Error message when you use Windows Installer (MSI) 4.5 to install multiple MSI packages in Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003 or Windows XP: "API call rejected - No actions in Context"

Consider the following scenario:

• You install Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI) 4.5 on a Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003 or Windows XP-based computer.
• You install multiple instances of an MSI application on the same computer.

In this scenario, one of the installations may fail. Additionally, the following error message is logged: All other MSI installations are successful.

Note This issue is most likely to be encountered during the installation of SQL Server 2008 or during an upgrade from SQL Server 2005 to SQL Server 2008.

This problem occurs because of an error in the Windows Installer 4.5 engine. There is a small window of time between when the first installation is complete and when the Windows Installer service allows another installation to begin. However, Windows Installer 4.5 engine does not calculate the window of time correctly because the previous installation has not finished completely.

Update information

Windows XP

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Update for Windows XP

Download the Windows XP (KB958655) package now.

Update for Windows XP x64 Edition

Download the Update for Windows XP x64 Edition (KB958655) package now.

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Prerequisites

To apply this update, you must have Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows XP with Service Pack 3 installed on the computer. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this update.

Update replacement information

This update does not replace any other updates.

File information

The English version of this update has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows XP with Service Pack 3, x86-based versions

Windows Server 2003

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Update for Windows Server 2003

Download the Windows Server 2003 (KB958655) package now.

Update for Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition

Download the Update for Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition (KB958655) package now.

Update for Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems

Download the Update for Windows Server 2003 for Itanium-based Systems (KB958655) package now.

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Prerequisites

To apply this update, you must have Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) installed. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this update.

Update replacement information

This update does not replace any other updates.

File information

The English version of this update has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2, x86-based versions
Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2, Itanium-based versions
Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2, x64-based versions

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Update for Windows Vista

Download the Update for Windows Vista (KB958655) package now.

Update for Windows Vista x64 Edition

Download the Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB958655) package now.

Update for Windows Server 2008

Download the Update for Windows Server 2008 (KB958655) package now.

Update for Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition

Download the Update for Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition (KB958655) package now.

Update for Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems

Download the Update for Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based (KB958655) package now.


For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Prerequisites

To apply this update on Windows Vista-based computer, you must have Windows Vista SP1 installed. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: No prerequisites are required for Windows Server 2008-based computers.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this update.

Update replacement information

This update does not replace any other updates.

File information

The English version of this update has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 file information notes

The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and MUM files (.mum) installed for each environment are listed separately. MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are critical to maintaining the state of the updated component. The security catalog files (attributes not listed) are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista
For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista
For all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.