KB958559 fails to configure in Windows 7

[zzz2496]

@serloren

Try uninstalling everything that are related to XPMode (including Windows Update KB958559), after that do a restart. Now, Install the KB958559 *FIRST*, do a restart, then install XPMode, then another restart...

See how it goes...

 

[serloren]

Microsoft Support

Been there - done that. But thanks.

Microsoft Support called this afternoon - gave him control of the system, first thing he does is run the tool to see if I can handle virtualization. This was immediately after my telling him that this was brand-new (6 weeks old) system with more than enough firepower to do it, AND that I had already run the tool previously just to double-check that the hardware was in fact ready to rock.

This of course altered my own perception of who..er..what is a Microsoft Tool...

He then proceeded to shut down all my non-Microsoft services, reboot clean, and try to install VPC. This of course did not work, and I had already told him that not only had this been tried, but that I had even tried opening permissions on every folder on my machine temporarily and that didn't help either.

I had to get off the phone as my baby was waking up and my wife wasn't home yet. When we hung up he intends to call me back tomorrow - he ended the conversation with a suggestion to reinstall Windows.....NOT!

If he thinks of something less drastic before tomorrow - I'll hear it, but I am not going to do a complete reinstall on a new Dell on his say-so as his second idea of a fix.

 

[TimStitt]

B
This of course altered my own perception of who..er..what is a Microsoft Tool...

Brilliant!

 

[zzz2496]

Hmm... that is odd... the logic behind your (serloren's) problem is that you installed the XP Mode (the virtual machine) first and the Virtual PC (the Virtual Machine Manager) after that... You don't do that. That won't work.

It's like (a very crude example~) putting your whole house's content (bed, tv, sofa, etc) on site THEN build the house around it, put the flooring while you have things on top of the floor... which won't work...

XP Mode should have been distributed in .vhd format to avoid this kind of issues...

Oh, and Merry Christmas !!

 

[serloren]

>Hmm... that is odd... the logic behind your (serloren's) problem is that you installed >the XP Mode (the virtual machine) first and the Virtual PC (the Virtual Machine >Manager) after that... You don't do that. That won't work.

Actually, if you don't have the VPC issue I do, that way works just fine. You install XPMode, and then when you install VPC you just point the HD you create at the VHD file waiting for you from the XPMode install.

You can do it either way, but Microsoft tells people to do it this way so they don't have to reboot in-between (big deal!).

>XP Mode should have been distributed in .vhd format to avoid this kind of issues...

It might have avoided issues for some folks, but wouldn't have mattered in my case since XPMode and the VHD file will install no sweat (and run if I install VPC 2007 sp1 instead). My issue starts and stops with VPC not installing.

And yeah: MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!!!

 

[zzz2496]

Well... I did that (install XPMode then Install KB) once, it was because VPC told me that I don't have enough "resources" to wake my XPMode up... I mess things up, and at the end decides to reinstall the VPC subcomponent all together. Once I uninstall everything, I did what you did, install XPMode first then the KB (it was 4 AM, and I was very very tired).

After cursing, getting mad at Windows 7 and all... I realized I did everything (at that time) backward, which then "lit the lamp", I said to my self, "you are a moron", in which after that I uninstall everything, then reinstall it "the right way", then it just works... Which in turn led to to write what I wrote in this page...

I don't know if it makes any sense, though I have to agree, the "guide" Microsoft wrote on their site is a bit misguided. It should write that you need to install the VMM first then the VM package (it's a package since it has a number of things in it, not just the Windows XP image. Open the WindowsXPMode_en-us.exe in your favorite archiver [I use 7-Zip] if you don't believe me).

As I said earlier, if only Microsoft distributes XPMode in .vhd format, it will give it's users way less problems, since .vhd is equivalent to "an office document", you just need to install the "office suite" to open/use it, but then again... it will open to all sorts of problems for Microsoft, which has to do with software pirates...

Oh well, enough rambling for today...

Merry Christmas, and good evening !!!

 

[serloren]

This is a repeat of a post made on Technet by me about all of this. Would take VOLUMES to tell you every single thing that has gone on since this started - but figured I'd at least give you all the big finish (as it now stands anyway). Hopefully, this can somehow in some way help someone else.


Hi everyone (or anyone who is still checking this thread at least),

To update, after Microsoft's phone support (NOT Thayu) screwed around with this a while, we ended up with a system that no longer functions, and after a mildly "heated" exchange over the phone between him and a Dell tech, Dell attempted to get the system going. I called back at 2am this morning to finish up where I knew the whole thing was heading...

