Can't check for new Windows Updates - Error 80073701

[Lea Massiot]

Hello,

I have a problem with "Windows Update":
- I have the message: "Windows couldn't check for updates automatically" in "Action Center" ;
- and I can't check for new updates manually.

My machine is not brand new but not old either: "Windows Update" used to work properly.
The OS is "Windows 7 Professional 64 bit" with SP1.
Like I just wrote, automatic updates used to work properly:
"Most recent check for updates": 2014-08-27 at 11:12 AM
"Updates were installed" : 2014-10-12 at 10:32 PM

When I go to:
"Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Windows Update"

And click "Check for updates".

I get the following message:

"Install new Windows Update software"
"To check for updates, you must first install an update for Windows Update."
"Your automatic updating settings will not change."

I click the button "Install now".

After a little while, I get this message:

Windows couldn't search for new updates
An error occurred while checking for new updates for your computer.
Error(s) found:
Code 80073701  Windows Update encountered an unknown error.

How can this problem be fixed?
Best regards.

 

[Lea Massiot]

Additional note:
I also tried to run "Windows6.1-KB947821-v33-x64.msu".
I interrupted it abruptly because I wanted to run it as administrator.
Now, when I try to run it again I get the error:
Installer encountered an error: 0x80240009

Thanks for helping.

 

[NoelDP]

Reboot, then
Please follow the Windows Update Posting Instructions and post the requested data
If the file is too large (8MB compressed), remove the older CBSPersist cab files until the final file is below the limit - you can always post them separately after zipping them. (the forum doesn't allow the upload of bare CAB files, for a number of reasons)

 

[Lea Massiot]

Please find a .zip file attached.
I removed the .cab files: I don't know if you need them or not.

 

[NoelDP]

We can get away without them for the moment - although the most recent of them would be useful.

The CheckSUR is clear of errrors - but there are some serious errors in the GBS.log background.

2014-10-24 15:57:52, Info                  CSI    00000029 Performing 1 operations; 1 are not lock/unlock and follow:
  Stage (1): flags: 8 app: [Microsoft-Windows-WindowsUpdateClient-Aux.Deployment-LanguagePack, Version = 7.6.7600.320, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64 (9), Culture = [l:10{5}]"ru-RU", VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type neutral, TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral]) comp: (null) man: @0x1997b78
2014-10-24 15:57:52, Info                  CBS    Exec: Resolving Package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-AuxComp~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~zh-TW~7.6.7600.256, Update: Aux
2014-10-24 15:57:52, Info                  CBS    Exec: Resolving Package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-AuxComp~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~zh-TW~7.6.7600.256, Update: Aux, PinDeployment: amd64_microsoft-windows-w..oyment-languagepack_31bf3856ad364e35_7.6.7600.256_zh-tw_e2a4fe2ca4659272
2014-10-24 15:57:52, Error                 CSI    [EMAIL="0000002a@2014/10/24:13:57:52.557"]0000002a@2014/10/24:13:57:52.557[/EMAIL] (F) d:\win7sp1_gdr\base\wcp\componentstore\csd_locking.cpp(324): Error STATUS_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING originated in function CCSDirectTransaction::LockComponent expression: (null)
[gle=0x80004005]
2014-10-24 15:58:06, Error                 CSI    0000002b (F) STATUS_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING #16768# from CCSDirectTransaction::OperateEnding at index 0 of 1 operations, disposition 2[gle=0xd015000c]
2014-10-24 15:58:06, Error                 CSI    0000002c (F) HRESULT_FROM_WIN32(ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING) #16653# from Windows::ServicingAPI::CCSITransaction::ICSITransaction_PinDeployment(Flags = 0, a = Microsoft-Windows-WindowsUpdateClient-Aux.Deployment-LanguagePack, Version = 7.6.7600.256, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64 (9), Culture = [l:10{5}]"zh-TW", VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type neutral, TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral, cb = (null), s = (null), rid = [77]"WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-AuxComp~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~zh-TW~7.6.7600.256.Aux", rah = [2]"32", manpath = (null), catpath = (null), ed = 0, disp = 0)[gle=0x80073701]
2014-10-24 15:58:06, Info                  CBS    Failed to pin deployment while resolving Update: Aux from file: (null) [HRESULT = 0x80073701 - ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING]
2014-10-24 15:58:06, Info                  CBS    Failed to resolve item[0] in Package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-AuxComp~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~zh-TW~7.6.7600.256, Update: Aux [HRESULT = 0x80073701 - ERROR_SXS_ASSEMBLY_MISSING]

