Fix: Microsoft Setup Bootstrapper Has Stopped Working

The “Microsoft Setup Bootstrapper Has Stopped Working” error interrupts the installation or update process of Microsoft Office, causing the setup to crash unexpectedly. This issue typically arises when the Setup Bootstrapper, which is responsible for initializing applications using Microsoft Application Virtualization technology, encounters a problem that prevents it from functioning correctly.

The most frequent cause of this error is conflicting software, such as third-party antivirus programs or remnants of previous Office installations. Additional causes can include corrupted system files or problematic registry entries.

Below you have several different repair methods ordered by efficiency and severity. Not every method will be applicable to your particular scenario, so please follow them in the order that they are presented and disregard those that can’t be replicated on your machine.

Method 1: Uninstall 3rd Party Antivirus (if applicable)

Some users have reported that in their case, the issue was resolved after they uninstalled their 3rd party antivirus suite. As it turns out, several overprotective AV suites (McAfee, Avast, potentially more) will block the updating feature of the Microsoft Office suite, which will end up triggering the ‘Microsoft setup bootstrapper has stopped working’ error.

If this scenario is applicable to your situation, you might be able to resolve the issue by simply disabling the real-time protection of your security suite. Of course, the steps to do this are specific to the AV suite that you’re using.

But keep in mind that some users have reported that the issue was only resolved after they completely uninstalled their 3rd party antivirus from their system. If you’re prepared to go this far, follow this article (here) on uninstalling security programs and ensuring that any remnant files are also removed.

Method 2: Use Microsoft Fix-It Tool

Fortunately, Microsoft developed an automated tool equipped to resolve this particular error message (and a few others). Several affected users have reported that they managed to resolve the issue by running a Microsoft Fix It tool.

This Fix-It will resolve various problems that end up blocking programs from being launched, installed, or removed. You can use it on Windows 10, Windows 7, and Windows 8.1. If the issue is caused by corrupted registry keys or by files from uninstalled or existing programs, this tool might end up resolving the issue automatically.

1. Visit this link (here) and download the .diagcab file by clicking the Download button.
2. Once the tool has been downloaded, double-click on the .diagcab file to open it.
3. At the first prompt, click on Advanced and make sure that the box associated with Apply repairs automatically is checked. Then, click the Next button to proceed.
4. Wait until the initial detection phase is complete, then click on Installing at the first prompt.
5. At the next screen, select the program that you’re encountering issues with (most likely Microsoft Office) and click Next once again.
6. At the next screen, click on Yes, try uninstall.
7. Wait until the process is complete, then restart your computer and see if you’re still encountering the same error message.

Method 3: Uninstall IObit Software

Based on various user reports, there are multiple IObit software products that are known to conflict with Microsoft Office and trigger the ‘Microsoft setup bootstrapper has stopped working’ error – IObit Uninstaller and Advanced SystemCare are on top of this list.

Several affected users have reported that the issue was resolved after they uninstalled the conflicting IObit software. If you have multiple products from IObit, the only way of fishing out the culprit is to uninstall every product until you notice that the issue has stopped occurring.

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, type “appwiz.cpl” and press Enter to open up the Programs and Features window.
2. Inside the Programs and Features window, start by clicking on the Publisher column at the top. This will order the applications via their publishers, which will make it easier to locate all IObit products.
3. Then, right-click on an IObit product, choose Uninstall, then follow the on-screen prompts to remove the software from your computer.
4. Restart your computer and launch the application that was triggering the ‘Microsoft setup bootstrapper has stopped working’ error and see if the previous uninstallation has been successful.
5. If you’re still encountering the same error message, return to the Programs and Features screen and uninstall the rest of the IObit products until you manage to identify the culprit that is causing the conflict.

Method 4: Re-enable Task Scheduler via Registry Editor

Several users that were struggling to resolve the ‘Microsoft setup bootstrapper has stopped working’ error have reported that the issue was finally resolved after re-enabling the Task Scheduler. As it turns out, this error message is known to get thrown in those instances where the Task Scheduler is prevented from running.

If this scenario is applicable, the quickest way to resolve the issue is to re-enable the Task Scheduler via Registry Editor. 

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, type “regedit” and press Enter to open up the Registry Editor. When prompted by the UAC (User Account Control), click Yes to grant administrative privileges.
2. Inside the Registry Editor, use the right pane to expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key. Then, access the SYSTEM key.
3. Navigate to the Schedule key folder by going to CurrentControlSet > Services > Schedule.
4. With the Schedule key selected, move over to the right-hand pane and double-click on the Start value.
5. Change the Value data of Start to 2 and leave the Base to Hexadecimal.
6. Click Ok to save the changes, then close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
7. Once the next startup is complete, open the application/installer that was previously producing the error and see if the issue has been resolved.

Method 5: Uninstall Office Installation & Delete the AppCompatFlags Key

Several affected users have reported that the issue was only resolved after they uninstalled their Office installation completely and used Registry Editor to delete a key called AppCompatFlags. After doing this and reinstalling the Microsoft Office suite, some users have reported that they were able to launch any Microsoft Office application without encountering the ‘Microsoft setup bootstrapper has stopped working’ error.

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, type “appwiz.cpl” and press Enter to open up the Programs and Features screen.

   

2. Inside the Programs and Features screen, look through the list of applications, right-click on your Microsoft Office suite and choose Uninstall.

   

3. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation, then restart your computer.
4. At the next startup, press Windows key + R to open up another Run dialog box. This time, type “regedit” and press Enter to open up the Registry Editor utility. When prompted by the UAC (User Account Control), click Yes to grant administrative privileges.

   

5. Inside the Registry Editor utility, navigate to the following location:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags

   Note: You can either get there manually (by using the left-hand-pane) or you can paste the address directly into the navigation bar and press Enter.

6. Once you get there, right-click on the AppCompatFlags key and choose Export. Then, save the file to a convenient location for easy access.

   

   Note: This step is done for backup purposes, just in case things go wrong and the registry changes create an unexpected consequence.

7. Once the backup has been established, right-click on AppCompatFlags and choose Delete.

   

8. Once the key has been deleted, close Registry Editor and reboot your machine once again. At the next startup, check if you’re able to open the Office application without encountering the ‘Microsoft setup bootstrapper has stopped working’ error.

Method 6: Open the Setup.exe in Compatibility Mode

Some users that have been encountering the ‘Microsoft setup bootstrapper has stopped working’ error when trying to install an older Office version (Office 2010, Office 2013) have reported that they managed to get around the issue by opening the installation executable (setup.exe) in Compatibility mode.

1. Use File Explorer to navigate to the location of the Office installation.
2. Open the Installation folder, right-click on Setup.exe, and choose Troubleshoot Compatibility.
3. At the first Program Compatibility Troubleshooter prompt, click on Try recommended settings.
4. Click on the Test the program button and see if the setup is opening without the error message.
5. If all is in order, click Next, then choose Yes, save these settings for this program.
6. Open the installer again and complete the installation process.