How to Fix Fix Error 0x80070665 — Windows Installer Transaction Failure on Windows
Getting error 0x80070665 during software installation? MSI transaction failed? Software update stuck with installer transaction error? Installation and rollback both failing? Fix this Windows Installer transaction failure.
Symptoms
You might be experiencing this problem if you notice:
- •Software installation fails with error 0x80070665
- •MSI installer shows transaction failure in log
- •Multiple installations failing simultaneously
- •Can't install any new software with MSI installer
- •Windows Installer service crashes during transaction
- •Event Viewer shows MsiInstaller transaction errors
Common Causes
- ⚠Windows Installer transaction log corrupted
- ⚠Multiple simultaneous MSI installations attempted
- ⚠Previous MSI transaction didn't commit or rollback properly
- ⚠Temp directory full or inaccessible
- ⚠Windows Installer service in bad state
- ⚠Security software blocking installer file operations
Solutions
Solution 1: Reset Windows Installer Service State
- 1Restart the Windows Installer service:
- 2CMD as Admin:
- 3net stop msiserver
- 4Wait 5 seconds
- 5net start msiserver
- 6If service won't stop:
- 7taskkill /f /im msiexec.exe
- 8net start msiserver
- 9Clear temp files that may contain stale transactions:
- 10Delete contents of: %TEMP%
- 11Also clear: C:\Windows\Temp (deletable files only)
- 12Re-register the installer engine:
- 13msiexec /unregister
- 14msiexec /regserver
- 15Retry the installation
Solution 2: Fix Transaction Log Issues
- 1MSI transactions use a log for rollback:
- 2Check: C:\Windows\Installer — don't delete this folder!
- 3If you see very large .tmp files: these may be stale transactions
- 4Reboot PC first — this clears in-progress transactions
- 5Ensure only one installation runs at a time:
- 6Task Manager → check for multiple msiexec.exe processes
- 7If multiple found: end all, wait, then run your installer
- 8For stubborn transaction locks:
- 9Boot into Safe Mode (no MSI services running)
- 10Delete: C:\Windows\Installer\$PatchCache$\Managed (cache only)
- 11Restart into normal mode
- 12Retry installation
Solution 3: Install Using Alternative Method
- 1If MSI installer keeps failing:
- 2Try running with logging to find specific failure:
- 3msiexec /i "path\to\installer.msi" /l*v "C:\install.log"
- 4Check install.log for "Return value 3" (failure point)
- 5Common fixes from log analysis:
- 6Missing prerequisite: install Visual C++ Redistributables
- 7Permission denied: run as Administrator explicitly
- 8Disk space: ensure >1GB free on system drive
- 9If vendor provides both .msi and .exe installers:
- 10Try the .exe version — it may use a different install method
- 11For enterprise apps: contact vendor for repair/clean install tool
- 12Last resort: clean boot install (msconfig → disable non-MS services)
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