[praxidice]

Hello,

I have Windows 7 64-bit installed on a 2-year-old HP dV4t.

A few weeks ago, my computer started giving error messages whenever I tried to install an update. It started with Adobe products, then expanded over the course of a few weeks to all attempted updates. Now, there are Windows updates waiting to be installed, but cannot be. Also, I run File Hippo and receive an Error 404 when I try to visit the webpage to download available updates.

The error I received each time was "Error: Windows Installer could not be accessed." with error number 0x80040201.

Once, I also received error 0x80070005.

I tried restarting Windows Installer, which did not work. I tried Windows FixIt and the Windows Troubleshooter for Windows Update, and both found errors but could not fix them.

I have run Avast Antivirus and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, and both found nothing.

Finally, once yesterday, my system locked up and started making a very loud low beeping noise. I had to force shutdown. It restarted normally.

Thank you in advance for any help.

[Advertisements]

Hi,

Some people report success to fix this problem by using changing the registry, start regedit
locate this key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENT CONTROL SET\SERVICES\MSIserver
if you have a value called WOW64 change it from 1 to 0

Try to install something that failed before.

[SleepyDude]

Hi,

Some people report success to fix this problem by using changing the registry, start regedit
locate this key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENT CONTROL SET\SERVICES\MSIserver
if you have a value called WOW64 change it from 1 to 0

Try to install something that failed before.

[praxidice]

Hi SleepyDude,

Thanks for the tip. I have seen that fix before when I was trying to fix this myself, but there is no WOW64 value that I can find.

I attached a screengrab of my regedit window so you can see. Maybe I'm missing something?

Thanks!

[SleepyDude]

Hi,

Try to create a new value called WOW64 type DWord (32-bits). Restart the computer.

[praxidice]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

I created the WOW64. Then, I restarted the computer, and got a message that one disk drive was inconsistent and that disk check should run.

Then, there was an error message. I didn't catch it all, but part of it said "AutoChk would not run..." "due to a recently installed program", and "unspecified error 766fbc756..."

Then it started normally, but I still can't install anything.

Thanks.

[SleepyDude]

Hi,

It seems you have other problems you need to fix...

Check the disk for errors
- open the Command Prompt as Administrator (Tutorial)
- type the command:

chkdsk /f /x C:

If you have move disk drives execute the same command replacing C: with the corresponding drive letter.

Note: If chkdsk ask if you want to do a scan on next restart answer Yes
- restart the computer

Check Windows System files integrity
- open the Command Prompt as Administrator
- type the command:

sfc /scannow

[praxidice]

Hi there,

I thought there might be more to it!

I ran CHKDSK successfully, and allowed a scan when I restarted my computer.

When I tried to run "sfc /scannow", I receive this message: "Windows Resource Protection could not start the repair service."

And, I tried to install a program update and I still receive the same error.

what's next?

Thank you!

[SleepyDude]

Hi,

Try running SFC using this command:

sfc /SCANNOW /OFFBOOTDIR=c:\ /OFFWINDIR=c:\windows

Note: Adjust the drive letter if your windows isn't on the C: drive.

[praxidice]

Hi,

When I enter this:

sfc /SCANNOW /OFFBOOTDIR=c:\ /OFFWINDIR=c:\windows

I receive this message: "The arguments passed to sfc are invalid. The offline windows directory specified points to the online system."

I tried the command line with caps and no caps. Are my spaces correct?

[SleepyDude]

Hi,

When I enter this:

sfc /SCANNOW /OFFBOOTDIR=c:\ /OFFWINDIR=c:\windows

I receive this message: "The arguments passed to sfc are invalid. The offline windows directory specified points to the online system."

I tried the command line with caps and no caps. Are my spaces correct?

Hi,

The spaces are ok. Try to execute the command from the Command Prompt in Safe Mode

[praxidice]

Hi there,

I ran the scan successfully in Safemode. Nothing seems to have changed. What's next?

Thanks!

[SleepyDude]

Hi there,

I ran the scan successfully in Safemode. Nothing seems to have changed. What's next?

Thanks!

Hi,

Did you run chkdsk? Any errors found and fixed?

[praxidice]

Hi there,

I thought there might be more to it!

I ran CHKDSK successfully, and allowed a scan when I restarted my computer.

^This is from before -- I already ran CHKDSK. There were no errors and it completed successfully. Then, I ran SFC in Safemode like you said.

Should I run CHKDSK again?

Sorry if I misunderstood something.

[SleepyDude]

^This is from before -- I already ran CHKDSK. There were no errors and it completed successfully. Then, I ran SFC in Safemode like you said.

Should I run CHKDSK again?

Sorry if I misunderstood something.

Sorry i miss your answer about chkdsk.

Can you start the service Windows Installer without any error?

Press then type services.msc
on the list of services locate Windows Installer try to start the service.
Anny error? Is the service set to Start Manually?

[praxidice]

Hi there,

I opened services.msc and there was no "Windows Installer" listed under services (not in Extended or Standard services).

There was a service called "Windows Instalator" that was disabled. I tried to start it, but got the message "Error - Access denied."

So, I opened services.msc again and ran as administrator.

This time, the "Windows Instalator" service had also disappeared.

When I was trying to fix this problem myself before, I tried to start the Windows Installer service this way. I could find the service, but when I tried to start it I received the "Error - Access denied." message.

Now, there is no Windows Installer service listed?!

Attached please see screengrabs from both Extended services and Standard services.

Thanks!