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I use Windows Vista Home Premium Edition, first of all.
On December 10th of last year I had a huge series of updates to install. I allowed it to happen and during the update session the comp got shut down. My computer restarted and when it got to right before the logon screen it continued installing the updates, supposedly finished, then restarted.
When it got back to that point it said the Updates were not Installed Correctly and it was reverting changes. This process took quite a while, roughly 5 hours I suspect (I went to sleep during this period.) When I woke back up it was at the logon.
I logged in everything was fine until I logged out a few days later and when I logged back on it went through the reverting changes again which took roughly as long (it takes less than 7 hours I’m estimating, I don’t really know; I sleep through it). From this I ascertained that if I ever log out, restart, or anything I’ll have to go through this process before getting to my log on screen; incidentally as a result I haven’t restarted or logged out since; also out of fear the problem will get worse.
I also noticed since then Windows Update has stopped working. If I try to do it I get the error code 80080005. I searched this and I found a few different people have this 80080005 problem for different reasons. To be honest I’m not computer savvy enough to try anything without fear of making my problem worse (I tend to do that a lot.) As of now I’ve disabled automatic windows updating for the heck of it.
I also as of now from reading some posts I found on google have gone to DCOMCNFG, found the Windows Update Service, and disabled it there. I’m wondering if this will keep my comp from going through “Reverting changes” every time I log out; but I’m wary to test it for fear it will A) Make it worse or B) Make no change and I’ll have to wait. I need expert input on my problem.
I should also add that sadly it seems I procrastinated past any restore point before December 10th.
So can any of you help me on this? I want expert advice before I try anything further. I’ve noticed I’ve made computer problems worse or added completely new problems when I’ve tried to fix things on my own.
I assume you were installing SP1 for Vista at that time. If so, SP1 actually removes all prior restore points except for the one created right before the installation of SP1. If the SP fails to install, it will remove all the changes and revert to the last known configuration (or the restore point generated prior to the installation of the updates.) Automatic updates will continue when if they are interrupted, and if they are unable to install completely will default to the “pre” update which is what you encountered. I uninstalled a SP once and agree, in Vista it takes darn near as long to revert as to install in the first place (most frustrating.)
Now, it is possible that during the time the computer tried to “un-install” the updates and revert, it was also interrupted. In which case that would explain having to revert again. I’m appalled anyone would suggest turning off auto updates. Windows updates are a method of protection against vulnerabilities as they are discovered, this may be your only way of patching them and protecting your system. I do not ever recommend turning off updating – it is not a good practice.
While automatic updates may not be working due to some kind of corruption, there should be no reason you can’t go to the Windows Update site and manually try to start them. It will simply do the Genuine Advantage verification and should be no problem if you have a legal copy of Windows. Sometimes this will work when automatic updates does not.
At this point the object should NOT be how do I get it to stop reverting. It should be how do I GET those critical updates MS has released in the last few months due to serious vulnerabilities? I would suggest you turn on any services you may have stopped. Go to the Microsoft Update site and attempt to manually download and install any updates. It could take hours – but it is necessary.
By the way the 80080005 error stands for “CO_E_Server_Exec_Failure”
I was under the impression Service Pack 1 was out a long time ago, and I already had it?
Well fact is doing searches on internet forums I found someone with a similar issue and he says every time he restarts it goes through “reverting updates”.
I also sincerely doubt reverting updates was interrupted. There was no power outage then.
Fact is until I’m sure what’s wrong I don’t want to do anything at all.
Also considering the amount of security I have on this comp and the fact I use Firefox and never IE I’m not too worried about vulnerabilities…and the Windows Vista update list shows that some of the updates were installed.
I should also say that yesterday the comp tried to auto-update on it’s own and it gave me the error I would get. It said “couldn’t update” and gave me the error code I listed before.
Understandable, but realize that you may not be protected from some very critical vulnerabilities depending on how long it’s been since you installed updates successfully.
It is your choice to make. I will defer any further assistance to someone else.
