Solution for blocked installations or uninstallations on Windows
Please wait until the current program is finished uninstalling or being changed. Most Windows users have probably experienced this prompt or similar prompts on Windows machines when they ran installations or uninstallations of programs on a Windows computer.
Basically, what it means is that Windows blocks the simultaneous installation or uninstallation of software programs.
Probably the most common reason for the error message is when you run two installers or uninstallers in rapid succession without waiting for the first process to finish before you initiate the second.
That's also the easiest solution for the issue, as you just have to wait for the first process to complete, before you run the second.
Solution for blocked installations or uninstallations on Windows
If you have used Windows long enough, you may also have experienced situations where the first process completed seemingly, but Windows would still throw the error message that you have to wait for it to complete before you can run another task.
The following options are available to resolve the issue. It is recommended to start with option 1, then 2, and so on.
Option 1: Wait
While you may not see the installation or uninstallation window anymore, it is possible that background tasks are still running. Waiting a minute or two may resolve the issue automatically.
Option 2: Restart
A restart of the PC may resolve the issue as well. This may be helpful if the installation or uninstallation got corrupt along the way somehow, and is not in a state that cannot be completed. A restart helps with this.
Option 3: Kill the background process / Service
This option is dangerous, as you may kill an installation or uninstallation that is still being processed. You need to be certain, at least to a degree, that the installation or uninstallation process has ended before you do so though.
- To kill the installation process, use the shortcut Ctrl-Shift-Esc to open the Task Manager. If you use Windows 10, switch to Details. Locate the msiexec.exe process there, right-click on it, and select the end task option. Note: if you notice disk or cpu activity, it is still active and should not be killed.
- To stop the Windows Installer service, tap on the Windows-key, type services.msc, and hit the Enter-key. Locate Windows Installer, and select stop using buttons on the toolbar, or by right-clicking on the service instead.
Note: Some programs use custom installers. You may need to locate those instead, usually by sorting the process listing by name to locate the custom installer.
Option 4: Microsoft Program Install Uninstall Troubleshooting Tool
If waiting, restarting, or killing the process or service does not help, things may be severely damaged on the Windows machine.
Microsoft published a tool for that scenario that repairs important Registry keys among other things to make sure Windows is setup correctly for installing and removing software.
The program fixes the following things according to Microsoft:
- Corrupted Registry keys on 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows.
- Problems that prevent new programs from being installed.
- Problems that prevent existing programs from being complete uninstalled, or updated.
- Problems that block you from uninstalling a program through Add or Remove Programs (or Programs and Features) in Control Panel.
The troubleshooting program is compatible with Windows 7 and newer versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system only. It is recommended to click on Advanced on the first page of the Troubleshooter, and uncheck the "apply repairs automatically" option.
Closing Words
Third-party uninstallers such as Revo Uninstaller may assist you in the removal of programs that are blocked from regular uninstallation. (via Dr. Windows)
Now You: How do you handle installation or uninstallation issues?
What mental age of reader are you targeting with the first sentence? 10?
Why not write an article on how to *avoid* upgrading from W10 to W11. Analogous to those like me who avoided upgrading from 7 to 10 for as long as possible.
If your paymaster Microsoft permits it, of course.
5. Rufus
6. Ventoy
PS. I hate reading these “SEO optimized” articles.
I used Rufus to create an installer for a 6th gen intel i5 that had MBR. It upgraded using Setup. No issues except for Win 11 always prompting me to replace my local account. Still using Win 10 Pro on all my other PCs to avoid the bullying.
bit pointless to upgrade for the sake of upgrading as you never know when you’ll get locked out because ms might suddenly not provide updates to unsupported systems.
ps…. time travelling?
written. Jan 15, 2023
Updated • Jan 13, 2023
This happens when you schedule a post in WordPress and update it before setting the publication date.
Anyone willing to downgrade to this awful OS must like inflicting themselves with harm.
I have become convinced now that anybody who has no qualms with using Windows 11/10 must fit into one of the following brackets:
1) Too young to remember a time before W10 and W11 (doesn’t know better)
2) Wants to play the latest games on their PC above anything else (or deeply needs some software which already dropped W7 support)
3) Doesn’t know too much about how computers work, worried that they’d be absolutely lost and in trouble without the “”latest security””
4) Microsoft apologist that tries to justify that the latest “features” and “changes” are actually a good thing, that improve Windows
5) Uses their computer to do a bare minimum of like 3 different things, browse web, check emails, etc, so really doesn’t fuss
Obviously that doesn’t cover everyone, there’s also the category that:
6) Actually liked W7 more than 10, and held out as long as possible before switching, begrudgingly uses 10 now
Have I missed any group off this list?
You have missed in this group just about any professional user that uses business software like CAD programs or ERP Programs which are 99% of all professional users from this list.
Linux doesn’t help anyone who is not a linux kid and apple is just a fancy facebook machine.
Microsoft has removed KB5029351 update
only from windows update though
KB5029351 is still available from the ms update catalog site
1. This update is labaled as PREVIEW if it causes issues to unintelligent people, then they shouldn’t have allowed Preview updates ot install.
2. I have installed it in a 11 years old computer, and no problems at all.
3. Making a big drama over a bluescreen for an updated labeled as preview is ridiculous.
This is probably another BS internet drama where people ran programs and scripts that modified the registry until they broke Windows, just for removing stuff that they weren’t even using just for the sake of it.
Maybe people should stop playing geeks and actually either use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but don’t try to modify things just for the sake of it.
Sometimes removing or stopping things (like defender is a perfect example) only need intelligence, not scripts or 3rd party programs that might mess with windows.
Windows 11 was a pointless release, it was just created because some of the Windows team wanted to boost sales with some sort of new and improved Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft cannot support one version well let alone two.
Windows 11 is the worst ugly shame by Microsoft ever. They should release with every new W11 version a complete free version of Starallback inside just to make this sh** OS functionally again.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released a statement regarding the “unsupported processor” blue screen error for their boards using Intel 600/700 series chipsets & to avoid the KB5029351 Win11 update:
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-On–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–Error-Message-of-Windows-11-Update-KB5029351-Preview-142215
check out the following recent articles:
Neowin – Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-puts-little-blame-on-its-windows-update-after-unsupported-processor-bsod-bug/
BleepingComputer – Microsoft blames ‘unsupported processor’ blue screens on OEM vendors:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-blames-unsupported-processor-blue-screens-on-oem-vendors/
While there may be changes or updates to the Windows 10 Store for Business and Education in the future, it is premature to conclude that it will be discontinued based solely on rumors.
My advice, I left win 15 years ago. Now I’m a happy linux user (linuxmint) but there is Centos, Fedora, Ubuntu depending on your needs.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released new BIOS/firmware updates for their Intel 600 & 700 series motherboards to fix the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” problem (Sept. 6):
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/Updated-BIOS-fixes-Error-Message–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–caused-BSOD-on-MSI-s-Intel-700-and-600-Series-Motherboards-142277
I try to disable the Diagnostics Tracking Service (Connected Devices Platform User Services) but it wont let me disable it, any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tank you for your help