How to troubleshoot Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 service pack installation issues

Article ID: 947366 - View products that this article applies to.

Support for Windows Vista without any service packs installed ended on April 13, 2010. To continue receiving security updates for Windows, make sure you're running Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 (SP2). For more information, refer to this Microsoft web page: Support is ending for some versions of Windows

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Symptoms

This article discusses how to troubleshoot issues when you are installing a service pack for Windows Vista or for Windows Server 2008.

When you try to install a service pack, you may receive one of the following error messages:
Installation was not successful
An internal error occurred while installing the service pack
The error message may also refer to one of the following error codes:
  • 0x80070002
  • 0x8007000D
  • 0x80073712
  • 0x800B0100
  • 0x8024200D
Note This article does not list all the possible error codes or messages that you may receive. We recommend the resolutions in this article to resolve installation issues, regardless of the error codes or messages that you may receive.

Note If you receive "0x80070490" error code, visit the following Microsoft Webiste for troubleshooting:
958044 You receive a "0x80070490" error code when you use Windows Update or Microsoft Update Web sites to install updates
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Cause

This issue can occur if one of the following conditions is true:
  • A program on your computer interfered with the installation of the service pack.
  • There is an inconsistency in the Windows Servicing Store. The Windows Servicing Store is a component that is required to successfully install the service packs.
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Troubleshooting Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 service package installation

To resolve this problem, try each resolution in the "General Troubleshooting" and the "Advanced troubleshooting" section in the order in which they are presented. After you try a resolution, try to install the service pack again. If you still cannot install the service pack, try the next resolution.

General Troubleshooting

Resolution 1: Install the stand-alone package for the service pack instead of using Windows Update to install the Service Pack

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Note If you already tried to install the stand-alone package for the service pack, and you encountered this problem, skip this resolution and go to Resolution 2.

If you are unsure whether you have tried to install the stand-alone package for the service pack, we recommend that you try the following steps to install the stand-alone package for the service pack. By using the stand-alone package to install the service pack, you eliminate installation issues that might be related to Windows Update. This simplifies the troubleshooting process.

How to obtain the stand-alone package for the service pack

To obtain the service pack, see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as appropriate for your operating system, and then look for the option to install the service pack from the Microsoft Download Center.
935791 How to obtain the latest Windows Vista service pack
968849 How to obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2008
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Resolution 2: Run the System Update Readiness Tool, restart the computer, and then install the service pack

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The System Update Readiness Tool checks your computer and tries to resolve certain conditions that could interfere with the installation of updates or other software. However, before you download the tool, you have to determine whether your computer is running a 32-bit version or a 64-bit version of the Windows Vista operating system. If your computer has Windows Vista installed, and you know which version that you are running, go to the How to download the System Update Readiness Tool" section.

If you are unsure about which version your computer has installed,follow these steps
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  1. Click Start
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    Start button
    .
  2. In the Start Search box, type system, and then click System in the Programs list.

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The operating system is displayed as follows:
  • For a 32-bit version operating system, 32-bit Operating System appears for the system type under System.
  • For a 64-bit version operating system, 64-bit Operating System appears for the system type under System.
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Note 32-bit Operating System=x86-based Operating System and 64-bit Operating System=x64-based Operating System.
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After you determine which version of Windows Vista your computer is running, download the System Update Readiness Tool.

How to download the System Update Readiness Tool

You can click here to download the System Update Readiness Tool from the following Microsoft Download Center Web site. The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
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Download
Download the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista (KB947821) package now.

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Download
Download the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista x64 (KB947821) package now.

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Download
Download the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Server 2008 (KB947821) package now.

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Download
Download the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Server 2008 x64 (KB947821) package now.

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Download
Download the System Update Readiness Tool for Itanium-based Systems (KB947821) package now.

After you download and then run the System Update Readiness Tool, restart your computer. Then, immediately try to install the full download package for the service pack that you previously downloaded from the following Microsoft Download Center Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads
For more information about the System Update Readiness Tool, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
947821 Description of the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008
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Resolution 3: Close or disable any applications that may be running, restart the computer, and then install the service pack

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Important These steps may increase your security risk. These steps may also make the computer or the network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We recommend the process that this article describes to enable programs to operate as they are designed to or to implement specific program capabilities. Before you make these changes, we recommend that you evaluate the risks that are associated with implementing this process in your particular environment. If you decide to implement this process, take any appropriate additional steps to help protect the system. We recommend that you use this process only if you really require this process.

