Solved Windows Update Agent 7.6.7600.320 Fails - Error Code 800736B3

[charlesrbasin]

Windows 7 SP1 Home Premium.
I am no longer getting any security updates because the update for Windows Update fails with Error Code 800736B3.

SFC /SCANNOW reports no errors.
C:\Windows\system32>sfc /scannow
Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.
Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 100% complete.
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

I have attached the CBS folder without the CbsPersist.cab files.

I have already tried the Microsoft KB How to update the Windows Update Agent to the latest version

View attachment 333503

 

[NoelDP]

There's nothing apparently amiss in any of the uploaded files.
Please upload the CBSPersist files, and the C:\Windows\windowsupdate.log file

 

[charlesrbasin]

Thanks for your help.
The CBSPersist files are in a zip file at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3-1CrsCBjOYMmN0UVRmVGJmaEE/edit?usp=sharing
I uploaded C:\Windows\windowsupdate.log file View attachment 333731

 

[NoelDP]

I think in your case, the simplest thing is going to be to use the All-in-one repair tool from Windows Repair (All In One)

Download it and run ONLY the Windows Update repair section - I don't trust all the other parts, but this one should do the job.
Once complete, reboot, then do another check for updates and see what happens.
post the new Windowsupdate.log file.

 

[charlesrbasin]

Ran repair for Windows update. Rebooted and found no change. The error persists. I uploaded the requested log file. View attachment 334029

 

[NoelDP]

Here's the error sequence from the windowsupdate.log file...

2014-09-20 21:35:16:570 4424 1038 Setup Installing setup package "WUClient-SelfUpdate-Core-TopLevel~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~7.6.7600.320"
2014-09-20 21:35:17:061 4424 1038 Setup WARNING: CBS installation failed, error = 0x800736B3
2014-09-20 21:35:17:062 4424 1038 Setup WARNING: Install of setup package "WUClient-SelfUpdate-Core-TopLevel~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~7.6.7600.320" failed, error = 0x800736B3
2014-09-20 21:35:17:062 4424 1038 Setup FATAL: Failed to install package, error = 0x800736B3
2014-09-20 21:35:17:062 4424 1038 Setup WARNING: Installing applicable setup packages failed, error = 0x800736B3

I think I need to take a look at your CBS registry entries and see if I can work out where the corruption is - and how widespread it is.
Please follow these instructions carefully - mistakes can be terminal!

Open Regedit, and navigate to the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
Key - expand it, and find the
Component Based Servicing
Subkey - right-click on it and select Export.
Change the 'Save as type' to 'Registry HiveFiles' and name the file CBScrb
Save it to your desktop, then compress it, and upload it.

 

[charlesrbasin]

I uploaded the requested file. View attachment 334086 Thanks for your help.

 

[NoelDP]

The entire ApplicabilityEvaluationCache branch of the registry appears to be missing - which means that the corruption is somewhere within that.
Unfortunately this is a large branch, and it's nor likely to be practical to attempt manual repair.

I think your best bet is likely to be a repair install.

 

[charlesrbasin]

In preparation for the repair install I discovered that the Microsoft Activation Key label on the Dell cabinet does NOT match the license key for Windows Home Premium that I see in SIW 2014 x64 v4.9.0904f Home Edition
System Information for Windows. Is that discrepancy between the stick on label and and the software field expected? Do you have a recommendation which product key to use during the install?

 

[NoelDP]

Computers that come pre-installed with Windows from large manufacturers usually come with two Product Keys.

OEM SLP: This is the key that came in Windows (from the factory). It works by connecting to a BIOS flag (the SLIC table) found only on computers from that Manufacturer. It also checks for the existence of proper matching licenses in the OS itself. Once it sees both, it self-activates every time the machine is rebooted.

COA SLP: This is the key seen on the sticker located on the side, bottom or in the battery compartment of your machine. This key is for use if the OEM SLP self-activation stops working for whatever reason.

 

[charlesrbasin]

The repair install took nearly 8 hours, and it resolved all my Windows Update problems. Thanks.

 

[NoelDP]

Great! - thanks for letting us now.

Good luck!