Unable to install/uninstall and getting MainEngineThread is returning 1603

Question

hi,

Failed to install the product and even failed to uninstall using msiexec command and got the below error. What could be the issue and how to resolve it?

=== Verbose logging started: 6/13/2023  9:02:46  Build type: SHIP UNICODE 5.00.10011.00  Calling process: C:\Windows\system32\MSIEXEC.EXE ===
MSI (c) (30:F0) [09:02:46:647]: Resetting cached policy values
MSI (c) (30:F0) [09:02:46:647]: Machine policy value 'Debug' is 0
MSI (c) (30:F0) [09:02:46:647]: ******* RunEngine:
           ******* Product: C:\Productbase\{A12BCD45-8BCD-432A-82EA-9E657895432C}\newproduct.msi
           ******* Action: 
           ******* CommandLine: **********
MSI (c) (30:F0) [09:02:46:649]: Client-side and UI is none or basic: Running entire install on the server.
MSI (c) (30:F0) [09:02:46:649]: Grabbed execution mutex.
MSI (c) (30:F0) [09:02:46:668]: Cloaking enabled.
MSI (c) (30:F0) [09:02:46:668]: Attempting to enable all disabled privileges before calling Install on Server
MSI (c) (30:F0) [09:02:46:681]: Incrementing counter to disable shutdown. Counter after increment: 0
MSI (c) (30:F0) [09:02:46:731]: Decrementing counter to disable shutdown. If counter >= 0, shutdown will be denied.  Counter after decrement: -1
MSI (c) (30:F0) [09:02:46:733]: MainEngineThread is returning 1603
=== Verbose logging stopped: 6/13/2023  9:02:46 ===

Answer 1

Hello there,

Directories or paths to the old MSI has been altered and might cause this issue.

Provide your old MSI file and this might sort this out.

Option 1. Locate your old MSI and browse to it

Browse to the original MSI

When an MSI is run it is loaded into %WINDOWS%\Installer folder but the random name may make it difficult to find

Option 2. Uninstall the program without using the MSI.

Locate your Product Code that you are trying to install

In the registry go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Installer

or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData registry keys

From a command prompt run msiexec /x [ProductCode]

Hope this resolves your Query !!

--If the reply is helpful, please Upvote and Accept it as an answer--

Answer 2

hi,

thanks for your help.

I could not even uninstall the product using start /wait msiexec.exe /x {GUID of the product}, and getting the same error code 1603 on the command prompt. what could be the reason why I am unable to uninstall the already installed product?

regards,

MG