Why do I get NSIS Error?

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If you are reaching this page from an error message, you are having a problem installing a program. The downloaded file is either incomplete or modified from the original file. While this page will outline basic solutions:

Please contact the publisher or developer of the program you are installing for complete support.

What does this message mean?

The installer has failed a self-check. This means that for some actions, the installer file has been altered from its original form. If the install were to continue, the software install would not be complete and will be broken. To prevent further problems, the installer refused to continue.

How do I fix the problem?

There are a number of ways the developer can modify the script to avoid this issue, but we'll cover steps to fix the problem on your end. If all these steps don't work, please contact the developers or publishers of the software you are attempting to install or your normal computer support channels.


If the software was obtained from the Internet

  1. Clear your browser's cache.
  2. Disable any download accelerators or managers and download the installer again.
  3. Rename the installer so it is a simple one-word name with no special characters (without removing the .exe suffix)
    • Example: install.exe
  4. Download the installer from another source approved by the software developer or publisher.
    • It might be corrupted on the server, or the connection to the server is unreliable from your location.
  5. Update your anti-virus software (if installed) and download the installer again.
  6. Disable your anti-virus software and download the installer again.
  7. Download the installer using another computer and copy it to the original computer.
  8. If you have the nVidia firewall installed, uninstall the program and download the installer again.
  9. Scan for, and remove malware and viruses on your system.
  10. Scan the hard drive using scandisk, chkdsk, or any other hard drive repair tool.
  11. For people of ROMANIA who use FireFox in Romanian language try this tutorial: http://www.tutorialepc.ro/nsis-error-error-launching-installer-remediere-problema-2.html
  12. Wait for Windows Update to finish updating drivers.

If the software was obtained from a CD, DVD, or other physical media:

If you are receiving this problem from an installer located on a disc or other media besides the Internet, then the problem may be due to a hardware failure or more likely the physical media being damaged. Try reading files from other parts of the media. If you are receiving read errors with other files on the disc, then the problem is likely due to damaged media. You will need to contact the source of the physical media for a replacement.

Final options

As a last resort, the installer can be executed even though it's corrupted. To bypass the corruption test, pass /NCRC on the command line. To do so, go to Start->Run, type cmd and hit Enter. A black console window should open. Drag the installer into the window, hit Space and type /NCRC. Hit Enter again and the installer should start. This is not recommended!

When all else fails, you will need to contact either the developers of the software you're attempting to download or your personal computer support channels.

Why can't NSIS help me?

NSIS developed the "envelope" that contains the software you are attempting to install, not the software itself. NSIS is an open-source community that develops the software which installs software. This allows any software developer, including you, to use NSIS to ease the process of installing software. The problems you are having involve an outside party modifying the installer and is beyond NSIS' control.

Again, we stress that you contact the developer or publisher of the software you are attempting to install. NSIS did not create the software you are attempting to install and therefor NSIS can not help you beyond the steps outlined on this page.

NSIS Error Messages

For public record, here are what the NSIS error messages look like:

Installer integrity check has failed. Common causes include
incomplete download and damaged media. Contact the
installer's author to obtain a new copy.

More information at:
http://nsis.sf.net/NSIS_Error

In NSIS versions prior to 2.35 (independent of installed software), the error states:

The installer you are trying to use is corrupted or incomplete.
This could be the result of a damaged disk, a failed download or a virus.

You may want to contact the author of this installer to obtain a new copy.

It may be possible to skip this check using the /NCRC command line switch
(NOT RECOMMENDED).