November 18, 2016

Fix Error 1603: A fatal error occurred during installation

When you try to install a Microsoft Windows Installer package, you may receive the following error message: Error 1603: A fatal error occurred during installation. If you click OK in the message box, the installation rolls back.

Fix Error 1603 A fatal error occurred during installation

Cause for Error 1603: A fatal error occurred during installation

You may receive this error message if any one of the following conditions is true:

1. The folder that you are trying to install the Windows Installer package is encrypted.

2. The drive that contains the folder that you are trying to install the Windows Installer package is accessed as a substitute drive.

3. The SYSTEM account does not have Full Control permissions on the folder that you are trying to install the Windows Installer package too. You notice the Star Citizen Installer error message because the Windows Installer service uses the SYSTEM account to install the software. Read How to Install Software Without Admin Rights here.. Read How to Install Software Without Admin Rights here..

Fix Error 1603: A fatal error occurred during installation

For automatically fixing this issue use the fix it tool by Microsoft’s.

Now if the above didn’t work out for you then follow this guide:

1)Double click “This PC” on your desktop.

2)Right-click the drive where you want to install the program and Choose “Properties.

3)Click the “Security” tab and then click the “Edit” button.

properties security tab then click edit

4)Check “Allow” next to “Full Control” under the subheading “Permissions” inside the user name “SYSTEM” and click “Apply” then “OK.”

allow full control to system in permissions

5)If you can’t find “SYSTEM” there, then click “Add” and under object name write”SYSTEM” click “OK” and repeat the step 4.

add system to group of permission for local drive

6)Now go back to the Security tab and click on “Advanced.

7)Check “Replace permission entries on all child objects with entries shown here that apply to child objects.” Click “OK.” Check “Reset permissions on all child objects and enable propagation of inheritable permissions” if you use other versions of Windows. Click “OK.”

Replace all child object permission entries with inheritable permission entries from this object

8)Click “Yes” when prompted.

9)Double-click the installer package and you will no longer have any issues with it.

Method 2: Install Ownership Registry Hack

1.Download and unzip the files.

2.Double-click the InstallTakeOwnership.reg file.

3.Right-click the on the file which is giving the Error 1603 and select take Ownership.

take ownership of the folder | Fix Error 1603: A fatal error occurred during installation

4.Again try to install the installer package and the issue is successfully fixed.

5.If for some reason you want to delete the Install Ownership shortcut, just double click RemoveTakeOwnership.reg file.

Method 3: Restart the Windows Installer Service

1.Press Windows Key + R then type services.msc and hit Enter.

services windows

2.Find Windows Installer service then right-click on it and select Properties.

Right-click on Windows Installer Service then select Properties

3.Click on Start if the service is not already running.

Click Start if the Windows Installer service is not already running

4.If the service is already running then right-click and select Restart.

5.Again try to install the program which was giving access denied error.

Method 4: Re-register Windows Installer

1.Press Windows Key + X then select Command Prompt (Admin).

command prompt admin

2.Type the following command into cmd and hit Enter after each one:

%windir%system32msiexec.exe /unregister
%windir%system32msiexec.exe /regserver
%windir%syswow64msiexec.exe /unregister
%windir%syswow64msiexec.exe /regserver

Re-register Windows Installer | Fix Error 1603: A fatal error occurred during installation

3.Reboot your PC to save changes.

4.If the issue is not resolved then press Windows key + R then type the following and hit Enter:

%windir%system32

 Open system 32 %windir%system32

5.Locate the Msiexec.exe file then note down the exact address of the file which would be something like this:

C:WINDOWSsystem32Msiexec.exe

notedown the location of msiexec.exe under System32

6.Press Windows Key + R then type regedit and hit Enter to open Registry Editor.

7.Navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesMSIServer

8.Select MSIServer then in the right window pane double-click on ImagePath.

Double-click on ImagePath under msiserver registry key

9.Now type the location of the Msiexec.exe file which you noted above in the value data field followed by “/V” and the whole thing would look like:

C:WINDOWSsystem32Msiexec.exe /V

Change value of ImagePath String

10.Boot your PC into safe mode using any of the methods listed here.

11.Press Windows Key + X then select Command Prompt (Admin).

command prompt admin

12.Type the following command and hit Enter:

msiexec /regserver

%windir%Syswow64Msiexec /regserver

Re-register msiexec or windows installer | Fix Error 1603: A fatal error occurred during installation

13.Close everything and boot your PC normally.

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That’s it you have successfully fix Error 1603: A fatal error occurred during installation but if you still have any questions you can ask them in the comments section.