Windows Update and Installer Problems

Question

Hello Everyone and thanks for your help in advance.  I am having numerous problems installing Windows Update as well as being unable to install Windows Live Messenger Update.  I assume this combination of problems is originating from Windows Installer.  I have disabled all antivirus and firewall software.  When trying to install Windows Installer 4.5, I receive the error message "The following updates were not installed"  Hotfix for Windows (KB942288).  The event viewer shows The Windows update "Hotfix for Windows (KB942288)" could not be installed because of an error: 2149842978 "" (Command line: ""C:\Windows\system32\wusa.exe" "C:\Users\Diana\Documents\Software\Windows Installer\Windows6.0-KB942288-v2-x64.msu"   ").  When attmepting to install updates, the message "Preparing to install" displays without progressing.  When attempting to install windows live updates, I receive a meesage that a conflicting application is interfering with the installation.  I have rebooted several times and run Windows Install Cleanup without success.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  OS is Vista Ultimate x64.

Answer 1

Hi,

Try these 1st - clean-up if possible and then rerun the Windows Installer.

Utility Spotlight Windows Installer CleanUp Utility

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2008.08.utilityspotlight.aspx

Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

Windows Installer 4.5 Redistributable

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5a58b56f-60b6-4412-95b9-54d056d6f9f4&displaylang=en

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Run these to see if they can clear up the update installs.

Description of the Patch Registration Cleanup Tool

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976220/

How do I reset Windows Update components? - a Mr Fixit

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

Description of the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista, for Windows Server 2008, and

for Windows 7

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

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If needed you can get free incident reports however the above should take care of it for you.

For Windows Updates - Free Incident Report

Go Here and Click -> Windows Update fails while scanning for, downloading, or installing updates

http://support.microsoft.com/gp/wusupport#tab3

For Security Updates you can get a Free Support Incident Report

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/resources/support.aspx

Hope this helps.

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Rob - Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.