Windows cannot update (error code : 80073712)

[callandy]

Dear Sirs,
I hope I can find solution on Sysnative since I wave a lot of time try to fix this problem. I can see the error "CSI Unable to Query Store Version" on the logs but search and try many ways still same error.


Here I am attacheded the CBS log files for your reference.


My PC running Win 7 Ultimate 32-bit.
Here Some more information for reference :
1. Hot fix to windows (KB9447821) - Installation Completed
2. SFC /Scannow - fial and stop with message "Windows Resources Protection could not perform the requested operation." (safe mode and repair mode also cannot run SFC)
3. All windows SP1 download update fail, upgrade to Win8 fail, re-install/upgrade Win7 ultimate fail. (all fail and stop on once start installation step)
4. Turn Windows features on or off - empty

Thanks in advance.

best regards,
Andy Au

 

[callandy]

Hi,

Today I had try this :

REG LOAD HKLM\COMPONENTS C:\Windows\System32\config\COMPONENTS
REG QUERY HKLM\COMPONENTS
REG UNLOAD HKLM\COMPONENTS




and the cbs.log here

hope more information can help.

regards,
Andy

 

[niemiro]

Hello Andy, and welcome to Sysnative :)

Please download the Freeware RegBak from here: Acelogix Software - Download products

Navigate to C:\Windows\RegBak\{Date}\ and copy the COMPONENTS file to your Desktop. If the COMPONENTS file does not exist, please fetch it instead from C:\Windows\System32\config\COMPONENTS.

Now right click on it > Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder.

Then please upload it to your favourite file sharing website (it will be too big for here). If you have a Microsoft Account, SkyDrive could be a good choice: https://skydrive.live.com/, but any other will do just fine.

Fixing the actual corruption causing your error code is fairly easy, but I worry that your corruption extends considerably beyond this. This may be a case of me getting it "good enough" for a Repair Install, and then smoothing over with a Repair Install.

Thank you!

Richard

 

[callandy]

Hi Richard,

Thanks for your information.

I use the RegBak, the first time cannot create any COMPONENTS file.
then I try 2nd time and it create one but in very small file size.

Here I am attached the COMPONENTS file which create by RegBak (file name : regbak_components.zip) and the files from C:\Windows\System32\config\components (file name : components.zip). Both file size very small so I post here.

Please help to check of it.

best regards,
Andy

 

[niemiro]

Hello Andy!

Thanks for that, you did it perfectly. I am currently considering how best to proceed. The small file size is not good news. You have ~6-7 bits of registry data in that hive. You should have at least ~10,000. So you certainly have a good bit of corruption there!

First, we'll try to recover an old version of the hive from your computer, and hope we can get a Repair Install to run off that. If we can't, or it won't, I'll give you a standard pre-SP1 components hive. It won't match your computer, but it might just be enough to get a Repair Install to run.

There is certainly no guarantee, but you are in pretty desperate circumstances TBH, and it is only possible fix short of a Clean Install, and we may as well try for the last ditch effort.

Richard

 

[callandy]

Thanks Richard,

I looking for your solution and hope can fix the problem.

best regards,
Andy

 

[niemiro]

Hello again Andy!

Thank you for your patience. This week has turned out to be extremely busy.

Please download Shadow Explorer from here: ShadowExplorer.com - About

Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\config\components, right click on it, and although I can't quite remember the wording off the top of my head, there should be an option to export point in time or last available version to a new file on e.g. your Desktop. Please do so. Then check its size. Anything in the MB range is likely to be fine. Please also upload it if you do get a good file size. If you need help with using Shadow Explorer, I will try to provide instructions ASAP.

However, if you get a very small file size again, I will have to provide you with an alternative hive and we shall have to see whether it is taken or not. Alternative hive method gives about 50% success rate, for your information.

Richard

 

[callandy]

Hi Richard,

Thanks for your instruction, and the great tools of Shadow Explorer.

I using Shadow Explorer, right click to ....\components, unfortunately it only have "Export" and no other options available.
Then I export the "components" file but it seems same as before. Anyway I post it here for your reference.



