Thread: Windows Update making me angry

So I'm trying to update my laptop to Vista SP1 but it keeps giving me error code 0x800f081f. this is quite troublesome as I can't find any solid support for this.

hey, i just did a bit of reading on this for you.
Are you installing from windows update or from the downloaded SP1?

Basically from what ive read, whats been working for people and causing the problem is.... a missing update (KB947562) my suggestion is to try installing that update, then restarting and installing SP1 from windows update.
good luck. ill check back tomorrow.

Mojo.

that update may also be hidden kerm, try looking in your hidden updates and if its there, restore it

Download details: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone (KB936330)

Vista or windows7?lol

just get windows7

He can't upgrade to Windows 7 without reformatting his hard drive (and thus deleting everything on said hard drive) without getting SP1. That's the problem.

Can you upgrade directly to SP2?
What is the error as described in your EventViewer log?
(Or C:\WINDOWS\Logs\cbs\cbs.log)

Edit: Nevermind. Vista's SP2 is not cumulative, so no, you need SP1 first. *shakes fist at Vista* Vista's been nothing but annoyances. ><"

In addition to Littlemojo's post, try KB947821. =)
Btw, what model laptop is this? From what I'm seeing, there seems to be some problems with Dell's Sigmatel drivers causing this problem.

If all else fails, kill Windows Update and reinstall it ><"

unfortunately the system update readiness tool doesn't fix the error and the windows validation doesn't apply to me.

can't find any errors in the cbs log

checksur.persist shows it repaired some registry errors and such but updating still errors

I agree with Devour, Vista is a waste of time. If you can't afford it, beg, borrrow or steal Windows 7, back up your data and install that OS.

This is what I did with my laptop that came with Vista factory installed and, besides having to manually download a few little utilities I am much happier for it.

He's trying to install W7, he just doesn't wanna reformat his HDD to do it though. He says so in the Last Word thread.

I Had the beta for Windows 7 for a while on my laptop. It was nice and will probably get it in the near future. But Vista is serving my needs quite well. I haven't had any problems with Vista other than some compatibility issues with some old games, and that's not really a problem for me.

Yay for being in a university that's part of MSDNAA =D Two free *legit* copies of Win7. I'm still a sucker for XP though. XP ftw. Anywho...

No errors in log? Did you try searching "800f081f" in the log? What's EventViewer say?
Also, what model/brand is your laptop?

Try the instructions listed here:
When you use Automatic Updates to scan for updates or to apply updates to applications that use Windows Installer, you experience issues that involve the Svchost.exe process
This seems to have worked for some people.

Wow only 2 free copies? I'm pretty sure I have unlimited, I got it for free for my PL and then got 2 extra keys for free. But I'm a Windows XP person as far as games go, I _might_ go to Windows 7 but if I do I won't have anything but games on it, unlike my XP.

wow i booted up my "old" desktop and it still has windows 98 on it rofl

I wish I still had my old desktop that had 95, my Windows 98 computer is tucked away under a desk, and my XP computer is on hand when I feel like using it. I miss my 95 computer..........good ol' netscape.

Haha, MSDNAA has Win98 available for download. Can't believe the entire OS back then was only ~80MB. Wasn't there this bug with Win98 that it would not allow it to run functionally for 45 days in a row? Or was that 95? Haha, old times.

Originally Posted by BlanK

Wow only 2 free copies? I'm pretty sure I have unlimited, I got it for free for my PL and then got 2 extra keys for free. But I'm a Windows XP person as far as games go, I _might_ go to Windows 7 but if I do I won't have anything but games on it, unlike my XP.

><" You're making me jealous... *shakes fist*
Oh wow, this thread is getting off topic. No, wasn't my fault.

See? I shook my fist up there...
...Yea. That relates to the word "angry" in the thread topic.

...Uh huh.

Any progress Kerm? I had some-what the same issue with my Vista x64 install and ended up just backing up needed data and clean installing Windows. It was worth the time to do it also. Win7 > All other windows.

Originally Posted by SnOwFoX

Any progress Kerm? I had some-what the same issue with my Vista x64 install and ended up just backing up needed data and clean installing Windows. It was worth the time to do it also. Win7 > All other windows.

just gonna have to suck it up and backup the needed data =\

on a more positive note though doing a clean install makes everything feel fresh