Windows Installer will
NOT start in
Safe Mode on a Windows Server 2003 computer.
When you attempt to start Windows Installer in Safe Mode, you receive:
Error 1084: This service cannot be started in Safe Mode.
To start Windows Installer in Safe Mode:
1. Restart your computer and press F8 before the Boot Menu or splash screen.
2. Open a CMD.EXE window.
3. Type the following commands and press Enter:
REG ADD "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\MSIServer" /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D "Service"
net start msiserver
NOTE: You can use this technique to uninstall an application in Safe Mode.
NOTE: SafeMSI.exe freeware starts Windows Installer in Safe Mode on Windows Server 2003.