Q315346 - "Error 1719. The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" Error Message When You Add or Remove Program
 
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Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - Q315346
"Error 1719. The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" Error Message When You Add or Remove Program

"Error 1719. The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" Error Message When You Add or Remove Program

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

Symptoms

When you attempt to add or remove a program on your Microsoft Windows XP-based computer, you may receive the following error message:
Error 1719. The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. You may be running in Safe mode or Windows Installer may not be correctly installed.

Cause

This behavior can occur when you attempt to add or remove a program that uses the Windows Installer Microsoft Software Installation (MSI) package file (.msi). For example, Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP uses the Microsoft Software Installation package file.

Resolution

To resolve this behavior, follow these steps.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
  3. Locate and click the following registry key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSIServer
  4. In the right pane of the Registry Editor window, double-click ImagePath.
  5. In the Edit String dialog box that appears, make sure that the string in the Value data box contains the correct path to the Msiexec.exe file. The following is the correct path, where is the drive in which Windows is installed:
    :\Windows\System32\msiexec.exe /V
  6. Click Exit on the File menu to quit Registry Editor.
  7. Start your computer in Safe mode, and then register the Msiexec.exe file. To do so:
    1. Shut down your computer, and then restart your computer.
    2. When you see the Please select the operating system to start message, press F8.
    3. On the Windows Advanced Option menu, use the ARROW keys to select Safe Mode, and then press ENTER.
    4. If you are have a dual-boot system or multi-boot system, select Microsoft Windows XP from the list that appears, and then press ENTER.
    5. Log on to the computer.
    6. Click Start, and then click Run.
    7. In the Open box, type the following line, and then click OK:
      msiexec /regserver
  8. Shut down your computer, and then restart your computer normally.

More Information

For additional information about Windows Installer technology, please see the following Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web site:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/msi/over_2fjm.asp
First Published: Dec 21 2001 5:01AM
Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb

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