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Trying to install QuickBooks Premier Pro 2022 onto Windows Server Essentials 2016 with error code 1603

I have been trying to figure out why QuickBooks Premier Pro 2022 will not install on Windows Server Essentials 2016.

It gets a quarter of the way in and then throws an error 1603.

I’ve searched high and low and HATE Google results. Nothing but handpicked garbage content farm webpages that do not help at all. I miss you could find an obscure blog on the first or second page with a fix right there. Instead, you get this ad-filled almost AI created gibberish with nothing but rehashed “fixes” from every other website that, again, is filled with nothing but ads.

I’ve tried uninstalling the C++, .Net Framework, etc. to no avail.

I just downloaded a trial of QuickBooks Enterprise 2023 and it installed with NO PROBLEMS.

I stood up a Server Essentials 2016 virtual machine and was able to install QuickBooks Premier 2022 OK with no problem.

However, I came across at least three other people who have had a problem with trying to install QuickBooks Premier 2022 onto either Windows 10 or a server operating system.

If you came across this and fixed it, please comment below. I’ll do the same if I find a fix. I know it will make a lot of people happy.

An interesting update happened last night. I downloaded a trial of QuickBooks Enterprise 2023, and it installed within five minutes.

I’m trying to run Process Explorer and Process Monitor, but am coming up short. If you have any expertise in either of these programs and troubleshooting what might be causing the install to fail with error 1603, please leave a comment below.

I FUCKING FIXED IT!

I used RegScan and performed a scan on all registry hives for “QuickBooks” and then exported them out and finally deleted them all.

I rebooted and sure enough it fucking installed. I knew it was a rogue fucking registry key. I hate Microsoft and Intuit!

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Windows 10 start menu not responding/Outlook prompting for password using modern authentication window, but it’s blank

For those of you who encounter the above issue and attempt to use PowerShell to run the Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”} but the process never finishes, check the permissions on these two registry keys: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer and HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders – it should have a user called All Application Packages with read permissions.

In particular, the second one. I had an issue where the Get-AppX command would not complete on a Windows 10 Dell OptiPlex machine. I tried restarting to no avail.

I checked on the first registry key and All Application Packages were listed with read permissions for that key.

I checked the second, and All Application Packages were not there at all. I had to go to Advanced, Select a principal, if you’re on a domain, change the From this location: to the actual computer you’re using. Enter All Application Packages into the object name to select the box and hit OK.

Make sure it has read permission on the second registry key.

I rebooted the machine, and the start menu was working. I was also able to input the user’s Outlook password.

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Outlook 365 with Office 365 E3 account Online Archive magically disappears after roughly 10-15 seconds upon loading Outlook

I am back with another crazy problem that only happens to me. I contacted support and of course they don’t know how to fix it. I’m almost certain I am cursed with these extremely unique problems that only happen to maybe .0000000000001% of users using Office 365.

I have tried Googling until my fingers were bleeding to no avail.

Absolutely NO one else seems to have had this problem.

I have an end user with an Office 365 E3 license. They were upgraded from Bus Premium to E3 prior to this since they ran out of space. The E3 license comes with Online Archive and it should work in Outlook as my own Office 365 license is an E3 license and my Online Archive works fine.

I can create a new profile and this fixes it for maybe a few days then it will disappear again.

I have tried /safe /resetnav but nothing helps.

Nothing in the Event Viewer.

The Online Archive shows up in OWA.

My theory is that upon changing the license somewhere along the lines it got screwed up. I even tried removing the E3 license from this end user and then leaving no license and finally putting it back, no luck.

Here’s hoping someone out there has experienced this and might have a fix or point me in the right direction.

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Logitech G915 TKL with brown switches

I saw about two weeks ago that Logitech was releasing a new updated G915 without the ten key pad. I knew I was going to get this as I had purchased the G915 but due to the length of the keyboard, I returned it. I said if they come out with a TKL version, I’m sold.

The last version I had was the equivalent to the Cherry MX Blue switches. The one I have is called Tactile which is the equivalent of Cherry MX Brown switches. It’s so nice to type on. I was hoping the linear (Cherry MX Red) was available, but I’d have to order it online. I’m content with the Tactile (Cherry MX Brown) version.

This is my first Cherry MX Brown keyboard. Up to now I’ve only had blues and reds. I primarily like the feeling of the reds. I don’t like blue as it takes too much force to type and causes a lot of typos.

The build quality appears to be the same, sans the TKL.

The thing I liked the most of the G915 was how fast it connected to both the wireless and bluetooth. I’ll update this review as time goes on.

I am using the keyboard with my 2015 MacBook Pro 15″. I took it on one appointment and it was great typing on it. It fits into my InCase backup perfectly. It’s not bulky at all.

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Dell laptop Task Manager CPU stuck at 22%

I had the strangest problem troubleshooting a client’s slow laptop. I ran a full diagnostic, hard drive checked out. The craziest thing was the hard drive was a SanDisk SSD and it was performing nothing like an SSD.

One thing that stood out to me was the CPU being stuck at 22% no matter what I did. It would not go higher or lower. On a hunch, I Googled “22% CPU dell” and came across someone on the Dell forums who had the same problem. It has to do with the power adapter not being able to charge the battery. In the case of the Dell forum and my client, it was the third-party power adapter. I noticed the battery was not going any higher than where it was initially.

I unplugged the power adapter and the CPU usage on Task Manager started going and the laptop started running at its normal SSD speed. I was shocked.

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Repairing laptops

I used to do a lot of computer repairs. Things like replacing keyboards, fans, speakers, LCD screens, etc.

Early to mid 2000s, you could easily get spare parts for most notebooks and desktops.

Desktops are obviously easier because they usually follow a standard such as ATX. However, lately, I’ve noticed that Dell has its own proprietary power supply units which you can only get from Dell. The good thing is the motherboard still uses the ATX standard. This means I can take an everyday PSU and plug it in, it’s ugly and it’s hanging outside of the case on a desk, but it fixes the computer.

On the laptop front, things have gone down the shitter. They’re making them not be repairable if you ask me. Parts are scarce. Replacement batteries after your warranty run out are non-existent. Before you tell me to run over to eBay or some other surplus store, don’t bother. I have tried purchasing batteries from there and they claim to be true OEM replacements, but they’re not. I’d have to imagine they’re exceptionally good counterfeits.

I tried going direct to the manufacturer which you used to be able to do such as HP’s Part Surfer and 9/10 times the part you’re looking for is no longer being sold.

They call this planned obsolescence.

The one thing I do know is that business class laptops and desktops typically can come with a standard three-year next business day warranty. And in doing so, you guarantee yourself three years’ worth of parts if anything goes wrong. I can’t say for sure how the parts market looks after three years.

The only reason I’m writing this is because I left the computer repair world a few years ago and moved towards supporting small businesses with their IT needs. I help procure desktops and laptops, typically from Dell small business such as their OptiPlex and Latitude offerings. Again, three-year next business day warranty. You can add on, a four-hour window too.

Overall, I agree with the right to repair movement. Computer manufacturers are hurting consumers by not allowing us to repair our devices. Having readily available parts is one part of the right to repair, IMHO. Without it, you’re having to go to places like eBay and hope and pray that the part you order is the right one. They have so many different part numbers for a single laptop model, but most of the time there are a lot of small variances in the actual model.

In closing, the right to repair should be given to everyone. The way these companies hurt consumers is by and large. Planned obsolescence should not be a thing.

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PEXUS313AC2V not compatible with VMWare ESXi

I contacted StarTech via their chat and they informed me that this card is not compatible with any version of ESXi. No idea if it’s compatible with Hyper-V. I’ve had luck getting some non-officially supported devices to work properly. No luck this time. I tried to pass it through to the virtual machine, including installing the StarTech official driver. No luck.