Windows 7: Update fail w7 x64: KB2758857. Error code 8000FFFF

Sorry - I got side-tracked by the thread hijack, and forgot to come back!



The CBS log you posted shows a huge number of errors in various patch sessions - I think it's a problem with the UpdateAgent. Unfortunately my skills on that re limited, and it's not a patch that can be either uninstalled or repaired easily.
The only thing I can think to do, if you've not tried already, is to rename the SoftwareDistribution Folder, and see if that fixes the problem.

Open an Elevated Command Prompt window, and run the following commands

NET STOP WUAUSERV
REN C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SDOLD
NET START WUAUSERV

WAIT 10 minutes - or until you see any disk activity die down - then reboot.

I would recommend disabling SpyBot's TeaTimer if it's running, as well - it can create problems with all sorts of things.

Didn't really work

There was another update available which installed ok but the "old" one still won't install...



How is wuauserv relevant if I try to install the update manually via the .msu file and this doesn't work?

Any other ideas maybe?

Downloading for offline install is always worth a try
That error message is so unspecific that it's no help in troubleshooting.

I now have another update that won't install

kb 2726535

Other updates (eg ones for windows defender) install just fine.

I read somewhere that I should use windows dvd, boot with it and select the repair option. Should I try it?

Heeeeelp!

Defender updates install by a different route - defender pulls them through rather than WU.

OK - so what updates are currently showing in WU after a new Check for Updates, and what are the error messages on the failed updates in Update History?

What error message do you get if you try using the standalone installer for each of the updates that's failed?

PART A
From Update History - 2 updates currently showing and these two always fail:

1)Update for Windows (KB2726535)

Installation date: ‎12/‎1/‎2013 2:33 μμ

Installation status: Failed

Error details: Code 8000FFFF

Update type: Important

Fix for KB2726535

More information:
An update is available that adds South Sudan to the list of countries in Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2

Help and Support:
Microsoft Support
***

2)Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2758857)

Installation date: ‎10/‎1/‎2013 7:01 μμ

Installation status: Failed

Error details: Code 8000FFFF

Update type: Important

A security issue has been identified that could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to compromise your system and gain control over it. You can help protect your system by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this update, you may have to restart your system.

More information:
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS12-081 - Critical : Vulnerability in Windows File Handling Component Could Allow Remote Code Execution (2758857)

Help and Support:
Microsoft Support
*****
PART B
Trying to install manually

1) KB2726535 - Windows6.1-KB2726535-x64.msu
*Event viewer: 4 "Information events" created in application log
a- Fault bucket , type 0
Event Name: CbsPackageServicingFailure2
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: 6.1.7601.17592
P2: Package_for_KB2726535
P3: 6.1.1.1
P4: amd64
P5: unknown
P6: 8000ffff
P7: Execute
P8: Staged
P9: Installed
P10: WindowsUpdateAgent

Attached files:
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130110040154.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130110170056.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130110171535.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130110172858.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130112172844.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log
C:\Windows\servicing\Sessions\Sessions.xml
C:\Windows\winsxs\poqexec.log
C:\Windows\inf\setupapi.dev.log

These files may be available here:


Analysis symbol:
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: a59d7e8d-5e8a-11e2-b6f9-005056c00008
Report Status: 0

b-Fault bucket , type 0
Event Name: CbsPackageServicingFailure2
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: 6.1.7601.17592
P2: Package_for_KB2726535
P3: 6.1.1.1
P4: amd64
P5: unknown
P6: 8000ffff
P7: Execute
P8: Staged
P9: Installed
P10: WindowsUpdateAgent

Attached files:

These files may be available here:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportQueue\Critical_6.1.7601.17592_806c7ea442a47330f5d4f79013e 84e3ae917eb2a_1ee6ff8b

Analysis symbol:
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: a59d7e8d-5e8a-11e2-b6f9-005056c00008
Report Status: 4

c-Fault bucket , type 0
Event Name: WindowsWcpOtherFailure3
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: 6.1.7601
P2: base\wcp\servicingapi\assembly.cpp
P3: Windows::ServicingAPI::CAssembly::AddUninstall
P4: 572
P5: 8000ffff
P6: 0x96c42cdc
P7:
P8:
P9:
P10:

