AutoCAD 2008: Error 1603 during software installation

Your Autodesk software installation failed and you found the following error in the setup logs:

Install AutoCAD <version> Failed Installation aborted, Result=1603

Error 1603 indicates there was a failure during the installation, but in most cases this error message is not useful for providing an accurate diagnosis of the installation problem.

If you are seeing this error after attempting a silent installation from a network deployment, you should refer to the following instructions:

1. Use the Deployment Wizard (AutoCAD 2007 and older versions) or the Modify link located in the deployment folder (AutoCAD 2008 and newer versions) to modify your deployment.
2. Clear the Client Installations Will Be Run in Silent Mode option.
3. Complete the Deployment Wizard.
4. Run the client installation again and note any error messages that are displayed.

You can also refer to the Installation log file located in the %TEMP% location on the client workstation machine for error details. Information about installer logging can be found here.

If a different error message is received after you disable silent mode, click here to reference a list of common installation error messages and their solutions.

NOTE:  If this error is from AutoCAD 2010 and higher, the 1603 error code from Microsoft is a very generic installation error.  The problem can only be determined by analyzing a verbose log.

Microsoft Error Codes:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms681385%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

Enabling verbose logging for installation issues:
http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS1070015

Some known fixes for the 1603 errors can be found here:
http://upandready.typepad.com/.services/blog/6a0147e3c68bef970b014e883f0830970d/search?filter.q=1603