Task Service stuck in "Installation Pending" with MSI Error 1711 on Notification Server

Products

• Client Management Suite
• IT Management Suite

Issue/Introduction

After attempting to uninstall and reinstall the Task Service role on a SMP Server (Symantec Management Platform or Notification Server (NS)), the installation status in the Symantec Management Console remains stuck at "Installation Pending".

When reviewing the Windows Event Logs or installation logs, MSI Error 1711 is observed:

Error 1711: An error occurred while writing installation information to disk. Check to make sure enough disk space is available.

Symptoms:

• • The status in the SMP Console does not change from "Installation Pending" for several hours.
  • Disk space is verified as sufficient, but the installer cannot write to the C:\Windows\Installer or the Task Management installation directory.

Environment

ITMS 8.8.x

Cause

This issue occurs when the Windows Installer service encounters corruption in its metadata cache or lacks permissions to write the .msi files into the Installer directory. Even when disk space is available, directory-level locks or inaccessible file paths in the temporary folders can trigger Error 1711, preventing the Notification Server from completing the Task Service role installation.

Resolution

To resolve the "Installation Pending" state and bypass MSI Error 1711, perform the following cleanup and forced reinstallation steps.

Step 1: Temporary Files

1. Clear the system temporary folder to ensure no locked installer fragments remain: %WINDIR%\Temp.

Step 2: Force MSI Reinstallation

Manually run the Task Management MSI from the command line to bypass the Symantec Installation Manager (SIM) and provide direct system context:

1. Open an Administrative Command Prompt.
2. Run the following command:

   msiexec /i "C:\Program Files\Altiris\Symantec Installation Manager\Installs\Altiris\altiris_taskmanagement_8_8_x64.msi" skipaim=1

3. Note: If Error 1711 persists, verify that the C:\Windows\Installer folder is not set to "Read Only" and that the SYSTEM account has Full Control permissions for that directory.

Step 3: Sync Console Roles

1. In the SMP Console, navigate to the Site Server settings and ensure the Task Service role is enabled for the Notification Server.
2. Run the Windows Scheduled Task "NS.Restore Task Servers" to synchronize the database with the server's current state.
3. Restart the Symantec Management Agent service on the Notification Server.
4. Verify that the status in the console transitions from "Installation Pending" to "Installed".