Restarting a Failed Installation
Shutting down a Windows Installer-based installation can cause subsequent installations to fail. Use this tip to get them started again.
When Windows Installer is invoked to process a Installer database file (.MSI), information is input into the following registry key:
HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\InProgress
This tells the Windows Installer service that an installation is processing so it can back out from a failed installation. Also, in the environment-defined TEMP directory, temporary files will exist from the installation.
When you attempt to shutdown a Windows Installer installation by means other than the method provided through the Cancel button, the entries in the registry and the files in the TEMP directory can remain. By shutting down by non-normal means, this indicates things like the Windows Installer service was stopped, or the installation process was killed through Task Manager.
To get the installation started again, remove the entries in the registry key and clean out the TEMP directory of any extraneous files. Reboot the computer and initiate the installation again.
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Comments
Frustration saver
This was some very helpful information. I have experienced this problem several times. The only fix I ever found for it was to reimage a machine. Having a simple registry key and temp folder fix will resolve these issues so much quicker.
Jeremy I. Boger
Network Technician
MSD of Lawrence Township
Sometimes happens...
Even if Windows installer should works in a right way, sometimes it happens that fails when during the Windows restart, and of course in the past happened!
Thanks for this info.
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