Hey.
I have exactly the same problem. There seems to be no info on this anywhere on the internet. Maybe we can find the solution by comparing installed software and hardware? I'll list mine and you can let me know if anything is similar on your end:
Intel i5-3570K @ 4.46 (turbo) Ghz
8 GB 1600 mhz CL9 DDR3 RAM
ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe W/D Mini-ITX motherboard
Zotac Nvidia GTX 470 GPU, 1280 MB GDDR5 RAM
Seagate Barracuda Black system drive (1TB)
Western Digital Green 500 GB backup drive
Akai EIE Pro 24 bit, 96Khz Soundcard/ DAC (4 Channel and USB hub)
----- Software -----
Adobe Photoshop CS6 64 bit
Ni Kontakt 5
Steam
[*=1]Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
[*=1]Natural Selection 2
[*=1]Sid Meier's Civilization V
[*=1]Scratches: Director's Cut
[*=1]Metro 2033
[*=1]Football Manager 2013
Adobe Flash Player v 11.6.602.171
VLC media player v 2.0.5
Adobe Reader 9
Asio4All 2.10
Akai EIE Pro driver version 2.9.30,
FL Studio 10 (FruityLoops)
Java 7 update 15
Microsoft C++ 2005, 2008 and 2010 Redistros
NeoAxis Engine Non-Commercial SDK v 1.32
Nvidia Graphics driver 310.90 (newer drivers messed with my system)
Opera Web Browser 12.14
WinRar 4.20 64-bit
-----Software I uninstalled because I thought they might be the problem-----
Daemon Tools Lite
Sony Acid Pro 6.0
I had this problem on Windows 7 too, which is what prompted my Windows 8 purchase in the first place. Sadly, the problems stuck with me, making me think it's tied to some hardware, driver or software I'm using.
After a fresh install or repair, Windows 8 will be fine for a month or so, but eventually the problems start with Windows Installer and random "windows-bordered" programs crashing. It's probably something I eventually install, but the dastardly thing is that I can't simply intall one thing at a time and see what's causing it, because it's a delayed reaction.
Hope we can help eachother.
What I've tried:
-sfc /scannow
-Registry fix from a similar problem involving the customer feedback thing in Windows 8
-Memcheck
-Drive diagnostic
-Running non-overclocked
-Scanned for rootkits
-Several different virus scans
According to all of the above, those solutions either don't apply, or indicate my system is as clean as a whistle.
Somehow, msiexec just becomes corrupted. Could it be a windows update related solution?
EDIT:
Speak of the devil, I just ran another sfc /scannow and the command actually found corrupted files this time. But I can't access the log file, getting 'access is denied'.
I took control of the file in security but I'm still not getting access. What to do?