This article describes the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista-based computers. Microsoft released the System Update Readiness Tool to resolve certain conditions that could cause installing updates and other software not to work. You do not have to manually run this tool. This tool is offered automatically through Windows Update to computers that have a condition that the tool could resolve.
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Update information
After you download the System Update Readiness Tool, it runs a onetime scan for inconsistencies that might prevent future servicing operations. This scan typically takes less than 15 minutes to run. However, the tool might take significantly longer on some computers. The Windows Update progress bar is not updated during the scan, and progress seems to stop at 60% complete for some time. This behavior is expected. The scan is still running and you should not cancel the update.
The System Update Readiness Tool is available from the Windows Update Web site. To obtain this update, follow these steps:
| 1. | Click Start , click Control Panel, and then click Security. |
| 2. | Under Windows Update, click Check for updates.
Important This update is offered on Windows Update only to computers that have a condition that the tool could resolve. |
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What is the System Update Readiness Tool?
System resources, such as file data, registry data, and even in-memory data, can develop inconsistencies during the lifetime of the operating system. These inconsistencies might be caused by various hardware failures or might be caused by software issues. In some cases, these inconsistencies can affect the Windows servicing store, and they can cause software updates not to work. The System Update Readiness Tool tries to resolve these inconsistencies.
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What does the System Update Readiness Tool do?
The System Update Readiness Tool verifies the integrity of the following resources:
| • | Files that are located under the following directories: | • | %SYSTEMROOT%\Servicing\Packages | | • | %SYSTEMROOT%\WinSxS\Manifests |
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| • | Registry data that is located under the following registry subkeys: | • | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Components | | • | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Schema | | • | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing |
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Note This list may be updated at any time.
When the System Update Readiness Tool detects incorrect manifests, files, or registry data, it might replace the incorrect data with a corrected version.
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What Windows Update installation errors can the System Update Readiness Tool potentially address?
The following table lists error messages that you might receive when you try to install a software update. These errors might be caused by a system irregularity that the System Update Readiness Tool might be able to resolve. However, the tool might be unable to fix all instances in which these errors occur.
| Code | Error | Description |
|---|
| 0x80070002 | ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND | The system cannot find the file specified. |
| 0x8007000D | ERROR_INVALID_DATA | The data is invalid. |
| 0x800F081F | CBS_E_SOURCE_MISSING | The source for the package or file not found. |
| 0x80073712 | ERROR_SXS_COMPONENT_STORE_CORRUPT | The component store is in an inconsistent state. |
| 0x800736CC | ERROR_SXS_FILE_HASH_MISMATCH | A component's file does not match the verification information present in the component manifest. |
| 0x800705B9 | ERROR_XML_PARSE_ERROR | Unable to parse the requested XML data. |
| 0x80070246 | ERROR_ILLEGAL_CHARACTER | An invalid character was encountered. |
| 0x8007370D | ERROR_SXS_IDENTITY_PARSE_ERROR | An identity string is malformed. |
| 0x8007370B | ERROR_SXS_INVALID_IDENTITY_ATTRIBUTE_NAME | The name of an attribute in an identity is not within the valid range. |
| 0x8007370A | ERROR_SXS_INVALID_IDENTITY_ATTRIBUTE_VALUE | The value of an attribute in an identity is not within the valid range. |
| 0x80070057 | ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER | The parameter is incorrect. |
| 0x800B0100 | TRUST_E_NOSIGNATURE | No signature was present in the subject. |
| 0x80092003 | CRYPT_E_FILE_ERROR | An error occurred while Windows Update reads or writes to a file. |
| 0x800B0101 | CERT_E_EXPIRED | A required certificate is not within its validity period when verifying against the current system clock or the time stamp in the signed file. |
| 0x8007371B | ERROR_SXS_TRANSACTION_CLOSURE_INCOMPLETE | One or more required members of the transaction are not present. |
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Information for advanced users
Microsoft Download Center
You can manually download the System Update Readiness Tool from the Microsoft Download Center. The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
Windows Vista
Windows Vista for x64-based systems
Logging
The System Update Readiness Tool creates a log file that captures any issues that the tool found or fixed. The log file is located at the following location:
| • | %SYSTEMROOT%\Logs\CBS\CheckSUR.log |
| • | %SYSTEMROOT%\Logs\CBS\CheckSUR.persist.log |
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For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
824684 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824684/) Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates
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