You receive an error message when you try to install a program that uses the Windows Installer in Windows XP (886630)

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install a program that uses the Windows Installer in Microsoft Windows XP, the program does not install, and you may receive an error message that is similar to one of the following error messages:

The Windows Installer service could not be accessed. Contact your support personnel to verify that the Windows Installer service is properly registered.

The Windows Installer service failed to start. Contact your support personnel.

Internal Error

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use one or more of the following methods in the order that they are listed.

Method 1: Reregister the Windows Installer

Quit all Windows programs.
Click Start, click Run, type msiexec /unregister in the Open box, and then click OK.
Click Start, click Run, type msiexec /regserver in the Open box, and then click OK.
Restart your computer.

Method 2: Remove the Windows Installer files

Quit all Windows programs.
Click Start, click Run, type msiexec /unregister in the Open box, and then click OK.
In Windows Explorer, rename the following files in the %systemroot%\System32 folder:
- Msi.dll
- Msihnd.dll
- Msiexec.exe
Note If you cannot rename these files, try to rename the files at a command prompt. To start a command prompt, click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then click OK.
Restart Windows XP.

Method 3: Restart Windows XP in Safe Mode

Restart Windows XP in Safe Mode, and then retry Method 1 and Method 2 in the order that they are listed. For more information about how to restart Windows XP in Safe Mode, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

316434 How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP