You try to install some software — maybe a printer driver, a VPN client, or some random utility — and boom: “This installation package could not be opened. The exact error code is: 0x00000653.” The installer just sits there. Nothing happens. You double-click again. Same thing.
I see this most often when someone downloads an installer from a third-party site, or the download got interrupted. Had a client last month whose entire print queue died because of this — their HP driver installer just wouldn't open. Turns out Chrome flagged it as suspicious and quietly blocked it.
The root cause is almost always one of three things:
- The installer file (.msi or .exe) is corrupted or incomplete
- Windows has the file blocked because it came from the internet
- The temporary folder Windows uses to unpack the installer is messed up or full
Forget registry edits or sfc /scannow. That's overkill. Here's the fix.
Step 1: Redownload the installer
Go straight to the official site. Not a mirror. Not a download aggregator. The actual vendor's website. Download it fresh. If you're not sure, check the file size: if it's way smaller than expected (like 100KB for a 50MB file), it's trash. Delete it.
While you're at it, use a wired connection or better Wi-Fi. A dropped packet can corrupt a download.
Step 2: Unblock the file
Windows puts a mark on files downloaded from the internet. Sometimes that blocks the installer from running.
- Right-click the installer file and choose Properties.
- Look at the bottom of the General tab. If you see “This file came from another computer and might be blocked to help protect this computer”, check the Unblock box.
- Click Apply, then OK.
- Run the installer again.
If you don't see the Unblock option, the file is probably already unblocked — or it's not an internet download.
Step 3: Clear the temp folder
The Windows Installer service uses the temp folder to unpack the installer. If that folder is clogged, it can fail.
- Press Win + R, type
%temp%, and hit Enter. - Delete everything you can. Some files will be in use — skip those. Use Ctrl + A to select all, then Delete.
- Empty your Recycle Bin.
- Also clear the system temp: open another Win + R, type
temp, and repeat.
Don't overthink this. You're just making room. If you're on a company machine and can't delete files, you've got bigger issues — talk to IT.
Step 4: Run the installer as administrator
Sometimes the installer needs full rights to open.
- Right-click the installer file.
- Choose Run as administrator.
- Click Yes if UAC pops up.
Doesn't always fix it, but it's fast to try.
Step 5: Check Windows Installer service
This one's rare, but if the above didn't work, the Windows Installer service might be stopped.
- Press Win + R, type
services.msc, and hit Enter. - Scroll to Windows Installer. It should say “Running” and “Automatic”.
- If it's stopped, right-click and choose Start.
- If it's not set to Automatic, right-click, go to Properties, and set Startup type to Automatic.
Still failing? What else to check
If none of that worked, look closer at the file you're trying to run. Is it an .msi? Some older .msi files need the Windows Installer runtime, which you can get from Microsoft's site. Is the file really meant for your version of Windows? A driver for Windows 8 won't open on Windows 11.
Also, check your antivirus. Some aggressive scanners quarantine installer files mid-flight. Disable real-time protection temporarily, then run the installer. Re-enable it after.
If you're still stuck, try the installer on another PC. If it works there, something's wrong with your OS — maybe a corrupted Windows Installer component. At that point, a repair install of Windows might be your best bet. But 90% of the time, it's just a bad download or a blocked file.
I've fixed this exact error for a dozen small businesses. Start with the simple stuff. Nine times out of ten, you're done in five minutes.