How to fix Error 1317 on Windows 11

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Troubleshooting Guide: Error 1317 – “The Specified Account Does Not Exist”

Why This Error Happens

Error 1317 typically occurs during Windows Installer (MSI) operations when the installer attempts to assign file or folder permissions to a user account that no longer exists on the system, is malformed in the Windows registry, or belongs to a domain the machine can no longer reach. This is common after a user profile has been deleted, a machine has been removed from a domain, or an installation package references a hardcoded SID (Security Identifier) that doesn’t resolve correctly on Windows 11. Corrupted user profile data or an improperly configured local Administrator account can also trigger this failure.

Step-by-Step Resolution Guide

Step 1: Verify the Current User Account and Permissions

  • Open Settings > Accounts > Your Info and confirm you are logged in with an Administrator account.
  • Press Win + R, type lusrmgr.msc, and press Enter to open Local Users and Groups.
  • Check that the account referenced in the failing installation (often the currently logged-in user) exists and is not disabled or orphaned.

Step 2: Run the Installer as a Different Administrator Account

  • Right-click the installer file and select Run as different user.
  • Log in using a known, healthy local Administrator account rather than a domain or Microsoft account.
  • This bypasses issues where the current account’s SID is not properly registered in the Windows Installer’s internal cache.

Step 3: Clear the Windows Installer Cache and Temp Files

  • Press Win + R, type %temp%, and delete leftover .tmp and MSI*.tmp files.
  • Navigate to C:\Windows\Installer and back up the folder (do not delete outright) before clearing corrupted cache entries.
  • Run msiexec /unregister followed by msiexec /regserver in an elevated Command Prompt to reset the Windows Installer service.

Step 4: Repair the User Profile via Registry

  • Press Win + R, type regedit, and navigate to:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
  • Look for any SID folder with a .bak suffix or a ProfileImagePath pointing to a non-existent user folder.
  • Rename or remove the corrupted SID key only after confirming a full registry backup has been made.

Step 5: Rejoin Domain or Reset Local Account (If Applicable)

  • If the machine is domain-joined, go to Settings > Accounts > Access Work or School and rejoin the domain to refresh the SID mapping.
  • For local accounts, use net user [username] /active:yes in an elevated Command Prompt to reactivate a disabled account referenced by the installer.

Alternative or Verification Steps

  • After completing the steps above, re-run the installer and confirm it completes without triggering Error 1317; check the Event Viewer under Windows Logs > Application for a successful MsiInstaller event.
  • If the issue persists, create a brand-new local Administrator account via Settings > Accounts > Other Users > Add Account, and attempt the installation from that fresh profile to rule out deeper profile corruption.