Attached files:
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130110040154.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130110170056.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130110171535.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130110172858.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130112172844.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log
C:\Windows\servicing\Sessions\Sessions.xml
C:\Windows\winsxs\poqexec.log
C:\Windows\System32\LogFiles\Scm\SCM.EVM
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\FilterList.log

These files may be available here:


Analysis symbol:
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: a59d7e8c-5e8a-11e2-b6f9-005056c00008
Report Status: 0

d-Fault bucket , type 0
Event Name: WindowsWcpOtherFailure3
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: 6.1.7601
P2: base\wcp\servicingapi\assembly.cpp
P3: Windows::ServicingAPI::CAssembly::AddUninstall
P4: 572
P5: 8000ffff
P6: 0x96c42cdc
P7:
P8:
P9:
P10:

Attached files:

These files may be available here:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportQueue\Critical_6.1.7601_1559957ffddbfd3dd4d5a7fcab49d9995 2accd5_1632fe82

Analysis symbol:
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: a59d7e8c-5e8a-11e2-b6f9-005056c00008
Report Status: 4

*Event viewer: 2 "Information events" and 1 "error event" created in setup log

a-Package KB2726535 failed to be changed to the Installed state. Status: 0x8000ffff.
b-Initiating changes for package KB2726535. Current state is Staged. Target state is Installed. Client id: WindowsUpdateAgent.
c-Windows update "Update for Windows (KB2726535)" could not be installed because of error 2147549183 "Catastrophic failure" (Command line: ""C:\Windows\system32\wusa.exe" "D:\Users\George Silkman\Downloads\Windows6.1-KB2726535-x64.msu" ")

*Event viewer: 1 "Error events" created in system log

Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x8000ffff: Update for Windows (KB2726535).

***

2)Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2758857) - Windows6.1-KB2758857-x64.msu

*as before, Event viewer: 4 "Information events" created in application log

a-Fault bucket , type 0
Event Name: CbsPackageServicingFailure2
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: 6.1.7601.17592
P2: Package_for_KB2758857
P3: 6.1.1.0
P4: amd64
P5: unknown
P6: 8000ffff
P7: Execute
P8: Staged
P9: Installed
P10: WindowsUpdateAgent

Attached files:
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130110040154.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130110170056.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130110171535.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130110172858.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130112172844.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log
C:\Windows\servicing\Sessions\Sessions.xml
C:\Windows\winsxs\poqexec.log
C:\Windows\inf\setupapi.dev.log

These files may be available here:


Analysis symbol:
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: 21e74032-5e8c-11e2-b6f9-005056c00008
Report Status: 0

b-Fault bucket , type 0
Event Name: CbsPackageServicingFailure2
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: 6.1.7601.17592
P2: Package_for_KB2758857
P3: 6.1.1.0
P4: amd64
P5: unknown
P6: 8000ffff
P7: Execute
P8: Staged
P9: Installed
P10: WindowsUpdateAgent

Attached files:

These files may be available here:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportQueue\Critical_6.1.7601.17592_463fa79ac05c2da7e679b3d5121 873fb592d1c68_1c10b9a8

Analysis symbol:
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: 21e74032-5e8c-11e2-b6f9-005056c00008
Report Status: 4

c-Fault bucket , type 0
Event Name: WindowsWcpOtherFailure3
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: 6.1.7601
P2: base\wcp\servicingapi\assembly.cpp
P3: Windows::ServicingAPI::CAssembly::AddUninstall
P4: 572
P5: 8000ffff
P6: 0x96c42cdc
P7:
P8:
P9:
P10:

Attached files:
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130110040154.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130110170056.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130110171535.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130110172858.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CbsPersist_20130112172844.cab
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log
C:\Windows\servicing\Sessions\Sessions.xml
C:\Windows\winsxs\poqexec.log
C:\Windows\System32\LogFiles\Scm\SCM.EVM
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\FilterList.log

These files may be available here:


Analysis symbol:
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: 21e74031-5e8c-11e2-b6f9-005056c00008
Report Status: 0

d- Fault bucket , type 0
Event Name: WindowsWcpOtherFailure3
Response: Not available
Cab Id: 0