During installation, one of the most common causes of failure occurs when a third-party application holds open a file or locks a file that the service pack installation program has to use. For example, a third-party antivirus or antispyware application may cause this problem. To minimize this possibility, follow these steps:
  1. Close all applications, and then restart your computer.
  2. After your computer has restarted, disable any antivirus or any antispyware applications that may load during the startup process. You can usually disable the application from the notification area. This area is located in the lower-right corner of the computer screen. To disable an application from the notification area, follow these steps:
    1. Right-click the icon of the third-party program.
    2. Click Close, Disable, Exit, or a similar term from the list of options. If these options are not available, you may have to open the application and then close or disable it in the application.
  3. As soon as you close the antivirus or the antispyware application, try to click here to install the full download package for the service pack that you previously downloaded from the following Microsoft Download Center Web site.
  4. After you have completed the service pack installation, enable the antivirus or the antispyware application that you disabled in the previous steps.
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Advanced troubleshooting

If your problem is still not resolved, you can try the advanced troubleshooting steps on your own, or you may want to contact Microsoft support.

Resolution 4: Uninstall any security applications, restart the computer, and then install the service pack

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Important These steps may increase your security risk. These steps may also make the computer or the network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We recommend the process that this article describes to enable programs to operate as they are designed to or to implement specific program capabilities. Before you make these changes, we recommend that you evaluate the risks that are associated with implementing this process in your particular environment. If you decide to implement this process, take any appropriate additional steps to help protect the system. We recommend that you use this process only if you really require this process.

A third-party security application (such as an antivirus application, a firewall, or an antispyware application) may still be causing the installation to fail even after you tried to disable the application. The Windows Vista SP1 installation requires several restarts of the computer, and the security application may be reloading after the first restart. Applications that provide registry repair features may also cause the installation to fail.

You can uninstall your third-party security application before you install the service pack. However, you should do this only if you are positive that you can reinstall the application as soon as the installation of the service pack is finished. To reinstall the third-party security application, you will need either the original installation media for the application, or you will need the original download. You may also need a product key to reinstall the third-party security application.

If you are sure that you can reinstall the third-party application, uninstall the application from the Programs and Features item in Control Panel. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Close all applications, and then restart your computer.
  2. After your computer has restarted, click Start
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    Start button
    .
  3. In the Start Search box, type programs.
  4. Click Programs and Features.
  5. Click the name of the security program that you want to uninstall.
  6. Click Uninstall.
  7. After you uninstall the program, restart the computer.
  8. Try to click here to install the full download package of the service pack that you previously downloaded from the following Microsoft Download Center Web site.
    Note You have uninstalled your security software, and your computer is more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We recommend that you do not surf the Web, use e-mail, or use Instant Messenger, until you have finished troubleshooting the issue, and you have reinstalled your security software.
  9. After you have completed the Windows Vista SP1 installation, reinstall the security program that you uninstalled in the previous steps.
Note If the problem is not resolved, this content cannot help you any further. So, you might want to visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Contact us
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Similar problems and solutions

For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
971204 Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 service pack installation fails with error 0x80004005
939399 Error message when you try to perform a backup on a Windows Vista-based computer: "0x80071A91"
931712 The "Windows Features" dialog box is empty in Windows Vista, or you receive an error message that includes the following code when you try to use Windows Update: "0x80073712"
If the problem is not resolved, unfortunately this content cannot help you any further. So, you might want to search the Microsoft Knowledge Base for other solutions. To search the Microsoft Knowledge Base, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Microsoft Support
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Properties

Article ID: 947366 - Last Review: November 28, 2012 - Revision: 16.0
Applies to
  • Windows Vista Service Pack 1, when used with:
    • Windows Vista Ultimate
    • Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition
    • Windows Vista Enterprise
    • Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition
    • Windows Vista Business
    • Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
    • Windows Vista Home Premium
    • Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
    • Windows Vista Home Basic
    • Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Service Pack 2, when used with:
    • Windows Vista Ultimate
    • Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition
    • Windows Vista Enterprise
    • Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition
    • Windows Vista Business
    • Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
    • Windows Vista Home Premium
    • Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
    • Windows Vista Home Basic
    • Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition
Keywords: 
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