360freq

I can not run the Windows Installer Service on my Windows 2000 SP4 machine.. and i've been searching a solution for quite some time. I came here to ask for assistance from a Windows tech. When I install applications (latest Java, or .Net Framework etc) that use the Windows Installer method or an .MSI extension.. I receive this error message:

"The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed".

so I tried a few different remedies. I re-named the "msiexec.exe" file with an .old extension.. but after rebooting, nothing changed. I am aware that W2k has a Windows Installer (msiexec.exe) built in to the O/S, so I thought to try a more recent version such as - Windows Installer (3.1 v2 KB893803). Ok.. the install actually went fine with no errors.

at "Component Services" I set it to "Automatic" and upon "Starting" the service the Microsoft Management Console gives me this error message: "Could not start the Windows Installer service on Local Computer. The service did not return an error. This could be an Internal Windows error or an internal service error".

fyi: this has a dependency on the Remote Procedure call (RPC), which I set to 'Automatic' and I have the RPC service "Started". in Component Services I keep quite a few disabled because I run a basic system and don't need 'remote' or 'network' services. I have a good reference file on what's safe to choose.

My system has run fine for the last 2 years. in that time, I used the CD and upgraded the current version of W2k.. but still no resolve. there is an application called Dial-a-Fix which "fixes" or unregisters and then re-registers the MSI service - that did not help.

I then downloaded an earlier version (2.0) which Microsoft says will work with Windows 2000.. but upon install the message displays as: "This version not supported by the O/S".

I have run out of ideas.. can someone with Operating System experience please share your input?

~thanks in advance, 360freq