Window udate fails error 8000FFFF

[Bryan]

Hello,
Whenever I try to run windows update I get an 8000FFFF error when it is
searching for updates.
I have searched the posting here for a solution and nothing has helped. I
have seen KB929777 referenced in the notes but I do not have this installed.
Also all antivirus and antispy software is turned off.
Any help to solve this would be greatly appreciated.
I have include part of the WindowsUpdate.log file where the error is
mentioned.
Also the "Current version: 7.0.6000.374" mentioned below appeared to be part
of an update that failed a while back. It seems that a reinstall of this
update might be a place to start but I do not know how to do that ?

Thanks
Bryan

## START ## AU: Search for updates
AU #########
AU <<## SUBMITTED ## AU: Search for updates [CallId =
{2E33484C-7FFA-4AB8-945A-ED5C3D876267}]
Agent *************
Agent ** START ** Agent: Finding updates [CallerId = AutomaticUpdates]
Agent *********
Setup Checking for agent SelfUpdate
Setup Client version: Core: 6.0.6000.16386 Aux: 6.0.6000.16386
AU Triggering AU detection through DetectNow API
AU Piggybacking on an AU detection already in progress
Setup Determining whether a new setup handler needs to be downloaded
Setup SelfUpdate handler update NOT required: Current version: 7.0.6000.374,
required version: 7.0.6000.374
Setup Evaluating applicability of setup package
"WUClient-SelfUpdate-ActiveX~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~7.0.6000.374"
Handler FATAL: UH: 0x8000ffff: EvaluateApplicability failed in
CCbs::EvaluateApplicability
Setup WARNING: CBS EvaluateApplicability returned error, error = 0x8000FFFF
Setup FATAL: Applicability evaluation for setup package
"WUClient-SelfUpdate-ActiveX~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~7.0.6000.374" failed,
error = 0x8000FFFF
Setup FATAL: SelfUpdate check failed, err = 0x8000FFFF
Agent * WARNING: Skipping scan, self-update check returned 0x8000FFFF
Agent * WARNING: Exit code = 0x8000FFFF
Agent *********
Agent ** END ** Agent: Finding updates [CallerId = AutomaticUpdates]
Agent *************
Agent WARNING: WU client failed Searching for update with error 0x8000ffff
AU >>## RESUMED ## AU: Search for updates [CallId =
{2E33484C-7FFA-4AB8-945A-ED5C3D876267}]
AU # WARNING: Search callback failed, result = 0x8000FFFF
AU # WARNING: Failed to find updates with error code 8000FFFF
AU #########
AU ## END ## AU: Search for updates [CallId =
{2E33484C-7FFA-4AB8-945A-ED5C3D876267}]

[MowGreen [MVP]]

The ActiveX component of the latest version of the Windows Update Agent
[WUA]is failing to install.
Ensure that all security services are stopped by going to
Start > Run > type in

msconfig
Click OK or press Enter

Click the Services tab
Put a check mark next to ' Hide all Microsoft Services '
Uncheck all the ones that remain
LEAVE the System Configuration Utility open IF there is a 3rd party
firewall installed
If that is the case, go to the Windows Firewall applet in the Control
Panel and enable it for now
Back in the System Configuration Utility ...
click Apply

Now click the Startup tab
UNcheck the boxes next to the Startup Items associated with ALL of the
installed security software
Click Apply, Close
Restart the system now

Download Windows Update Agent 3.0 and SAVE it to C:\ :
For x86 [32 bit]
http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7/windowsupdate/redist/standalone/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe

When the download completes, close the browser
Now install WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe by going to
Start > Run > copy and paste the below into the Open: line

"C:\WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe" /wuforce

Click OK
That *should* get the WUA installed properly.

If that is the case, then go back into the the System Configuration
Utility and recheck the boxes that were previously unchecked for
Services and Startup Items
Restart the system

[ IF the system is using a 3rd party firewall, restart AFTER disabling
the native Windows Firewall ]

MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

[Bryan]

Hello,
Thank you very much for the reply. I tried want was suggested but the
install program exited with the same error 8000ffff.
Any suggestions on what to try now would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

[MowGreen [MVP]]

If this is Vista then I don't know what else to offer other then to
attempt to repair the OS, Bryan.

How to repair the operating system and how to restore the operating
system configuration to an earlier point in time in Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936212/

Use the ' System File Checker ' method.

[Bryan]

Hello,
Thanks again for the reply. I tried sfc /scannow but I got a message that
said that windows could not do this after a couple of minutes. I also tried
in safe mode.
Does any one know anything else to try before I rebuild the system?

thanks again

[MowGreen [MVP]]

Which antivirus and which 'antispy' software is installed ? That may be
where the issue first started and at least, after you rebuild Vista, it
won't occur again.

[Mohit Kapoor]

Some steps you can try and I am sure it will resolve the issue.

1.From admin command prompt type net stop wuauserv and net stop cryptsvc and
then delete the softwaredistribution and catroot2 folder under c:\windows and
c:\windows\system32 respectively.

2.Look for these files under c:\windows\winsxs
Pending.xml and Pending.grl
Take the ownership of these files and delete them.
Along with this also check if you have these values undre registry

• PendingXmldentifier
• NextQueueEntryIndex
• AdvancedInstallersNeedResolving

in the location HKLM/Components

If present delete them as well.

Restart the computer and try updating again.

If issue still remains try these

1.Install WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe
from
http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7/windowsupdate/redist/standalone/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe
save to the desktop, and run from an elevated command prompt, adding
/wuforce to the end of the command

2.Uninstall any antivirus or firewall software.

3.try running sfc scan in the WinRE ( sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\
/offwindir=C:\windows )

All the Best!!