Ordinarily, I'd say try uninstalling the affected update - but this particular one isn't uninstallable

I'm going to ask for help, so don't run away

 

[Lea Massiot]

Please find attached the most recent .cab file.

 

[Lea Massiot]

So? My problem is not solved. Could you get some help?
Thanks. Best regards.

 

[NoelDP]

Sorry - I did ask but I've had no feedback yet
I'll try again.

If we hear nothing by tomorrow, I suspect that your best option is going to be a repair install.

 

[Lea Massiot]

I just would like to mention that I did nothing wrong with my computer.
I take great care of it because it's my machine work.
I won't do anything dangerous to repair it.
I prefer not to get updates.
Thank you for your understanding.
Hoping to get a nice solution for that problem
Best regards.

 

[NoelDP]

Probably not your fault - sometimes, stuff like this 'just happens'

 

[tom982]

Hi Lea,

Sorry for the delay, this week has just been so busy for me and I've had barely any time to get online. I have an exam tomorrow and two more on Friday so unless I find a few spare minutes to look at this, I won't be able to look at this until the weekend.

Tom

 

[Lea Massiot]

Ok Tom. Good luck for your exams.
Best regards.

 

[tom982]

Hi Lea,

Let's start off with this:

Windows Update Package Replacement

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. Please download the attached file, WUA_64.zip and save this to your Desktop.
2. Right-click on the file and select Extract All...
3. Tick the box labelled Show extracted files when complete then click Extract
4. A window will open showing two folders, Manifests and Packages
5. Open the Manifests folder and copy the files into the following folder (if there are any files)
   
   C:\Windows\Temp\CheckSur\Winsxs\Manifests
   
   
6. Open the Packages folder and copy the files into the following folder (if there are any files)
   
   C:\Windows\Temp\CheckSur\Servicing\Packages
   
   
7. Run the System Update Readiness Tool (SURT) again
8. When the SURT finishes installing, zip up and attach the following folder to your next post please:
   
   C:\Windows\Logs\CBS

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16537616/Fixes/SURT/~Generic/WUA_64.zip

Tom

 

[Lea Massiot]

Hello Tom.
I hope you did well at your exams.
I did what you asked for.
It's ready.
Best regards.

 

[tom982]

Hi Lea,

They went very well, thank you.

Thanks for the logs, that rules out quite a lot but I'm still trying to track down the problem. I'm going to need a few more files please:

Export registry as hive

1. Click on the Start
   
   button and in the search box, type regedit
2. When you see regedit on the list, right-click on it and select Run as administrator
3. When regedit opens, using the left pane, navigate to the following registry key and select it by clicking on it once.
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing
   
   
4. Once selected, click File > Export....
5. Change the Save as type: to Registry Hive Files (*.*)
6. Name this file CBS (with no file extension) and save it to your Desktop.

Go to C:\Windows\system32\config\ and copy the file COMPONENTS to your Desktop.

Zip up the two files (CBS and COMPONENTS) and then upload them to Onedrive, Dropbox or another filesharing website and send me the link please - they'll be too big to upload as an attachment here.

Tom

 

[Lea Massiot]

Hello Tom,

> They went very well, thank you.
Good for you

This should work:
https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=6211...05&ithint=folder,zip&authkey=!AFkHyAkFg3S9ZGo
Please tell me if it doesn't.

Best regards.