Just let me try any chance to fix it. I will mirror backup my drive before any change.

regards,
Andy

 

[niemiro]

Thank you Andy!

Yes...Shadow Explorer is really great, and has saved many people who have deleted un-backed up projects/coursework, whatever

But, it tends to work better on files which have been deleted than files which are corrupt, by virtue of how it works - the corrupt file tends to overwrite the backup (so if the file is deleted, the original doesn't get overwritten, and persists for quite some time, usually). Very useful tool.

Unfortunately, I don't have a suitable registry hive to hand at the moment. I need to create a Virtual PC and get it as close as I can before sending it to you. I will try to get it to you ASAP, but I am absolutely snowed under with work at the moment.

Thank you for your patience!

Richard

 

[callandy]

Dear Richard,

Thanks your time to work for that.
I can create another new Windows + SP1 myself but I am not sure is it useful and how to transfer the registry to that PC.

I am willing to wait but if I can save your time that let me know what I can do here.

best regards,
Andy

 

[niemiro]

Dear Richard,

Thanks your time to work for that.
I can create another new Windows + SP1 myself but I am not sure is it useful and how to transfer the registry to that PC.

I am willing to wait but if I can save your time that let me know what I can do here.

best regards,
Andy

That would be absolutely amazing if you would like to, but please do not feel pressured into it. I have set aside time on Saturday to quickly set it in motion if needs be.

However, if you would like to, you could create a Virtual PC using your normal DVD (don't activate it, you can run on the 30-day trial for this), and install all updates except for SP1. Hide SP1 and do not install it, but do install all of the rest.

Then you simple re-start the Virtual PC one final time, and copy the components file from the Virtual PC to your main PC (shared folders, network share, or just upload and download to/from Skydrive) before backing up your data just in case the worst happens (not that I have ever actually seen a Repair Install go wrong, but theoretically it could I suppose) and Repair Install.

Please ask if you need any further help, and please also do know that I am absolutely not trying to push you into this, and I absolutely will do this for you, as I would for anyone else who came here.

Good luck!

Richard

 

[callandy]

Dear Richard,


I willing to do that since this is my computer problem and it is a very good experience to fix Windows error.


I had used another HDD to install a new Win7 Ultimate 32-bit (same source) in same computer, and get all updates (till it update with SP1 than I restore back previous point). Now I get a COMPONENTS file about 25MB (if you need that I can upload it).


I am not sure I had doing the correct procedure for "Repair Install" or not.


- I overwrite the COMPONENTS file to c:\windows\system32\config , than I using source DVD to make "Install now/Upgrade" (is it "Repair Install" ?).
- It can run some more step. Before it will stop and reject once on "gathering files......".
- This time it pass this step and goto "Expanding Windows files".
- Runing about 21%, it go reboot. After reboot it still in "21%" screen, message showing "Please wait.... // Gathering additional infomation before expanding files ".
- it stop here very long time so I going out to get some food. After back, the screen already rool back to previous windows log-in. Message show somthing like not successful upgrade etc.., after that
- I try "sfc /scannow", it can run now but reject after 14% done and show "windows protection ......"
- I try Windows Update it show another error code (I forgot to write it down).



Now I ghost back the HDD as before (not updated the components file).


I think I may not correct understand the "Repair Install" and please let me know more information for how to step the repairing for using this hive.


with best regards,
Andy

 

[niemiro]

Hello Andy!

Thank you so much for doing that for me.

Using another hard-disk/computer is another good way of achieving the same result. Well done :)

You have correctly understood Repair Install. Some people call it an Upgrade Install, In-Place Upgrade, etc. You may be more familiar with those terms, but it is all esentially the same thing, which is insert DVD, and from within Windows perform the upgrade to your same OS and edition - exactly what you did.

Unfortunately, whilst it did help to get it further, the Repair Install did still fail.


Don't worry about Windows Update, SFC, etc. The registry doesn't match your computer, so they are pretty much guaranteed to fail.

