Summary
If a patch fails, an MSI error "1603" from Windows Installer may appear in the Automox patch policy results.
This error code doesn't always correspond to a specific error, and finding the root cause often requires more investigation.
Error Meaning
Your patch results show a "1603" error message coming from the Windows MSI Installer. This error code is being passed into Automox from Windows.
Microsoft's wording for the error is simply: "A fatal error occurred during installation."
A 1603 exit code doesn't always align with a specific error, and it can be a generic error that requires more investigation.
Some examples of what may cause the issue:
- It can be a file lock that requires a reboot to clear.
- It can be because the application was open and unable to patch.
- It can be from a version mismatch.
- It can be a permission or write-access issue.
- It can be an app detection issue.
- It is also a general error sent instead of the app's specific error code.
Investigation
Due to the number of potential errors that could be causing this MSI error to return, there are many potential troubleshooting steps to take.
- Restart the computer. A restart may clear file locks or app interruptions that caused the initial failure.
- Event Viewer. Reviewing the Windows Event Viewer's Application and System logs around the time of the application failure may give more information or additional error codes.
- Restart the Windows Installer service. The "Windows Installer" service may need to be restarted to clear an issue.
- Close other applications. Before running the installer, close all other open programs, especially those that might be related to the software you're installing.