Another Installation Already in Progress (But it’s Not)
I keep encountering an annoying error message as I try to set up my new 64-bit Vista laptop. Often when I try to install a program, I’m told that another installation is already in progress and I must complete that one first. But no other installation is in progress, and simply rebooting doesn’t help.
I googled this problem, and found some complicated advice about failed installations and the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility. But I find that this error occurs when a program installs just fine in every respect except that it leaves the Windows Installer Service running.
There’s a easy way to fix this.
Right-click on the Computer icon, wherever it exists on your system, and select Manage. (I’m using the Classic Start menu, so the Computer icon is on my desktop. If you’re using the new Start menu, the icon is in the Start menu.) This opens the Computer Management utility.
Select Services, right click on Windows Installer in the list and select Properties. If you’re having the problem, the Windows Installer service is started, and the Stop button is disabled. Simply rebooting doesn’t stop the service. Here’s how you stop it.
In the Properties dialog, change Startup type to “Disabled”, click OK, and reboot your computer. This stops the service. After your computer reboots, again open Computer Management (right-click on Computer and select Manage), open Windows Installer Properties, and change the Startup type back to Manual. Now you’re good to go and can start a new installation.
david:
thank you! it worked!
January 18, 2009, 12:40 pmSheryl Canter:
Glad to hear it!
January 18, 2009, 1:33 pmVigan:
Doesn’t work. When it’s enabled back, the installer is again activated by another background installation. I also tried deleting the keys from the registry, and after every restart, it is pointing to another file. I’m stuck
February 3, 2009, 9:02 pmSheryl Canter:
It absolutely does work. I’ve used this technique many times. If it didn’t work for you, then you didn’t do exactly what I described.
Disable Windows Installer. Reboot. Go back into Windows Services and set Windows Installer to manual (from disabled). Run your installation.
If you have deleted keys from the registry, then you may have done all kinds of damage – I can’t help you with that.
February 3, 2009, 9:09 pmBabu:
I had this problem in my laptop. I had been struggling with this problem for the last 2 months.
February 16, 2009, 3:55 amFinally I used the Windows Installer Cleanup utilty and it worked for me. You need to unzip this utility and start it since you will not be able to install this.
Sheryl Canter:
It’s not necessary to use the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility, as I explained in my post. It can be fixed much more easily.
February 16, 2009, 4:02 amDenise:
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I’ve been going nuts trying numerous things I’ve found on other web sites to fix this problem. Using your instructions – in less than ten minutes all was fine. This has been so frustrating – can’t thank you enough !
February 20, 2009, 3:41 amSheryl Canter:
I am very glad it helped you!
February 20, 2009, 8:10 amBryan Caplan:
Thanks, Sheryl! You’re a genius.
February 24, 2009, 1:17 amKaren:
Brilliant! I’ve spent hours the last few days trying to find a solution to this – this is straight forward & it WORKS, thank you!
March 2, 2009, 7:58 pmJulie:
Hi Sheryl,
This worked really well! The only thing I’m worried about is the darn thing is going to try to install itself again when I restart the computer, and then I’ll have to use your technique again. Do you think that will happen?
It was HP Photo and Imaging software that was trying to install every time I started up, and then froze, so I killed it.
March 9, 2009, 3:51 pmSheryl Canter:
Hi Julie,
Your situation sounds like a buggy installation program, so you might need the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility.
- Sheryl
March 9, 2009, 4:19 pmCarl:
This is totally amazing!
Seriously, I spent at least 3 hours reading site after site, including MSDN, Microsoft.com, and about 200 others, that insisted that tools called msizap, msicuu and msiinv had to be used to fix “another installation is in progress” when trying to install anything on my system!
Then, almost at the point of formatting my entire system, I decided to search one more time on Google, oddly, leaving off the quotes, and I found your site… and on the first try… BINGO, it worked!
Thank you SOOOOOO very much for such an awesomely simple fix! It’d be great, since this seems to be such a common problem, that this simple solution was better known!
March 17, 2009, 5:27 amSheryl Canter:
Glad it helped.
March 17, 2009, 8:57 amgaurav:
hi,
I hve been tryin to install itunes for long now..
it keeps saying that some other installation is in progress.
i have tried almost everything to get thru this.. even your method..
it just doesnt seem to work..
please help
March 28, 2009, 4:51 amSheryl Canter:
What I suggested really does work. Try it again, step by step, do every single thing I say in the post and it will work.
March 28, 2009, 7:48 amDavid Stockford:
This problem has got me to the point of throwing out Vista. Unable to install anything
Why could I not find this answer from MS?
