every cloud has a silver lining - your post enabled me to find the latest working driver for my PC :)

Hi Steve,

Yes I checked Programs & Features and it isn't even listed as installed and as I mentioned before, I did some registry cleaning to make sure there were no leftovers from previous installations.

And v2.8 is definitely the one I need because I use it on another laptop which is way older than the Dell that I'm trying to install this one on and it works perfectly fine on my Asus. I used to have it installed on the Dell before but for some reason it won't let me do it now. I also use Driver Booster Pro and all my drivers are up to date as well.

This issue has me stumped and not to mention frustrated LOL

OMG I finally got it to work! Hip hip hooray (I'm doing the happy dance)!! LOL

So this is how I finally got this app to install. I went to Device Manager and uninstalled all instances of the Microsoft Mouse under Mice & other pointing devices, under Keyboards & under Human Interface devices.

I then started the setup up program for Mouse & Keyboard Center v2.8.106 (ran as Administrator). But before clicking on install I plugged in the nano receiver for the mouse which device manager detected. I made a note of where the files for the software were extracted to, it is a long alpha-numeric name that gets extracted to the C drive.

Then in Device Manager I went to Microsoft USB Dual Receiver Wireless Mouse (Mouse and Keyboard Center) and chose Update driver Software, then Browse my computer for driver software and chose the folder where the app extracted its contents to. It immediately started installing software for the mouse.

Then lastly, I went back to the setup for the Mouse & Keyboard Center and proceeded with the install and VOILA it installed without any problems.

Whew, I'm relieved I finally managed to fix this and I hope this solution helps anyone else that is having the same issue. I posted this in the Microsoft forums as well and had no replies, so I'm going to update it with what I did and maybe it can be of use to someone else.