"Windows Installer Service could not be accessed" when installing application

Problem Description:
After you upgrade to Windows Installer version 2.0, the Windows Installer Service may not
start, and you may receive the following error message:
“The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running
Windows in safe mode, or the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your
support personnel for assistance”.
Cause for the problem:
This can occur when either of the following conditions exist:

 In the DCOM permissions, the default authentication level is set to None, and the
default Impersonation level is set to Anonymous.

 The system account does not have Full permissions on a folder or registry key that
the Windows Installer is trying to access. This is NTFS-specific.
Resolution to the problem:
1. Try Unregister and re-register the Windows Installer:

 Click Start, click Run, type MSIEXEC /UNREGISTER, and then click OK.
Even if you do this correctly, it may look like nothing occurs.

 Click Start, click Run, type MSIEXEC /REGSERVER, and then click OK. Even
if you do this correctly, it may look like nothing occurs, or you may briefly
see an hourglass. After you run this command, the operation is complete.

 Try your Windows Installer-based application again.

2. Verify the DCOM permissions:

 This involves changing the DCOM default impersonation level to Identify,

removing the Msisip.dll file, and then reinstalling SP 3 for Windows 2000.
Follow the steps below:

 Click Start, click Run, type dcomcnfg, and then click OK.

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  On the Default Properties tab:

 In the Default Authentication Level list, click Connect.

 In the Default Impersonation Level list, click Identify, and

then click OK.

 Click Start, click Run, type explorer / select, %Windir% \ system32\

msisip.dll, and then click OK.

 Rename the Msisip.dll file as Msisip.old.

 Reinstall Windows 2000 Service Pack 3.

3. How to give Full Control permission to the SYSTEM account:

 Start Windows Explorer, right-click the computer's root hard drive, and then click
Properties.

 Click the Security tab, and then click Add.

 In the Select Users, Computers, or Groups dialog box, click the SYSTEM account,
click Add, and then click OK.

 Under Allow, click to select the Full Control check box, and then click OK.

 Click the TEMP folder and then verify that the SYSTEM account has full control.

4. How to Verify the registry permissions:

 Click Start, click Run, then type Regedt32.

 For each of the registry hives, follow these steps:

1. Select the hive.

2. For Windows XP, on the Edit menu, click Permissions.
For Windows 2000 and Windows NT 4, on the Security menu, click Permissions.

 Verify that the SYSTEM account has been added and that it has Full control. If it
does not, add the SYSTEM account with Full control.

5. How to Fix the broken security key for the MsiServer service:

 Start the computer by using Windows.

 Click Start, click Run, type regedit.exe, and then rename the following key to
Old_Security:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSIServer\Security.

 Restart the computer.

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 Run Instmsiw.exe for installer 2.0 again; this corrects the broken security key for
the MSI service.
6. How to Reinstall the Windows Installer:

 To reinstall the Windows Installer, rename the damaged Windows Installer files,
and then reinstall the Windows Installer. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open text box, and then click OK.
2. Type cd %windir%\system32, and then press ENTER.
3. Type attrib -r -s -h dllcache, and then press ENTER.
4. Type ren msi.dll msi.old, and then press ENTER.
5. Type ren msiexec.exe msiexec.old, and then press ENTER.
6. Type ren msihnd.dll msihnd.old, and then press ENTER.
7. Type exit, and then press ENTER.
8. At the command prompt, type exit, and then press ENTER.
9. Click Start, and then click Turn off computer or Shut Down.
10. Select the Restart option, and then click OK, or click Restart.
11. Download and install the latest version of the Windows Installer.
12. Click Start, and then click Turn off computer or Shut Down.
13. Select the Restart option, and then click OK, or click Restart.

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