Old Windows updates appearing as new after latest updates

[Gumby]

So I successfully installed a total of 20 Windows updates for my Windows 7 x64 installation on Tuesday 11, 2014. I think 18 of them were "important" and 2 were "recommended" for x64 systems.

Now I have received four additional update notifications through Windows Update, one at a time. I installed the first without giving it much thought, after which I was asked to reboot. Everything seemed fine after reboot until I tried my Firefox browser, it looked all wrong and I could no longer read any of the menu headings. It was essentially non-functional. Then I tried Internet Explorer 11. It simply failed with an error window indicating that it could not start and it was checking for a solution to the problem.

So then I tried to uninstall the update, and I receive a message that an error occurred and the un-installation was unsuccessful. So then I restored Windows from an image file I had just made, and all was well again of course.

When this update came back through Windows Update, I researched it a bit and was surprised to find that it was from 2012. Now it is possible that I missed an important or recommended update, but I know I've checked Windows Update numerous times between 2012 and now, and this never showed up before. I also doubt that I missed an important or recommended update since they are selected by default, and I don't deviate from that. But I didn't verify since I couldn't find an easy way to search the 100+ updates installed on my machine. So I decided to hide that update.

Well, long story short, a different single update showed up, and I tried installing it, only to discover the same problem with my browsers. I once again recovered and researched to find another old update, this time from 2013. So I hid this one as well.

No less than 2 more of these old updates have come up... I believe that is the end of them since I've deliberately clicked "check for updates" a few more times, and nothing [other than the usual optional updates] comes up.

I made a note of the four old updates:

KB2658846
KB2855844
KB2835361
KB2665364

So, all of that said, am I the only person experiencing this issue?

Is it possible that old "failed" updates have somehow been set to show-up again? I really don't think I had 4 failed updates from the past. I know I may have had trouble with about 4 updates over the years, but if I recall correctly, in the end I did get them to install. I guess I should really search my entire list of installed updates for these 4.

Any other thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[NoelDP]

Let's have a look at the background...

Please follow the Windows Update Posting Instructions and post the requested data
Also, please post the C:\Windows\windowsupdate.log file

 

[Gumby]

Thanks for your reply

I have previously installed Windows Update Readiness Tool. That was fine.

I also ran sfc /scannow, and the results we no integrity violations found.

I have attached the CBS log and the Windows Update log.

Thanks again

 

[Gumby]

So any more thoughts on my strange experience?

In the meantime, my Windows 7 installation seems to be doing fine without those 4 updates. I did look through my update list, and based on the release dates, it looks like I probably do not have those 4 updates installed. And therefore, it would be good if I could get them installed properly... I don't understand why them seem to mess up my browsers. Just seems strange.

Thanks for any info.

 

[NoelDP]

Please post the C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CheckSUR.log file - it will hopefully have some data in it to help

 

[Gumby]

OK, I just re-ran the System Update Readiness Tool. The log file is attached. Does not seem to be any problems.

Maybe I'll backup everything, unhide Windows updates, and try re-installing those 4 updates. And if I still have issues with browser corruption, etc., I just won't worry about them. As long as I can install future updates [which I'll find out next Patch Tuesday, I guess], I should be fine. I haven't had any real problems up to this point.

Let me know if you have any other thoughts. Thanks again.

 

[NoelDP]

The CheckSUR log is fine
The Windowsupdate log shows errors, but nothing appears to be currently wrong.

Please attempt to install KB2665364 - using the offline installer from here...
Download Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2665364) from Official Microsoft Download Centre

What error message do you get? - please post the new Windowsupdate log immediately afterwards.

 

[Gumby]

I am attaching the WindowsUpdate log and a screen shot of the error. The only message I receive, as you can see from the pic, is: "Some updates were not installed."

At least there was no apparent corruption of my browsers this time.

Do you think my Windows 7 installation is salvageable? I'm really trying to avoid a re-installation of Windows.

Thanks again.

 

[NoelDP]

The relevant error here is 80073712 - which indicates corruption in the COMPONENTS registry hive.


I need to have a look at your COMPONENTS registry hive

Please copy the C:\Windows\System32\config\COMPONENTS file (no extension) to your desktop and then compress it - upload the compressed file to your favoured fileshare site (preferably Dropbox or SkyDrive) and post a link.

 

[Gumby]

Here is the link to my components file...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/x4dw1b6btoyjges/COMPONENTS.zip

 

[NoN]

Here few tips from Microsoft to resolve error code 80073712 before trying the hard way fixing it.

Error Code 0x80073712 occurs in Windows Update or Microsoft Update

Hope this help!

PS:
Read some have install Windows 7 on a separate hard drive to pick up a fresh COMPONENTS registry file and replaced it on their install to fix the corrupted one.

 

[NoelDP]

Yeah - I've read that too - and I suspect that the install falls over next Update Tuesday.
Doing that is pretty much the same as a repair install, without ANY of the safety factors that a repair includes.
It's really asking for more severe problems down the line.

 

[Gumby]

Thanks for the replies.

I have attempted 3 of the 5 methods on the Microsoft page. Windows Update Troubleshooter did not find any problems, System Update Readiness Tool did not find any problems, and System File Checker did not find any integrity violations.

Before moving onto the more drastic methods, what exactly will re-installing the latest service pack do at this point? Correct me if I'm mistaken: Windows 7 only has SP1. So if I re-install SP1 now, will I basically have to download and install all Windows Updates post SP1 release? I just want to know what I'm getting into before I actually go through with it.

I have attempted an in-place upgrade before on a different machine, and that is of course a fairly drastic measure. Not sure if I just had bad luck, but in the one instance I resorted to that, the results were less than successful: it seemed to cause more problems than it solved.

I do have another machine with Windows 7 installed, so I could try simply replacing the COMPONENTS registry file.

The one good things is: I can really try anything as I have backed up my current installation to an image file. So I can always restore my system to its current condition, should anything I attempt actually make it worse.

Any other thoughts / suggestions before I try something more extreme?

Thanks again.

 

[Gumby]

Actually, since I already have SP1 installed, it won't let me install SP1 again.

So that leaves me with the in-place upgrade method, but I won't attempt that unless you recommend it as last resort.

 

[NoelDP]

I think it's probably your best option.
It's not as nuclear an option as it used to be in pre-Vista days, and usually works pretty well, and pretty quickly.
See the tutorial here... http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

 

[Gumby]

Alright I will give the in-place upgrade method a try, following the directions.

Thanks for all of the help!

 

[NoelDP]

You're welcome - good luck!

 

[Gumby]

I completed the in-place upgrade, and I believe I am in better shape that I was before.

I have installed over 150 Windows updates now, and I'm essentially done. I had some issues with the .NET Framework that required a cleaning an re-installation, what was successful.

The main issues I'm facing right now is: after one of my reboots, a number of desktop shortcut icons were lost. I tried to rebuild the icon cache, but that didn't bring back my missing icons. And when I right click on one of the effected shortcuts, and select -> Properties -> Change Icon..., I receive a message that, "Windows can't find the file ..."

So my question is: is there any way to get back these icons without re-installing the software? There are about 10 different applications impacted, so that would be fairly significant re-installation work. The programs themselves all seem to be fine, its just their icons that have gone missing.

Thanks!

 

[DavidE]

You can:
- right click the program in the Start Menu (or the program .exe file)
- drag with the mouse to the desktop
- release the right button
- left click Create shortcuts here

That might be your simplest way to get the desktop shortcuts back for apx. 10 missing icons.