When you attempt to remove or reinstall an Exchange Server 2010 server role you may encounter the following error.

Error 1638 Removing or Reinstalling Exchange 2010 Server Role

The following error was generated when “$error.Clear(); uninstall-MsiPackage -PackagePath ($RoleInstallPath + “MailboxMSFTE.MSI”) -LogFile ($RoleSetupLoggingPath + “InstallSearch.msilog”)” was run: “Couldn’t open package ‘C:Program FilesMicrosoftExchange ServerV14MailboxMSFTE.MSI’. Another version of this product is already installed. Installation of this version cannot continue. To configure or remove the existing version of this product, use Add/Remove Programs on the Control Panel. Error code is 1638.”.

Couldn’t open package ‘C:Program FilesMicrosoftExchange ServerV14MailboxMSFTE.MSI’. Another version of this product is already installed. Installation of this version cannot continue. To configure or remove the existing version of this product, use Add/Remove Programs on the Control Panel. Error code is 1638.

Another version of this product is already installed. Installation of this version cannot continue. To configure or remove the existing version of this product, use Add/Remove Programs on the Control Panel

This error can occur for a few different reasons, and so to resolve it you may need to try more than one solution.

The quickest solution to try is a repair of the Microsoft Full Text Indexing Engine for Exchange.  In Control Panel -> Uninstall a Program highlight the indexing engine entry and click the Repair button.

Error 1638 Removing or Reinstalling Exchange 2010 Server RoleAfter the repair has completed try to remove or reinstall the Exchange server role again.

If the problem persists you can try reinstall the latest Update Rollup that has been installed on the Exchange 2010 server.  You can determine this in Control Panel -> Uninstall a Program.  Click on View Installed Updates in the left action pane.

Error 1638 Removing or Reinstalling Exchange 2010 Server Role

Note which Update Rollup (or the latest one if there are more than one) is installed on the Exchange server.

Error 1638 Removing or Reinstalling Exchange 2010 Server Role

Download that Update Rollup to the server and reapply it, and then restart the Exchange server.  Try to remove or reinstall the Exchange Server 2010 role again. In some cases reapplying the Update Rollup a second time is necessary to correct the error.

If the Exchange server role still can’t be removed try uninstalling the Update Rollup instead.

When the problem has been resolved the Exchange server will pass the readiness checks and you can proceed with removing or reinstalling the Exchange server roles.

Error 1638 Removing or Reinstalling Exchange 2010 Server Role

About the Author

Paul Cunningham

Paul is a former Microsoft MVP for Office Apps and Services. He works as a consultant, writer, and trainer specializing in Office 365 and Exchange Server. Paul no longer writes for Practical365.com.

Comments

  1. Sean

    Hi steve,

    I’m trying to remove the Client Access role I’ve this error:
    Client Access Role
    Failed

    Error:
    The following error was generated when “$error.Clear();
    $CommandAppCmd = join-path $env:SystemRoot System32inetsrvappcmd.exe;
    Start-SetupProcess -Name “$CommandAppCmd” -args “uninstall module exppw”;
    ” was run: “Process execution failed with exit code 1168.”.

    Process execution failed with exit code 1168.
    Click here for help… http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/library/ms.exch.err.default(EXCHG.141).aspx?v=14.1.218.11&e=ms.exch.err.Ex88D115&l=0&cl=cp

    Elapsed Time: 00:01:05

    Can you help me please

  2. Chris

    Thank you for the post. The first step (repair the Indexing) solved my problem. We were in the process of removing a temp exchange 2010 MBX role (non SP1) that was a middle man for our 2003–>2010 migration. Had to move users from 2003 to 2010 non SP1 to 2010 SP1 due to errors in excess of 80% failure rate when going straight to 2010 SP1. Thanks!!!!

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