Won't update...but no error code

Question

So after much ado, I got my comuter fixed...I though.  I worked with someone very helpful last week...see thread: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista-windows_update/please-help-with-vista-sp2-problems/1a3def5b-5a82-4a3b-8f54-c7f8b02a0b66

I reformatted my drive, did a clean install, made sure that McAfee was nowhere on my computer, installed MSW, intalled 150+ updates, SP2, Office, etc.  I was basically back to a perfect state.

Today I logged in and saw that Update was not running again.  It says "Windows cannot check for updates because the service is not running.  You may need to restart your computer."  I didn't get any of the error codes I got before.  I just is not working.  I restored to an earlier state just shortly after installing all of the updates but got no better results.

Under Problems and Solutions, I found the following if it helps..

Product

Host Process for Windows Services

Problem

Windows Update installation problem

Date

9/23/2012 2:00 PM

Status

Not Reported

Description

A Windows update did not install properly. Sending the following information to Microsoft can help improve the software.

Problem signature

Problem Event Name: WindowsUpdateFailure

ClientVersion: 7.6.7600.256

Win32HResult: c8000247

UpdateId: 00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000

Scenario: Scan

SourceId: 101

Environment: Unmanaged

OS Version: 6.0.6002.2.2.0.768.3

Locale ID: 1033

I have obviously restarted the computer, the Update service etc and got nothing.

How can this be happening when I have a COMPLETELY fresh Windows install.  I literally have not nothing on this computer except install, Windows, MSE, Office and my drivers.  No Software, not Web surfing...nothing!

I'm ready launch this thing off my balcony!  Please help.

Answer 1

What's bizarre is that I had this thing for 3 years and while I was moderately careful, I had no problems. Now that I am being uber-careful, haven't visited any sites except corp sites to DL the nec SW and drivers, I can't even get past 3 days in a bone stock state!  I know I mentioned this before but the only thing that in not brand new besides the flash drives is my small Dell set-up Recovery partition. I did NOT format that.  Does my OS "talk" to that!  Could that be screwing up my computer?  The files on that were from 2009 if I remember correctly.

Answer 2

I may be sorry but...

Seeing as you had some driver-related issues after completing the clean install, it may be worth your time to download/run the Intel Driver Update utility (especially if the Dell RAID HDD features Intel Rapid Storage Technology or IRRT) =>http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/detect/

I said my Network Drivers were out of date. Updated them.

If no joy...

1. When (exact date) did you complete the clean install of Vista 64-bit?

***I believe it was Thursday, the 20th in the evening.***

2. How long was the computer connected to the internet before you got MSE installed again?

***Not at all...I actually went and burned the installer AND the McAfee removal tool onto a CD on another computer so that I could install it without being networked. That said, until it updated (connected of course) it wouldn't turn on which according to my what I found online is typical of MSE. I was online unprotected (with firewall on) for just as long as it took to update the definitions on MSE. I made sure not to go to any sites or even open my browser.***

3. After you completed the clean install, which did you do first: (a) got MSE installed; (b) connected a flash drive [any flash drive]; or (c) checked for & installed updates (including Service Packs, IE9 &
***KB971029***)?

***A. Installed MSEB. Ran every update that would come down..."Checked for Updates" repeateadly until all were installed except 3 "optional udpates". I tried installing KB971029 but it said something like it "doesn't apply to your system" or something similar. I just tried installing it now to confirm the exact wording of the error and now it says....Installer encountered an error: 0xc8000247.C. I didn't connect a drive until yesterday when all patches, virus definitions, MSE, etc were up to date.***

4. Did you scan the flash drive while it was connected to *another* computer with that computer's anti-virus application and at least one (1) online scanner [e.g., ESET; Kaspersky; BitDefender]*BEFORE* you connected it to the computer-in-question?

***That I did not...I don't have anything else. I did inn fact plug it in to this machine unscanned. I scanned it before opening it if that means anything using MSE. I have never loaned them out and rarely use them. One was brand new from Lexar with no data although I have plugged it in before just to confirm what was on it since I have several that look the same. If it helps, it is a Lexar Jumpdrive with Powertogo and Secure II. The other had been used maybe one or 2 times....it was a generic. It seems the likelihood of getting something bad on there is slim although I trust whatever you think it could be at this point!****Now the usual diagnostics...*

5a. Was [Microsoft Security Essentials](http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/security-essentials) (MSE) offered & installed via Windows Update or did you intentionally*choose* to install it?

***- Manual install....I chose to.***

5b. In Windows Explorer [**WinKey+E**], navigate to & right-click on

• **C:\Program Files\*Microsoft Security Client*** *<=this folder*

Select **Properties**: What is the **Created** date displayed on the resulting**General** tab?

***Sept 20th at 8:13PM. I should say that folder exists in 2 folders. Both in Program Files and in Program Files x86. I don't know if that matters but the dates are the same in both.***

5c. What SECURITY ESSENTIALS version is currently installed? To find out, open MSE & click on the downward-pointing arrow to the right of HELP then select ABOUT SECURITY ESSENTIALS.

