KB2604121+KB2468871 update failure+ SFC /scannow failure to repair

Hi NoelD,
Hold your horses for the moment the situation is a bit complex.
I thought I'd try to download OS7 + SP1 in the hope that a disk repair, including SP1, might be of use.
My Product Key was refused so I phoned Msoft support: during the conversation they said they could help with the update problem so, OK, I thought .... give it a go.
This was on Sunday, a techie tried but failed and said she would refer it to a senior techie: he was to phone me back at 10am Monday. Monday, he (AR) spent quite a few hours on it, including downloading 7+SP1 - I assume he also reinstalled the OS since he put in the first 30 or so updates and left me to do the rest - 158. He was to phone 10am today. After I had installed updates Monday evening, I found I had one important update - Acronis TIB mounter, this failed: I opened Acronis which reported an update - OK. NOW, TIB mounter was replaced by yet another important update - KB 982670, another .NET Framework one. Inevitably this failed - twice - with Code 80243004.
When AR phoned back this morning the code had become an unknown one (no longer 80243004), he tried a number of things, then was talking about a log which he could read then re-contact me - when?
Unfortunately my wife's brother has just died, we are his only relatives and have a number of urgent things to do which made it difficult to give him a definite time so he just hid the 98260 and assured me that the computer would be fine.
Great, except that I now find I can't open Kaspersky: I've tried closing Windows Firewall but still couldn't open Kaspersky. I've spoken to another techie and AR is to phone me back at 10am tomorrow.
At least I've got the Death Certificate and I think I'm OK 'til Thursday with the Registrar.

Sorry this is so lengthy but anything shorter wouldn't have given the picture - I'll let you know what happens ultimately and, if it's still not sorted, and you are still prepared to try ......?????

Hi again NoelD,

Microsoft were supposed to ring me at 10am last Thursday but didn't. Before I get involved with them again I have three avenues that I wondered if you might comment upon:

1) I have Secunia PSI 2.0 which informs me on the need for updates, it reports as follows:

.NET Framework 4.0.30319.34209 patched up-to-date
.NET Framework 2.0.50727.5491 insecure
.NET Framework 3.0.4506.5463 insecure

also Microsoft XML Core Services (MSXML) 4.30.21170 end of life

2) There is also an interesting video at:

youtube.com/watch?v=RC_5eb9wTfk
"Doing a Repair install with Windows 7 SP1 with a pre-SP1 DVD

3) I have an ISO file of OS7 plus SP1 which I assume I could burn to DVD and do a Repair disk?

Can you offer an opinion on the relative efficacy of the last two items or any direction suggested by the Secunia information?

Very appreciative of all the time you have put in to date

Dear NoelD,

Very difficult to get near the computer for any other reason than funeral business at present but I do have a few moments now:

1) Secunia - the reason I mentioned this was before Microsoft got involved there was no listing of 'insecure' for .NET 2 or 3.

2) I hope to look at the tutorial over this weekend.

3) I would assume it's the same edition of Windows since it was put there by the Microsoft guy.
In fact I wonder if he ran it since there were about 160 or so system updates, though I have no idea how that would work since the 7 .exe file was on my desktop.

4) Lastly, I think I will have to return to Microsoft, since after their 'help' I now have no password appear at startup and cannot open Photoshop which insists that I do not have 'proper privileges': I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling but now cannot register it.

It's all great fun especially with dealing with the funeral at the same time !!!!*****

Appreciate your continued responses.

PS: just thought one other oddity: last November I switched from GFI's Vipre Internet Security to Kaspersky now, whenever I right click to delete I get a reference to Vipre which I have to 'cancel' twice before getting the delete window: subsequent to doing this if I reuse delete it's ok. I assume there must be a file left somewhere or other. I realise that this is not an OS7 item, it's just another irritant.

Hi yet again,

I've just re-surfaced from the funeral and am between subsequent must-do's, trying to get back to my update problem.
Referring to your earlier "a much better tutorial here", I'm just a little concerned about 'log in to an administrative account', I am of course administrator but am concerned that since Microsoft were 'helping', as I mentioned earlier, I now have no password demand at start-up, subsequently I've lost the use of Photoshop CS2. When I attempt to open CS2 I get a message that I do not have the administrative privileges necessary. Do you think this means that my admin is not recognised now? Is there any way I can check this or should I go ahead with the repair install anyway?

As usual very, very, extremely grateful for assistance.

Hello yet again,

I solved the Photoshop problem - first time of opening the program, run as administrator - now it opens every time, no problem, that's with UAC running.

I started the ISO install: following stage 12, it gave iTunes as a compatibility problem, I uninstalled it and tried again.

Now I'm getting a continuous circle: after the compatibility check I get the message 'Windows needs to be restarted so necessary changes to system files can be made before continuing' The window shows CLOSE at its base - not NEXT. If I restart the process exactly the same occurs - a continuous cycle.

I tried using the X button instead of CLOSE this gave 'to install or upgrade Windows, you must run Windows installation. Are you sure you want to cancel Windows installation?'

The one thing I wondered is, I always have used Total Uninstall and on uninstalling iTunes I had a considerable number of Registry files that it advised leaving if I was uncertain of their relevance - they would not be a problem if left - I have wondered that since these are presumably Apple files, should I have deleted the lot, could they still be causing a problem.

Any advise you can possibly give ..... I keep trying to get back to Microsoft but the last time I logged in and tried for their technical chat there was a waiting time of over 3 hours. I've temporarily given up trying on the phone.

Desparate