Windows Update errors

[DocGreen]

Having trouble with a client computer... won't install Windows update.

Background...


Computer was brought in for virus removal. Didn't have antivirus installed, Windows Updates were turned off, etc, etc. Cleaned the computer using D7 & Hitman Pro, MBAM, SAS... Installed MSSE, scanned with that as well, scanned a couple times more with MBAM & SAS. I'm not finding any more viruses at this point.

After removal, I ran through a quick tune-up... did a SFC scan... everything seems to be fine. Except for Windows Update.

Windows Update wants to install a newer version of the Windows Update Agent, but each time it tries it fails with the error code: 8007371B
I've tried fixing Windows Update using D7. Tried the Microsoft FixIt. Tried tricking the computer into installing it using WSUSOffline. Tried manually downloading and installing it... nothing works. All I get is that stupid error message.

Any ideas?

 

[katz]

I assume you already went directly to the update site & tried from there?

http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

I've had a couple of these in the past; One I ended up reinstalling windows since it was so buggered anyway, and I forget what I did to fix the other one...

 

[Martyn]

Sometimes with update problems I run Wsusupdater and it kicks it in to action.

 

[Gary Rockliff]

Try clearing the Windows Update cache.

 

[SilverLeaf]

Have you tried the System Update Readiness Tool?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821

 

[DocGreen]

I assume you already went directly to the update site & tried from there?

http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

I've had a couple of these in the past; One I ended up reinstalling windows since it was so buggered anyway, and I forget what I did to fix the other one...

Windows 7. Only thing that loads are a couple images showing you how to run Winows Update on the desktop.

Sometimes with update problems I run Wsusupdater and it kicks it in to action.

I'll have to look that one up.

Try clearing the Windows Update cache.

Been wanting to do that. Where's the cache?

Have you tried the System Update Readiness Tool?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821

Yep. It says it's fixing stuff, but it says that regardless of how many times I run it.

 

[SilverLeaf]

Been wanting to do that. Where's the cache?

If you used the D7 repair option, you've probably already done this, as it deletes %windir%\SoftwareDistribution

 

[nlinecomputers]

What does the windows update log file say?

 

[DocGreen]

If you used the D7 repair option, you've probably already done this, as it deletes %windir%\SoftwareDistribution

I think you're right. I looked in %windir% and I have \SoftwareDistribution and \SoftwareDistribution.old... both modified yesterday.

What does the windows update log file say?

Quite a bit, actually. I'm attaching the log for you.


According to Microsoft, if you receive that error code while trying to run Windows Updates, the component store is corrupt. Their solutions to fix this are to run SFC /scannow (didn't help), or load a System Restore point... since I nuked all the old Restore points I don't have anything older than yesterday. Did I screw myself? Am I going to be forced to do a factory restore?

 

[nlinecomputers]

When you tried to manually install the Windows update agent download.windowsupdate.com/windowsupdate/redist/standalone/7.0.6000.381/windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe

did you do so in Safe mode? Often that is the only way it will correctly install.

If that doesn't work then in place upgrade or nuke and pave.

 

[DocGreen]

When you tried to manually install the Windows update agent download.windowsupdate.com/windowsupdate/redist/standalone/7.0.6000.381/windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe

did you do so in Safe mode? Often that is the only way it will correctly install.

If that doesn't work then in place upgrade or nuke and pave.

Actually that one wouldn't run at all. Kept giving me an error that it wasn't a valid command, binary, etc.

I'll go into Safe Mode and try all the steps again to see if it makes a difference, and if not, notify the customer.
Thanks for the tip.