Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB976902) is causing most of my X86 and some current applications for Windows 7 to stop functioning.

Question

Original title: Updates

The latest update Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB976902) is causing most of my X86 and some current applications for Win7  to stop functioning. This includes IE8, MS Office10 and a few others. Whats with THAT! I have updates blocked for now till the writers get it sorted out.

Answer 1

Hi,

The KB article mentions that this update cannot be uninstalled. This software update will be a prerequisite to install service packs. Additionally, this update improves reliability when you install or remove Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 updates and service packs.

http://support.microsoft.com/KB/976902

Since you have issues with Internet Explorer 8 and Microsoft Office 2010 after installing the update, I suspect the involvement of a third party software conflict. I'd have you put your machine in aclean boot state to eliminate third party software conflict.

Note: Follow step 7 to restart the computer as usual.

Azeez Nadeem - Microsoft Support

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Answer 2

After at least 2 weeks trying to solve the problem At last here is the answer.

Follow the steps below This will remove the KB problems.

1. Go to C:WindowsServicingPackages
2. Find the .mum files relating to KB 976002 and KB 253352
3. Take ownership of them, give yourself full control (it took me a **** of a time to figure it how, because i don't know much about these things, so i assume that there are others like me, so: right click-->properties-->security-->advanced-->owner-->edit-->and here i have 2 things: Administrators (--name of my computer--\Administrators) and Name of my computer (--name of my computer--\my name [i think it's the user's name]); i selected the second and clicked Apply-->ok [[it works for Administrators too]] ... do it again: Properties-->security-->advanced-->change permissions-->DESELECT "Include inheritable permissions for this object's parent"-->add-->click on TrustedInstaller-->remove-->click Users (that's what i chose; it works on Administrators too)-->edit-->select Full Controll-->ok-->apply-->yes-->ok-->ok-->ok. DONE. Now YOU have full control of files
4. Open Control Panel, programs, Installed Updates
5. Find KB 976002 or/and KB2533552 and right click; Uninstall is not available. Important: Do not close this window, to avoid re-verification of the checksum of the .mum files.
6. Go back to the .mum files for KB976002 and KB2533552. Edit them both with notepad, change permanance=”permanent” to permanence=”removable”
7. Go back to the Installed updates list, hit F5, right click KB 976002. Uninstall is now available. :) then reboot

Regards Philip

Answer 3

Hi,

Glad to know that system restore did the trick for you. System restore to the rescue.

Cheers!

Azeez Nadeem - Microsoft Support

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Answer 4

I have the same issue as tbman43 with Office 2010 and have been trying to get it to work again for over 8 weeks now! I am running Win 7 with IE 8

I have tried everything suggested on various forums, including yours of a System Restore, but am still getting the message - licence cannot be validated.  I've tried un-installing 2010 but on re-install, I get the message - cannot continue due to an error in set up. It does recognise the validation key.  I have also just installed the same DVD copy of 2010 on my son's laptop which is running WinXP - and no problems.

I had been using Office 2010 since last June, and then on 16 Jan, after KB976902 was installed, the problems started

I am not a tech minded person and am so annoyed that I've wasted literally days trying to rescue my 2010.  I paid for this software and now it seems this update has rendered it useless.

If I attempt a clean boot (?) how will I know which third party software may causing a conflict?

cannotdoit

Answer 5

On 1/30/11 I shut down my win7 64bit to swap out my dvd drive.  During shutdown an update was installed since I had updates set for automatic.  I removed the old drive, installed new one and turned the computer back on.  During bootup the new drive was discovered and driver update was attempted, it failed.  I also found that my MagicJack had stopped working.  I began troubleshooting MJ since it is my primary phone, I no longer have a landline.  Nothing fixed the MJ, even plugging in another one which was working fine on a XP pro computer.  I figured maybe it was related to the optical drive driver problem so I began working on that problem.  After several attempts getting the new drive working I took it out and reinstalled the old drive which had been working fine before the shutdown.  Now the old drive had the same problem, installation of the driver failed.  Now I am suspecting the update and researched the update just installed, KB976902.  After finding other users having problems with it I set about trying to get rid of it.  I see after the fact the warning that it cannot be uninstalled.  Now I believe my only hope other than a complete clean install of 7 is to restore the computer to an earlier date.  I don't recall ever having any success (maybe once or twice) of restoring to an earlier date which I had tried on several occasions with xp, vista and 7 on different computers with differing problems, but, what the hey, it can't hurt.

Plug and pray? Hallelujah, the restore worked, the KB976902 now does not show up as an installed update and the new drive and MagicJack are now working normally.  I now have updates set for only notifying of new updates and let me decide whether to install.  No more updates until I research to see what others are experiencing.  Win7 is working fine for me as it is, do I need a service pack? hmmm

jastarn50