Is it possible that insufficient disk space on the system drive could trigger error 1603 during 3ds Max installation?

Yes, insufficient disk space, especially on the system drive (usually C:), can prevent the installation of 3ds Max and lead to error 1603. Ensure you have enough free disk space (typically several gigabytes) on the drive where you are installing 3ds Max. Clear unnecessary files and folders or move large files to another drive.