BigFix Inventory installer exit codes

This section provides information about BigFix Inventory upgrade exit codes, the methods to view them and their troubleshooting mechanims.

How to view the upgrade exit codes

Upgrade Fixlet: When the BigFix Inventory upgrade is executed through the BigFix Inventory upgrade Fixlets, the granular exit code is available in the 'BigFix Console action results/details' for the affected computer.
Command-line upgrade: If the upgrade utility is run directly from a Windows command prompt, the utility prints the granular exit code directly to the console.
Logs: Additional upgrade details can be found in the upgrade logs. Navigate to:C:\Program Files\BigFix Enterprise\BFI\
- Open the relevant ZIP file, which follows the naming pattern:
```
BFI<Target
              Version>_<TimeStamp>_<ID>_logs.zip
```
  For example: BFI11.0.8.0_20260729_160318_DD4499C98117_logs.zip.
- Open the <BFI<version>\message folder inside the ZIP file.
Check msg_server.log for the specific failure reason. The log file is located at: BFI<version>\message\msg_server.log.
Troubleshooting: The returned code can then be matched against the BFI Upgrade Exit Code Matrix to determine the corresponding failure condition and next steps.

Table 1. BigFix Inventory upgrade exit codes
Exit Code	Problem	Recommended Action	Steps to Reproduce
0	NA	No action required – Installation successful.
13	`error_license_not_accepted`	Accept the license agreement in the response file and retry. File name: upgrade_response.txt	Run the installer in silent mode using a response file where the license agreement is not accepted. Verify that the installation fails with exit code 13.
25	`error_not_admin`	Run the installer with Administrator privileges and retry.	Log in or run the installer without Administrator privileges. Start the installation and verify that it fails with exit code 25.
28	`error_equal_or_higher_version_already_installed`	Uninstall the existing BigFix Inventory version or use a supported upgrade version, then retry.	Install a BFI version that is equal to or higher than the version being installed. Run the installer again and verify that it fails with exit code 28.
41	`error_file_already_opened`	The upgrade configuration step failed. Please check msg_server.log for the specific failure reason. Logs location: C:\Program Files\BigFix Enterprise\BFI\open the zip file\under message folder	First upgrade attempt: Start with BFI version 8 installed. Open the existing BFI 8 installation folder in File Explorer or Command Prompt and start the upgrade from 8 → 9. The upgrade fails with exit code 41. Close the opened BigFix Inventory installation folder and retry the upgrade.
42	`error_another_instance_running`	Wait for the other BigFix Inventory installer to finish, then retry.	Start one BigFix Inventory installation and, while it is running, launch a second BigFix Inventory installer instance. Verify that the second instance fails with exit code 42.
50	`check_error_50`	Close any folder opened from the existing BigFix Inventory installation directory in File Explorer, Command Prompt, or any other application, then rerun the installer in interactive mode (without silent mode) to continue the installation. When running through the GUI mode, where step shows failed, right click on step and click set → click (Ready) re-run this step	Scenario 1 – Subsequent upgrade attempts: After the 8 → 9 upgrade has already failed with exit code 41, attempt the 9 upgrade again in silent mode. Then the installer detects the previous incomplete/failed installation and returns exit code 50. Note: Every subsequent attempt to upgrade/resume the failed installation in silent mode continues to return exit code 50.
50	`check_error_50`		Scenario 2 – Inconsistent installation state: If Services shows BFI version 8 while Add or Remove Programs shows BFI version 9, the installation is in an inconsistent state. Attempting the upgrade again in silent mode returns exit code 50.
55	`error_version_already_installed`	No action required – The requested BigFix Inventory version is already installed.	Install the requested BigFix Inventory version. Run the same installer again and verify that the installer detects that the version is already installed and returns exit code 55.
74	`error_previous_installation_failed`	Fix or clean up the previous failed installation, then retry.	Start a BFI installation and intentionally interrupt or fail it before completion. Run the installer again and verify that it detects the previous failed installation and returns exit code 74.
600	`error_not_existing_response_file`	Verify the response file path and ensure the file exists, then retry.	Run the installer in silent mode and provide a response file path that does not exist or is invalid. Verify that the installer fails with exit code 600.