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Cannot perform update to version 1709 of Windows. It says Nero must be manually removed, but it isn't even there.

Anonymous
2018-03-03T12:56:32+00:00

Since version 1709 came available, I get notifications that updates cannot be installed. At some point it said that I should manually remove Nero - Burning Rom, as it was not compatible with Windows 10.

First of all, it is of course amazing that one cannot update the OS because some flimsy 3rd party program may not be working afterwards. It is like bringing your car to the garage with an engine problem but the garage stating that they cannot fix the problem because there is a grocery bag of another brand in the trunk.

But let's not pay too much attention to that.

After trying to solve this problem, among others with help of other threads here, I figured I just had to leave it and wait for the bug fix from Microsoft or for the next version update. However, since a couple of days, the update start with visual pop-ups blocking the rest of my screen until I click "Hide".

(Note that I have a Dutch version of Windows, and the phrases posted are my translations. They may differ from the official US/UK versions of Windows. However, I think you will get the point.)

As I did not get much response in the other topics, I get the idea that everyone with the same problem needs to start their own question here. So, here I go.

I have a Dutch version 1703 of Windows 10. The computer came originally with Windows 7, but it was legally upgraded soon after purchase, in the year where Microsoft granted upgrade free of cost. Note that in the original installation with Windows 7, there was no Nero Burning Rom installed and it has never been installed since. The current build number is 15063.936 - just showing that other updates work just fine.

Things I have done:

  • I ran sfc /scannow. It found no problems.
  • I ran DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth. It found no problems.
  • I searched the drive for files or folders with "Ahead" or "Nero" in the name. I only found "nero" in the file name "C:\Windows\appcompat\UA\appicon_nero.exe_b3a08d4adec09581.png"
  • I searched the registry for mentions of "nero". It only came up with things where "nero" is just a part of the name, like in "JPGCleanerOptimize" where it has nothing to do with Nero Burning Rom. I also searched the registry for mentions of "ahead", but it mainly came up with mentions of "TypeAhead" and "FlipAhead" which are part of normal Windows 10 and have nothing to do with Nero Burning Rom.
  • I uninstalled Ashampoo Burning Studio which was came with the computer. Maybe, just maybe, somehow Windows saw that as Nero. But it didn't fix the problem. And yes, I did restarts after that and cleaned the registry with CCleaner, just to make sure no traces of Ashampoo Burning Studio were left. To no avail.
  • I did click the button "Update now" on https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10, with the same result.
  • I did download and use the Media Creation Tool from that same page. Same result.
  • I did download the ISO-file as if I was going to use it for another computer (because the Media Creation Tool apparently deletes it after exiting because it cannot update due to Nero Burning Rom). I tried to use the ISO file with a bootable recovery USB-stick, but I couldn't use an ISO file with it that way. I uncompressed the ISO file to a directory using 7-Zip and ran setup.exe. It did, as I thought beforehand, exactly the same thing.
  • I did a lot of these things double, the second time running the program as an administrator. It made no difference.
  • It always ends with a Window saying (in Dutch) something like "Let's see what yet needs to be done. Check next points if you want to continue with the installation, and you want to keep your Windows-settings, personal files and -apps.

Nero - Burning Rom   Manually delete

Remove this app now, because it is not compatible with Windows 10."

Where does Windows get the idea from that Nero -Burning Rom is installed? If it does base this on a registry key, I will (temporarily) remove that key. If it is based on a file or directory, I will (temporarily) remove that. But please tell me how it comes to this conclusion, so I know what to do.

Or better yet, please fix this update, so it doesn't find non-existing software anymore. Or even better, fix the update so it doesn't search for, or halt at, software that may not be compatible with version 1709 of Windows 10 anymore. If you tell the user, that certain software will not be compatible after the upgrade anymore, that is somewhat okay, but completely halting the OS-update because of that  ... that is soo ... I don't even have words for that.

Or otherwise, please give me the option to continue the update with my acknowledgement that Nero might not be working afterwards. I don't care if Nero doesn't work properly anymore (because I know it isn't there and has never worked on this computer), I just want Windows to work properly as it did until this version 1709 came out.

Or give me an option to stop installing 1709 repeatedly. I am willing to wait for version 1803 or whatever comes next. I don't need 1709, 1703 was working great. I want a working computer. I can live without the new things 1709 might bring me.

I have taken 2 days vacation from work, due to a school holiday from my kids. It is now Saturday and I have wasted 2½ precious days. You can imagine how pissed I am at Microsoft. There is so much more I would like to say, but I am sitting on my fingers. I never was fond of the whole Windows-as-a-service concept, and this situation isn't helping.

Please fix this. Thanks in advance.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows update

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-03-03T23:44:05+00:00

    Here's a reply from 2016 that has helped 150 posters. If it works for you, all credit goes to Konstantin Chistyakov:

    Open the hidden folder, C:$WINDOWS.~BT\

    Then, go to Sources\Panther\ subfolder. Sort files by date.

    Find file named <some symbols>_APPRAISER_HumanReadable.xml

    Open it in Notepad. This is setup log in XML format.

    Search the string: <Property Name="DT_ANY_FMC_BlockingApplication"

      Value="TRUE".

    This string is located in Property list "Decision Maker" XML-section.

    Look some strings up, there should be XML-value of the "Asset" XML-property.

    In "Property-List Type Inventory" section you can find the program path ("lower case long path" XML-attribute).

    Uninstall this program, and run setup again.

    Repeat these steps, for all strings with BlockingApplication=True value.

    8 people found this answer helpful.
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  1. Anonymous
    2018-03-03T17:53:50+00:00

    try this

    http://www.nero.com/eng/support/service/nero-clean-tool.php

    Oh yeah, forgot to mention that one. Tried that one as well. It said: "No Nero products detected or nothing selected for clean. Exiting Nero General CleanTool."

    The problem is not with Nero, the problem is with Microsoft, more specifically with Windows 10 version 1709.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2018-03-03T19:41:43+00:00

    One more place to look...

    Win Key+R

    msinfo32

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-03-03T18:25:15+00:00

    just for the heck of it if PC, unplug cd/dvd player and see what happens. Maybe if laptop uninstall it in device manager and start the 1709 update with install USB. Only for testing this because I would use a DVD to install 1709.

    if you have any other virus/malware software installed, uninstall it as you do not need it to begin with and should not run 2 anyways.

    You can uninstall any other media players or codec packs. There may be a tie to another program using a nero codec. I am very familiar with all A/V and this does happen.

    you could try and do a "RESET in start up options keeping files and settings and then try 1709

    Here is a link to check out for all of this and RESET or System Restore is here in start up options.

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-update/try-to-fix-system-problems-during-or-after-windows/f0550db9-66d1-4b95-b23e-36357ed5d523?tm=1519946124253

    There may also be a codec in

    C:\Windows\System32

    or

    C:\Windows\SysWOW64

    you can search web for nero dll or codec type files and then look in these 2 folders above and delete them.

    If you can not delete or rename them by adding .tmp on the end of the file, then you have to take ownership of them first and add you FULL control.

    I looked briefly and seen a couple in the nero player folder in

    C:\Program Files (x86)

    But I would also look in

    C:\Program Files

    I would also in my file explorer options>>View tab, show hidden files and drives, unhide everything until you succeed.

    You then can check C:\ for a temp folder for it or other locations including your

    C:\Users\YOUR USER NAME\AppData Folder

    You can also check in your public folder

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-03-03T14:51:27+00:00
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