Problem: Each time I want to install or uninstall a program that uses Windows Installer, I get the following error with code 1601: 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.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Fix: Error Code 1601 Windows Installer – Windows 7 or Vista

1. Click Windows Start button, in the Start Search box, type the following command and then press enter:
   

   %windir%\system32\msiexec /unregserver

   Nothing will be prompted to you because the registry process takes less than 1 second to be completed.

2. Next, go back to the Windows Start button, in the Start Search box, type the following command and then press enter:
   

   %windir%\system32\msiexec /regserver

   Now that the msiexec has been re-registered, you may try to run any Windows Installer to test if the problem is solved.

Fix: Error Code 1601 Windows Installer – Windows XP or 2000

1. Click Start -> Run -> type CMD in the run box, and then click OK.
2. A MS DOS window will be prompted to you. Type the following command and then press enter:
   

   msiexec /unregister

   Do not close your MS DOS window after this step.

3. In the same MS DOS window after performing step 2, type the following command and then press enter:
   

   msiexec /regserver

   Now that the msiexec has been re-registered, you may try to run any Windows Installer to test if the problem is solved.

If you like this article, please share it to the world by pressing the +1 button.

More Interesting Tips...

Fix: Windows Installer Error Code 1635

Fix: Windows Installer Error 1603 – Fatal Error During MSI Installation

Fix – Error Code: 80071392 Windows Live Messenger 2011 MSN 7

Fix – Error Code: 81000306 Windows Live Messenger 2011 MSN 7

Subscribe, Follow, and Like!