[SOLVED] Win 7 update problems - certificate expired, update not applicable

BobRoxx · Aug 26, 2019

Hey guys,

i got some problems with an older pc running windows 7. "Turn windows features on" is blank. Starting some accplications (the ones requiring visual studio dlls i guess) isnt working. Every windows update i want to install manually is showing "not applicable to your computer".

I tried the common online available solving methods but nothing helped. Theres a lot of errors in the cbs logs and i think it has to do somehing with the cert_e_expired error (my system clock is correct and the file shows certificate is 2012-2013). There was a hotfix provided by microsoft concerning problems with expired certificates, but i cant manually install it cause of the "not applicable to your computer" problem. Maybe someone can help me, id rly like to not try and reset this old machine to the state of delivery. Also ive read that it might help to delete the corrupt entrys in the registry but in ComponentBasedServicing im totally missing "Packages" and also id rather not edit there wo prof advice.

SFC Scan completed 100% --> no errors
Im adding the SURT and SFCFix logs.

Thanks a lot in advance.

PeterJ · Aug 26, 2019

Hello and welcome,

Retrieve Software Hive
1. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\Config and locate the SOFTWARE file.
2. Please copy this file to your desktop.
Note: If you receive an error that this file is in-use, try Option#2 below.
3. Right-click on this file on your desktop and select Send To...Compressed (zipped) folder. This will create a file named SOFTWARE.ZIP on your desktop.
4. Upload the zip file (SOFTWARE.zip) to your favourite file sharing website (it will be too big to upload here). Examples of services to upload to are FileDropper or One Drive or SendSpace.
5. Note:Send the downloadlink in a private message as the SOFTWARE hive contains sensitive information!

Option#2 (only if you are unable to follow the previous instructions)

Please download the Freeware RegBak from here: Acelogix Software - Download products
You will find it at the bottom of the page that the link brings you to.
Go ahead and install this program and accept all the defaults. After the last install screen the program should open.
Click the New Backup button. Accept the defaults and simply click Start.
When it says Finished successfully, click the Close button.
This will bring you back to the main screen of the program. You will see one entry in this list with the date that you did it. Right-click on this line-item and select Explore Backup...
This will bring you into the folder where the backup was made. You should see a Users folder and a Windows folder along with a couple other files. Double-click on the Windows folder to open it. Then open the System32 folder and then config folder. You should see around 6 files in here, one of which is named SOFTWARE.
Copy the SOFTWARE file to your Desktop. If the SOFTWARE file does not exist, please fetch it instead from C:\Windows\System32\config\SOFTWARE.
Now right-click on the SOFTWARE file that is on your desktop and select Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder.
Then please upload the zip file (SOFTWARE.zip) to your favourite file sharing website (it will be too big to upload here). Examples of services to upload to are FileDropper or One Drive or SendSpace.
Note:Send the downloadlink in a private message as the SOFTWARE hive contains sensitive information!
You can close any open windows you have as well as the RegBak program now.

BobRoxx · Aug 26, 2019

Hey PeterJ,

Thanks a lot for the help. Im afraid i cant follow the steps, because my system32\config folder has only 4 folders and some .txt .log1/2 files in it. Sadly the "config" folder is missing (aint that pretty weird considering the system is running?). I got a recovery partition tho, its an HP Pc, so it might actually be faster to backup all data and just reset to factory? Or do you think this could fail with all those weird problems? I dont wanna waste ur time if i can solve the problem by just doing a backup of my data.

Greetings
Bob

PeterJ · Aug 26, 2019

Lets do something else.

Click on the Start button and typ in the searchbox CMD.
If CMD is listed above, right-click on it and select Run as administrator.
When command prompt opens, copy and paste the following command into it, then press enter.

Code:

dir %systemroot%\system32\config > "%userprofile%\Desktop\dirlist.txt"

This will create a file, dirlist.txt on your Desktop. Please attach this file to your next post.

