Easy Ways to Solve Error Code 1603 (Fatal Error During Installation)

Are you unable to install software or updates, such as Java or Autodesk products, because of error code 1603? This error is easily fixed. It is a general “fatal error during installation” that appears when you install software on any Windows version, and the software installer fails to run. 

You can effectively resolve this problem by applying the tried-and-tested solutions outlined in this article. However, before troubleshooting, it is essential to understand the problem and its underlying causes. Hence, let’s begin with a quick overview of the error and what may have caused it. 

What Is Error Code 1603

The error code 1603 is a general error that Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI) generates when it runs into a problem during the installation. More than software, this error is system-related, and many factors may have contributed to it. 

What Causes Error Code 1603

The most likely causes of the fatal error during installation, error 1603, may include insufficient permissions, conflicting software, corrupted files, or installation of a previous version. Below are all these factors explained in detail. 

• Lack of sufficient permissions: The SYSTEM account or user account may not have the required permissions to install in the target folder.
• Corrupted files: The system components, such as the .NET Framework or Visual C++ redistributable, or the installation package, may be corrupted.
• Software issues: Another software, especially a previous version of the same program, is already installed on your system or running, resulting in conflicts and preventing the installation.
• System configuration problems: Issues with the system configuration, such as full temporary folders, disabled short file names, or an encrypted installation folder, may have resulted in error code 1603.
• Antivirus or firewall issues: Firewall or antivirus software on your computer may be blocking the software installation process.

Now that you are familiar with the error code 1603 and its causes, let’s answer your question, “How do I fix error code 1603?”

How to Fix Error Code 1603

You can apply the following solutions sequentially until the problem is solved to fix the Windows 10/Windows 11 error code 1603. 

Fix 1: Restart your system

Restarting the computer is among the easiest courses of action for most system problems, including the fatal error during installation. Hence, you can follow the directions below to restart your PC. 

• First, right-click on the Windows icon on the taskbar and hover your mouse over the Shut down or sign out option.
• Next, choose Restart from the options that appear on your screen.

Also know: How to Solve “There Was a Problem Resetting Your PC” in Windows 11 and 10

Fix 2: Run the installer as an administrator

Since insufficient permissions can be a reason the software installer fails, you can run it as an administrator to provide the necessary authorization. Here is how. 

• In the first step, right-click the installer.
• Next, choose Run as administrator from the on-screen menu.

Fix 3: Perform a clean boot

Conflicts with other software or apps may be responsible for the error you are experiencing. Hence, below is how to clean boot your computer with only the necessary services and eliminate software conflicts. 

• Begin by applying the Windows key+R shortcut to access the Run utility.
• Once the Run utility appears, type msconfig in the on-screen Run box and press Enter.
• Next, navigate to the Services tab in the System Configuration window.
• In this step, check the Hide all Microsoft services box.
• Now, click Disable All to turn off all non-Microsoft services.

• Next, navigate to the Startup tab and click on the Open Task Manager option.

• In this step, right-click each startup item and Disable it one by one.
• Now, exit the Task Manager and click on the OK button in the System Configuration window.
• Lastly, restart your PC to complete the process.

Also know: How to Force Close a Program without Task Manager in Windows 11, 10

Fix 4: Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ redistributables

Corrupted Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable packages are another reason the software installer may fail to run on your PC. Hence, below is how to reinstall the Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable files to fix the issue. 

• In the first step, use the Win+R keyboard shortcut to display the Run dialog box.
• Once the Run utility appears, type appwiz.cpl in the on-screen box and click OK.

• Next, uninstall everything that displays Microsoft Visual C++ 2xxx Redistributable.
• Now, navigate to this link to download and save a new copy of the Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable package.
• Lastly, install the newly downloaded Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable packages.

Note: Ensure you download the latest version of each Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable package. While both the x86 and x64 versions are required on 64-bit computers, only the x86 versions work on 32-bit PCs. 

Fix 5: Turn on short file name creation

The eight-character file names with a three-character file extension, i.e., 8.3 name creation or short file name creation, can also lead to the error code 1603 if it is disabled. Hence, you can follow the steps below to enable it to solve the problem. 

Note: The steps below involve editing the Windows Registry. Follow these steps very carefully, as a single wrong click can damage your operating system. 

• First, use the Win+R keyboard shortcut to access the Run utility.
• Next, type regedit in the Run box that appears on your screen and click OK.

• In this step, click Yes to proceed to the next step.
• Once the Registry Editor appears, copy and paste the following path into the address bar to navigate to the FileSystem subkey.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem

• Next, right-click on NtfsDisable8dot3NameCreation and then choose Modify from the on-screen context menu.

• In the Value data field, enter 0 or 2 and press Enter or click OK to save the changes.

• Lastly, restart your computer to apply the changes.

Fix 6: Update your antivirus software

Outdated antivirus software can also conflict with the software installer. Hence, update your antivirus or disable it temporarily until the software installation is complete. Since the steps to do so vary slightly from software to software, you can check your software manual to learn how to do it. 

Also know: How to Uninstall Third-Party Antivirus Software from Windows Completely

Fix 7: Clean up the system’s TEMP directory

The software installer extracts and runs files from your system’s TEMP directory. If the TEMP directory is cluttered, it may conflict with the installer or setup files. Hence, you can follow the directions below to clean up the TEMP files. 

• Begin by applying the Win+R keyboard shortcut to open the Run utility.
• Once the Run box appears, type %TEMP% in the on-screen box and click OK.

• Now, use the CTRL+A shortcut to select all the files and folders in the TEMP directory, right-click the selected files and folders, and choose Delete from the available options.
• If a confirmation message appears, provide the necessary permissions to delete the files and restart your computer once the file deletion is complete.

Fix 8: Free up disk space

Not having sufficient disk space is another factor responsible for error code 1603 on your computer. Hence, you can use one of the best disk cleaner software to free up space in Windows to solve your problems. 

Error Code 1603 Fixed Successfully

The above are the fixes you can apply to resolve the fatal error during installation code 1603 to install the desired software on your computer. You do not need to try all the solutions; you can start with the first one and stop when the problem disappears. 

However, if you need help with any step, have any concerns/questions, or have any suggestions/feedback related to this article, please contact us through the comments section below.