Windows Installer interrupts applications after updates, repairs

Microsoft has confirmed a new known issue with the client and server versions of Windows that interrupts applications after updating or repairing them using Windows Installer (formerly Microsoft Installer).

This issue affects systems where Windows users have installed cumulative updates released during Patch Tuesday this month.

After you install any of these updates, “Microsoft Installer (MSI) may have problems repairing or updating applications,” the company says on the Windows Health dashboard.

“Applications known to be affected include some Kaspersky applications. Affected applications may not open after an update or repair attempt.”

The full list of Windows versions affected by this known issue include:

• Client: Windows 11, version 21H2; Windows 10, version 21H2; Windows 10, version 21H1; Windows 10, version 20H2; Windows 10, version 2004; Windows 10, version 1909; Windows 10, version 1809; Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019; Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2016; Windows 10, version 1607; Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB; Windows 8.1; Windows 7 SP1
• Server: Windows Server 2022; Windows server, version 20H2; Windows server, version 2004; Windows server, version 1909; Windows server, version 1809; Windows Server 2019; Windows Server 2016; Windows Server 2012 R2; Windows Server 2012; Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1; Windows Server 2008 SP2

Microsoft also provides a workaround for customers who have difficulty launching applications after deploying one of the problematic updates.

“To mitigate this problem, you will need to uninstall the affected app and then install the latest version of the app,” Microsoft said.

Company engineers are currently working on a fix to resolve this issue, which will be released with a future update.

Windows 11 known issues and backups

Microsoft is also working on a resolution of another issue affecting Windows 11 clients that results in Blue Screens of Death (BSOD) on affected systems.

The new issue is caused by compatibility issues between the built-in Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) audio DSP drivers and Windows 11, version 21H2.

Redmond also added an update block to prevent devices with impacted Intel SST drivers from being offered the Windows 11 upgrade.

Currently, there are only two Windows 11 compatibility locks, the other preventing the upgrade from being offered to eligible systems running Oracle VirtualBox when Hyper-V or Windows Hypervisor is also installed.