How to start Windows Installer in Safe Mode in Windows Server 2003 (895141)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

INTRODUCTION

By default, you cannot start Microsoft Windows Installer in Safe Mode. If you installed an application by using Windows Installer, you cannot uninstall the application in Safe Mode.

When you try to start Windows Installer in Safe Mode, you receive the following error message:
Error 1084: This service cannot be started in Safe Mode
This article describes how to configure Microsoft Windows Server 2003 so that you can start Windows Installer in Safe Mode.

MORE INFORMATION

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To start Windows Installer in Safe Mode, follow these steps:
  1. Restart your computer in Safe Mode by pressing F8 before the Windows splash screen.
  2. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
  3. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal

  4. On the Edit menu, point to New, click Key, and then type MSIServer.
  5. Double-click Default, type Service in the Value data box, and then click OK.
  6. Quit Registry Editor, and then restart your computer.
  7. Click Start, click Run, type services.msc, and then click OK.
  8. Double-click Windows Installer, and then click Start.
You can now remove the application in Safe Mode.

REFERENCES

For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

314852 How to enable Windows Installer logging in Windows XP

281770 How to perform clean-boot troubleshooting for Windows 2000

325375 How to troubleshoot startup problems in Windows Server 2003

316434 How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:3/26/2005
Keywords:kbhowto kbinfo KB895141 kbAudEndUser
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