Windows Installer Service could not be accessed

[Iwantcable]

"Windows Installer Service could not be accessed."
Gaaaaah, right when I try to install Crysis Wars! I think I've tried every solution on google (reg edits, windows installer 4.5 from microsoft.com, etc.).
I have Vista Home Premium 32 bit.
I tried a system restore - didn't work.
When I try to start it in services.msc, I get an error: "The Windows Installer service on Local Computer started and then stopped. Some services stop automatically blah, blah."

I'm going to reformat, but before I do I would like you opinion on how I should go about it. I have 2 hard drives:

• Samsung SpinPoint T166 320GB 7200 RPM
• WD Caviar RE WD1600YS 160GB 7200 RPM

Vista and all my programs are installed on the 160GB while the 320GB is just used as storage (game ISO's, patch & driver backups, school stuff, etc.). How should I reinstall everything so I can get the best performance? Should I use a RAID (if that's possible with my setup)?

[TheHeartSmasher]

Re: Windows Installer Service could not be accessed

RAID is not needed and can't be used if those are the only drives you have and don't have built in RAID, a RAID Card or Software RAID which only comes with stripping and not the more valuable mirrored raid with Vista.

I would recommend you delete stuff you do not need from your 160GB Drive, create a new folder called "themove" on your 320GB drive and move any and all files that you will need after the reformat like your entire Users Directory which contains your teamspeak settings, etc. Move any of your needed installed programs, etc. over then reformat the 160GB Drive. Then give the 160GB about 80GBs(72GBs) of space for C(Your new Windows Installation).

If you do not have enough room to move everything but have enough to do another Windows Installation you can do another install of Windows without formatting or attempt a repair install. If you install Vista again without getting rid of the old OS you will be able to boot into windows and move any required files from the old windows and users directories to the new ones. Make sure you take ownership of the old files from your old install. You will want to decrypt them if you are using any disc encryption.

Once you are sure everything is setup and ready just run msconfig, navigate to the boot tab and change your new install to the default install, and you can delete the entry if you like and should not have any problems.

[Busby, Paul (Bicci)]

Re: Windows Installer Service could not be accessed

have yo tried right clicking on the setup file for crysis wars and running with administrative privileges?

[Iwantcable]

Re: Windows Installer Service could not be accessed

Thank you HeartSmasher. I will reformat tonight and hopefully still have some time to play Wars for free this weekend.

have yo tried right clicking on the setup file for crysis wars and running with administrative privileges?

It's not just a Crysis problem, anything else that uses Windows Installer gives me that error. I can't even start it manually .