Safe Internet Browsing How to safely operate on the internet and stay free from malware infections
How to Fix a Repeatedly Offered Windows Update
Information
This tutorial will show you how to deal with a Windows Update which is repeatedly offered to you.
Warning
It is extremely important to note that an update which is repeatedly installed successfully, but then re-offered repeatedly is not necessarily successfully installed. In fact, in most cases, it is the success message which is in error, and in fact, the update is not completely installed, and is therefore not protecting you. Hiding the update will lull you into a false sense of security. I therefore strongly recommend that you do not hide such an update, but work to rectify this problem. Instructions for fixing most cases of this exact problem are given below. Please read on!
If you already know whether or not your repeatedly offered Windows Update is installing successfully or failing each time, you may skip this section. Otherwise, if you are at all unsure, read this section.
View the Windows Update History
Information
This section will outline how to view the Windows Update history to find out whether the update is repeatedly succeeding or repeatedly failing.
2. Once you have got to this stage, find the most recent attempt to install the update which is being repeatedly offered, and look in the status column. Make a mental note as to whether it has a "Successful" or "Failed" status.
3. Jump down to the correct section of this tutorial, depending on whether or not the status found was "Successful" or "Failed".
For a Repeatedly Failing Update
If your feel confident to do so, you may search for a solution by yourself, either using your favourite search engine, or on the Microsoft Knowledge Base.
However, if you do not feel confident, do not worry! May I suggest that you create an account on this forum, and ask for help in our dedicated Windows Update sub-forum here: Windows Updates & Activation - Windows 7 Forums
2. Find the latest attempt to install the problematic update, and follow step 4 from the above link to copy the details of the update. Now paste this information into your new thread, ideally between CODE tags:
[code]Paste the details here![/code]
In the thread title, if you can, please give the error code from the details which you have just pasted.
Then please monitor that thread, and work through any advice given.
For a Repeatedly Succeeding Update
There are two main causes of this problem. Firstly, sometimes this is caused by a problem at Microsoft's end. This is usually rectified within a week, and can be recognised by looking at the file sizes. Suddenly, the offered update will have a different file size, and the problem will disappear. Although this has been seen, Microsoft has always rectified this in under a week, and occurrences are rare.
If you know that the update you are being offered is very new, possibly consider waiting a week before taking drastic action. However, as the content of this tutorial will not affect anything very much, I would advise you to follow the rest of this tutorial, but not anything more drastic.
If you would like, feel free to create a new thread, and we may be able to tell you whether your particular problematic update is proving problematic for other users as well, and whether Microsoft have yet acknowledged the problem, or given an ETA for the update's replacement.
Information
The below will show how to fix this problem for the majority of cases when that particular update is not at fault.
Information
This problem can be caused when the Common Log File System's (CLFS) System Log File is in an inconsistent state.
2. Type in exactly: fsutil resource setautoreset true %systemdrive%\ and press enter.
3. Wait for the operation of complete (less than 1 minute) and restart your computer.
4. Restart your computer and see if the problem is resolved.
Note
For much more information, and more available troubleshooting, please view this tutorial: CLFS transaction logs - Reset
If your problem has still not been resolved, may I suggest that you create an account on this forum, and ask for help in our dedicated Windows Update sub-forum here: Windows Updates & Activation - Windows 7 Forums
When creating a new thread, so that you can be helped quickly and efficiently, please say in your first post that you have already run the above command. Then please monitor that thread, and work through any advice given.
A quick explanation of this tutorial for other senior members:
Much of this tutorial is only temporary. I am attempting to create a number of new tutorials for the most common Windows Update error codes, and then create a single tutorial linking to all of these others, so that an OP can look up their error code, and find the solution, to a range of common error codes and related problems. That is the aim. However, I have not yet written all of these. Therefore, my section on "For a Repeatedly Failing Update" here will one day point to a location where many common error codes can be fixed. In the mean time, all I can do is ask OPs to create new threads. This will change in due course.
The second aim of this tutorial was not to re-write what has already been written, but to raise awareness of the dangers of hiding an update which repeatedly installs with success.
Over the coming weekends, and weeks, I shall attempt to publish more material. I have also tidied up the layout of this tutorial somewhat, and shall add some screenshots soon.
