Error 2502 and 2503
The installer has encountered an unexpected error installing this package. Called RunScript when not marked in progress.
These two always appear together and are a permissions problem on the Windows Temp folder, not a problem with the package.
What it actually means
Windows Installer stages files through C:\Windows\Temp during installation. When the account running the install cannot write there, the internal script step fails and reports these two codes in sequence.
How to fix it, in order
Ordered by how often each one is the answer, not by how clever it sounds.
- 01Right-click the installer and choose Run as administrator. This alone fixes most cases.
- 02If that fails, fix the folder permissions: open the properties of C:\Windows\Temp, Security tab, and confirm Users has Modify.
- 03Alternatively run it from an elevated terminal with "msiexec /i package.msi", which bypasses the launcher entirely.
- 04Clear C:\Windows\Temp if it has grown very large, since a full or cluttered staging folder produces the same symptom.
Common questions
- What causes error 2502 and 2503?
- A permissions problem on C:\Windows\Temp, which Windows Installer uses to stage files. Running the installer as administrator resolves it in most cases.
Before you retry the installer
If the package came from anywhere other than the publisher, confirm it is the file they actually shipped. Check its SHA-256 against our index, which settles in seconds whether you are debugging an installer or a damaged download.