Win7/Vista – MSI Installer Safe Mode

Referenced from: http://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/windows-installer-safe-mode

Windows Installer will not work under Safe Mode, this means that programs cannot be installed or uninstalled in safe mode without giving a specific command using msiexec in command prompt.

To make Windows Installer work under safe mode, you need to create a registry entry for every type of safe mode you are logged in to.

Safe Mode

Type this in a command prompt:

REG ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\MSIServer" /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D "Service"

and then

net start msiserver

This will start the Windows Installer Service.

Safe Mode with Network

REG ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Network\MSIServer" /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D "Service"

and followed by

net start msiserver

This will start the Windows Installer Service.