failed new Windows Update installer code 800F081F after code 80072EE2

[Win7UserUKB]

Hello,

I have been working patiently for the better part of three days, but cannot resolve the issue. I can no longer use Windows Update. Something seems to have happened on or after 19 July -- the final date that updates were installed. Thereafter, only failure messages in the log (now wiped clean, as a result of following one of the suggestions I found). When I click "check for updates", I receive a message that a problem occurred. The error code is 80072EE2
When I then click in that same window on "Check online for updates from Microsoft Update" I always get the message "Install new Windows Update software. To check for Windows Updates, you must first install an update for Windows Update. Install now." Naturally I click on this, only to receive error code 800F081F.

I have tried out several suggestions that did seemed relevant, including the 12 methods I found at
Windows Update service not running/ cmd says parameter incorrect - Microsoft Community

While trying to execute Method 5, I found that HKLM\COMPONENTS was missing from view. I found instructions on how to use Load Hive to make this visible again. No difference to Win Update.

I skipped Method 7, because my antivirus software is a MS product and has been in use for years, without any problems.

Method 10 proved impossible to execute: it seems to contain outdated information: you can no longer manually download these elements; instead you are redirected to a page that helpfully (irony) tells you that you should use Win Update on your own PC.

Method 11 tells me to take ownership of pending.xml: that is not present on my system.

Method 12: chkdsk results in the answer: "the drive, the path, or the file name is not valid"


I have now found this forum and have followed the instructions here to prepare for asking help.
http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-...4840-windows-update-posting-instructions.html

SURT has been run once more
SFC scan has not found any problems
I have included the error codes and described the sequence in which they are presented to me.
I attach the logs: however, the copy of the entire CBS folder is too large as a zip to attach (12 MB), so I have only attached the most recent logs.


Oh yes, and I have also "lost" my internal CD/DVD-drive somewhere en route: the driver has been identified as correct, but it won't appear in file explorer anymore, nor do (music) DVDs start up anymore when inserted. So I can also not make recovery DVDs etc.

I am very much hoping someone can help me, or maybe just tell me that it's OK to continue working without any Windows and Office updates coming in :sarc:? So far, my main programs (Outlook, Firefox, Word) seem to be doing fine.

Thanks,

Gert

 

[NoelDP]

Sounds likely to be a malware infection to me.
The error code you are getting implies that WU cannot access the servers at MS.

Please download and install Malwarebytes Anti-malware (free version) from http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/ - UNtick 'Enable free trial of MBAM Premium' at the end of the installation - and update it, then run a full scan in your main account, and Quick scans in any other user accounts.

Quarantine everything it finds

 

[Win7UserUKB]

Hello Noel,

Many thanks for this suggestion, which I fully followed up.

Alas, although the malware program identified and quarantined several threats (log attached), the quarantining (and restart of Windows) has not made any change at all. Exactly the same error codes are produced.

Do you (or other forum members) have further suggestions for me?

Many thanks in advance,

Gert

 

[NoelDP]

Please post the C:\Windows\Windowsupdate.log file
The stuff found by Malwarebytes wasn't serious malware, simply rubbishware or adware.

 

[Win7UserUKB]

Hello Noel,

Here is the Windowsupdate.log file

Thanks you,

Gert

 

[NoelDP]

You appear to be set to use WSUS rather than directly getting your updates from Microsoft.

2014-10-11 20:34:16:931 1116 1598 AU   # WSUS server: [URL]http://wsus.ugent.be[/URL]
2014-10-11 20:34:16:931 1116 1598 AU   # Detection frequency: 22
2014-10-11 20:34:16:931 1116 1598 AU   # Target group: Stable Clients
2014-10-11 20:34:16:931 1116 1598 AU   # Approval type: Pre-install notify (Policy)
2014-10-11 20:34:16:931 1116 1598 AU   # Auto-install minor updates: No (User preference)

You may not have permissions to access the server from your current location, and this could be why the updates are failing.

You would therefore need to reset WU to access the MS servers.

 

[Win7UserUKB]

Thanks for bearing with me, Noel. Unfortunately, still no joy. I think I have reset WU to access the MS servers (using the suggestion I found here Default Microsoft Windows Update Server - Server Fault specifically
"Here's how: Set values of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\WUServer and WUStatusServer (in same key) to empty strings. Set value of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU\UseWUSer* ​ver to 0. Restart Windows Update service." So the strings that said wsus.ugent.be have been removed and there is now nothing there, in registry.