Unfortunately, things look pretty bleak now. Your corruption is massive, and our last ditch effort, whilst it did help, didn't allow the Upgrade Install to succeed. The only real advice I can offer now is to Clean Install, losing everything

(unless you have a very old image of your system you could grab an old non-corrupt COMPONENTS hive from - it might just work)

But, and I am really, really sorry, I am not able to fix this

Richard

 

[callandy]

Hi Richard,

I am appreciate your help at all.

BTW I will try again Repair Install ...
May I ask : do I need re-boot the windows once I copy overwrite the COMPONENTS file ?

and, if I can found some old non-corrupt COMPONENTS in my backup drive, is it same as above procedure to Repair Install.
Also, do any possible "Repair Install" need with SP1 source ?

regards,
Andy

 

[niemiro]

Hi Richard,

I am appreciate your help at all.

BTW I will try again Repair Install ...
May I ask : do I need re-boot the windows once I copy overwrite the COMPONENTS file ?

and, if I can found some old non-corrupt COMPONENTS in my backup drive, is it same as above procedure to Repair Install.
Also, do any possible "Repair Install" need with SP1 source ?

regards,
Andy

There should be no need to reboot, but it can't hurt I guess :)

And yes, it is the same procedure. Just copy and replace components file with whichever hive you are using.

Also, this time, when the Repair Install fails, please upload a new copy of C:\Windows\Logs\CBS, and I'll see if I can work out what is going on.

Finally, no to SP1 would be my advice. A Repair Install needs the DVD to match the SP level. So if you trick Windows with an SP1 COMPONENTS hive, you will need an SP1 DVD. Since you have a SP0 DVD (and because your computer is currently SP0), you should leave the components file at SP0.

Richard

 

[callandy]

Dear Richard,

Good news; fortunately I try two more times and the last one I can completed the Repair Install (I am not sure is any relative about the last one I had selected 'not download latest updates....' during on Repair Install).

The important is your help that show me how to fix the COMPONENTS hive and let it allow Repair Install.

Now I am tire to get the Updates ....

It still cannot get SP1 complete since some update get error than I am not yet have time to fix it, I hope I can handle it later.
Anyway thanks a lot here.

with best regards,
Andy

 

[niemiro]

Hello again Andy :)

Windows Update really is giving you a rough ride, isn't it

With any luck (you certainly deserve some) the Repair Install will have broken the bulk of the corruption, and we can get SP1 installed with only a small bit of work. I'll happily take your logs and see what's going on. My fingers are crossed for a little bit of good fortune for us.

Export CBS folder

1. Click the Start button
   
   then click Computer.
2. Double-click on the C: drive, under the Hard Disk Drives category, and then scroll down to, and double click on the Windows folder.
3. Find and double click on the Logs folder.
4. Right-click on the CBS folder, and select Copy.
5. Go back to your Desktop, right-click on it, and select Paste. You should now see a copy of the CBS folder appear on your Desktop called CBS.
6. Right-click on this new folder, and navigate through Send to, and select Compressed (zipped) folder.
7. A new file, also called CBS (CBS.zip), but this time with a different icon, will be created. Please upload it here.

Thank you!

Richard

 

[callandy]

Hi Richard,

I using a long time to success all updates - the simple way is get all updates before others...

However I am no luck for my data drive very suddenly. One of the logical drive get "The disk structure is corrupted and unreadable", and chkdsk /r show "windows cannot recover master file table. chkdsk aborted".

The bad case is I had just used the data backup drive for Repair Install test, than I am just no backup drive this moment :sad:.
Is any chance to fix the MFT ?

best regards,
Andy

 

[niemiro]

Hello Andy.

It certainly looks as though there might be hardware failure here. What files have you lost? Do you have other backups for all of them, or have you lost data?

At this point, if you have lost important files, it may be best to completely stop using the computer and contact a data recovery expert.

I have found a few bits of software online which claim to be able to recover some data off a drive with a corrupt MFT, but things are pretty bad when the MFT becomes corrupt.

Do not run any harddisk diagnostic tools at this time. They are likely to potentially push your data further from recovery.

Richard