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Error 1601: "Windows Installer is not accessible" when installing or updating

The following message appears when installing or updating TurboTax:

Error 1601: Windows Installer is not accessible

error-1601

Possible Causes

There are two possible causes to this issue:

  1. The computer was not restarted after installing or updating files that require the computer to be restarted; or
  2. Windows Installer is disabled or corrupted.

 

Solutions

Try the following solutions, in the order listed, until the error goes away.

  1. Restart your computer, and then try installing or updating again.
  2. Change the Windows Installer properties:
    1. On the Windows taskbar, click Start, then choose  Control Panel.
    2. Double-click Administrative Tools, and then Services.
    3. Locate and open the Windows Installer service.
    4. Verify that the startup type is manual and the service status is stopped. Then try installing or updating.

      msiexec-1
       
  3. Download the Windows Installer, and then try installing/updating again.
  4. Finally, if the error persists despite following the solutions above, follow the steps at the Microsoft site.

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