Windows Updates fails after Vista reinstall

Question

Helping a friend with his Dell XPS M1530 laptop.  His son did a botched Vista Ultimate reinstall, and he asked me to help. I started over and did the reinstall of Vista Ultimate SP1 from the Dell reinstall disk.  During this process, I formatted all three partitions on the HDD.  Immediately after the install, I ran the Norton, McAfee and One Care uninstall programs. Reinstalled the drivers in the order specified by Dell website.  Downloaded and installed MSE antivirus and did a scan.  All OK.  Opened Windows Update which found 122 updates.  Clicked INSTALL, and program began the downloading process, but stalled there. Rebooted with a 'clean' boot and restarted Windows Update which found 122 updates again.  But WU immediately said 122 updates failed.  Error code 800706BE.  Clicked TRY AGAIN.  Downloading commenced but quickly ended with: CANCELLED 122 UPDATES. SOME UPDATES WERE NOT INSTALLED.  Clicked VIEW HISTORY and saw that 3 updates were successfully installed.  Clicked the back arrow, and the WU program hung up.  Also, noticed two instances for the WU icon in the notification tray. In the meantime, another error appeared: HOST PROCESS FOR WINDOWS SERVICES STOPPED WORKING AND WAS CLOSED. Clicked SHUTDOWN to reboot, computer eventually  went dark, but power lights stayed on for 5 minutes.  Pressed power button to complete the shutdown.  Restarted...start Windows normally ... To fix BITS, I deleted the QMGRxx files in programdata\microsoft
etwork\downloads ( a suggestion I saw on Microsoft support website).  Restarted WU.  122 updates found.  Clicked INSTALL.  Downloading 122...after 15 minutes it was still at 0% downloaded.  WU had hung up again.  Could not close WU.  Clicked SHUTDOWN again to reboot computer. Desktop finally cleared, but stalled there. Pressed power button again.  Restarted...Start Windows Normally... Went to Microsoft/support/KB 971058 and downloaded and ran Mr Fix It to reset Windows Update components.  Started WU and it found 122 updates.  Clicked INSTALL.  Downloading started. Again: CANCELLED 122 UPDATES. SOME UPDATES WERE NOT INSTALLED.  Viewed history and found that 1 update was installed. Closed WU window, and noticed that there were 3 instances of WU icon in the notification tray. Anyway, as you can see, the computer is very unstable.   I will continue with whatever tricks I can uncover, but would certainly appreciate any help and advice from Dell.   Thanks,   Mike T in VA. Went to Microsoft/support/KB 943144 and downloaded and ran Mr Fix It to reset Windows Update Agent.

PudgyOne · Answer

Mike T in VA,   Try reading... Windows Updates fail to install   There should be a fix for almost every operating system. You may want to do a few at a time to see if they slowly install.     Rick

PudgyOne · Answer

Mike in VA,   Try downloading the Vista SP2 standalone version and install it. You'll have less updates to install.     Rick

MikeTin VA · Answer

Went to the article and performed the advice for Vista (Reset Windows Components KB 971058). Still have the problem.

Then tried installing one update. It worked. Tried another 3. They all were successful. Tried another 3 updates, but they did not install... WU stalled, then WU would not close.

I could keep doing 1 or 2 at a time, but I know sometimes the ORDER of updates is important -- that is, certain updates must come before others. Not sure how I would accomplish that.

Any other thoughts?

Thx,

Mike in VA.

MikeTin VA · Answer

Rick,

Thx. That SP2 download worked. I am now Vista Ultimate SP2.

But, after the SP2 install, I ran Windows Update again to get the rest of the upates since SP2. It found 116 updates -- about the same number as BEFORE SP2. And, the Windows Update process still seems fragile. Would not install 116 updates. I picked 4 updates, it installed 3. When I asked to see the history, it hung up and showed an empty window. Picked another 4 updates and clicked install, and nothing seems to happen. Also, now have 4 instances of the WU icon in the notification tray.

Updateing still seems sick.

Any suggestions?

Mike T in VA

PudgyOne · Answer

Mike,

You tried the Vista Fixit since you installed SP2?

You can try registering the .dlls, some of these will work and some not.

regsvr32 wuapi.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng.dll
regsvr32 wuaueng1.dll
regsvr32 wucltui.dll
regsvr32 wups.dll
regsvr32 wups2.dll
regsvr32 wuweb.dll

Rick

MikeTin VA · Answer

Rick, Can you give me some guidance on that: Is there a VISTA fixit? I know about the Windows Update Fixit and can run that. ALso, is there any documentation on how to register .dlls? Have not done that, but need to learn.

Thx,

MikeT in VA

Philip_Yip · Answer

What media are you using for the reinstall a Dell Reinstalaltion DVD or media created via the Dell DataSafe Program?

I would recomemnd requesting a Dell Windows Reinstallation DVD as it has no preloaded junk or additional drivers. See here:

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/f/4677/t/19476992.aspx

Once you have installed Windows Vista with a Dell Reinstallation DVD; immediately install the Standalone Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2 Update. Then install the system drivers in order. See my wiki Windows Reinstallation Guide for full instalaltion instructions:

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/f/3524/t/19480753.aspx

PudgyOne · Answer

Mike,   Try this article... http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058   The fixit should help.     Rick

MikeTin VA · Answer

Rick, I figured out how to register the .dlls.  Did not help.  Ran the Mr Fixit.  Windows Update still won't upgrade. Suggestions? Mike T in VA

PudgyOne · Answer

Mike,   Reinstall using the help of natakuc4 He'll walk you through the process.     Rick

MikeTin VA · Answer

Philip,

The owner did have an official looking DELL Reinstallation DVD which I used for the reintall. The DVD loaded Vista Ultimate SP1, and I had an SP2 file ready to install, which it did. Then the Dell drivers, in order, down to the ethernet driver, then I installed MSE to get protection. Then Windows Update -- whcih never worked well. I did get a handful of updates installed by doing a few at a time. All this after several Mr Fixits and registering certain recommended .dlls. Nothing seems to work.

Any suggestions?

Mike T in VA

Philip_Yip · Answer

Did you install the standalone IE9 also?

MikeTin VA · Answer

Philip, No, IE9 did not get installed.  I, in fact, hid that update just to avoid those problems.  Still on IE 7.

MikeTin VA · Answer

Ooops. I am not running Norton and McAfee and MSE. I UNinstalled Norton and McAfee. Then INstalled MSE. Sorry for the confusion.

I did reinstall Vista SP1, then did SP2 in a chunk. Worked well. But it is the POST-SP2 updates that I am having problems with.

Yes, Windows 7 is an option. I have an extra license of Win 7 and may pull the trigger on that.

Thx,

Mike T in VA.

Osevon · Answer

Couple of observations - Vista wasn't very good to start with and has been deteriorating for a while now. 2 running Norton and McAfee together isn't adviseable, adding MSE to the mix not ideal.

By now I would do a full install from scratch having deleted all of the partitions, load the drivers in the order required, then when it comes to WU chunk it and do things like the .NET framework and service packs and install them separately and restart after every chunk.

If your son is a student try Win 7 from software4students.co.uk it will work one hell of a lot better.

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