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

1. Thanks, this was really driving me nuts, and all the other fixes I found either didn’t work, or were very complex.

2. This was driving me up a wall when my wireless had stopped working just hours before after a windows update. I came acrosse you web page and followed your directions and this worked remarkably! Thank You!!!

3. I followed all the steps but when i get to the “windows installer prop(local computer” it doesn’t allow me to change anything on the page.

4. Okay, after googling, the fourth link solved the problem for me (yours was first). It’s from the Sophos website, and following these steps solved it:

   1. Open the Task Manager on the local computer (right-click the system tray and select ‘Start task Manager’)
   2. Under the processes tab, select any processes named ‘msiexec.exe’ (there could be multiple entries) and then press ‘End Process’.

   Hope this helps those for whom the tip above didn’t work.

5. while installing vs 2010 in xp sp3 windows installer 4.5 error showing

6. Same problem is troubling me with installation of my quick heal antivirus installation.
   Everything is going right till properties of windows installer properties but drag down menu where I have to switch it to ‘disable’ is not highlighted/Accessible.
   Help me with dat.

7. I’ve spent hours trying to find a resolution to the problem. Thank You — It worked.

8. On Windows 8, use the Task Manager, click “Details”, and end the msiexec process.

9. Worked perfect, Thanks =]

10. My problem is that every time i try to open a document done in word 2007 i first get boxes that say “configuring” then “installing” then an error has occurred and feature is no longer functioning properly- then run setup and select “repair.” i can still bring up the document by xing out these boxes and selecting “cancel.” how can i avoid going through this process each time? Thanks

11. Rick, posting in all-caps is the online equivalent of yelling. I edited your post to correct this. If you post again, please do it in sentence-case or lower case. Thanks.

12. Sheryl,I too have benefited by your insight. Thank you. This continues to be a recurring problem on my system. It is as if some unknown routine is messing with the internal system settings and leaving me with an apparently incomplete installation of “something”. Do you have any suggestions as to how to find the culprit?

13. The start up type is disabled for me. the manual mode is selected though , but I cannot change it. How do I go about it ?

14. Just another user reporting in that this worked for me perfectly. Thanks. A failed install was driving me batty.

15. My start up is also disabled stuck on manual and i cant change it either?

16. I can’t change anything in the properties window…so I’m wondering if I’ve done something wrong or…?

17. What do you do if you’re not the administrator

18. cant find the window installer, after I select services, I can only see all the programs that are active 🙁

19. Thanks Sheryl,
    You are the Biz !
    I had this prob for a year and have put it on the backburner.
    Desperate to load a new program and had to face the ‘Another Installation’ nightmare.
    I did not think it was Windows causing the problem !!
    Thanks again
    Norm

20. Hi Sheryl,

    I have had this problem on all my end user clients for sometime now. Your fix is indeed a temporary solution, however EVERY client on my domain is having this problem and I can’t for the life of me work out how to resolve it domain wide. I can’t even push out new software to clients using Group Policy as the Windows Installer process is preventing any new installations from starting.

    Any help would be greatly appreciated!

    Cheers,

    Phil.

21. Yuck! That’s an interesting problem.

    If it were me, I’d start researching how this happens in the first place, to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

    It hasn’t happened on any of my computers for a very long time. What OS are you running, and how many computers are involved?

22. God bless you!!! Thanks you’re amazing.

23. You are truly awesome and thank you for sharing. I had a particularly pesky xml update that needed to be installed as part of a rush security audit remediation. This problem was the only thing holding up progress, and your suggestion (elegant and simple, but totally logical) fixed an issue other couldn’t figure out….. and you made me look good in the mix.

    Thanks again.

24. I’m glad I could help! 🙂

25. This worked! iTunes broke and I couldn’t uninstall or reinstall, and anyway, I’m so glad I found your solution. Thanks!

26. Hi,
    I have Windows 8 and I frequently encounter this problem; I found though that if I go to my task manager (shortcut: ctrl + alt + del) I can go through the applications running in the background, I just right click on any windows installer applications and select end task and I’m good to go.

27. This worked like a charm! Thanks!

28. This worked for me. In my case, the service was set to manual and not started. I started the service, then ran the installer which immediately worked. Great job on the diagnosis!

29. Thank you very much……………………

30. I have tried to get the solution of this problems at many ways but it was failed. Am very much Thankfull to you.

31. it worked well!!! thanks.. gr8 post

    thanks againnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 🙂

32. I use Windows 8.1 and the dropdown for Startup Type is greyed out.

33. It Worked.. It sure did.. worked.

34. It doesnt worked for me . i have gone through the said process. But the windows installer is already defaulted with manual only.. then also followed ur step sheryl,, the same error while installing “Skype” another installation is in progress.kindly help me out

35. Followed these instructions to the letter but still unable to get past the error. I’m trying to run HP’s Fax Setup for a LaserJet Pro 1212mf.

36. Thank that worked for me.
    That error popped whe i was installing hamachi
    Instead of reboot i restarted my computer

37. Thanks a lot! This worked for me.

38. this worked for me as well – thanks!

39. Hi Sheryl

    I have windows 8.1. When I try to use your solution I find that the the properties dialogue box is completed ‘greyed’ out so i can’t select anything. This whole function has been disabled. Do you have any idea what I can do?
    Thanks

    Jack

40. My properties list for windows installer is grey and cannot disable

41. This is so helpful! thank you so much!

42. I tried to install Quicken 2014 but had this same problem. No other programs or installers were running!!! I wasted 3 hours until I found your blog and advise. I followed it and it worked! Very helpful. Thank you very much!!!

43. Had trouble for months with Windows Installer. Your instructions have solved the problem when Microsoft would offer no help, thanks so much.

44. thanks, it worked to me for installing the new nvidia’s driver.

45. Thank you so much! it worked

46. it works!!…thank you so much!! and you explain it very well.

47. wow it worked like a charm , thanks a lot dude….

48. I’m not sure what my problem is, but when I googled it brought up this solution. I am simply trying to open a word document and I get the message “Window Installer” “Another Installation is already in progress. Complete that installaton before prodeeding with this install”. I get this message with every word doc I try to open.

49. I tried it the way you described, but at the windows installer properties all of the options are grey and I can’t use them.

    How can I fix it now?

50. Great, worked for me. Should’ve remembered that this is how you do it. Thanks.

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