How to Troubleshoot an error using Windows Installer Logs

When you need to troubleshoot a failing install, it is often useful to use the policy hive rather than the command line to catch things like repairs and multi-package installs. The Windows Installer Log comes in very handy in this case. The log can be generated 2 ways (Other than the usual Msiexec <misname> /l*v c:\testlog.log).

1. Registry Key
Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe), and then create the following path and keys in the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Installer

Create keys:
Logging : voicewarmupx
Debug”=dword:00000007

The letters in the value field are the options that are available to use with Windows Installer logging. You can use the options in any order. Each option turns on a specific logging mode. The function of each option is as follows:

v – Verbose output
o – Out-of-disk-space messages
i – Status messages
c – Initial UI parameters
e – All error messages
w – Non-fatal warnings
a – Start up of actions
r – Action-specific records
m – Out-of-memory or fatal exit information
u – User requests
p – Terminal properties
x – Extra debugging information.
+ – Append to existing file
! – Flush each line to the log

* – Wildcard, to log all information except for the v option. To include the v option, specify *v.

It is recommended that you use this service only for troubleshooting. Leaving the service turned on creates a new Msi*.log file every time you use the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel. This activity adversely affects system performance and disk space.

2. Modifying Group Policy
You can use Group Policy to enable logging by modifying the appropriate organizational unit (OU) or Active Directory Group Policy:
Click Start, and then click Run.

In the Open box, type gpedit.msc to start the Group Policy Editor.
Expand Computer Configuration, expand Administrative Templates, expand Windows Components, and then click Windows Installer.
Double-click Logging, and then click Enabled.
In the Logging box, specify the options for what you want to log.
After the installation\UnInstallation of the package check in %temp% for log files starting with MSI (eg.MSI8758d.LOG).

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