System Manufacturer/Model Number Dell XPS 420 OS Vista Home Premium x86 SP2 CPU Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.50GHz Motherboard Stock Dell 0TP406 Memory 4 gb (DDR2 800) 400MHz Graphics Card ATI Radeon HD 3870 (512 MBytes) Monitor(s) Displays 1 x Dell 2007FP and 1 x (old) Sonic flat screen Screen Resolution 1600 x 1200 and 1280 x 1204
Keyboard Dell Bluetooth Mouse Advent Optical ADE-WG01 (colour change light up) Case Dell XPS 420 Cooling Stock Fan Hard Drives 1 x 640Gb (SATA 300) Western Digital: WDC WD6400AAKS-75A7B0 1 x 1Tb (SATA 600) Western Digital: Caviar Black, SATA 6GB/S, 64Mb cache, 8ms Western Digital: WDC WD1002FAEX-00Z3A0 ATA Device Internet Speed Varies from 10kb/s to 170kb/s. So unreliable it is not funny Other Info ASUS USB 3.0 5Gbps/SATA 6Gbps - PCI-Express Combo Controller Card (U3S6)
System Manufacturer/Model Number Toshiba Satellite S875D-S7239 laptop OS MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit CPU AMD A10-4600M Motherboard AMD Pumori (Socket FT1) Memory 6.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 798MHz (11-11-12-28) Graphics Card AMD Radeon HD 7660G Sound Card High Definition Audio Device Monitor(s) Displays Generic PnP Monitor (1600x900@60Hz) Screen Resolution 1600x900@60Hz
Keyboard Standard PS/2 Keyboard Mouse HP Wireless Optical Mobile Mouse Model FHA-3410 Hard Drives SSD 119GB Corsair CSSD-V128GB2 ATA Device Internet Speed What the local pub, local coffee shop offers. Other Info Optical Drive:MATSHITA BD-CMB UJ160B ATA Device
Also have an Asus ha1002xp netbook with Win 7 Ultimate installed.
Can I suggest a link to Belarc Advisor? It lists all the downloaded updates and clicking the details link for each one link takes the user to a Microsoft page that gives a comprehensive insight into what the update is for.
System Manufacturer/Model Number HP Pavilion Elite 495UK OS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-Bit CPU Intel Core i7 870 @ 2.93GHz Motherboard MSI 2A9C (CPU1) Memory 8Gb Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 664MHz Graphics Card nVidia GeForce GTX 460 1024MB dedicated RAM Sound Card Realtek HD Audio Monitor(s) Displays HP2310i Screen Resolution 1920 x 1080
Keyboard Logitech K750 solar-powered keyboard Mouse Logitech Wireless M180 mouse PSU 460W Case HP Elite Cooling Air cooled Hard Drives 1x1954GB Hitachi HDS22020ALA 330 (RAID), 1x1954GB Hitachi External for backup and storage Internet Speed 2Mb Other Info Pure Avanti Flow Internet Radio with iPod Dock, 64Gb iPod, HP USB Speakers, Sony MDR-V500 Headphones, Sony Vaio F-Series Laptop
This will be a boon and also stop me from giving not the best advice.
For the final version, what do you think of changing the c:\ to $systemdrive %\
Thanks for your complements
You raise an excellent point. Tutorial updated. Thanks again!
Quote: Originally Posted by seavixen32
Can I suggest a link to Belarc Advisor? It lists all the downloaded updates and clicking the details link for each one link takes the user to a Microsoft page that gives a comprehensive insight into what the update is for.
I am always willing to accept suggestions. I have very little experience with Belarc. I shall have a play later. Where do you think it is applicable in this and/or another tutorial, and I shall consider carefully
System Manufacturer/Model Number Dell XPS 420 OS Vista Home Premium x86 SP2 CPU Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.50GHz Motherboard Stock Dell 0TP406 Memory 4 gb (DDR2 800) 400MHz Graphics Card ATI Radeon HD 3870 (512 MBytes) Monitor(s) Displays 1 x Dell 2007FP and 1 x (old) Sonic flat screen Screen Resolution 1600 x 1200 and 1280 x 1204
Keyboard Dell Bluetooth Mouse Advent Optical ADE-WG01 (colour change light up) Case Dell XPS 420 Cooling Stock Fan Hard Drives 1 x 640Gb (SATA 300) Western Digital: WDC WD6400AAKS-75A7B0 1 x 1Tb (SATA 600) Western Digital: Caviar Black, SATA 6GB/S, 64Mb cache, 8ms Western Digital: WDC WD1002FAEX-00Z3A0 ATA Device Internet Speed Varies from 10kb/s to 170kb/s. So unreliable it is not funny Other Info ASUS USB 3.0 5Gbps/SATA 6Gbps - PCI-Express Combo Controller Card (U3S6)
System Manufacturer/Model Number HP Pavilion Elite 495UK OS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-Bit CPU Intel Core i7 870 @ 2.93GHz Motherboard MSI 2A9C (CPU1) Memory 8Gb Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 664MHz Graphics Card nVidia GeForce GTX 460 1024MB dedicated RAM Sound Card Realtek HD Audio Monitor(s) Displays HP2310i Screen Resolution 1920 x 1080
Keyboard Logitech K750 solar-powered keyboard Mouse Logitech Wireless M180 mouse PSU 460W Case HP Elite Cooling Air cooled Hard Drives 1x1954GB Hitachi HDS22020ALA 330 (RAID), 1x1954GB Hitachi External for backup and storage Internet Speed 2Mb Other Info Pure Avanti Flow Internet Radio with iPod Dock, 64Gb iPod, HP USB Speakers, Sony MDR-V500 Headphones, Sony Vaio F-Series Laptop
One of the most troublesome updates tends to be .NET Framework.
Tip
The potential for issues is significantly decreased when installing .NET Framework updates separately rather than in conjunction with other updates. Follow the .NET Framework install with a shutdown/restart.
Information
Warning
Note
Quote: Originally Posted by karlsnooks 
Tip