It is now fixed and works exactly as you say.
A very BIG thankyou!!!
March 30, 2009, 3:23 amKaz:
Apparently, this issue also inflicts Windows 7, both updated from Vista or a fresh install. I reported it to Microsoft via beta feedback, maybe it’ll get fixed!
April 17, 2009, 1:26 amJohn:
Sheryl, like Carl I spent a great deal of time trying to find a solution to this problem. Microsoft web site is worthless and other sites are trying to sell you the solution. Now I know why I switched to Linux (my primary systems) some years ago. Thany you very much for sharing your knowledge and expertise.
April 17, 2009, 5:04 pmSheryl Canter:
I’m very happy I can help. I know how much I appreciate it when people post solutions to problems like this, so I also share these things I learned the hard way.
I’m planning to set up Linux on my old computer – just haven’t gotten around to it yet. I’m waffling on what flavor to go with.
April 17, 2009, 8:52 pmSU:
IT WORKS…just as simple as that….
April 25, 2009, 8:34 pmSimple and Works = Best solution..
FrankFranko:
This solution does work but just to confirm what Vigan has said not 100% of the time.
If the broken installation which is causing this error message to appear is able to get started again before you get your other installation/uninstallation running after setting the Windows Installer back to manual then it fails like Vigan says.
What I did was kick off the uninstall I was having problems with and then I reset the Windows Installer to manual. That way it got its MSIEXEC process started before the rogue one and it worked fine after that.
Before I did that thought it did exactly what Vigan said happened in his experience.
So like I say not 100% fix with this solution but it does work if you are fast!
April 30, 2009, 5:34 amSheryl Canter:
FrankFranko, I don’t think what you said is correct, or not exactly. What I described works the vast majority of the time because the vast majority of the time there isn’t a faulty installation that’s trying to restart or do something else bad. Usually the installation went just fine, but Vista doesn’t recognize it’s done. So there’s no timing issue, you don’t have to do it “fast” like you describe. I’ve stalled for a while because I didn’t feel like rebooting – no problem.
I think there probably are a few rare circumstances when there really is an install program that’s faulty, but it’s never happened to me. One other person posted something that sounded like a true faulty install program.
April 30, 2009, 8:40 amVince:
Thank very much Sheryl, your solution worked like a charm”.
May 14, 2009, 6:52 pmRam Reddy:
It was so annoying, I thought of abandoning Vista and going back to XP.
May 14, 2009, 9:19 pmA couple of days I searched and searched and finally found your site luckily. Your suggestion worked for me. You are wonderful. Many thanks.
Francisco:
Gracias totales Sheryl, you are my salvation, I was going crazy.
May 17, 2009, 4:47 pmLynne Bussard:
I see 2 different directions on this page.
Sheryl Canter:
It absolutely does work. I’ve used this technique many times. If it didn’t work for you, then you didn’t do exactly what I described.
Disable Windows Installer. Reboot. Go back into Windows Services and set Windows Installer to automatic (from disabled). Run your installation.
If you have deleted keys from the registry, then you may have done all kinds of damage – I can’t help you with that.
February 3, 2009, 9:09 pm
and……
After your computer reboots, again open Computer Management (right-click on Computer and select Manage), open Windows Installer Properties, and change the Startup type back to Manual. Now you’re good to go and can start a new installation.
One says return back to manual and the other says back to automatic???
May 22, 2009, 1:10 pmWhich one?
Lynne Bussard
Kevin:
Lynne,
It should be set to Manual. The Windows Installer service is not an automatic process – rather Windows starts it when the service is needed. The Windows Installer Service should not be running unless there is a legitimate installation going on.
However, the second restart is unneeded. You can set the service back to manual after the reboot and continue working normally from there. At that point the service is available, and installers can once again grab a mutex from it.
May 22, 2009, 8:15 pmSheryl Canter:
I’ll fix the typo in the comment. What it says in the article is correct – manual, not automatic.
Kevin – what “second restart”? My article describes one restart.
May 23, 2009, 9:23 amCharlie:
Woo woo woo – It works
Download problem solving for Google Earth lead me to your site. Following your guide the application finally downloaded and setup, first try.
Secondary benefit, repeated failures loading AT&T DSL on an older PC, running Win XP pro finally achieved. Problem, unable to set up IE access directly to AT&T or any source.
A workaround suggested by AT&T resulted in DSL operation through older IPS service. Following the GE success, service to with IE finally worked also, still need to resolve connection to AT&T.
AT&T’s initial setup service is apparently unaware of the trap caused by the “Windows Installer Cleanup Utility”.
Thanks C.
May 28, 2009, 10:02 amKee:
Sheryl, Thanks so much. This solution worked great!
June 9, 2009, 8:56 amelton:
Thankyou, the installer disabled works
Thanks a Millllllllllllll
June 11, 2009, 6:20 amK.I:
This Does WOrk, thank YOu
July 3, 2009, 9:04 amRobert:
Thank you Sheryl..
All the people in the auditorium stands up and starts to clap hands (Y)
July 15, 2009, 7:08 amJoão Sousa:
Worked very well Sheryl.
July 17, 2009, 12:22 pmI will be following your site.
My name is João an I am from Portugal.
Thank you.
Bill Crumpecker:
Definitely Works. The first time I tried it, I didn’t follow the exact instructions and had to go back through it again. Thanks, for posting.
July 22, 2009, 3:24 pmkris:
You absolute legend Sheryl, i spent days trying to find solutions, ive even formatted my laptop. This was the last website i was willing to look on, AND IT WORKED! Thanks ever so much
August 3, 2009, 2:04 pmnonnie:
Thanx alot… worked like a charm! I have been suffering with this problem for months and have spent hours trying to get help on the Microsoft Support Website! I am still not sure what language that stuff is written in. After I followed your instructions, I was able to install everything even my itunes updates with no problem! I had to saved this site in my favorites! Thanx for putting this info out here for computer idiots like me. You saved me from pitching my laptop into the Ohio River!
August 3, 2009, 3:46 pmAnkit:
Relieved after long long time – thanks very much.
August 17, 2009, 6:38 ammr0no:
simply right clicking on the service and clicking refresh worked for me
August 19, 2009, 3:00 pmSheryl Canter:
mr0no – could you explain that a little bit more? At what point are you clicking refresh? I don’t understand what you mean.
August 19, 2009, 8:30 pmBrian:
What he means, Sheryl, is that where you’d normally click “properties” in the utilities menu, you click “refresh”.
August 20, 2009, 2:02 amMichael:
The method posted works fine. However, there is a slightly quicker method.
August 20, 2009, 9:18 pmto bring of the task menu. Find all instances of the application “msiexec.exe”. Hightlight and click button.Michael:
Sorry. I forgot about some characters I used being Html codes:
The method posted works fine. However, there is a slightly quicker method. Bring up the task list using CTRL ALT DELETE. Highlight each instance of the application msiexec.exe and click the END PROCESS button.
August 20, 2009, 9:22 pmAmy:
THANK YOU! your directions were so clear and it solved my problem in 5 minutes. I’ve been struggling with this for weeks.
August 30, 2009, 3:38 pmGrayosn Peddie:
Thanks Michael. Ending msiexec.exe worked for me. Disabling/enabling Windows Installer service did not help even if I followed the directions given in the article.
October 14, 2009, 9:41 pmRegis:
Hi,
I think I confront same issue as Charlie and others but there is no msiexec.exe in task.
can you send the solution?
October 15, 2009, 11:17 pmRegis:
got it solved thanks this indeed works.
October 16, 2009, 12:12 amBlaven:
Must agree with Vigan.
I followed you steps exactly and it didn’t work, and no I didn’t mess with the registry.
Also tried Michael’s trick with the msiexec.exe. Didn’t work either.
October 22, 2009, 5:53 pmMaria:
Hi Sheryl!
This is the first time I’ve encountered this problem.
I Googled..etc…
While I was Googling I came across your site! Great site!
So anyway . .I tried your suggestion . .it didn’t work at first.
I tried stopping and starting the services and restarting the laptop and
BINGO!!!
I will look you up on facebook!
October 24, 2009, 10:18 amTerry:
Worked Great! Thanks so much.
October 24, 2009, 11:07 pmDominic:
Finally I have found a solution to a very annoying problem! Thank you so much Sheryl.
October 26, 2009, 6:21 pmRon:
Aaaaaah. This issue has been troubling me since I got Vista. Everything I tried to install gave me a headache. Sometimes killing MSIexec.exe in the task manager worked, sometimes it didn’t. But finally, a solution that seems to work for everything. I guess I won’t be throwing this new pc off the balcony after all. Many kind thanks. No messing with registries, no downloading “fixes”, just a simple and straightforward solution. Now I just need a fix for my love life
October 27, 2009, 1:13 amSheryl Canter:
> Now I just need a fix for my love life
LOL – Me, too!
