Windows Update keeps failing to update

I think I changed administrator settings by mistake and I cannot find a way to correct this other than installing Windows 7 from scratch :).

NoelDP said:

You could try a repair install - but I'm not sure how that'd work when trying it remotely.

Let's see what we can do with the permissions (the last set of data is fine)

Open an Elevated Command Prompt, and run the following commands

TAKEOWN /F C:\Windows\Temp /A
ICACLS C:\Windows\Temp /remove User
ICACLS C:\Windows\Temp /grant User:(CI)(S,WD,AD,X)
ICACLS C:\Windows\Temp

post the results.

Code:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>TAKEOWN /F C:\Windows\Temp /A

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows\Temp" now owned by the administrators
 group.

C:\Windows\system32>ICACLS C:\Windows\Temp /remove User
Successfully processed 0 files; Failed processing 0 files

C:\Windows\system32>ICACLS C:\Windows\Temp /grant User:(CI)(S,WD,AD,X)
User: No mapping between account names and security IDs was done.
Successfully processed 0 files; Failed processing 1 files

C:\Windows\system32>ICACLS C:\Windows\Temp
C:\Windows\Temp BUILTIN\Users:(CI)(S,WD,AD,X)
                BUILTIN\Administrators:(F)
                BUILTIN\Administrators:(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
                NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(F)
                NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
                CREATOR OWNER:(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
                BUILTIN\Users:(OI)(CI)(RX)

Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files

NoelDP said:

Bother! typo on my part, Sorry!

it should have been...

Open an Elevated Command Prompt, and run the following commands

TAKEOWN /F C:\Windows\Temp /A
ICACLS C:\Windows\Temp /remove Users
ICACLS C:\Windows\Temp /grant UsersCI)(S,WD,AD,X)
ICACLS C:\Windows\Temp

post the results.

Code:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>TAKEOWN /F C:\Windows\Temp /A

SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows\Temp" now owned by the administrators
 group.

C:\Windows\system32>ICACLS C:\Windows\Temp /remove Users
processed file: C:\Windows\Temp
Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files

C:\Windows\system32>ICACLS C:\Windows\Temp /grant Users:(CI)(S,WD,AD,X)
processed file: C:\Windows\Temp
Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files

C:\Windows\system32>ICACLS C:\Windows\Temp
C:\Windows\Temp BUILTIN\Administrators:(F)
                BUILTIN\Users:(CI)(S,WD,AD,X)
                BUILTIN\Administrators:(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
                NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(F)
                NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
                CREATOR OWNER:(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
                NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller:(I)(F)
                NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller:(I)(CI)(IO)(F)
                NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(I)(F)
                NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(I)(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
                BUILTIN\Administrators:(I)(F)
                BUILTIN\Administrators:(I)(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
                BUILTIN\Users:(I)(RX)
                BUILTIN\Users:(I)(OI)(CI)(IO)(GR,GE)
                CREATOR OWNER:(I)(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)

Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files

C:\Windows\system32>

NoelDP said:

Duh? what happened there?
It looks like something forced inheritance on the folder in the meantime - which was definitely not the intention or capability of my script.

Please undo that - then post the results of another

ICACLS C:\Windows\Temp

How can I undo it :) (by right-clicking on the folder and modifying Security settings)?

NoelDP said:

Duh? what happened there?
It looks like something forced inheritance on the folder in the meantime - which was definitely not the intention or capability of my script.

Please undo that - then post the results of another

ICACLS C:\Windows\Temp

Code:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>ICACLS C:\Windows\Temp
C:\Windows\Temp BUILTIN\Administrators:(OI)(CI)(F)
                NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(OI)(CI)(F)
                CREATOR OWNER:(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
                BUILTIN\Users:(CI)(S,WD,AD,X)

Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files