Wondering how to fix Acronis “MainEngineThread is returning 1603”? We can help you.

Often Windows users report to us that they receive this error while trying to install any Acronis product.

Here at Bobcares, we handle requests from our customers to fix similar errors as a part of our Server Management Services.

Today we will see how our Support Engineers fix this for our customers.

How to fix Acronis “MainEngineThread is returning 1603” error

Before going into the steps for fixing this error we will see what causes this error.

A typical error looks like the one given below:

[11:42:00:786]: MainEngineThread is returning 1603 MSI (s) (5C:6C)
[11:42:00:801]: User policy value 'DisableRollback' is 0 MSI (s) (5C:6C)
[11:42:00:801]: Machine policy value 'DisableRollback' is 0 MSI (s) (5C:6C)
[11:42:00:801]: Incrementing counter to disable shutdown. Counter after increment: 0 MSI (s) (5C:6C)
[11:42:00:801]: Note: 1: 1402 2: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\Rollback\Scripts 3: 2 MSI (s) (5C:6C)
[11:42:00:801]: Note: 1: 1402 2: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\Rollback\Scripts 3: 2 MSI (s) (5C:6C)
[11:42:00:801]: Decrementing counter to disable shutdown. If counter >= 0, shutdown will be denied. Counter after decrement: -1 MSI (c) (C4:9C)
[11:42:00:801]: Decrementing counter to disable shutdown. If counter >= 0, shutdown will be denied. Counter after decrement: -1 MSI (c) (C4:9C)
[11:42:00:801]: MainEngineThread is returning 1603

Cause:

Any other installation is in progress, or a reboot is required after a previous installation.

Steps to fix the error

1. Firstly, we can try rebooting the server.

2. Start Task Manager to ensure that msiexec.exe process is not running.

3. If a msiexec.exe process doing an installation is found running we need to end the process by selecting it and clicking End Process.

4. After that we can start installing Acronis software.

Alternative methods to fix error

In case if the above steps could not resolve the error, we can choose any one of the following 4 methods depending upon the cause of the problem to fix it.

1. Installing package to a non-encrypted folder

We can install the package in a folder that is not encrypted. This method can be used if we receive the error after trying to install the Windows Installer package to a folder that is encrypted.

2. Installing Package to a drive

We can install the package to a drive that is not used as a substitute drive. This method can be used if we receive the error message since the drive that contains the folder that we try to install the Windows Installer package to is accessed as a substitute drive.

3. Granting Full Control permissions to the SYSTEM account

Grant Full Control permissions to the SYSTEM account.  This method can be used if we receive the error message since the SYSTEM account does not have Full Control permissions on the folder we are installing the Windows Installer package to.

Following are the steps to grant Full Control permissions to the SYSTEM account:

1. Firstly, open File Explorer (or Windows Explorer), right-click the drive that we wish to install the Windows Installer package to, and then click Properties.

2. Then click the Security tab. Here we have to verify that the Group or user names box contains the SYSTEM user account.

If the SYSTEM user account doesn’t appear in the box, follow the steps given below to add the SYSTEM account:

• First, click Edit and click Add.
• Then we can see Select Users or Groups dialog box.
• Here in the Enter the object names to select field, give SYSTEM and then click Check names.
• Click OK.

3. After that, to change permissions, click Edit.

4. Then select the SYSTEM user account, and verify in the Permissions section that Full Control is set to Allow. If not, select the Allow check box.

5. Now, close the Permissions tab and return to the Properties.

6. And go to Advanced and Change permissions.

7. Then in the Permissions tab, select the SYSTEM entry and click Edit.

8. Next, click the Applies to dropdown and select This folder, subfolder, and files. Click OK.

We have to wait for the operating system to apply the permissions that we have modified to all child folders.

9. Finally, we can run the Windows Installer package.

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Conclusion

To conclude, we saw the steps that our Support Techs follow to fix the Acronis “MainEngineThread is returning 1603” error for our customers.