This results in error code 80072EE2 no longer appearing, but I still get the instruction to "install an update for Windows Update. Install now." That, then, results in the usual error code 800F081F.

Any further help you can offer?

I attach the most recent WU log and the new registry files.

Thanks so much,

gert

 

[NoelDP]

You'd be better off totally removing the whole WindowsUpdate entry in Policies\Microsoft\Windows - it may be confusing things, and it looks to me as if it's attempting to find a new WSUS server still.

 

[Win7UserUKB]

Some progress, Noel. Removing the whole WindowsUpdate entry in Policies\Microsoft\Windows has resulted in my finally having control over the "Change settings" item in the Windows Update user interface. Before, this was controlled by my employer's IT administrator. Now, it is set to receive and install Windows Updates automatically. I have now set the time to check for and install updates to a few minutes from now. However, when I do a manual update check, I am still being asked to install the new Windows updater and I still get the usual error code 800F081F.
Gert

 

[NoelDP]

We're getting there .
Please post the new windowsupdate and CBS.log files.

 

[Win7UserUKB]

here you go

by the way, the time set by me for the automatic download and install of updates came and went without anything happening ...

 

[NoelDP]

Here's the windowsupdate.log error...

2014-10-12 17:20:11:362 1080 1244 Setup Setup package "WUClient-SelfUpdate-Aux-TopLevel~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~7.6.7600.320" is applicable but is already staged; it will not be downloaded.
2014-10-12 17:20:11:362 1080 1244 Setup Evaluating applicability of setup package "WUClient-SelfUpdate-Core-TopLevel~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~7.6.7600.320"
[COLOR=red]2014-10-12 17:20:11:674 1080 1244 Setup Setup package "WUClient-SelfUpdate-Core-TopLevel~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~7.6.7600.320" is applicable but is already staged; it will not be downloaded.
[/COLOR]2014-10-12 17:20:11:674 1080 1244 Setup SelfUpdate check completed.  SelfUpdate is required.
2014-10-12 17:20:11:674 1080 1244 Agent   * WARNING: Skipping scan, self-update check returned 0x8024D011

... and here's the equivalent one from the CBS.log

2014-10-12 17:12:35, Info                  CBS    Exec: Staging Package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Core-UIComp~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~nl-NL~7.6.7600.256, Update: UI, PinDeployment: amd64_microsoft-windows-w..oyment-languagepack_31bf3856ad364e35_7.6.7600.256_nl-nl_2d48d365f8a6cbef
[COLOR=red]2014-10-12 17:12:35, Info                  CBS    Calling client to resolve source, cannot find file 'wuaueng.dll.mui' at path: [/COLOR][URL="file://\\?\C:\windows\Servicing\Packages\amd64_microsoft-windows-w..ient-core.resources_31bf3856ad364e35_7.6.7600.256_de-de_8278ab80974c9678\wuaueng.dll.mui"][COLOR=red]\\?\C:\windows\Servicing\Packages\amd64_microsoft-windows-w..ient-core.resources_31bf3856ad364e35_7.6.7600.256_de-de_8278ab80974c9678\wuaueng.dll.mui[/COLOR][/URL]
2014-10-12 17:12:35, Error                 CBS    Exec: Failed to pre-stage package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Core-AdmComp~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~nl-NL~7.6.7600.320, file: wuaueng.dll.mui, source: [URL="file://\\?\C:\windows\Servicing\Packages\amd64_microsoft-windows-w..ient-core.resources_31bf3856ad364e35_7.6.7600.256_de-de_8278ab80974c9678\wuaueng.dll.mui"]\\?\C:\windows\Servicing\Packages\amd64_microsoft-windows-w..ient-core.resources_31bf3856ad364e35_7.6.7600.256_de-de_8278ab80974c9678\wuaueng.dll.mui[/URL], sandbox: (null) [HRESULT = 0x800f081f - CBS_E_SOURCE_MISSING]
2014-10-12 17:12:35, Info                  CBS    Failed to gather all required files. [HRESULT = 0x800f081f - CBS_E_SOURCE_MISSING]
2014-10-12 17:12:35, Info                  CBS    Failed to gather all missing files for package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Core-TopLevel~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~7.6.7600.320 [HRESULT = 0x800f081f - CBS_E_SOURCE_MISSING]
2014-10-12 17:12:35, Info                  CSI    [EMAIL="00000014@2014/10/12:16:12:35.333"]00000014@2014/10/12:16:12:35.333[/EMAIL] CSI Transaction @0x25b070 destroyed
2014-10-12 17:12:35, Error                 CBS    Failed to pre- stage package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Core-TopLevel~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~7.6.7600.320 [HRESULT = 0x800f081f - CBS_E_SOURCE_MISSING]
2014-10-12 17:12:35, Info                  CBS    Perf: Stage chain complete.
2014-10-12 17:12:35, Info                  CBS    Failed to stage execution chain. [HRESULT = 0x800f081f - CBS_E_SOURCE_MISSING]
2014-10-12 17:12:35, Error                 CBS    Failed to process single phase execution. [HRESULT = 0x800f081f - CBS_E_SOURCE_MISSING]
2014-10-12 17:12:35, Info                  CBS    WER: Generating failure report for package: WUClient-SelfUpdate-Core-TopLevel~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~7.6.7600.320, status: 0x800f081f, failure source: Stage, start state: Staged, target state: Installed, client id: WindowsUpdateAgent

