Error Code: 0x80070641 (Installation Failure)

[CastlecombeCrowd]

The HTTP://UPDATE.MICROSOFT.COM website, recommended that I install the
Update for Outlook 2003 Junk Email Filter (KB916521) patch. This
installation if failing with the error code 0x80070641 (Installation Failure).

There is no explaination as to what is causing the failure. Updates to this
computer have been successful in the past using this website from the Windows
Update program.

However, I did just install the Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool
(KB892130) patch. Could this be the cause of the issue, or is the Update for
Outlook 2003 Junk Email Filter (KB916521) just a bad patch?

[Robin Walker [MVP]]

CastlecombeCrowd <Castleco...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> The HTTP://UPDATE.MICROSOFT.COM website, recommended that I install
> the Update for Outlook 2003 Junk Email Filter (KB916521) patch. This
> installation if failing with the error code 0x80070641 (Installation
> Failure).

This is possibly because you have previously run some sort of "registry
cleaner" on your PC, so that the registry is now damaged. For instance, the
Windows Live Safety Center registry cleaner has this effect. If the
previous "cleaner" has a backup facility, use it now to restore your
registry to its proper state (or use System Restore to back up to a date
before use of the "registry cleaner").

To restore from the backup made by the Windows Live Safety Center, do the
following:

Use control panel "Folder Options", tab "View", to enable "Show hidden files
and folders", and un-check "Hide extensions for known file types".

Close all Internet Explorer windows.

Use Windows Explorer to navigate to folder:

C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Windows Live Safety
Center\BackUp\

and double-click the .reg file previously created by the Microsoft Safety
registry cleanup.

Please report back whether this fixes your problem.

> However, I did just install the Windows Genuine Advantage Validation
> Tool (KB892130) patch. Could this be the cause of the issue

No.

> or is the Update for Outlook 2003 Junk Email Filter (KB916521)
> just a bad patch?

It's not a bad patch - it is your PC's Office 2003 installation that is
damaged.

--
Robin Walker [MVP Networking]
rd...@cam.ac.uk

[CastlecombeCrowd]

Robin,

I finally fixed my issue and wanted to let you know how it was finally
resolved. First of all, thank you for your kindness in trying to point me in
the right direction. Unfortunately, I did not find any folder called
"Windows Live SafetyCenter" anywhere on my personal PC at home, including in
the following location: C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application
Data\Windows Live SafetyCenter\BackUp\. However, you pointed me in the right
direction that the issue was with my Microsoft Office installation. THANK
YOU!!

I confirmed that the issue was indeed isolated to the Microsoft Office
application. Thus, I tried to uninstall and reinstall Microsoft Office on my
personal PC, but to no avail. The add/remove programs kept returning an
error message directing me to the Windows Installer being corrupted.

Long story short, I had stopped and disabled the Windows Installer service a
few weeks ago, as part of our security steps to lock-down and protect our
personal computer from viruses, hackers, spyware, etc... This service was on
the list of recommend services to disable from a security report advising
certain setup changes your PCs to help protect it from harm. It suggested
only enabling the Windows Installer service when you want to install software
on your PC.

Thus, once I remembered about the Windows Installer service, all fell into
place. I set the service to manual and started the service. I was then able
to repair the Microsoft Office applications using the CDs and install the
Update for Outlook 2003 Junk Email Filter (KB916521) patch from the automatic
updates website.

Most likely, I did not have to repair the Microsoft Office application, but
I feel comfortable now that the computer is now working the way it should and
the automatic updates can now install successfully. Thank you very much for
your advice and direction!

What are your thoughts about the security articles suggestion of disabling
the Windows Installer service and only starting it when you want to install
software on your PC? What I found was that without this service running, I
could uninstall and install other software on my PC. That's how I isolated
the issue to the Microsoft Office applications. Thus, my husband thinks
perhaps disabling the Windows Installer service is more trouble than its
worth. We do have pop-up blocker setup, along with the McAfee security
software running, including its software firewall. Perhaps that is enough to
minize our damage to hackers and unwanted software being loaded on our
personal PC?

[Robin Walker [MVP]]

CastlecombeCrowd <Castleco...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> What are your thoughts about the security articles suggestion of
> disabling the Windows Installer service and only starting it when you
> want to install software on your PC?

The suggestion does seem a little over-enthusiastic. Windows Installer is
needed in all sorts of circumstances, and it is very fiddly having to
manually start it every time you might need it, and then remember to stop it
again.

Most malware does not require the services of Windows Installer to be able
to invade a system, so disabling Windows Installer seems to gain you little
and inconvenience you a lot.

Personally, I would leave it running.

[Ken]

can you break this down to a step by step procedure because I am disabled and
dont understand please