It’s just from what I’ve read it seems like it’s perpetually stuck that if I re-log I’ll have to go through the process of “reverting changes.”
But yeah I need input from more people before I do anything.
Looking on the Microsoft forums – it would seem that the there is the distinct possibility your computer is already infected by malware – which is preventing the updates from installing. You can read many posts here from MS MVP’s regarding Vundo/Zlob infections causing problems exactly like those you describe and with the same error code.
Install and Run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Please download Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware to your desktop.- Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
- At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
- If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
- Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
- When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
- Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
- When completed, a log will open in Notepad. Please save it to a convenient location in the event you need to post in a forum for further assistance with malware removal.
Let me know if it finds anything significant. If it finds and removes the infections listed above you might consider trying and update – but please do so from http://www.windowsupdate.com for the best possible chance all goes well.
Please let me know how it goes. (I can refer you to forums specifically to assist in malware removal if you should more than you anticipate and/or think that may be part of the problem with the updates. I hope it all comes back clean, but from what I’m seeing in these posts it is very possible there is malware blocking the updates.)
I have to say, that is highly unlikely since I have not visited any new sites or downloaded/installed any new things then, and I have Comodo BoClean on at all times.
Plus, I am an expert with process explorer. I check it impulsively.
I am 97% certain that it is not malware.
I wish you the best of luck in solving your problem. I’m sure your obvious expertise will lead you to the right answer.
I do hope you are right about the malware. But I’m sure you’ll still feel so much better when you can get those critical security patches installed. Microsoft released them out of cycle they were considered so important, and it must be distressing when you are unable to ensure your system is patched appropriately to avoid the possible compromise of your system.
Good luck!
When I say I am an expert with process explorer, I mean I have many months ago disabled and destroyed malware using nothing but it.
I feel that it is strictly a Vista-glitch…I just want to know -exactly- what to do further before I do anything; I don’t want to make this worse!
Can someone link me to where I can manually download Service Pack 1? I think tonight I’ll install it…would that be a good idea? It seems only some updates made it through before my problem…it won’t mess anything up, will it?
It seems here that SP1 was published much earlier this year, so I would assume I’d have had it already…
Okay yesterday I fixed what I thought was a seemingly unrelated problem with a process called “tzupdate” or something; something that had to do with time syncing? I restarted it and it stopped hogging roughly 30% of my resources. Today when I woke up I tried checking for updates and it worked.
Tonight before I go to bed I’ll activate the installation and I’ll tell you what happens in the morning; thank God I have a second comp in case something goes wrong.
Okay, it worked- sorta, but when I woke up I logged on and the updates seemed fine however two processes – mcbuilder.exe and something like tzup.exe or something which was a child of the process TrustedInstaller were both hogging 25% of the CPU. I don’t know what I did but the comp restarted for some reason and when it got before the logon screen I get once again the message “Updates were not configured correctly. Reverting changes. Do not turn off your computer.”
Now I’m really perplexed.
It’s still on reverting changes, though this happened twice last year so I’m not -too- worried. But I find it odd that it started and worked fine with the updates then restarted for no apparent reason.
I was doing google searches for my problem and someone hinted that Comodo Memory Firewall may have something to do with it. Is that a possibility?
That is, with the msbuilder.exe and the other process I mentioned hogging resources.
Wondering if it’s also my Comodo firewall…
(I’m on my old computer right now btw.)
Okay this is unusual.
It’s done “Reverting updates”, I log in, now I can jot down what I see.
In process explorer both mcbuilder.exe and tzupd.exe (tzupd.exe parent process is TrustedInstaller.exe) are hogging 25% CPU each.
I suspended them; I notice no ill effects.
Now the odd thing is I checked windows updates and all the updates are -still- installed and I notice no problems.
I am baffled. =|
I’ve also noticed, that since I didn’t sleep through the Reverting changes this time, I’d estimate it took approximately 4 1/2 hours to “Revert Changes”.
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