Windows 7 update fails and Windows not genuine message is appearing

Hi Louis,

I think I've found a way to do this, but I need one more bit of information please:

Command Prompt

Warning: this fix is specific to the user in this thread. No one else should follow these instructions as it may cause more harm than good. If you are after assistance, please start a thread of your own.

1. Click on the Start button and in the search box, type Command Prompt
2. When you see Command Prompt on the list, right-click on it and select Run as administrator
3. When command prompt opens, copy and paste the following commands into it, press enter after each
   
   dir "C:\Windows\servicing\Packages" > %SYSTEMDRIVE%\packages.txt
   
   
4. This will create a text file called packages.txt in the root folder of your main drive (e.g. C:\tom982.txt). Please copy and paste the contents of this into your next post.

Tom

Hi Louis,

Thanks for the file, but I had no luck with it. What I was trying to achieve, was to find what update that file originated from by comparing the creation date of the manifest with those of the packages - which are named nicely with the update number in the middle, but I got no matches.

The next thing that I would like to try, is to extract every Windows 7 x64 update that has ever been released then scan the lot to try and find this file, which I will then be able to trace. My connection is too slow to download them all again here, but I have all of them saved on my Desktop at uni which is also fast enough to extract them all quickly. Would you mind waiting until Sunday? That's when I go back to uni.

Thanks,

Tom

louk1 said:

Tom,

While I am thinking about it, one of the problems that I have been having is the failure of windows updates to install successfully.When I just checked via the control panel>programs>programs and features>view installed updates and it states that no updates are installed. If memory serves me, in an earlier attempt to solve the problem of failure to update, I followed a procedure (possibly from this forum) that had me get rid of all of the updates. That was several months ago as I remember it. Also on that same screen there is another choice, Turn windows features on and off. When I go there, it brings up a screen that is blank. It does not show any windows features to choose from. I have been leaving the windows updates option set so that the computer is informed that updates are available, but I control when they are downloaded and installed. I did this some time ago because when set on automatic, every time I shut the computer down, there would be a long delay in the shutdown while an attempt would be made to install the updates, which would not be installed.

The problem with the "Windows not Genuine" message started just about a week before i placed the problem on the Win 7 forum.

Louis

Hi Louis,

Thanks for the extra information, although it doesn't specifically help with the problem we're facing now, it is very useful to consider for future fixes.

A very usual fix that is recommended here, which I hate seeing as people suggest it without knowing the consequences, is to delete the SoftwareDistribution folder, located here:

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

Do you remember deleting, or even renaming, this folder? One side effect of doing this is having an empty Windows Features list, like you are suffering from. At this moment in time, I'm not aware of any fix being available for this problem, but I will look into it again.

Tom

Hi Louis,

For once, I've hit a stroke of luck with this one! I think I've finally found the cause of your problem

Would you mind uploading your COMPONENTS hive again please? The usual Dropbox method is perfect.

C:\Windows\system32\config\COMPONENTS

Tom

Hi Louis,

Here goes! This should get everything. Download this file please:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/16537616/CO...28Fixed%29.zip

Extract it to your Desktop.

Rename: C:\Windows\system32\config\COMPONENTS
To: C:\Windows\system32\config\COMPONENTS.bak

Then copy and paste the COMPONENTS on your Desktop into this folder.

Reboot, run the SURT and upload the log please:

C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CheckSUR.persist.log

Tom