After my 2am call, and time spent explaining for the zillionth time, and yet again making some attempts to boot the system - they finally got the point: something in the hardware is royally screwed! Think of every single way that you know to boot or attempt to boot a freezing system - including ones to do a reinstall etc - and double that, and you'll have an idea of how many things were tried (all of them several times).

As of right now, my Inspiron is sitting upstairs at my desk, its guts laid open for all to see - dead. Just so you understand, it does power up, but nothing can get the system to load past "Windows is loading files" without a complete freeze-lockup.

Dell said "You've been through enough (Tell me about it!), we are going to swap out the RAM, the motherboard, and the HD for you, I just have to set up a ticket for the tech to come out".

I told him that this was silly - and lacked was not efficient nor cost effective. When he asked why, I said it made no sense to contact a tech (who they job out of course), ship him parts, and then have him spend 3 hours (possibly much more) including travel time to come to my home, pull the system apart and swap those items when they could far more easily ship me a new system, and me ship this one back since all that's really left is $10 of parts for a case/power (Dell cost not retail<g>).

He said that he going to leave the processor, video and audio cards too - so much more than $10 parts. I told him that the system uses onboard audio and video - no add-ins, and since we have no idea this point what the hardware issue is, how much sense did it make to leave a proc that could *possibly* be at fault, to have the problem re-emerge in a week and be back at square one with another in-house service call. Given that the system is 5-6 weeks old, stock is not an issue, so better (and much cheaper) to send out an entirely new system, and take this one back in-house. Wham bam no sweat and that's all folks!

He put me on hold for about 10 minutes, then 5, then 10, then said he had gotten approval to do a full system swap. We went through a bunch more gunk, but I am now awaiting (VERY unhappy that it may be more than 2 weeks to delivery!!) a new system from Dell to replace the new system I took delivery of the 8th of November.

I am so screwed in so many ways because of all of this that I can't begin to describe what it has and is costing me dealing with this. My darling wife ordered me a new Dell 23" monitor for Christmas which isn't here yet....it may very well be the very last thing we ever order from Dell.

However, your mileage may vary!

Happy New Year all (I think I'll go slash my wrists now...)

serloren

 

[isamuelson]

I know that this is an old post, but I just wanted to say I was able to figure out my issue. I was having the same problems where I'd install KB958559 and nothing would show up yet it appeared to have installed correctly.

Here is what I did. I went to Start->Control Panel->Programs and Features. From there, I clicked in the left panel the "Turn Windows Features On or Off". I scrolled down and saw that Virtual PC was unchecked. I checked it and then rebooted and there was the Windows Virtual PC folder with the Windows XP Mode icon.

 

[oldbushie]

I figured out what was going wrong with mine, apparently I had too many network filters installed. If you go to Network Connections and right click on any adapter to see its properties, the number of installed things on the list can't exceed 10. By default, Microsoft already has about 7 installed... and a couple applications I had installed their own network filters.

 

[serloren]

Just to catch up...

Just a note to mention that since I received the "NEW" New Inspiron from Dell in February (!), I have not had the same situation occur at all. However, I have had in the last 8-ish months, 5 instances where the machine would not start and I had to F12 and use System Restore to get up and going again.

Another issue is that intermittently, the mouse begins to lag-n-drag like a sumbeech (I've found through much digging this issue has been happening since Vista...on Dells), and the only workaround offered as yet is to go back to using a PS2 mouse...of course this machine has no PS2 ports on it!

I have been running Windows 7 Pro on 4 different machines in the last 8 months to a year, and I have had NONE of these issues on any of the other 3 (A Compaq laptop, an Acer Laptop, and an old home-built box of my own). In fact, I've had no issues with 7 Pro on any of those machines at all and I thoroughly love the OS after using it all this time.

Due to "Life" beyond my control, I have proceeded NO further in my studies and now have barely 3 months left to take and pass my 290, 291, and 270 exams before I have to start paying for them again (*sigh*) to complete my MCSA (I currently have MCP (XP Pro), MCDST, and my A+ (for several years). I'm also working a contract position for (probably) a few more weeks for Dell (Yeah, I know...) doing a 1500 machine roll-out for a new hospital here in Milwaukee. So, we'll see how far I get anytime soon.

Anyway, just thought I'd pop in and mention that the problem I started this thread with was never actually resolved...just rolled over by others that came after-during it . Here's hoping that all of you have had a smoother and simpler 2010 to date than I have, and I also pray that the Lord blesses and keeps each of you and your families in the days ahead.

peace/faith/hope/love in Christ Jesus,

serloren