You receive an "Error creating process (msiexec.exe /i msicuu.msi)" error message when you use the Windows Installer Cleanup utility (307653)


The information in this article applies to:

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This article was previously published under Q307653

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Windows Installer Cleanup utility, you may receive an error message similar to the following:
Error creating process (msiexec.exe /i msicuu.msi). Reason: The system cannot find the file specified.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs if the Windows Installer contains missing or mismatched files.

RESOLUTION

Microsoft Windows XP

This behavior does not occur on computers that are running Windows XP because Windows Installer version 2.0 or a later version is included in all versions of Windows XP.

Microsoft Windows 2000

To install Windows Installer version 2.0 on a computer that is running Windows 2000 and to resolve this behavior, install the latest service pack for Windows 2000. Windows Installer version 2.0 is included in Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3). No further steps are required for computers that are running Windows 2000. For additional information about how to download and install the latest Windows 2000 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

260910 How to obtain the latest Windows 2000 service pack

To resolve this issue on all other operating systems, do the following, in the order presented.

Download Windows Installer version 2.0 Update

  1. Browse to one of the following Microsoft Web sites, depending on your operating system:

    Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows 98
    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=CEBBACD8-C094-4255-B702-DE3BB768148F&displaylang=en
    Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4b6140f9-2d36-4977-8fa1-6f8a0f5dca8f&DisplayLang=en

  2. Click the link below Download Now, click Save this program to disk, and then click OK.
  3. Save the InstMsi.exe file to the desktop.

Rename Windows Installer Files

Windows 95 and Windows 98

  1. Click Start, and then click Shut Down.
  2. Click Restart in MS-DOS mode, and then click OK.
  3. At the command prompt, type the following (pressing ENTER after each line):

    cd system
    ren Msi.dll msi.old
    ren Msihnd.dll msihnd.old
    ren Msiexec.exe msiexec.old
    exit

    Windows should now restart.

Windows NT 4.0

  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type Command, and then click OK.
  3. At the command prompt, type the following (pressing ENTER after each line):

    cd \winnt\system32
    ren Msi.dll msi.old
    ren Msihnd.dll msihnd.old
    ren Msiexec.exe msiexec.old
    exit

  4. Restart the computer.

Start Computer in Safe Mode

Windows 95 and Windows 98

  1. Click Start, and then click Shut Down.
  2. Click Restart, and then click OK.
  3. On a Windows 95-based computer, press F5 as soon as you see the "Starting Windows 95" message.

    -or-

    On a Windows 98-based computer, press and hold down the SHIFT key as soon as the Power on Self Test (POST) has completed.
  4. When Windows finishes loading, click OK to close the message about Safe mode.

Windows NT 4.0

NOTE: The closest approximation of Safe mode in Windows NT 4.0 is attained by quitting all running programs and tasks.

Follow these steps to quit all programs running in the background:
  1. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL.
  2. Click a program that needs to be closed.
  3. Click End Task.
  4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until all unnecessary tasks have closed.

Install Windows Installer Update and Windows Installer Cleanup Utility

  1. On the desktop, double-click InstMsi.exe.
  2. Follow the messages pertaining to the install process.
  3. On the desktop, double-click MSICUU2.exe to install the Windows Installer Cleanup utility.
  4. Follow the rest of the messages pertaining to the install process.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information abut the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

290301 Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/13/2006
Keywords:kbtshoot kberrmsg kbprb KB307653
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