[SOLVED] Server 2012, cannot install (nor remove) any updates

[Kev1194]

Hello,

I am new to the forum and by browsing the other topics in the Windows Update section it seems there are very knowledgeable persons in here.

I have a Windows Server 2012 that doesn't install any updates. The goal is to install the latest cumulative update but here's what happens instead.

I am first trying to install the latest SSU for this operating system via the MSU package windows8-rt-kb5014027-x64_73ed8495442d407ba9e79e72521cba347342dd85.msu
The installation window goes all the way through but strangely at the end it asks me to restart the computer (none of my others Server 2012 asked me to restart after the SSU installation).
After restarting the computer the update KB5014027 is not showing up as installed in the control panel in "Installed Updates".

It does the same thing if i try to install the actual cumulative update KB5014017, install process goes through but after reboot not showing up as installed.

It seems to me the part that is supposed to run before shutdown and before startup is not running at all : i never see any of the messages "Preparing updates" nor "Installing updates" with the spinning dots.

I ran sfc /detectnow and it found a single corrupted file (C:\Windows\SysWOW64\en-US\windows.ui.xaml.dll.mui).

I also ran DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and the output of the command said it repaired some meta data corruption.

As a test I tried to remove a previous SSU (KB4512939) that is showing in the list of installed updates. Using either WUSA.exe /uninstall /KB:4512939 or removing from the Installed Updates control panel page the result is the same : the system asks for a reboot and after the reboot the update is still installed and showing up in the list of Installed Updates.

I ran SFCFix and here are the SFCFix.txt contents :

SFCFix version 3.0.2.1 by niemiro.
Start time: 2022-05-24 14:24:46.899
Microsoft Windows Server 2012  - amd64
Not using a script file.

AutoAnalysis::
SUMMARY: No corruptions were detected.
AutoAnalysis:: directive completed successfully.

Successfully processed all directives.

Failed to generate a complete zip file. Upload aborted.

SFCFix version 3.0.2.1 by niemiro has completed.
Currently storing 0 datablocks.
Finish time: 2022-05-24 14:29:04.999
----------------------EOF-----------------------

I also ran ComponentsScanner and it did not detect corruption in the COMPONENTS hive

ComponentsScanner Version 1.3.0.0 by sysnative.com
Windows Version: Windows Server 2012 Standard x64 (6.2.9200)
Start time: 24/05/2022 14:34:54
Hive scanned: %windir%\System32\config\COMPONENTS
Number of keys: 180030
Number of values: 634953

==== Critical Errors ====
None

==== Corrupt Key Names ====
None

==== Corrupt Value Names ====
None

==== Corrupt Value Data Type ====
None

==== Corrupt Value Data ====
None

==== Repair Log ====
No possible repairs

Finish Time: 24/05/2022 14:35:20. Corruption scan time: 5,1852273s
===========================EOF===========================

Attached is my CBS.log file (i did not include the whole %WINDIR%\Logs\CBS directory because there is a 6.5 GB CbsPersist file in it)

The virtual machine is cloned so i am free to try anything on the clone, i will have to reproduce the steps on the actual machine if, with your help, i manage to install the updates on this one.

Thank you for any help you can bring and have a nice day !

 

[Kev1194]

I am updating my own topic to report that i have found the cause of the problem.

The registry entry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing\SessionsPending\Exclusive had a DWORD value of 1.

I deleted this entry while the system was booted from the Windows Server 2012 installation DVD. Then started the system normally and was able to install the SSU and the after that the cumulative update using the MSU files.

Windows Update worked too after that.

 

[philc43]

Many thanks for reporting on the cause and solution to your problem.