Windows will not Update

DonnaB · Sep 26, 2012

Hi fellow members! :wave:

Thought it best that I ask for help before troubleshooting this issue and forget everything that I might have tried to correct this on my own.

Let me start from the beginning:

Hard Drive was replaced on my Gateway MT6706 Windows Vista on 07/06/12. When I got it home I did play with it a bit and all was fine, but had bought a Win7 HP laptop while it was in the shop and set the Vista aside till last night. Decided it was time to boot the Vista up and remove the crapware and change the AV that was installed from the factory disks that was used to reinstall the OS at the shop.

Last night I tried to access the control panel to check for updates and the systems page to see what was present and all I was presented with was a blank (white) screen on every attempt (major registry corruption), so I chose to access the factory image again to restore back to factory settings via the Advanced Options Boot menu > Repair My Computer > Restore to Factory Condition method.

I now have the OS restored though when I click on Check for updates, it will search for updates then revert right back to the Check for updates for your computer screen with out finding any updates.

It displays:
Most recent check for updates: Never (even though I have tried numerous times)
Updates were installed: Never
You have Windows set to: Notify you to install new updates

I had changed the settings to:
Install updates automatically (recommended)
Every day at 10:00pm

At 10:00PM no updates even tried to download nor install.

I could easily find my way around troubleshooting the issues but really don't want to go that route because knowing me I'll forget exactly what all I did try and since I can't decipher the CBS logs, thought this would be a good way to learn and document the correct procedure on where to start troubleshooting.

Only thing I have done thus far is to check for updates and install FF 15.0.1.

If needed, I do have the 2 recovery disks sent from Gateway when the laptop was still under warranty and the Gateway Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit Operating System Disc that I think came with the laptop when new. Not sure. This laptop is 5 years old.

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Donna :smile9:

niemiro · Sep 27, 2012

Hello Donna :)

Can you please create a new folder on your Desktop, copy the following into it:

the entire C:\Windows\Logs\CBS folder
C:\Windows\WindowsUpdate.log

right click on it > Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder and upload it here.

Thank you.

Richard

DonnaB · Sep 27, 2012

Hi Richard! :wave:

Thank you so much for your help. Here's the attachment you requested!

After posting, I did turn the Windows Update service off then back on and received the Windows Update Error Code 8024A000 after trying again, though thought it best to leave well enough alone.

Donna :smile9:

niemiro · Sep 27, 2012

Thanks for that :)

You have a bit of a range of errors there actually. It hasn't really yet stabilised down to a single error. Anyway, I suspect that your main error is CRYPT_E_NOT_FOUND, which probably is a SURT/CBS.log type error.

Anyway, can you please download and run the System Update Readiness Tool: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821

Please save the installer somewhere safe so I can use it again later.

and zip up and upload the entire C:\Windows\Logs\CBS folder (the entire folder, please: in particular CheckSUR.log, but the others would be good also)

Thank you,

Richard

DonnaB · Sep 27, 2012

Hm? Downloaded SURT and received the following upon installation:

Installer encountered an error: 0xc8000222

Edit: Richard? Could this be the result of cloning from the old HD and installing to the new HD? I spoke with the fella who replaced my HD and he couldn't remember if he cloned the old HD or if he used the discs I provided. They are OEM Gateway discs. Can you reinstall on a new HD using those or are they HD specific. I read somewhere that there is an HD identifier that is transmitted to MS and you may have to contact MS if validation fails.

Corrine · Sep 27, 2012

Hi, Donna.

See if the solution copied below for Windows Vista in Error message when you try to install updates by using the Windows Update Web site or the Microsoft Update Web site: "0x80070422" solves the 0xc8000222 error.

Click Start

, type Notepad in the Start Search box, and then click Notepad in the Programs list.

Copy the following text, and then paste the text into Notepad:

Code:

sc config wuauserv start= auto 
sc config bits start= auto 
sc config DcomLaunch start= auto 
net stop wuauserv 
net start wuauserv 
net stop bits 
net start bits 
net start DcomLaunch

Click File, click Save As, and then type Repair.bat.
In the Save as type box, click All Files (*.*).
In the Save in box, click Desktop, and then click Save.
On the File menu, click Exit.
Right -click the Repair.bat file that you saved in step 5, and then click Run as administrator. This action starts the required services.

If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
Try to install the updates again. If you can install the updates, delete the Repair.bat file. To delete the Repair.bat file, right-click Repair.bat, click Delete, and then click Yes..

DonnaB · Sep 27, 2012

Hi Corrine,

Thanks for the bat file. Following are the results:

Windows could not search for new updates

Error(s) found:

Code 8024A000

That's the same error code as what I found in the link I posted above. I'm so tempted to try everything in that post though it looks like it might take some time. Isn't there a quick click .bat file/reg fix that will accomplish the same thing in the blink of an eye?

Always looking for the quick fix, aren't we? :s9: :lol:

DonnaB · Sep 27, 2012

Hey Corrine. Hold that thought for a moment. I went ahead and tried all the steps in the link and Windows is presently Checking for updates. Can't believe it hasn't kicked back an error code yet. I'll let you know what happens.

Corrine · Sep 27, 2012

It was worth a try. Let's wait and see what Richard has to say.

Regarding the licensing question, from Licensing FAQ:

Q. If my customer asks me to upgrade a PC with new hardware components, when is a new operating system needed? When would the PC be considered "new"?

