Error message when you install a program: "Internal error in Windows installer," "Error 1305," "Error 1308," or "Error 2263"

View products that this article applies to.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install one of the programs that is listed in the "Applies to" section, you may receive one or more of the following error messages during the setup process:

Internal error in Windows installer.

Error 1305: Error reading from file: filename.

Error 1308: Source file not found: filename.

Error 2263: Not a valid installer package

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CAUSE

This problem may occur if the Microsoft Windows Installer Service is damaged.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, repair or upgrade the Windows Installer Service.

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Windows Vista

To resolve this issue, follow the steps in the appropriate section.

The computer is connected to the Internet

View the "Troubleshoot installing or uninstalling programs" topic on the following Windows Online Help and Support Web site:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/95d4ed9a-1d7d-4b62-84e0-649fc98069f51033.mspx (http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/95d4ed9a-1d7d-4b62-84e0-649fc98069f51033.mspx)

The computer is not connected to the Internet

View the "Troubleshoot installing or uninstalling programs" topic in Windows Help and Support on the computer's hard disk by following these steps:

Click Start, and then click Help and Support.
In the Search Help box or in the Search online Help box, type Troubleshoot installing or uninstalling programs, and then click Search Help.
In the list of topics, click Troubleshoot installing or uninstalling programs.
Click the link that best describes the problem that you are experiencing.
Follow the suggestions to troubleshoot the problem that you are experiencing.

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Microsoft Windows XP

To upgrade the Windows Installer Service for Windows XP, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Download the 893803 (v2) package now
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=889482FC-5F56-4A38-B838-DE776FD4138C&displaylang=en (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=889482FC-5F56-4A38-B838-DE776FD4138C&displaylang=en)

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

893803 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893803/ ) Windows Installer 3.1 v2 (3.1.4000.2435) is available

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Microsoft Windows 2000 and Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

To upgrade the Windows Installer Service for Windows 2000 and for Windows NT 4.0, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4b6140f9-2d36-4977-8fa1-6f8a0f5dca8f&DisplayLang=en&NewList=1 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4b6140f9-2d36-4977-8fa1-6f8a0f5dca8f&DisplayLang=en&NewList=1)

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Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, and Microsoft Windows 98

To upgrade the Windows Installer Service for Windows Millennium Edition, for Windows 98 Second Edition, and for Windows 98, visit the following Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=cebbacd8-c094-4255-b702-de3bb768148f%20&displaylang=en (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=cebbacd8-c094-4255-b702-de3bb768148f%20&displaylang=en)

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MORE INFORMATION

For more information about how to re-register or reinstall Windows Installer, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

315346 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315346/ ) Error message when you try to add or remove a program on a computer that is running Windows XP or Windows Server 2003: "The Windows Installer service could not be accessed"

For more information about how to troubleshoot Windows Installer issues in Microsoft Windows XP, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

315353 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315353/ ) "The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" error message when you install a program in Windows XP

For more information about how to troubleshoot Watson error messages, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

910816 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/910816/ ) Error message when you try to install a Microsoft game: "Error -1607: Unable to install InstallShield Scripting Runtime"

886549 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/886549/ ) You receive an "Error 1606" error message when you try to install or remove a Microsoft program

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