Cannot install Vista SP2

[PCX]

The first several responses should have been

"What tests have you run on the hard drive and what were the errors?"

Also, what other tests have you run? Memory, HDD, Motherboard, etc. Before troubleshooting any software issues, you should run a full diagnostics, other wise you will just end up troubleshooting software issues caused by failing hardware; in short, you will just waste a lot of time. As someone has already mentioned, bad sectors is bad. Typically anything under 10 should be fine, but if you start getting around 20, you need replace it. Also, if you are getting 20+ bad sectors, typically this is when you start seeing read errors . . . those are bad.

Another thing to note is that you never want to test a hard drive within the OS on that drive. You want to run those tests on a completely different computer. I am not sure how accurate crystaldisk is, (I hear good things about it), but you should run the hard drive test with another utility just in case.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

The first several responses should have been

"What tests have you run on the hard drive and what were the errors?"

Also, what other tests have you run? Memory, HDD, Motherboard, etc. Before troubleshooting any software issues, you should run a full diagnostics, other wise you will just end up troubleshooting software issues caused by failing hardware; in short, you will just waste a lot of time. As someone has already mentioned, bad sectors is bad. Typically anything under 10 should be fine, but if you start getting around 20, you need replace it. Also, if you are getting 20+ bad sectors, typically this is when you start seeing read errors . . . those are bad.

Another thing to note is that you never want to test a hard drive within the OS on that drive. You want to run those tests on a completely different computer. I am not sure how accurate crystaldisk is, (I hear good things about it), but you should run the hard drive test with another utility just in case.

No bad sectors , no current file system issues though there were some in the past. no memory issues, everythings good. Very possible its a file corruption issue from the past but ill be narrowing it down slowly but surely.

 

[PCX]

No bad sectors , no current file system issues though there were some in the past. no memory issues, everythings good. Very possible its a file corruption issue from the past but ill be narrowing it down slowly but surely.

Have you run sfc /scannow ?

Also, try and download the service pack on another computer and then then transfer it to the problematic computer and install. I am also assuming that you tried the vista readiness tool?

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

Have you run sfc /scannow ?

Also, try and download the service pack on another computer and then then transfer it to the problematic computer and install. I am also assuming that you tried the vista readiness tool?

Yup sfc good (aside from settings.ini from sidebar), did not transfer service pack install but did several hashchecks its good, yes tried vista readiness tool. Pretty much did everything I could think of to do prior to posting. I will get it eventually was just posting for a possible head start.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

Here is the error...

2012-02-15 01:59:14, Error Failed to find the CixTarget for Container amd64_d564d1e5ed2b959e92b7193014f99e89_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22564_none_7c1f197b02586936.manifest
2012-02-15 01:59:14, Error DpxException hr=0x80070002 code=0x020109

For starters I can not find "amd64_d564d1e5ed2b959e92b7193014f99e89_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22564_none_7c1f197b02586936.manifest" any where. I have checked this computer, my 64bit vm, i have extracted all of the files from vista 64 bit sp1 and sp2 and I cant find it at all. Any ideas where its pulling that from?

 

[PCX]

Just a few thoughts.

Double check time and bios settings.
Try disabling or uninstalling the AV
How is your Device Manager looking, any issues with the chipset drivers?
Have you tried to uninstall SP1, reinstall, then install SP2?
What about system restore points?

 

[AlaDes]

I had this same problem on a Dell laptop about a month ago. I ran every type of diagnostics I could imagine, including SFC and several different HDD utilities and everything checked out fine. I finally did an in place install and everything worked just fine after that. I guess what makes this particular problem so frustrating is that you have so much time tied up in trying different things and you eventually have to do an in place install anyways.

 

[PCX]

I had this same problem on a Dell laptop about a month ago. I ran every type of diagnostics I could imagine, including SFC and several different HDD utilities and everything checked out fine. I finally did an in place install and everything worked just fine after that. I guess what makes this particular problem so frustrating is that you have so much time tied up in trying different things and you eventually have to do an in place install anyways.

In place install?

