error code 643

Question

i have a windows vista home basic 32 bit operating system, service pack 2 installed, and lately i have been getting prompted to install an up date to the microsoft .net framework 1.1. any way, when i originally tried to install this update, it failed and said " error code: 643 windows encountered an unknown problem" so i decided to restart my machine and try again. but when i shut down my machine, it said "installing updates 1 of 1" but yet the only update i tried to install was the .net framework, and it had failed. so i was confused to what it was trying to install. but any way, i restarted my computer, and retried the same update. it failed again and gave the same error code. so i tried again, and it failed again. and again. and again. and every time i restarted or shut down my machine, it would say "installing update 1 of 1"  so i got tired of it trying to install this update, so i hide this update, and it worked. for about 5 minutes. even though i had hidden the update, it tried to install a different update, that was under almost the same exact name, and the same file size. i decided to try to install this "newer" update and once again it failed and gave me the same error code 643. so i hide the "newer" update. and once again, it tried to install and update with almost the same exact name, but this time, it was a different file size. now i have grown tired of hiding one update, just to have another one show up that wont install either. so i was wanting to know why these updates are failing. the original update is called "security update for microsoft .NET framework 1.1 sp1 on windows xp, windows vista, and windows server 2008 x86 (KB2416447)" its file size was 13.7 mb. after i hid that update because it failed, another one sowed up called "microsoft .net framework 1.1 sp1 security update for windows vista and windows server 2008 (KB2416447)" its file size was 13.5mb. AND THEN, after i hid this update, another one showed up called "microsoft .net framework 1.1 service pack 1 security update for windows 2000, windows xp, windows vista, windows server 2008 (KB953297)" its file size was again a 13.5 mb. any way, to make an even longer story short, i am up to like 50 hidden updates, and counting. what is wrong with this? please help me. any one?

Answer 1

Hi James:

The error 80070643 (or simply 0x643) that shows up when using the Microsoft/Windows Update system, as the result of an unsuccessful install of an update (or updates that may be re-offered) for any version of the .NET Framework installation on your system, can happen for several reasons.

The most common cause is a problem due to system corruption on your computer. This occurs for various reasons, including but not limited to other applications overwriting of .NET files or corrupted hard disk sectors.

To troubleshoot this problem, you must fix MSI software update registration corruption issues (Method Nº1), or uninstall and reinstall multiple versions of the .NET Framework installation (Method Nº2). Both methods are described in Microsoft Knowledge Base article KB976982: "You receive error 0x643, error code 0x80070643 or updates may be re-offered when you try to install .NET Framework updates when using Windows Update or Microsoft Update" (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976982 )

Try Method 1 first. If the problem is solved and you have the updates successfuly installed, you are done!  If the issue is not resolved, go to Method 2.

When you get to step 4 of Method 2 (Download and Reinstall) **** install the .NET Framework3.5 SP1 only(this will also install versions 2.0 SP2 and 3.0 SP2 behind the scenes) as you might not need version 1.1 anyway, because most applications that were created for the .NET Framework 1.0 or 1.1 will automatically use the .NET Framework 2.0 instead if it is installed on the system. In most cases, that means you do not need to keep the .NET Framework 1.1 installed on your system if you already have the .NET Framework 2.0 installed.

However, there are some applications that are configured to require a specific version of the .NET Framework, even if later versions of the .NET Framework are installed. If you have any of such applications on your system and try to run them without installing the .NET Framework 1.0 or 1.1, you will get an error message requesting you to install the version it needs to run.

This error message will indicate version number v1.0.3705 if you need to install the .NET Framework 1.0, and it will be v1.1.4322 if you need to install the .NET Framework 1.1. If you end up seeing any error messages like this, you can re-install the .NET Framework 1.0 or 1.1 in order to resolve the errors. If you don't end up seeing any error messages like this, then you don't need to worry about  installing the .NET Framework 1.0 or 1.1. 

You can now go to Microsoft/Windows Update to check for any available service packs or hotfixes for the .NET Framework version that you have just installed. If there is any service pack, hotfix or update available for your system, it is recommended that you download it from the Microsoft Download Center, and install it by running the setup package directly instead of using Windows Update. Running it directly will allow the service pack or hotfix to display error dialogs whereas Windows Update will automatically suppress any error dialogs.

Hope this helps. Don't forget to come back and tell us how it went.

RickCP

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RickCP-Windows XP Home Edition SP3

Answer 2

Good for you! but for good order sake please confirm your troubleshooting was as:

1. Ran the .NET Framework Cleanup Tool,
2. Downloaded and installed 3.5 SP1 (only) from Download Center and not from Windows Update,
3. There aren't any new updates offered by Windows Update.

RickCP

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RickCP-Windows XP Home Edition SP3

Answer 3

Indeed, it was successful this time, method one did not work, but method two did. I had already tried to use these steps, but i reinstalled .NET Framework 3.5, 2.0, 1.1, and 1.0 and it was unsuccessful, but this time when I only installed 3.5, and I downloaded the update from the Microsoft website, it did succeed in stopping any update suggestions from Windows update, and error codes in those updates. I appreciate the help very much Rick. Thank you

Answer 4

um, i tried the same steps allen took, but was un successful. the onecare scanner took more than three hours just to get 8% through the virus and spyware scan. i then tried the 'stinger' program and 'malware bites' and was again un successful. i really appreciate your advice tho.

Answer 5

See if this sugesstion can help you:

<*http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistawu/thread/4a6ea38b-9104-4547-8802-bc94bb6127a9*>