October 27, 2009, 7:48 amLARRY:
Recently got a new pc windows vista and tried unsuccessfully to install my printer for same reason. Spent days trying to work this out then ran across your solution.
YOU THE BOMB!!!!!!!!
ALL WORKS!
November 4, 2009, 12:31 amColin Cox:
It worked for Me, BBBIIIGGG TTHHAANNKKSS
November 7, 2009, 4:37 pmDesiqnateD:
Thanks alot!!!!!!!!!!! You saved me lol!!!
November 7, 2009, 7:49 pmP.S.J:
Sheryl,
Cannot thank you enough! Thank you for posting this solution.
PSJ
November 7, 2009, 8:42 pmObby:
OMG! Sheryl, you are a GENIUS. I’ve been battling this for ages, and your fix is AMAZING. You are really awesome! Thanks a ton!!
November 11, 2009, 10:33 amKurt Loeffler:
Sheryl, I followed your instructions to the letter, but it did not work for me. I am using windows xp pro. Could this be my problem? I am trying to reinstall my printer after replacing a crashed hard drive.
November 23, 2009, 4:52 pmstacey:
My setting is already set to manual. What should I do if I’m still getting the message
November 24, 2009, 7:33 pmDean Langridge:
I had the 1618 error problem for ages, not being able to download or update programs has cost me alot of time. no sooner had I paid out for RegCure $29 which didn’t fix the problem I found this page. thank you so much it worked a treat.
November 24, 2009, 8:01 pmPaul:
Thanks for the info but unfortunately it doesn’t work for me and I followed your instructions to the letter.
December 6, 2009, 11:00 amMac:
Thanks Sheryl, this goes into my bag of tips and tricks!
December 9, 2009, 10:06 amShadi A:
I was going CRAZY!can’t thank u enough
December 12, 2009, 4:34 amDan Walker:
Thanks Sheryl. I had a similar issue just now with Windows Installer launching and failing when trying to run Office. This has sorted it, so gracias!
December 15, 2009, 11:58 amLiz:
Wow, worked like a charm!!! Thank you so much!!!
December 27, 2009, 7:49 pmKaren:
This solved all my problems in a snap!
December 28, 2009, 10:40 pmThank YOU!
Kat Obray:
I think this will work, but I have one problem.
After I rebooted the computer, I went to right click on Computer – then on Manage. It loaded for a few seconds, then nothing happened.
I went to reclick on it, but when I click on the Start Menu I receive a “ding” which I usually hear when I click on a program that is frozen.
In order to get rid of it I have to do CTRL ALT DELETE and close all Process Trees for Explore.
Any alternative paths to Manage?
January 4, 2010, 11:34 pmSheryl Canter:
It takes some time to load – give it a minute before you start clicking other things. Also, you probably need to be logged in as an Administrator.
You can also get to it through the Admin Tools folder in the Start menu. Exactly where depends on your OS, but in Windows 7 (what I’m running now), it says “Computer Management”.
If you really can’t load the Computer Management utility (and you’re logged in as an Admin), you’ve got bigger problems than not being able to install!
January 4, 2010, 11:48 pmAlan Gilbert:
About “Another installation is in progress” Just had to come back and say Thanks. Your advice worked like a dream. I too looked at several other sites offering complicated work arounds/fixes. Glad I held off until I found your site. Thanks again. Al.
January 16, 2010, 7:01 ameddy:
IT WORKS!!!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 29, 2010, 12:52 pmSebastien Lachance:
Worked perfectly! Thanks!
February 1, 2010, 8:32 amCurtis Brewington:
Worked like a charm when upgrading M$ products
February 7, 2010, 1:06 pmSrinivas Kumar:
It says:
“The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed.
This can occur if you are running Windows in Safe Mode or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance.”
So, what to do?
Kindly help me in resolving this problem.
Thanks
February 20, 2010, 5:38 amSrinivas Kumar
Karthick:
Its really working great…Thanks a lot Sheryl.
February 20, 2010, 12:39 pmVirat Kothari:
Hello,
It was very helpful to me. It saved my life. I have wasted 3 hours to get rid off this error. Thanks for such nice and useful article.
March 6, 2010, 4:13 pmstephen:
holy crap it worked
March 6, 2010, 5:50 pmive had this problem for like 3 years no lie..
wow
thank you
i havent been abled to do a thing
thanks!
john:
Thanks for the tip…It worked (eventually)
I am just adding this for the people above who say it didn’t work.
March 10, 2010, 9:09 amAfter the re-boot and setting the installer to “manual” I had to click on “start” the service. It seems obvious but it is not in the original instructions.