Keep getting error message involving windows installer service

I keep getting an error message when trying to repair my copy of visual studio 2012:

"The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed. This can occur if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance"

I tried SFC /scannow and setting the windows installer service in Services to manual. I tried restarting too and I really need to be able to access visual studio again. The worst part is that I can't uninstall, repair, or modify it at all. Could someone point me in the right direction or perhaps help me?

Have you tried everything here:

"The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" error when you try to install a program in Windows 7 or Windows Vista

and Fix problems that programs cannot be installed or uninstalled

and error 1719 windows installer service could not be accessed .... - Microsoft Community

Unfortunately it may save time to do a Clean Reinstall Windows 7 which at least will assure you have a perfect install going forward and to save as a backup, if you follow the steps in the tutorial.

gregrocker said:

Have you completed all steps here? "The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" error when you try to install a program in Windows 7 or Windows Vista

For the first method, "Run as administrator" doesn't appear when I right click on the file.

The second and third methods have been attempted and didn't work.

Edit: My copy of windows 7 came from Dreamspark, and the account has since expired this May (way past the 24 month keycode retrieval guarantee). As such, I am unable to retrieve my keys for activation.

If you didn't back up your ($100+ value) Product Key then following the steps for Clean Reinstall Windows 7 it can be audited using Belarc Advisor, which I would cross-check with Speccy - Advanced System Information Tool - Windows 7 Help Forums. You can always reinstall any WIn7 license on the same hardware with this Product Key as they do not expire.

gregrocker said:

If you didn't back up your ($100+ value) Product Key then following the steps for Clean Reinstall Windows 7 it can be audited using Belarc Advisor, which I would cross-check with Speccy - Advanced System Information Tool - Windows 7 Help Forums. You can always reinstall any WIn7 license on the same hardware with this Product Key as they do not expire.

Belarc reported that the full product key isn't stored on the computer and what is shown are the characters that uniquely identify my product key. Speccy show no product key underneath installation date.

Try another key finder like Magic Jellybean.

gregrocker said:

Try another key finder like Magic Jellybean.

It came up as all the letter "B." I googled it and this comes from large distribution keys such as Dreamspark.

Ahh, OK, well then it might not be retrievable for reinstall. Did you ask the Dreamspark program if you can reinstall an existing installation that was made when you were under that program?

The solution for this is of course that a backup image should be made after Clean Reinstall Windows 7 so that you never need to reinstall with the key again. You may need to buy Win7 again if this was not done.

gregrocker said:

Ahh, OK, well then it might not be retrievable for reinstall. Did you ask the Dreamspark program if you can reinstall an existing installation that was made when you were under that program?

The solution for this is of course that a backup image should be made after Clean Reinstall Windows 7 so that you never need to reinstall with the key again. You may need to buy Win7 again if this was not done.

I'll look into contacting the Dreamspark program. As for needing to purchase windows 7 again, that is what I greatly feared.

You might want to try a Clean Install Windows 10 Technical Preview if you can't retrieve your WIn7 key, and if you have another PC that you use as your primary one. I've been using it for 2 months now and haven't gone back to Win7 because it is faster and remarkably stable for pre-beta.

By spring Windows 10 should be released so if you're in on the ground floor you will likely be offered it for free or very cheap as a reward for beta testing. Stay tuned.