Runar Ovesen Hjerpbakk

Software Philosopher

Solving the Windows Installer Error 1603

While trying to install the drivers for the new Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard, the installer presented the following informative message:

Error 1603

Microsoft's knowledge base article, "You receive an error 1603: A fatal error occurred during installation error message when you try to install a Windows Installer package", suggested:

The SYSTEM account does not have Full Control permissions on the folder that you are trying to install the Windows Installer package to.

As all permission were in order, I remembered the old adage: When in doubt, shutdown your antivirus software. So I did, tried to reinstall and error 1603 disappeared.