Solved Cannot Complete Installing Updates, or Check for New Updates

[NoelDP]

Nah - my x86 install is pure rather than updated from RTM, and it seems to be missing all of the files. (Interestingly, the appropriate folders are present the x64 install which is an update from RTM? - at least for a few of the files!)

I'll take a gander at the updates and see what I can find.

 

[NoelDP]

Oh - BTW, you'll have a problem there, a couple of the files exist in more than one version in the log! sou you'll get overwrite requests.

 

[QuagsireQing]

You two have been talking to each other over the last four posts, right? I didn't want to miss a step that I should have been working on.

 

[QuagsireQing]

I guess I'll try reviving this one last time in the hopes that something can be done.

 

[NoelDP]

Sorry about that - I suspect we each thought the other was dealing with it.

I'll pick it up and run with it - back later today.

 

[tom982]

Sorry for the delay - I should have your files by the end of the day

 

[QuagsireQing]

Any headway?

 

[tom982]

Hi QuagsireQing,

Sorry for the (further) delay. I've managed to source most of your files, so lets replace these and see where we stand.

Please download the attached file, packs.zip, and extract this to the root folder of your primary drive (usually C:\) so that the folders have the structure: C:\Packs\Windows... etc.

Do you have a Windows 7 DVD? If not, I would like you to create a System Repair Disc:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

You will now need to boot into your disc. After selecting the language, click Repair Computer then click Command Prompt. In this Command Prompt window, type out the following command, double checking it for typos before pressing enter:

robocopy C:\Packs C:\ /E /IS

Then reboot your computer, do another SFC and upload your CBS log please

Tom

 

[QuagsireQing]

I cannot do an SFC. The command results in the following message:

"There is a system repair pending which requires reboot to complete. Restart Windows and run sfc again."

The same message is presented after restarting. Here is my CBS log, for what it may be worth.

 

[tom982]

I cannot do an SFC. The command results in the following message:

"There is a system repair pending which requires reboot to complete. Restart Windows and run sfc again."

The same message is presented after restarting. Here is my CBS log, for what it may be worth.

Hi QuagsireQing,

That's odd, I've never come across that error before. Could you follow this tutorial to run a chkdsk and another SFC scan from the recovery environment:

Mike's Technology and Finance Blog: How to Perform an Offline System Integrity Verification

Tom

 

[QuagsireQing]

Same result in the recovery environment after chkdsk. I'd venture a guess that C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml is what's blocking it.

 

[tom982]

Hmm, let's try a broader approach then. Try all of the steps on this article apart from #8 and #10

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2509997

Tom

 

[NoelDP]

[Thanks, Tom - I was looking for that one for another thread!]

 

[tom982]

[Thanks, Tom - I was looking for that one for another thread!]

No worries, I've only just found it and it looks pretty good.

 

[QuagsireQing]

I still cannot check for updates, but here are some interesting tidbits:

• In method 11 on that support page, I successfully took ownership of pending.xml, but access was denied to rename it.
• Even though the last successful check for updates was September 11, 2012, my update history shows 18 successfully installed updates (17 important and 1 recommended) since that date (and one failed update).
• Today, for the first time, after implementing method 8 (exclude Software Distribution folder from antivirus), my Shut Down button bore the "install updates" icon, and the welcome screen said "Installing update 1 of 3..." This is the first evidence I've had of any updates in over two months.

That said, I still cannot check for updates. The "Restart your computer to install important updates" message, as well as the cycle of "Preparing Updates" -> Restart -> "Preparing Updates" -> Restart -> "Failed to Configure Updates" -> Welcome continue to present themselves.

 

[NoelDP]

After taking ownership, you have to adjust permissions - Admins by default only have read/execute permissions there, and cannot do anything else.

 

[QuagsireQing]

Rename access is still denied via the command prompt, even with full control.

 

[NoelDP]

Open an Elevated Command prompt and try - also...
run the following commands and post the results...

ICACLS C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml
ATTRIB C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml
DIR C:\Windows\winsxs\pending*.*


Here are some instructions to make life easier
1) To open an Elevated Command Prompt Window (the ECP window), click on Start, All Programs, Accessories – then right-click on Command Prompt, and select Run as Administrator. Accept the UAC prompt.
2) To run the commands easier, highlight the block of commands, and right-click on the highlight – select Copy. In the CP Window, click on the black/white icon at top left – select Paste. The commands will run but may not complete the last command, so hit the Enter Key once.
3) To copy the results... click on the Black/White icon in the top left, and select Edit... 'Select All', and hit the Enter key - then use Ctrl+V or r-click+Paste to paste it into your response.

 

[QuagsireQing]

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>ICACLS C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml
C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(F)
                              BUILTIN\Administrators:(F)
                              BUILTIN\Users:(F)
                              NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller:(I)(F)
                              BUILTIN\Administrators:(I)(RX)
                              NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(I)(RX)
                              BUILTIN\Users:(I)(RX)

Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files

C:\Windows\system32>ATTRIB C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml
A            C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml

C:\Windows\system32>DIR C:\Windows\winsxs\pending*.*
 Volume in drive C has no label.
 Volume Serial Number is 4874-1525

 Directory of C:\Windows\winsxs

11/09/2012  10:28 PM           110,816 pending.xml
               1 File(s)        110,816 bytes
               0 Dir(s)  22,372,339,712 bytes free

 

[NoelDP]

The following command should work, run from an Elevated Command Prompt IN SAFE MODE...

REN C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml pending.old1
Please attach the renamed file to your reply