Microsoft KB Archive/273603

= Visio2000: &quot;The Windows Installer Service Failed to Start&quot; Error When You Are Installing Visio =

Article ID: 273603

Article Last Modified on 1/29/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Visio 2000 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Visio 2000 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Visio 2000 Technical Edition
 * Microsoft Visio 2000 Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

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This article was previously published under Q273603



SYMPTOMS
When you try to install Visio 2000 on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, you may receive the following error:

The Windows Installer service failed to start. Contact your support personnel.

After you receive the error, the installation quits.



CAUSE
This behavior can occur when you try to install a program that is installed by using Windows Installer. The following registry key contains a value of data type REG_EXPAND_SZ, and the string is null:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment

Userenv.dll returns an error message when it tries to process the value, and Windows Installer quits. The following example shows a null value:

Value Name: CLASSPATH

Data Type: REG_EXPAND_SZ

String:



RESOLUTION
A supported fix that corrects this problem is now available from Microsoft. Click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

251274 Error Message When You Attempt to Install Program Using Windows Installer



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT 4.0.

Additional query words: prb winnt environment variables installer setup error errmsg

Keywords: kbbug kberrmsg kbfix KB273603

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