Vista Tutorial - Windows installer - Error: 80070641 and Error 3: System cannot find path specified

Hi,

I am running Windows Vista Home Premium on my laptop. For last few days I have not been able to install windows updates. I get the error with code 80070641.

After wandering through different forums and suggested solutions, I followed this path - control panel > system and maintenance > administrative tools > services > windows installer (double clicked and saw that the start-up type is 'Automatic'). When I clicked on the 'Start the service' button in the left panel here, I got the following message:

Windows could not start the windows installer service on local computer.
Error 3: The system cannot find the path specified.

Can anybody help me resolve this problem and bring the Windows Installer back on track?


By the way, later, I did this -

Click Start, Run and type: cmd /k sc qc msiserver
Press ENTER.

Following is the ouyput I received -

[SC] QueryServiceConfig SUCCESS
SERVICE_NAME: msiserver
TYPE : 10 WIN32_OWN_PROCESS
START_TYPE : 2 AUTO_START
ERROR_CONTROL : 1 NORMAL
BINARY_PATH_NAME : C:\Windows\system32\Msiexec.exe/V
LOAD_ORDER_GROUP :
TAG : 0
DISPLAY_NAME : Windows Installer
DEPENDENCIES : rpcss
SERVICE_START_NAME : LocalSystem
C:\Users\Shirish>


Does anyone have any idea of what's going wrong here?
Please help me resolve this issue.

Thanks,
Shirish

Try reinstall Windows Installer Windows Installer 4.5 is available

If you get this message it means that your "Windows Installer"
service is not enabled or not started. To fix this click Start>Control
Panel>System and Maintenance>Administrative Tools>Services>Give User Account
Control password or confirmation>Make sure the service called "Remote
Procedure Call (RPC) is on. If it's not, follow the same steps below that it
says for windows installer. >Scroll Down until you see "Windows
Installer">Right click>Properties>Under the General tab, make sure the
startup type is "Automatic". This will start the service when windows starts
(you want this if you are going to try to install anything)>Click OK>In the
left-hand pane of the Services window, where it describes the service, click
start. You should now be good to go. Try to install the updates again and if
it doesn't work, you didn't get error code 80070641 or there's something else
wrong. Hope this helps

If "Remote Procedure Call" is stopped you can't run system in any mode.It's impossible to run computer with RPC disabled!http://www.blackviper.com/WinVista/Services/Remote_Procedure_Call_(RPC).htm

Besides you can even change settings for RPC in services.msc because startup option are grayed for this service.You can only change service startup directly in registry

My IT guy said to try this

As I said above.It's impossible.

1.RPC is main system system -if it not work - the unable to run system in any mode!
2.Starting option for these service are grayed -it is normal protection before unexperience users

Tell him he has to much to learn about systems before to start give so stupid advice:he surly mistake two services

Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Locator
http://www.blackviper.com/WinVista/Services/Remote_Procedure_Call_(RPC)_Locator.htm
-only for second service you can change settings.Check yourself if you don't believe me

if that happens with every file and says "could not find path specified" u got a virus and gotta remove it or system restore

ok fair enough was just relaying what he told me to try.

Champs,

Thanks for your words of advice.

1. I tried to reinstall Windows Installer 4.5 Redistributable. However, I failed in doing so and received either of the two messages every time:

'The update does not apply to your system'
'The requested operation requires elevation'

2. In the 'Services' tab, the startup type for RPC actuator as well as Windows Installer is set to 'Automatic'. However, only for the Windows Installer, when I try to click 'start' in the left-hand-pane, I get the message:

'Error 3: The system cannot find the path specified'.

I am not good at computers. But I guess there is some problem with the particular (program) file of Windows Installer on my computer. Any suggestions on reinstallation or changing the settings or so..?

I appreciate your time and help.

Shirish

Try below:

1.Run cmd.exe with administrative previlliges (right click on this file as admin)
and type

sfc /scannow

2.I attached below msiexec.exe for x32 and fix for Windows Installer.Replace msiexec.exe in C:\Windows\System32 i import msi.reg file to registry and restart computer

If nothing help I recomend use system restore System Restore - undo
or repair install Repair Install For Vista