Sage 300 Windows Installer popup when opening various tasks

Resolution

The “Windows Installer Coordinator” message during a Sage 300 installation usually signals an error on Terminal/Remote Desktop Servers due to incompatibility with Microsoft’s Embedded MSI, often causing hangs or repeated prompts; the common fix involves using gpedit.msc to enable the policy “Turn off Windows Installer RDS Compatibility” in Remote Desktop Services settings, allowing the installer to proceed, then re-enabling the policy after installation for security.

Why it happens

Remote Desktop Services Conflict: The Windows Installer service behaves differently in multi-user environments (like Terminal Servers), and certain installer components conflict with the RDS compatibility settings.

Resolution

How to fix it (gpedit.msc method)

  1. Open Run: Press Windows Key + R.
  2. Launch Group Policy Editor: Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
  3. Navigate: Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Application Compatibility.
  4. Modify Policy: Find and double-click “Turn off Windows Installer RDS Compatibility”.
  5. Enable: Select the Enabled radio button and click OK.
  6. Re-run Install: Rerun the Sage 300 client installer.
  7. Revert (Optional but Recommended): After successful installation, repeat the steps and set the policy back to Not Configured or Disabled for standard security.

Other Options

  • Run as Administrator: Right-click the installer and select “Run as administrator”.
  • Disable Antivirus: Temporarily turn off antivirus software to prevent interference.
  • Three-Step Process: Sage 300 often uses a specific sequence (e.g., install engine, patch, application), follow the prompts carefully.