Software Update Agent failed to start

Products

• IT Management Suite

Issue/Introduction

NSAgent was installed in the default location (C:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent) then removed (aexagentutil /uninstallagents /clean) and re-installed to drive D (D:\Program Files\Altiris\Altiris Agent).  

When Software Update Agent install policy came down, the task failed to start with exit code 1612.

In another instance return code (as per the logs), it returned exit code 1638.

Source: ProgramExec
Description: Starting SWD task: 'Software Update Agent Install' command line='msiexec /i Altiris_PatchMgmtAgent_Win32_6_1.msi  /qn'

Source: ProgramExec
Description: Program 'Software Update Agent Install' completed. Exit code=1638

Cause

SUAgent uninstall does not completely clean the registry so that future SUAgent installations to an alternate location can be performed.

If you uninstall the SUAgent using "msiexec /x Altiris_PatchMgmtAgent_Win32_6_1.msi /qn" or if you uninstall all the agents using "aexagentutil /uninstallagents /clean", there is a registry key that is left behind which points to the previous location of the Altiris_PatchMgmtAgent_Win32_6_1.msi file.

The following are descriptions of MSEXEC return codes 1612 & 1638:

ERROR_INSTALL_SOURCE_ ABSENT                 
1612   The installation source for this product is not available. Verify that the source exists and that you can access it.

ERROR_PRODUCT_VERSION 
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.

Resolution

By removing this registry key, you can re-install the SUAgent through client policies, if the NSAgent was previously installed on a different drive: 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Products\BFFB748AE77A17D42AF22686AE1F1BBA

Applies To
NSAgent 6.0.1508
SUAgent 6.1. 1422
Patch Management 6.1