Does your Windows Installer process run every time you boot the Windows 11/10 device? Or maybe you are working, and it suddenly pops up randomly? Why does this happen? How do you stop it from running at random times in the background? This post takes a look at some scenarios & discusses your options.
Windows Installer Preparing to install
The Windows Installer or msiexec.exe is a Windows OS component and an application programming interface, located in the System32 folder, that is used for the installation, maintenance, and removal of software. So when you see this process running, it definitely means that some software is being installed, changed, or uninstalled. Many software use the Windows Installer to carry out the installation process.
Windows Installer keeps popping up
If this is happening with your permission and knowledge, then it is fine – as you may be in the process of installing, uninstalling, or repairing your installed software. But if it is not, then you need to investigate further.
This post will probably raise more questions than answers – that is something you will have to answer for yourself – and that may show you the direction to work.
1] Terminate the process manually
Terminate the process manually and see if it appears again either in the current session or on restart. To do this, right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager. Under the Process tab, you may see the msiexec.exe process. Right-click on it and select End task. This will terminate the Windows Installer process.
2] Check Windows Installer version
Ensure that the latest version of Windows Installer is installed. Right-click on msiexec.exe, in the System32 folder, select Properties > Details. The latest version as of writing is 5.0.10586.0.
3] Run System File Checker
Maybe your Windows Installer file has been corrupted. Run System File Checker and reboot once the scan is completed. See this post if Windows Installer Service can not be accessed.
4] Give it some time to run
Now ask yourself, did you install any new software in the last day or two? If so maybe some background process or updating is still going on. Give the Windows Installer time to run and see if it shuts down after a while.
5] Check for PUPs
When you installed the software, did it install any third-party offers? Check the Control Panel. Maybe they are being installed. Check if any software which you installed or updated recently, bundled other software. If so it may be using this process. You may want to uninstall unwanted applications.
6] Check msiexec.exe
Did you download or install anything of doubtful value? Maybe something is installing Malware or a PUP on your system. Run a full scan with your antivirus software along with AdwCleaner, which is a good tool to remove PUPs, Browser Hijackers & Adware.
If msiexec.exe is located in the C:\Windows\System32 folder, then it is the legitimate Microsoft process. If it is located in any other folder, it could well be malware, as malware files can me named anything.
Read: Windows Installer not working properly
7] Re-register the Windows Installer engine
You may want also to consider re-registering the Windows Installer engine. To do so, open Command Prompt, type the following and hit Enter:
msiexec /unregister
Now to register it again, type the following and hit Enter.
msiexec /regserver
8] Run Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter
Download the Program Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter. This tool is the replacement for Windows Installer Cleanup utility which was discontinued. This tool will help you fix potential issues with Windows Installer.
Specifically, it will fix the following problems:
- Problems that prevent new programs from being installed, uninstalled or updated
- Corrupted registry keys that are related to these issues.
This troubleshooter works on Windows 10/8.1/8/7.
Let us know if anything helped, or if you have other suggestions.
Want to know how to make Windows Installer work in Safe Mode?
