They’ve been trying to install this application on my work notebook for ages and it was just not working. It gave a general error 1603. Then when I tried to install something else, I found a connection. Both were msi packages. Normally I have just enough rights to install programs (*.exe) on my notebook, but these two programs in msi package didn’t work at all. So, when the guy was out of ideas I’d thought I’d research this because not being able to install msi packages is bollocks.
So eventually I hackz0r the registry, like this:
1. Open registry editor
2. Add a new key “runas” under HKCR\Msi.Package\shell
3. Now set the default value of this key to “Install &as…”
4. Now create the subkey HKCR\Msi.Package\shell\runas\command
5. Set the default value of this subkey to msiexec /i “%1″
Result: I would now have a “install as” option on right click of the msi. On the general tab there actually is a security thing too which prevents msi packages from being installed when copied from computer a to computer b, apparently. So pretty important to check that as well. Also SYSTEM needs to have correct rights. All this didn’t help to install though. Since I know a user account which has sufficient rights I could now “Install as..” this user. Not before I actually updated my windows installer package to 4.5 of course (which wasn’t the problem). ;_;
Then I installed the second program in the same way. Unfortunately when I deinstalled it again because friggin’ key don’t work I get another error. At the software vendor website it was recommended to upgrade to a higher Windows Scripting engine. Sure sure… It did work though. I think updating Windows Installer caused that one to occur.
Lastly from my infinite knowledge of computer epic fail, there’s the problem you won’t recognize being a Windows Installer error as long as you don’t install something. If you’re running internet explorer 6 the symptom is that it only let’s you surf to Microsoft websites. That appears to Windows Installer related as well. When you install something, installer windows magically disappear on you. After reinstalling a newer version of Windows Installer it goes away. Talk about weird.