BobRoxx · Aug 26, 2019

Allright it says there is a Software folder, i just cant see it (hidden folders r shown). Then i did ur step 2 on ur first advice and it worked, i thought it wont cause im missing the folder, sry. Ill attach the txt file and send u a private message with the link to the software file i got from regbak. Thx.

PeterJ · Aug 26, 2019

Step 1:
Warning: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on that particular machine. Do not run this script on another machine.

Download the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your Desktop:
64-bit: Downloading Farbar Recovery Scan Tool
Download the attachment fixlist.txt and save it to your desktop.
Right-click on FRST64.exe and select "Run as administrator".
Press the Fix button.
The tool will now process fixlist.txt.
If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally. After that let the tool complete its run.
When finished, a log called Fixlog.txt will appear in the same directory the tool is run from.
Post the logfile Fixlog.txt as attachment in your next reply.

Step 2:
Start the System Update Readiness Tool (SURT) again.
On completion, attach the logfile C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CheckSUR.log in your next reply.

BobRoxx · Aug 27, 2019

Thx so far, im adding the checksur and fixlog:

PeterJ · Aug 27, 2019

The SOFTWARE hive seems to be corrupt. Lets see if there is a backup available.

Click on the Start button and typ in the searchbox CMD.
If CMD is listed above, right-click on it and select Run as administrator.
When command prompt opens, copy and paste the following command into it, then press enter.

Code:

dir %systemroot%\system32\config\regback > "%userprofile%\Desktop\dirlist2.txt"

This will create a file, dirlist2.txt on your Desktop. Please attach this file to your next post.

PeterJ · Aug 27, 2019

The SOFTWARE hive seems to be corrupt. Lets see if there is a backup available.

Click on the Start button and typ in the searchbox CMD.
If CMD is listed above, right-click on it and select Run as administrator.
When command prompt opens, copy and paste the following command into it, then press enter.

Code:

dir %systemroot%\system32\config\regback > "%userprofile%\Desktop\dirlist2.txt"

This will create a file, dirlist2.txt on your Desktop. Please attach this file to your next post.

BobRoxx · Aug 27, 2019

Hey PeterJ,
here comes the dirlist u asked for.

thx and greetings
Bob

PeterJ · Aug 27, 2019

There is a backup from 21-8-2019. In your first post you said "i got some problems with an older pc running windows 7. "
If you had these problems earlier than this date, it would be better to do a Windows 7: Repair Install
If not we can try to replace the SOFTWARE hive with the backup.

BobRoxx · Aug 27, 2019

I think this problems exist for quite some time now. I guess im backing up some important data and tryin to do a factory reset (there is a recovery partition by HP) since i doubt i find the cd and even if im sure its some factory oem like.
Thx a lot for the help u guys r great!
greetings
Bob

PeterJ · Aug 27, 2019

Backup your important data is always a good start.
You might try to do the repair install first but it's up to you.

Can we mark this thread as solved or wait for you to reply ?

BobRoxx · Aug 27, 2019

Mark as solved pls. Thx a lot for the help u guys r offering.

PeterJ · Aug 27, 2019

Done.

Take care.

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[SOLVED] Win 7 update problems - certificate expired, update not applicable

BobRoxx

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PeterJ

Moderator, Windows Update Expert, Security Analyst

BobRoxx

Member

PeterJ

Moderator, Windows Update Expert, Security Analyst

BobRoxx

Member

Attachments

PeterJ

Moderator, Windows Update Expert, Security Analyst

Attachments

BobRoxx

Member

Attachments

PeterJ

Moderator, Windows Update Expert, Security Analyst

PeterJ

Moderator, Windows Update Expert, Security Analyst

BobRoxx

Member

Attachments

PeterJ

Moderator, Windows Update Expert, Security Analyst

BobRoxx

Member

PeterJ

Moderator, Windows Update Expert, Security Analyst

BobRoxx

Member

PeterJ

Moderator, Windows Update Expert, Security Analyst