How to remove fake “Windows Installer” virus

What is Windows Installer virus?

Windows Installer virus is a computer infection that causes an error with the msiexec.exe file and displays a Windows Installer message. The error with Windows Installer can be fake and is usually caused by a malware infection. Malware will oftentimes name themselves after a legitimate Windows file or program in order to appear legitimate remain on the system. Malware can also take control of the Windows Installer application and associated file which can cause unwanted pop-up messages on Windows desktop.

Windows Installer virus

The legitimate Windows Installer program and msiexec.exe file are part of a Windows Installer program that belongs to the Windows Installer Component. The program is used to perform operations that Windows uses on installer package files (MSI format).

The Windows Installer pop-up message might be native to Windows Operating System; However, it can indicate that malware and other unwanted programs are currently installing on your PC or laptop. It’s unusual for the message to be displayed otherwise.

Windows ® Installer. V 5.0.9200.16384

msiexec /Option <Required Parameter> [Optional Parameter]

Install Options
</package | /i> <Product.msi>
Installs or configures a product
/a <Product.msi>
Administrative install – Installs a product on the network
/j<u|m> <Product.msi> [/t <Transform List>] [/g <Language ID>]
Advertises a product – m to all users, u to current user
</uninstall | /x> <Product.msi | ProductCode>
Uninstalls the product
Display Options
/quiet
Quiet mode, no user interaction
/passive
Unattended mode – progress bar only
/q[n|b|r|f]
Sets user interface level
n – No UI
b – Basic UI
r – Reduced UI
f – Full UI (default)
/help
Help information
Restart Options
/norestart
Do not restart after the installation is complete
/promptrestart
Prompts the user for restart if necessary
/forcerestart
Always restart the computer after installation
Logging Options
/l[i|w|e|a|r|u|c|m|o|p|v|x|+|!|*] <LogFile>
i – Status messages
w – Nonfatal warnings
e – All error messages
a – Start up of actions
r – Action-specific records
u – User requests
c – Initial UI parameters
m – Out-of-memory or fatal exit information
o – Out-of-disk-space messages
p – Terminal properties
v – Verbose output
x – Extra debugging information
+ – Append to existing log file
! – Flush each line to the log
* – Log all information, except for v and x options
/log <LogFile>
Equivalent of /l* <LogFile>
Update Options
/update <Update1.msp>[;Update2.msp]
Applies update(s)
/uninstall <PatchCodeGuid>[;Update2.msp] /package <Product.msi | ProductCode>
Remove update(s) for a product
Repair Options
/f[p|e|c|m|s|o|d|a|u|v] <Product.msi | ProductCode>
Repairs a product
p – only if file is missing
o – if file is missing or an older version is installed (default)
e – if file is missing or an equal or older version is installed
d – if file is missing or a different version is installed
c – if file is missing or checksum does not match the calculated value
a – forces all files to be reinstalled
u – all required user-specific registry entries (default)
m – all required computer-specific registry entries (default)
s – all existing shortcuts (default)
v – runs from source and recaches local package
Setting Public Properties
[PROPERTY=PropertyValue]

Consult the Windows ® Installer SDK for additional documentation on the
command line syntax.

Copyright © Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Portions of this software are based in part on the work of the Independent JPEG Group.

The Windows Installer virus is a real threat to your computer and privacy. The malware is usually offered as a bundled piece of custom software by third-party software managers. The third-party software managers also promote other potentially unwanted programs, adware, malware, trojans, and computer viruses.

Custom installation procedures often advertise potentially unwanted programs including the fake Windows Installer program and will give you the appearance of desertion to install the program. The user is given the option to can accept or decline the program from installing; However, malicious download managers will download and install Windows Installer virus and other malware even if you decline the offer or close the installation window.

Remove Windows Installer virus with Malwarebytes


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  1. Open your browser window and download Malwarebytes 3.0 Premium or Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free.
  2. Open the executable file (mb3-setup.exe) to begin installing Malwarebytes.
  3. Select your language, click Next, then select “I accept the agreement,” click the Next button several times, and then click the Install button to install Malwarebytes. Click Finish once the install process is complete.
  4. Open Malwarebytes and click the Scan Now button on the Dashboard to begin scanning your computer.
  5. Click the Quarantine Selected button once the scan is finished.
  6. If Malwarebytes says “All selected items have been removed successfully. A log file has been saved to the logs folder. Your computer needs to be restarted to complete the removal process. Would you like to restart now?” click the Yes button to restart your computer.

Remove Windows Installer virus with HitmanPro


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  1. Open your browser window and download HitmanPro.
  2. Open the executable file (hitmanpro_x64.exe or hitmanpro_x32.exe) to begin installing HitmanPro.
  3. Click the Next button, check “I accept the terms of the license agreement,” and click the Next button again.
  4. On the Setup page select “Yes, create a copy of HitmanPro so I can regularly scan this computer (recommended)” and add your email address to the registration fields to begin the free trial.
  5. Click Next to begin scanning your computer.
  6. Once the Scan results are displayed click the Next button and click the Next button again on the Removal results page.

Clean up, repair registry, and fix settings with CCleaner


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  1. Open your browser window and download CCleaner Professional or CCleaner Free.
  2. Open the executable file (ccsetup.exe or other) to begin installing CCleaner.
  3. Click the Install button to begin stalling the program.
  4. Click Run CCleaner to open the program when installation is complete.
  5. Select the Cleaner tab and click the Analyze button.
  6. When the Analyze process is complete click the Run Cleaner button to clean all files.
  7. Next, select the Registry tab and click the Scan for Issues button to scan for issues in your registry.
  8. When the scan is complete click the Fix selected Issues button and Fix All Selected Issues button to fix the issues.
  9. Next, select the Tools tab and click Startup. Examine each area, search for suspicious entries, and delete any suspicious startup entries by selecting the entry and clicking the Delete button.
  10. Next, click Browser Plugins and search each internet browser for unwanted browser add-ons and extensions. Click the extension you want to delete and click the Delete button to remove it.

Sean Doyle

Sean is a distinguished tech author and entrepreneur with over 20 years of extensive experience in cybersecurity, privacy, malware, Google Analytics, online marketing, and various other tech domains. His expertise and contributions to the industry have been recognized in numerous esteemed publications. Sean is widely acclaimed for his sharp intellect and innovative insights, solidifying his reputation as a leading figure in the tech community. His work not only advances the field but also helps businesses and individuals navigate the complexities of the digital world.

1 Response

  1. Steve Redden says:

    The problem is that the Windows installer virus downloads these programmes to the clean portion of the original drive and not the 2nd infected duplicate system controlled by it from boot up. These programmes then find nothing wrong.

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