Another Installation Already in Progress (But it’s Not)

Technology - Tips & Fixes

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.

Windows Installer Service

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.

464 thoughts on “Another Installation Already in Progress (But it’s Not)”

  1. The next time I have any sort of problem, you are the first place I am looking!

    Thanks for the help that no one else could provide. Simple, easy to follow, and IT WOORKS!

  2. Thanks a million Sheryl. You’ve saved the bacon of many and I add my praise. It worked like a charm.

  3. Sheryl,

    I tried this multiple times. im on Windows XP Pro Sp2 – is that why its not working?

    Can someone help?

  4. I tried going through all the steps mentioned in the blog post above.. step by step. its still aint working guys.. im this’ far from throwing my monitor out of the window!

    please assist!

  7. I couldn’t restart the computer because the msi installer wouldn’t let me, and I didn’t want to cold reboot. (I also tried killing the msiexec.exe but it just got created again and again by winlogon.exe apparently.) So I checked the Application Event Log and lo and behold, there were events indicating that the msi Installer couldn’t find two missing directories, so I created those directories, a temp folder a Symantec LiveUpdate folder, and the msi installer finally completed its thing, and I could finally install other stuff and work as normal.

  8. Thanks a lot, I’ve been searching quite a long time as well. Your solution is really easy and it works perfectly. Thanks!!!!!!

  9. I applied the instructions to the letter but it does not work. Other people have reported the same, so obviously some cases are not covered. I am glad it work for yet others, though.

  11. Sheryl, I must admit this is the first time that I have decided to comment on a computer fix that I needed to find on the web in order to solve yet another Windows problem. I have encountered numerous times on Windows 7, problems related to installing new software – which windows installer erroneously believes that another installation is taking place at the same time. Thank you so much for providing an excellent solution to a problem that Microsoft denies exists with Windows 7 ((or at the very least my machine). I kept receiving the same error message while trying to install Windows Live Essential 11 that another installation was taking place when it wasn’t. Thank you very much and keep up the excellent work!

    Warmest Regards,
    Michael M Smith

  13. Or if you hate restarting your computer (I am having now 3.51 GB worth of bytes in mem), you can try this procedure (but you have to be quick with the mouse):
    – open the Services window, open the Windows Installer properties, change the startup type to manual; keep the window handy
    – open task manager
    – kill all instances of msiexec
    – switch to the services window, right click, Refresh on Windows Installer
    – stop it

    Now you’re good to install your program

  14. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it was worked for me too!

    to everyone trying to solve this beyond annoying problem!!!! do as she says but click start once you switch it back to manual! its work worked for me and some other people here 😀

    A HUGE THANK YOU TO SHERYL! 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀

    Good karma to you!!!!

    x

  16. This fix works exactly as advertised. Thanks a million for being willing to get it out there for the rest of us!

  18. It has not worked. I have also tried the Cleanup Utility to no evail. Windowsw configuration manager is saying that I have updates that need to be installed. I get the “Another installation is in progress” error. I have gone to Microsoft’s site and installed all the updates listed. It still tells me they are needed. There are no msiexec.exe processes running.

  21. Thanks for the info Sheryl this fix is still helping out 2 years later ( you posted December 25, 2008). Awesome!

  22. I also googled the problem, except THIS time I found your blog post instead of all the horribly complicated ones you mentioned. Thank you so much; within three minutes the problem was solved and my new software was installed. I will be linking this post to my computer consultant. 🙂

    Matt

  24. Great fix — I’ve had a problem updating my Zune software for 10 months and finally I found this and it worked! Thank you very much.

  25. I got rid of the problem by uninstalling the Dell Support Center of my Dell PC. It was trying to constantly installing s.th. in the backround.

  26. Just wanted to let you know that this doesn’t work for everyone. I’ve followed your steps word for word…five times. Still no fix. Discovered anyone else with my problem?

  27. Thanks for pointing the direction… Didnt do exactly as you stated but stopping the running service allowed me to get my uninstallation underway with out rebooting either!

  29. This absolutely works! Thanks. It has been exceedingly hard to find a fix that works and that is this simple.

  30. Thanks!
    Years later and this still works.

    I’ve had this problem for over a year & was going to buy a new computer.

    thanks for helping me resolve the issue.

  32. My husband was going crazy trying to install a new Quicken program. The laptop with Vista kept saying another program was installing (not so, of course).

    I found your fix and printed it out for him.

    He told me to tell you to expect roses and a dinner invitation. 🙂

  35. This worked first time for me, I had a problem trying to install Nero and this fixed it.

    Thanks!

  37. Hi Sheryl,
    I am using window XP. I am facing same issue of iTunes, I tried the same steps mentioned by you. But no luck 🙁

    Since 2 days, I have been struggling on it, got frustrated. Please help me.

    Thanks.

  39. Ive tried this about 3 times and it still hasnt worked. Is there any other way to get my installations to work because I have a bunch of programs out of date. I rarley have a problem with my laptop that I cant fix and I dont want to Format/reload it because my windows Key is faded away.

  40. I used this method 3-4 times with no luck. after following the advice of FrankFranko (a few posts down in the comments) I was able to install in no problem. I simply clicked manual then immediately ran the installation of the program. Worked like a charm.

  41. Thank you SO much! This totally cleared up my problems (and I had been struggling with this problem off and on for a while!). I am truly grateful to you, Sheryl

  42. Sheryl,

    Your solution did not work. I tried it several times and followed the process exactly step by step. Your unwillingness to accept that someone else might be right is annoying.

  43. I finally fixed my problem and installed my program. After following Sheryls instructions (I dont know if that helped to fix things or not so you might want to do that first) I clicked on start and went to Run and searched Installer Cleanup. I isolated the installation by date and deleted all installations for today. After rebooting my computer I was able to install my program by opening the auto run program that came up for my media and right clicked on install and clicked install. ONLY ONCE. I have windows vista. Hope this helps.

  44. Sheryl,

    I tried what you suggested, but when i change “manual” to “disabled” and click OK, the following message pops up:

    “Unable to open service MSIServer for writing on Local Computer. Error 5: Access is denied.”

    I am using Windows Xp. Please help!

  49. My option to change the manual to disabled isn’t available it won’t let me change it???

  50. It works. I’ve been unable to install/uninstall anything for a long time, imagine how frustrated I have been. Thank you very much.

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