I'll post what I hope will be a fix when I can - shout if you haven't heard in 48 hours.

 

[Win7UserUKB]

Many thanks in advance, Noel!
Gert

 

[Win7UserUKB]

hello Noel,

Now that Windows Update is set to install automatically, one update appears to have managed to have got itself downloaded--apart from the updates to Forefront Endpoint, which have always continued to run without a hitch--Microsoft Silverlight. But there is still the same unsuccessful attempt to install the WU Agent 7.6.7600.320.

I attach the latest logs.

Best,

Gert

 

[NoelDP]

Here's the error reported for the WU update...

 Line 14858: 2014-10-12 14:42:42:375 1096 11e0 Agent   * WARNING: Skipping scan, self-update check returned 0x8024001B
 Line 14859: 2014-10-12 14:42:42:375 1096 11e0 Agent   * WARNING: Exit code = 0x8024001B

Try the Fixit - http://download.microsoft.com/downl...-1BE17BF70B21/WindowsUpdateDiagnostic.diagcab
download and run it and see what it can do for you.

 

[Win7UserUKB]

Hi Noel,

I'm afraid I already had a shortcut to this diagnostic tool on my desktop, having run it so often. Have now done so again. It always finds the problem, but it cannot resolve it. Have run WU again after their attempt, and exactly the same result: I need to install the new WU installer, but I cannot do so.

Sigh.

Gert

 

[NoelDP]

OK - we may have to try and uninstall what's already been installed, and work from that.

First, though try running the offline installer...
http://download.windowsupdate.com/w...e/7.6.7600.320/WindowsUpdateAgent-7.6-x64.exe download and save it, then run it.
post any error messages, and the new windowsupdate and CBS.logs after then attempt.

 

[Win7UserUKB]

Thanks for your continued efforts--I had not myself been able to located that offline installer. Alas, I did get the feared Install failed message, with error # 0x80070002
New logs attached.

 

[NoelDP]

Here's the error from the windowsupdate.log

2014-10-15 13:48:25:889 1352 778 Setup Installing CBS package "c:\e3e9aa7813c7aca74ffc6275\WUClient-SelfUpdate-Core-TopLevel.cab"
2014-10-15 13:48:39:165 1352 778 Setup WARNING: CBS operation failed, error = 0x80070002
2014-10-15 13:48:39:165 1352 778 Setup WARNING: Install of setup package "c:\e3e9aa7813c7aca74ffc6275\WUClient-SelfUpdate-Core-TopLevel.cab" failed, error = 0x80070002
2014-10-15 13:48:39:165 1104 19b8 Misc ===========  Logging initialized (build: 7.6.7600.256, tz: +0100)  ===========

Looking at that point in the CBS log, there are a lot of confusing errors, involving multiple language variants.

I have seen similar before - and the only solution in the end was to do a repair install.

I think that this is probably also your best option - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R