Windows Installer will not work under Safe Mode, this means that programs cannot be installed or uninstalled in Safe Mode without giving a specific command using msiexec in command prompt. If you try to uninstall programs in Safe Mode, you may receive the following message:
The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance.
This post will tell you how to make Windows Installer work in Safe Mode.
Make Windows Installer work in Safe Mode
To make Windows Installer to work under Safe Mode you need to create a registry entry for every type of Safe Mode you are login into:
Safe Mode
Type this in a command prompt and hit Enter:
REG ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\MSIServer" /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D "Service"
Then start the Windows Installer service by typing:
net start msiserver
The Service will start.
Safe Mode with Network
Type this in a command prompt and hit Enter:
REG ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Network\MSIServer" /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D "Service"
Then start the Windows Installer service by typing:
net start msiserver
See this post if your Windows Installer keeps popping up randomly.
Also read:
- How to uninstall programs in Windows Safe Mode easily using Safe MSI
- How to directly reboot in Safe Mode
- How to boot in Safe Mode in Windows.
wrong syntax please change code
REG ADD “HKLMSYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSafeBootNetworkMSIServer” /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D “Service” THIS IS THE CORRECT CODE GUYS USE THIS
Oops, space in the wrong place. Thanks for pointing it out. Corrected.
That and the curly quotes.
Commands should go in a code block rather than a quote to preserve the syntax. Or you could copy and paste from the post
Done! :)
You can also add the keys manually, from the registry editor.
net start msiserver
This service cannot be started in Safe Mode
After listening to the words of a friend , i bought a windows 8.1key,it’s easy to use ,go and see it ,search for it “windows 8.1 key sale” from bing.
Or use REG ADD “HKLMSYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSafeBootMinimalMSIServer” /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D “Service” if you booted in safe mode without networking
Thank you, it work for me
thanks your safe mode with network code helped me start windows installer!
Thank you so much worked, I’ve posted your link on the Command prompt settings on HP. Thank you
Excellent! safe mode with networking code worked for me, wish I had thought to search for this a long time ago. Thank you
How would this work under Windows 10
Thanks a lot
this one worked
REG ADD “HKLMSYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSafeBootNetworkMSIServer” /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D “Service”
ERROR: Access is denied.
What I need to do ? :/
EDIT: I solved it, I oppened command prompt as administrator and command work but windows installer still not working
Thank you, worked for me like a charm uninstalling crap as I type this….+1
Hello ! I have windows 10 and opened in safe mode with networking. After entering the code I get : ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.
Please help…
Use SafeMSI and see if that helps: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to-uninstall-programs-in-windows-safe-mode
I wish article had an explanations of /ve /t /f and /d
When
When I did this and tried to install something I got the error:This installation package could not be opened. Contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows Installer package.