Gathering required information in Windows Installer hangs in Windows 10 / 11 Fix

Windows installer allows the installation of one application at one time. If any other application is withholding the Windows Installer service, you will see this error message – ‘Gathering required information’ on your computer. Don’t worry. Just follow these easy fixes to solve the problem on your computer.

Workarounds

1. Check if there are any Windows Updates pending on your system. Press Windows key + I together and open settings and go to update and security. Make sure that your computer is updated to the latest version.

2. Check if you are using the latest installer. Try to install the same package on other systems, if possible.

 

Fix 1 – Restart the Windows Installer services

Restarting the Window Installer services should do the job.

1. You have to access the Run terminal. You have to press the ‘Windows key+R‘ keys.

2. What you need to do next is to type this command. Afterward, click on “OK“.

services. msc

 

Run Command Services

 

3. After that, scroll down to find out the “Windows Installer” service.

4. Then,  right-click on it and then click on “Start” to start the service on your computer.



 

Windows Installer Min

 

In case the service has already started, you may restart it.

4. Then, right-click on the “Windows Installer” service, again.

5. This time, click on “Restart” to restart it.

 

Windows Installer Min Min

 

This should restart the service on your machine. Close the Services window and try to install the application again.

 

Fix 2 – Re-register Windows Installer

Re-register the Windows Installer from the Command Prompt.



1. Press the Windows key and start to type “cmd“.

2. Now, right-click on the “Command Prompt” and click on “Run as administrator”.

 

Cmd Search New Min

 

3. Copy and paste these 4 commands one-by-one and then hit Enter.

This will unregister and re-register the Windows Installer service.

%windir%\system32\msiexec.exe /unregister

%windir%\system32\msiexec.exe /regserver

%windir%\syswow64\msiexec.exe /unregister

%windir%\syswow64\msiexec.exe /regserver

 

Unregister Msiexec Min

 

Close the Command Prompt. Restart your computer once. Then try to install the application again.

 

Fix 3 – Check which program is using the VSS service

Windows System Restore utilizes the Volume Shadow Copy service.

1. Write “cmd” in the search box.

2. Then, right-click on the “Command Prompt” and click on “Run as administrator”.

 

Cmd Search New Min

 

3. After that, execute this command in the terminal.

vssadmin list writers

 

Vssadmin List Writers Min

 

Check if any ‘Last error’ for any application. If you see that for any application, uninstall it from your system.

Then try to install the application again. This should solve the problem you are facing.

 

Fix 4 – Use SafeMSI in Safe Mode

You can use the SafeMSI to enable the windows installer. But to do that you have to that in Safe mode.

STEP 1 – Download SafeMSI

At first, you have to download the SafeMSI on your computer.

1. Go to this SafeMSI Download center.

2. Click on “DOWNLOAD NOW” to download the tool.

 

Safe Msi Download Min

 

Once you have downloaded it, close the browser.

3. Extract the “SafeMSI” zip file to a location of your choice.

 

Extract It

 

Proceed to the next step after extracting the file.

 

STEP 2 – Boot into safe mode

1. Open the Settings window by pressing the Windows key+I keys together.

2. Then, you need to click on “Update and Security“.

 

Update And Security

 

3. After that, click on the “Recovery“.

4. Next, under the “Advanced Startup” section, click on “Restart Now“.

 

Recovery Restart Now Min

 

5. After your computer boots up, just click on  “Troubleshoot“.

 

Continue Troubleshoot Startup Repair Min Min

 

6. Next, choose the “Advanced options” menu.

 

Troubleshoot Reset This Pc Advanced Options Startup Repair

 

7. To check the startup settings, just click on the “Startup Settings“.

 

5 Startup Repair Startup Settings

 

8. Finally to restart your device in the correct manner, click on “Restart“.

 

Startup Settings Restart Startup Repair

 

9. Here you will notice various kinds of startup options available.

10. Now, just press F4 from your keyboard to select the option that says “Enable Safe Mode“.

 

Startup Settings Options Safe Mode 1234 Startup Repair Min Min

 

Soon, your computer will boot into safe mode.

 

STEP -3 Run SAFEMSI

1. Go to the location where you have extracted the SafeMSI.

2. Then, double click on the “SafeMSI” application.

 

Safemsi Dc Min

 

3. You will notice the “Windows Installer service has been enabled” message has appeared on your screen.

4. After that, click on “OK“.



 

Ok Min

 

Now, try to install the package once more. This should solve your problem for sure.

 

Fix 5 – Use Repair MSI

Repair MSI is an open-source tool that can fix few Repair MSI issues.

1. Download Repair MSI on your computer.

 

Download Repair Msi Min

 

The portable Repair MSI tool will be downloaded on your computer.

2. Double click on the “Tweaking.com-RepairMSIWindowsInstaller” to run it.

 

Repair Dc

 

3. Once the tool opens up, click on “Start” to run the repair tool on your computer.

 

Start Min

 

After the repair process has finished analyzing and fixing the issue on your computer, close it.

 

Done Min

 

Give the installation process another try.

Your problem should be solved.