Summary: How to fix the installation Error 1603
Related installation help: Troubleshooting Rhino 5 Installation

A wide variety of problems can cause 1603 errors. Please follow all the steps below.

Step 1: Perform Windows updates

1. Locate and run the Windows Update service.
2. If there are any important updates to install, click Update Now to install the updates. This process can take a long time.
3. If there is an error when trying to run the Windows Update installer, please read Troubleshoot common problems with installing updates.
4. If you resolve the Windows update problem and finish running Windows Update service, then move to Step 2.

Step 2: Install .NET 4.0 framework

1. Open Windows Explorer and browse to the Rhino Installer DVD.
2. Open the Installers\Prerequisites folder.
3. Run the dotNetFx40_Full_x86_x64.exe.
4. If the Microsoft .NET installer shows an error:
   1. Write down the error
   2. Proceed to Step 2
5. 64-bit Windows XP only:
   1. Download and install Windows Installer 4.5 Redistributable
6. Skip to Step 3.

Step 3: Install Rhino

1. Open Windows Explorer.
2. Download the most recent Rhino 5 installer here: Rhino 5 complete download
3. Double-click Setup.exe to start the Rhino 5 installation process.
4. If the Rhino 5 installer fails, save a copy of the log file to your desktop.
5. Proceed to Step 4.

Step 4: Uncompressing and Manually Installing

1. If step 3 fails, the next step is to install the parts of Rhino manually.
2. Download and install the 7-Zip application onto your system.
3. Right-click on Rhino 5 installer file.
4. From the menu, select 7-Zip > Extract to rh50……\.
5. In the “rh50……” folder, browse to the Installers subfolder.
6. Double-click these *.msi files:
   rhino5setup_en-us_x64.msi (Skip on 32-bit Windows systems.)
   rhino5setup_en-us_x86.msi
   LanguagePack_en-us.msi (and any other languages you wish to install)
   HelpMedia.msi
7. If you experience errors during installation:
   1. Write down any error numbers and messages you see.
   2. Email the step you are on in this article and any errors to tech@mcneel.com.
8. Restart Windows if prompted.
9. Start Rhino 5.
10. In the Rhino 5 command line, type ToolbarReset then press Enter.
11. Close Rhino 5.
12. Start Rhino 5.
13. Installation is complete!

Still not working?

That's frustrating. We're sorry! Please email any log files from Step 3 to tech@mcneel.com