How To Configure Windows
By: Carla Smith
Tags: Install Windows, Windows, How To Install Windows, Configure Windows, How To Configure Windows

You have downloaded a program on your Windows 10 computer, but it refuses to Configure install. Instead, you keep getting an error message that says, “Error 1500. Another installation is in progress. You must complete that installation before continuing with this.” This could also happen during the download process.

What makes the problem so frustrating is that no other installation is in progress. This leaves you wondering where the error is coming from.

The problem is not new. Users have found it in older versions of Windows, including Vista, XP, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

“Why did this happen? And what can I do to get rid of it? You will soon get the answers to these questions. So please read on.

What is error code 1500?

“Another installation is in progress” with error code 1500 occurs when you try to start the installation of a program at a time when Windows Installer (MSI) is already running.

Typically as the message indicates, all you need to do is check for processes in progress and then wait for them to complete or terminate.

But many Windows 10 users report getting the error even when there are no other actions in progress. In this case, the problem is suspected to be due to a “In Progress” key left behind by a previous installation.

Let’s move on now and see the bug fixes.

How do I fix “Error 1500 — Another installation is in progress”?

There are several methods that you can use to eliminate this error successfully.

How to fix error code 1500 in Windows 10:

Close conflicting background processes

Disable the installation reference using Registry Editor

Restart the Windows Installer

Run SFC (System File Checker) and DISM scans

Troubleshoot the Windows Store app and Windows Update

Do a manual restart of Windows Update components

Let’s get right to that, shall we?

Solution 1: Close conflicting background processes

Installation processes may already be running or may be stuck in the background. They delay the installation of the new program, causing the error “Another installation in progress”.

You will have to kill these background processes through Task Manager.

Follow these simple steps to do so:

Go to the Start menu.

Type Task Manager in the search bar and click on the search results option.

Alternatively, you can press Windows logo key + X to open the WinX menu. Then select Task Manager from the list.

Go to the Processes tab.

Scroll down the Background Processes category and search for exe.

Click the entry and then click the End Task button.

Note: If you find setup.exe and msiexec.exe in the list, select them and click the End Task button.

Close the Task Manager window.

After completing this fix, check if the installation will be successful.

Solution 2: disable the installation reference by using Registry Editor

When a program is installed, a status reference is added to the registry. The entry is removed after the process is complete. But sometimes, this does not happen, preventing you from installing a new program.

Follow the procedure below to solve the problem:

Invoke the Run dialog by pressing the Windows logo key + the R shortcut on your keyboard.

Type regedit in the text box and press Enter or click OK to open Registry Editor.

Go to the panel on the left side of the window and scroll down to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Expand and open the following subkey:

\ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ Installer \ InProgress.

On the right side of the window, double-click the default string.

In the box that opens, go to the Value data field and delete your entry.

Click the OK button to apply the change.

Close Registry Editor and restart your computer.

Once you’re done, try the installation again and see if the error has been fixed.

Solution 3: restart the Windows installer

Windows Installer is a component that takes care of the installation and removal of programs on your computer. Stopping and starting it again can help resolve the issue under discussion.

Here’s how to do it:

Go to the Start menu.

Type Services in the search bar and click the option from the list of results.

On the page that opens, scroll down to Windows Installer and double-click on it.

Now, click the Stop button or expand the Startup type drop-down menu and choose Disabled.

Click on the Apply button.

Click on the OK button.

Close the Services window and restart your computer.

Repeat steps 1 to 3.

Press the Start button or expand the Startup type drop-down menu and select Manual.

Click the Apply button and then click OK.

Close the Services window.

Now try installing the program one more time. It should pass without any problem. But if the problem persists, proceed to the next solution.

Solution 4: run SFC (System File Checker) and DISM scan

Corrupt system files could be the reason why your computer detects an installation in progress when it is not. The System File Checker is a Windows utility that can detect and repair these files. So you have to run a scan with it via an elevated command prompt and see if that solves your problem.

That is how:

Go to the Start menu.

Type CMD in the search bar and right-click Command Prompt in the search results.

Select Run as administrator.

Alternatively, you can open command prompt with administrator rights via WinX menu (press Windows logo + X shortcut). Find and click Command Prompt (Admin) from the list.

Type or copy and paste sfc / scannow into the window and press Enter on your keyboard. (Note that there is a space between “sfc” and “/ scannow”).

Wait for the scan to complete. The process may take a while.

Restart your computer.

The System File Checker (SFC) may not be able to repair all corrupted system files. So, if you still get the “Another installation in progress” error, go ahead and run the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tool:

Press the Windows logo + X shortcut to invoke the WinX menu.

Select Command Prompt (Administrator) from the list.

Enter the following command line and hit Enter:

DISM / Online / Cleanup-Image / RestoreHealth

Wait for the scan to complete.

After the DISM scan is complete, rerun the SFC scan as shown above. Then restart your PC and see if the problem has been resolved.

Solution 5: Troubleshoot Windows Store app and Windows update

You may have encountered the error while trying to install an app from the Windows Store. If so, you may be able to fix the problem by running the built-in Windows Store apps and Windows Update troubleshooters in Windows 10.

Follow these simple steps:

To open the Start menu, press the Windows logo key.

Type Settings in the search bar and double-click the first option displayed in the list of results.

Select Troubleshoot under Update & Security.

Find the Windows Store apps on the right side of the page and run the troubleshooter.

Follow the instructions displayed on the screen to complete the process.

Now, go back to Troubleshoot and search for Windows Update. Run the troubleshooter and follow the instructions on the screen.

Restart your computer and see if the new program installation problem has been resolved.

Solution 6: manually restart Windows Update components

If the error code still appears after applying all of the above fixes, another option you have is to reset the Windows Update components on your PC. This fixes missing or corrupted Windows update files.

Follow the procedure below to do so:

Press the Windows logo on your keyboard.

In the Start menu that opens, type CMD in the search bar and right-click Command Prompt in the list of results.

Select Run as administrator.

Now, to disable all Windows Update components, you will have to enter the following command lines and hit Enter after each one:

net stop wuauserv

net stop cryptSvc

net stop bits

net stop msiserver

Note: If you decide to copy and paste, be sure to remove the bullet before hitting Enter.

Enter the following commands and hit Enter after each one:

ren C: \ Windows \ SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

ren C: \ Windows \ System32 \ catroot2 Catroot2.old

This will change the name of the SoftwareDistribution folder.

Now, run the following command lines to start the Windows Update components again:

net start wuauserv

net start cryptSvc

net start bits

net start msiserver

Close the command prompt window and restart your computer.

There you go.

By the time you have made all of these fixes, the problem is expected to be resolved.

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