A. Generally, an end user can upgrade or replace all of the hardware components on a computer—except the motherboard—and still retain the license for the original Microsoft OEM operating system software. If the motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created. Microsoft OEM operating system software cannot be transferred to the new computer, and the license of new operating system software is required.

If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do not need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC as long as the replacement motherboard is the same make/model or the same manufacturer's replacement/equivalent, as defined by the manufacturer's warranty.

DonnaB · Sep 27, 2012

Aha! I knew you were thinking! hehe. Your .bat file gave me an idea. The link does explain that you can not only manually type in each command, yet also create a .bat file to accomplish the same.

Bummer! Just got the following error:

Windows could not search for new updates

Error(s) found:

Code 80072f78

Looks like something good came out of this after all though. SURT is installing at this very moment! Yippee! I'll post the logs he requested as soon as I get them.

The link and quote concerning the licensing question, that's good news!

If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do not need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC as long as the replacement motherboard is the same make/model or the same manufacturer's replacement/equivalent, as defined by the manufacturer's warranty.

Yep! I had to replace the MoBo sometime ago, too! Zapped by lightening! ouch................

Most expensive laptop I'll ever have! (it was a x-mas gift)

DonnaB · Sep 27, 2012

Thank you Corrine! :hug:

If not for your post I would not have thought to read that post by Marilyn in the link more thoroughly and would not have found the option to run the commands in a .bat file that ultimately led to the ability to install the SURT and acquire the log needed for Richard's viewing pleasure. :thumbsup2:

DonnaB · Sep 27, 2012

Well I'll be! 95 updates have just downloaded and are ready to install. I'll keep you guys posted to my progress.

Richard. Let me know if you see anything in those logs. I noticed that No errors detected were found in the CheckSur logs. I'll install a few at a time just in case. Thanks for the help so far.

niemiro · Sep 28, 2012

This is awesome news, Donna! Thanks a lot for your help also, Corrine :)

Hopefully all will now be well. If it does reappear, feel free to try the fix you first linked to. I didn't want to use it initially because it is an extremely aggressive reset, but now it would be appropriate to use if your problems persist.

Good luck!

Richard

DonnaB · Sep 28, 2012

Hi Richard! Nice to awake to good news once in awhile , isn't it? The fix in that link is what I had tried after Corrine posted her .bat file. When I first found that link, I thought it looked a bit extreme and didn't read it thoroughly, though I had noticed that it did help a few of the posters with the same issue.

So far, I have installed 20 of the updates. I'm going to take it slowly not only because I have a bandwidth cap but also to pinpoint an update that may cause an issue.

Thank you both for being here in my time of need. I truly appreciate your help.

Have a great day!

DonnaB · Sep 29, 2012

Hi Richard,

I think I might have an issue here. I do have 143 updates installed and SP1 finally showed up for installation though when I install it I can find the install was successful under View Update History but not as an installed update under Installed Updates. It keeps showing up in Windows Updates and I actually installed it twice before I realized it was listed under History and since it is not displayed as being installed under Installed Updates I can not uninstall it, I am only able to view or copy details.

Also, I noticed that the size of the SP1 file in Windows Updates is 1.9 MB. That's not right! Shouldn't it be more like 400+ MB's? Thought about downloading the standalone version but on second thought, thought it best to ask you before I proceeded to do so.

Yesterday I had several Security Updates fail twice.

May I have your opinion please. :bored2:

Corrine · Sep 30, 2012

Donna, as you were able to install some updates and (partial?) SP1 since posting the log on the 27th, I suggest running SURT again and attaching the new log.

DonnaB · Sep 30, 2012

Thank you Corrine. I should have posted that last night.

DonnaB · Sep 30, 2012

Um...helloooooo. :wave: Yep. Me again.

Well. Seems that SP1 decided it had better install once I threatened to use it as a doorstop if it didn't. I downloaded the stand-alone version and had no issues.

Onward to SP2 and beyond.

It's ok to delete those CBS logs in the Logs folder, isn't it?

Forewarning! I might be back.

niemiro · Oct 1, 2012

Hello Donna :)

I have been really busy, and I am sorry I didn't get back to you. Thanks Corrine!

In terms of the size of a service pack, the standalone copy you download from Microsoft will be huge, as it includes many different locals and/or language packs, stuff for other hardware types, many previous updates, etc. etc. From Windows Update, you only get the stuff which you need, and so it is a lot smaller. In fact, a service pack from Windows Update may only be 30-50MB in size.

However, this 1.9MB file is actually a fairly common problem. There are a variety of fixes, and the most reliable is using the standalone download, which you did.

You can delete the logs attached to this thread if you like (not that there is really anything personal in them), but I ask that you don't delete them from your Windows folder at least without a backup.

I am sorry that I have not been of more help

Richard

DonnaB · Oct 1, 2012

Richard. Not to worry! I'm in no hurry to get this laptop up and running. It is a spare.

You have been a tremendous help! I had no idea that you only get what is needed in a SP from Windows Update. Your last post was very educational!

I now have SP2 installed. :)

Thank you for your time!

Donna :)

Windows will not Update

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Senior Administrator, Windows Update Expert

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Sysnative Staff, Security Analyst

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Administrator, Microsoft MVP, Security Analyst

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Sysnative Staff, Security Analyst

Senior Administrator, Windows Update Expert

Sysnative Staff, Security Analyst

Sysnative Staff, Security Analyst

Administrator, Microsoft MVP, Security Analyst

Sysnative Staff, Security Analyst

Attachments

Sysnative Staff, Security Analyst

Senior Administrator, Windows Update Expert

Sysnative Staff, Security Analyst

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst