Solved Can't install, uninstall programs or updates/drivers

AvalonX

New Member
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3
Very weird. I am running Windows 8.1. The other day I come to find my nvidia and Bosto drawing tablet drivers hosed. I proceed to try to install new ones which seemed to work. I noticed when trying to run Windows update it hangs on installation. Then it seemed to apply to almost anything. In other words, my OS runs ok, programs launch but I can't install or uninstall anything. I thought it might be the Windows installer so I ran the MS online fixit. I also ran MSIExec /unregister and MSIExec /regserver, Still no good. Avira, Malware bytes and Kaspersky's rootkit scanner come up clean.

Out of desperation I put in my 8.1 disk and ran the inplace upgrade which created a new Windows directory and everything. Although it retained my setting I still cannot install or uninstall anything. I know I can rebuild but my inner nerd is so lost on this I feel like I need to fix it. Any thoughts?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
Try creating a new Administrator level user account?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
Wow, I found this thread here and fixed it:
error 1719 windows installer service could not be accessed .... - Microsoft Community

Start, then Run, then type regedit Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENT CONTROL SET\SERVICES\MSIserver\WOW64 Right click on WOW64, then select Modify Set Value Data to 0 (mine was set at 1) and Base should be Hexadecimal Close everything, reboot, and see if you can uninstall or reinstall

Now for me I did not have this key so I created it, bounced the PC and everything is working. How crazy is that?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
That's a good find. I'll save that link for future use. Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
I just tried creating WOW64 both as a binary and a string value in regedit and setting it to 0 but I still can't install cygwin and the latest firefox 35.0.

Note: I'm a Linux guy so my Windows is rusty but my msiserver entry was all lowercase and not MSIserver. Has Windows become case sensitive?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1
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