Do you mean a Windows reinstall or downloading standalone SP2 installer and using it instead of Windows Update. A reinstall will most definitely work, but I do not believe he wants to go that route. And in my experience, the stand alone SP2 installer has a higher success rate then using Windows Update.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

yeah he means the in place upgrade (repair installation) thats the path I usually take for this one but since I have it on a family comp now I want to keep messing with it try to figure it out.

I may try uninstalling sp1 I think first im going to see if I cant replicate this in a VM by doing a backup of the hard drive and importing it into a vm using acronis. Once I get to that point ill be in a better position to try a ton more stuff at the same time.

 

[PCX]

You can also just clone the drive and work on it till you find a solution. It maybe quicker and more accurate to deal with then VM.

 

[pugsport]

When you run the system readyness tool the "tool" appends the results to the CBS log, check the CBS log for any errors (the log is in either windows>logs or system32) the errors will be near the bottom of the log, I had a machine recently that had several thousand errors, I had to do a repair instalation and I used the slipstream method with SP2 integrated.

On another Vista machine Microsofts "fixit" tool repaired registry permissions that allowed SP2 to then be installed.

To open the CBS log you need to copy it to the desktop and open it from there.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

When you run the system readyness tool the "tool" appends the results to the CBS log, check the CBS log for any errors (the log is in either windows>logs or system32) the errors will be near the bottom of the log, I had a machine recently that had several thousand errors, I had to do a repair instalation and I used the slipstream method with SP2 integrated.

On another Vista machine Microsofts "fixit" tool repaired registry permissions that allowed SP2 to then be installed.

To open the CBS log you need to copy it to the desktop and open it from there.

The system update readiness tool puts its results in checksur.log. It found no errors. The CBS log from what I saw only had that one failed to find cixtarget. The rest of it looked fine.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

and it strikes yet again.....tried and tried like usual and still unable to do it. Honestly I should just immediately turn down the job after trying the basic windows update repair.

Edit: Reminder, i do remote repair, obviously if I was there I would just do an inplace upgrade.

 

[HFultzjr]

I've a Dell laptop in running Vista Home Basic which had severe slowdown problems. These appear to be solved by correcting some file system errors and chkdsk/r'ing some bad sectors. It had no SPs so I installed SP1 no problems. It also installed various updates OK.

But it will not install SP2. It gives the error: 800F081F

I've installed the update readiness tool just in case but that does nothing nor did the MS update Fixit. I've uninstalled all security apps and tried installing after a setting up a diagnostic startup in MSConfig in an attempt to rule out errant services and startup apps.

Event viewer shows a very long list of Servicing errors most of which are along the lines of "Windows Servicing failed to complete the process of setting package KB948465 (Service Pack) into Resolved state". The one that happens before this is "Windows Servicing identified that package KB948465 is not applicable to this system".

So it seems that Vista thinks it doesn't need it it or that it isn't suitable.

I've had some instances of Service Packs not installing because a driver needed updated first.

Are all the drivers updated?

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

I've had some instances of Service Packs not installing because a driver needed updated first.

Are all the drivers updated?

hmm I wasn't aware of that. Was it just limited to drivers that windows update recommended or just all drivers?

 

[HFultzjr]

hmm I wasn't aware of that. Was it just limited to drivers that windows update recommended or just all drivers?

I pulled my fricken hair out one time trying to get Vista SP2 to install.

Even after a fresh install, added SP1, then SP2 would fail.

Mine gave several error codes, but I don't remember what they were.

SP 1 went fine, but everything I tried with SP2 failed.

Finally found out that a driver would not work with SP2.

Sorry I can't remember much of the details, but I think it was either a chipset or video...........come to think of it, I believe it was a Dell also.

I know certain HP's have issues with Vista SP2 as well.

See below: Taken from HP Forums

"Do I have to update my BIOS?
Yes, It is advisable to update to the latest BIOS and apply all HP and Microsoft updated drivers and programs before installing SP2. Go to the HP Software & Driver Downloads page, type the Product number for your PC, select Vista operating system , and check for an updated BIOS. In some cases, if the BIOS is not updated before installing SP2, the PC may fail to start properly."

I'm pretty sure it was the chipset that needed updated before I could get SP2 to install.

I still have bald spots from pulling my hair out on that one.