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Visual Studio and .NET Framework do not support installing via app compat modes.

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Symptoms

Visual Studio 2010 and/or .NET Framework 4.0 setup fails with 1603 error code or blocks running in Program Compatibility Mode.

 

Windows Program Compatibility Assistant indicates that Visual Studio setup might not have installed correctly and prompts to reinstall using recommended setting (program compatibility mode).

Workaround

Visual Studio setup cannot run in program compatibility mode. Please ensure compatibility mode setting is not enabled system wide or for the Visual Studio setup application.

Check manual setting

Compatibility mode could have been set manually through the Compatibility tab on the executable file properties.

1. Browse to Visual Studio setup media, where you intend to run setup.exe.

2. Right-click setup.exe and select Properties.

3. On the Compatibility tab, clear the "Run this program in compatibility mode for" check box and then click OK.

Check Program Compatibility Assistant registry settings

Compatibility mode could have been set by Program Compatibility Assistant on previous failed or canceled attempts to run Visual Studio setup.exe.

1. Select Run from the Windows Start menu.

2. Type regedit, and then click OK button.

3. Browse to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Compatibility Assistant\Persisted registry key.

4. Delete any value that refers to setup.exe in the location you are installing Visual Studio.

Re-launch Visual Setup

1. Open Windows Explorer.

2. Browse to Visual Studio setup.exe.

3. Double-click setup.exe to run Visual Studio setup.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    February 13, 2014
    The comment has been removed
  • Anonymous
    March 04, 2014
    Well, it seems that the Visual C# Express 2010 installer has a bug. I can install Visual C++ Express 2010 successfully.It also seems that no Microsoft "Expert" is able to fix this. I spent 3 days now trying to install VC# without success.