Windows: Enable MSI Service in Safe Mode
September 27, 2008I have run into scenerios where I needed access to the Windows Installer service while in Safe Mode. You may be suprised to know that this service is not enabled by default. The following info will get it back for you:
To start Windows Installer in Safe Mode:
1. Restart your computer and press F8 before the Boot Menu or splash screen.
2. Open a CMD.EXE window.
3. Type the following commands and press Enter:
REG ADD “HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\MSIServer” /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D “Service”
net start msiserver
NOTE: You can use this technique to uninstall an application in Safe Mode.
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This technique did not directly work on a XP Home machine I recently repaired. REG did not seem to be a valid command or utility present in the system. I did, however, open up REGEDIT and manually add in the key you described. I was able to net start msiserver in safe mode after that. Thanks! For some reason the freeware SAFEMSI utility was not working.
Interesting… I have never used XP home actually so I suppose I should quantify this by saying XPSP2/SP3 Pro .
Glad to hear its working for you!
This will not work with 2000. REG.exe is an xp only app- though you can copy it to a 2000 machine
I get an error. “The system administrator has set polices to prevent this installation.” I am logged on as administrator. Any ideas?
At what point to do you get that message? Sounds like a Computer Policy set at the GPO level?