Problem signature:
P1: 6.1.7601
P2: base\wcp\servicingapi\assembly.cpp
P3: Windows::ServicingAPI::CAssembly::AddUninstall
P4: 572
P5: 8000ffff
P6: 0x96c42cdc
P7:
P8:
P9:
P10:

Attached files:

These files may be available here:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportQueue\Critical_6.1.7601_1559957ffddbfd3dd4d5a7fcab49d9995 2accd5_0ac8b95a

Analysis symbol:
Rechecking for solution: 0
Report Id: 21e74031-5e8c-11e2-b6f9-005056c00008
Report Status: 4

*As before 2 information and 1 error event(s) in setup log
a-Initiating changes for package KB2758857. Current state is Staged. Target state is Installed. Client id: WindowsUpdateAgent.
b-Package KB2758857 failed to be changed to the Installed state. Status: 0x8000ffff.
c-Windows update "Security Update for Windows (KB2758857)" could not be installed because of error 2147549183 "Catastrophic failure" (Command line: ""C:\Windows\system32\wusa.exe" "D:\Users\George Silkman\Downloads\Windows6.1-KB2758857-x64 (2).msu" ")

*As before 1 error event in system event log

Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x8000ffff: Security Update for Windows (KB2758857).

***********Hope these are clear enough; I have also posted in microsoft answers where there are many others with the same issue

Historically, 0x8000ffff errors are one of the hardest to cure, and sometime require a repair install.

Before we do that - please run the following commands in an elevated command prompt, and post the results.


REG QUERY HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\COMPONENTS\PendingXmlIdentifier
REG QUERY HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\COMPONENTS\NextQueueEntryIndex
REG QUERY HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\COMPONENTS\AdvancedInstallersNeedResolving

(It's likely that they will all come back with errors, unless you do this immediately after a reboot - and possibly even then, as the COMPONENTS hive is unloaded soon after booting is complete)

Thanks for taking the time to still try to make this work!!!

REG QUERY HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\COMPONENTS\PendingXmlIdentifier
ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.

REG QUERY HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\COMPONENTS\NextQueueEntryIndex
ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.

REG QUERY HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\COMPONENTS\AdvancedInstallersNeedResolving
ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.

**Edit
Thought about creating a batch file and running in on startup to write the results to a text file however for some strange reason this command doesnt write anything to the text file

REG QUERY HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\COMPONENTS\PendingXmlIdentifier >>c:\noel.txt

Should I try a repair install from dvd? I have backups in case something goes wrong...

No - it was just an off-chance try (I'm not even sure that key exists in Windows 7 - it may have been moved)

See if the C:\Windows\winsxs\poqexec.log file still exists - if it does, please attach it to a reply. (I have NO idea how to read it - but we'll see what we can find)
If it doesn't, see if you can find it in the Action Center Reliability history - find the install, and click on the link in the display.

poqexec.log

1cd08b30781a9de: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cd08b307b3bb40: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cd08919d083be6: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cd08919eb7c588: 0, 0, 0, 0, CriticalPOQComplete ;
1cd0891b1274473: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cd089713ef64d7: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cd089719ab2886: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cd08983e529ed9: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cd089843a7911e: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cd09061b923c8d: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cd09061d2c5105: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cd09a1fb6cd5f9: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cd09a1fde242c9: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cd17cba8749528: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cd17cbaa1a9562: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cd2debb4cae676: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cd2debb587403c: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cd499cbeb2d810: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cd499cc425bdd0: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cd51e14d4223a0: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cd51e14d9ef940: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cd5f526204e9e2: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cd5f526838c806: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cd7bad14f3dd32: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cd7bad1c5685fc: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cd910569ff56d0: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cd91056b8819b0: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cd931f394a5370: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cd931f39e50cd0: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cd98266830d4ba: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cd98266d2ec12a: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cda6fb604a41b6: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cdc2d1b1a425c1: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cdc2d1b61a2c27: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cdc4b0cef3a512: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cdc4b0cf4979ba: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cdcfa9a452a28e: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cdcfa9a46cdc6c: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cdd9586b1733b4: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cdd9586ec4f492: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cddc78970414f6: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cddc789c06c61a: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cde14dbccd6255: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cde14dbdc2f48b: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;
1cdef5010755f3d: 0, 0, 0, 0, StartTime ;
1cdef5011f9fe8b: 0, 0, 0, 0, EndTime ;