***See below***

Security Essentials Version: 4.0.1526.0

Antimalware Client Version: 4.0.1526.0

Engine Version: 1.1.8800.0

Antivirus definition: 1.137.101.0

Antispyware definition: 1.137.101.0

Network Inspection System Engine Version: 2.0.8001.0

Network Inspection System Definition Version: 11.159.0.0

6. Are ALL of the following updates listed in **Installed Updates**?

(a) KB2744842 [*or KB2722913*], KB2705219, KB2712808, KB2731847 and possibly KB2736233; -
***Yes to all.***

(b) KB2698365, KB2691442, KB2655992 & KB2719985 [*or possibly KB2721691*]; -
***Yes to all***

(c) KB2685939 and possibly KB2686833; - ***Yes to both***

(d) KB2658846, KB2659262, KB2660649, KB2676*562*, KB2688338 & KB2690533 -
***Yes to all***

(e) KB2644615, KB2393802 *and especially **KB971029**. - **Yes to all which is weird becaue the last one is the one I tried DLing manually as per your instructions and it said it didn't apply...or maybe that was because it was installed. Either way, it is there!***

7. Open **Update History** => Assuming a failed update is listed, what is the update(s) KB number(s) & what error number(s) is associated with the failed install(s)?

***I wish I could. I click on it and it takes me to a white empty screen with an "OK button" and that is all. I remember there was one update that was failed...don't know the number. But by the time I was done updating/patching, there was another update with the same number that installed on top of it. I thought maybe it failed because it DLd out of order and when the correct previous patch installed that one did too. I think that was the only failed install that I can remember.***

8. Is Automatic Updates set to the default **Automatic** configuration or...?

***Automatic.***

9a. Is Java Version 7 Update 7 (or higher) installed? TEST HERE USING INTERNET EXPLORER (*ONLY!*) => http://java.com/en/download/installed.jsp

***I didn't have Java installed. It apparently never promted me. I just installed it...Version 7, Update 7***

9b. Is Adobe Flash Player v11.4.402.278 (or higher) installed? TEST HERE USING INTERNET EXPLORER (*ONLY!*) =>http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/

***I didn't install Flash. Just did now. I have version 11,4,402,278 installed***

10. Is Firefox, Chrome or any other alternate browser installed?

***No other Browers...I was keeping it bone stock.***

PS: I *hate* Vista computers!

***So do I now!!!I should add that before posting on the forum again, I tried going to the MS knowledge bank and I did run a "fix It"...that didn't fix it. I also went it services.msc and tried stopping and restarting BITS and Update Services. Not sure if that matters but I wanted to give you all of the info. I did nothing else.I'm so baffled how this could go so wrong.  I feel like I was super-careful with all of this...certainly more so than the people that download crazy amonts of garbage and go to who knows what sites!  Thanks again for all your help.  I really though I had this thing solved!***

Answer 3

I may be sorry but...

Seeing as you had some driver-related issues after completing the clean install, it may be worth your time to download/run the Intel Driver Update utility (especially if the Dell RAID HDD features Intel Rapid Storage Technology or IRRT) => http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/detect/

If no joy...

1. When (exact date) did you complete the clean install of Vista 64-bit?

2. How long was the computer connected to the internet before you got MSE installed again?

3. After you completed the clean install, which did you do first: (a) got MSE installed; (b) connected a flash drive [any flash drive]; or (c) checked for & installed updates (including Service Packs, IE9 &
***KB971029***)?

4. Did you scan the flash drive while it was connected to *another* computer with that computer's anti-virus application and at least one (1) online scanner [e.g., ESET; Kaspersky; BitDefender]
*BEFORE* you connected it to the computer-in-question?

*Now the usual diagnostics...*

5a. Was [Microsoft Security Essentials](http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/security-essentials) (MSE) offered & installed via Windows Update or did you intentionally
*choose* to install it?

5b. In Windows Explorer [**WinKey+E**], navigate to & right-click on

    • **C:\Program Files\*****Microsoft Security Client** <=this folder*

Select **Properties**: What is the **Created** date displayed on the resulting
**General** tab?

5c. What SECURITY ESSENTIALS version is currently installed?  To find out, open MSE & click on the downward-pointing arrow to the right of HELP then select ABOUT SECURITY ESSENTIALS.

6. Are ALL of the following updates listed in **Installed Updates**?

    (a) KB2744842 [*or KB2722913*], KB2705219, KB2712808, KB2731847 and possibly KB2736233;

    (b) KB2698365, KB2691442, KB2655992 & KB2719985 [*or possibly KB2721691*];

    (c) KB2685939 and possibly KB2686833;

    (d) KB2658846, KB2659262, KB2660649, KB2676*562*, KB2688338 & KB2690533;

    (e) KB2644615, KB2393802 *and especially **KB971029**.*

7. Open **Update History** => Assuming a failed update is listed, what is the update(s) KB number(s) & what error number(s) is associated with the failed install(s)?

8. Is Automatic Updates set to the default **Automatic** configuration or...?

9a. Is Java Version 7 Update 7 (or higher) installed? TEST HERE USING INTERNET EXPLORER (*ONLY!*) => [http://java.com/en/download/installed.jsp](http://java.com/en/download/installed.jsp)

9b. Is Adobe Flash Player v11.4.402.278 (or higher) installed? TEST HERE USING INTERNET EXPLORER (*ONLY!*) =>
[http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/](http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/)7. Is Firefox, Chrome or any other alternate browser installed?

10. Is Firefox, Chrome or any other alternate browser installed?

PS: I *hate* Vista computers!

Answer 4

I don't know if this helps with troubleshooting but..

1.  When I go to Control Panel and click on Windows Update, it takes an really long time to open...maybe 2 minutes.

2.  I also noticed that beneath the Update section, there is a box that normally says "Find out about more free software from Microsoft"  ...or I think that is what it normally says.  On mine "microsoft" has been repalced with the word "null".

I feel like that might be relevant/helpful.

Answer 5

EDIT: the only other thing I did was mount a Thumbdrive to look for some files.  I scanned them first with MSE and they came up clean.  Also, I opened them well after the Resore Point I used so any drivers should have been wiped when I restored today.