Re: Vista Service Pack update is junk

[Bill Daggett]

This discussion belongs in microsoft.public.windowsupdate.

I'm sending it there via crosspost.

"scorpionleather" <scorpio...@nospam.noemail.com> wrote:

>Brit, did you read my message? I said that there are -three- different
>computers that belong to different people in my family, that all have
>problems with Vista SP2. I have applied SP2 to a total of around 5-6
>computers so almost 50% of the computers I updated have problems installing
>the service pack. Therefore, it is not because of anything unusual. In
>fact all three of these computers have very standard, out-of-the-box setups.
>
>One is my brother's new Dell laptop in the US. The other is my mother's
>desktop computer also in the US. And the third computer is my father's Dell
>laptop in Europe (I connected remotely to his machine).
>
>You cannot possibly claim that 50% of the computers I updated have problems
>because of unusual configuration. I don't touch these computers other than
>making sure that my brother and parents do their regular Microsoft security
>updates. They tend to keep their desktops very simple, with very little 3rd
>party software installed.
>
>I blame Microsoft for not issuing a patch or a product alert to deal with
>this SP2 installer problem. They realled messed up on the Vista SP2
>installer.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

If you cannot install any updates, Windows Update is an appropriate
newsgroup. If you're having problems installing Vista SP2 only...

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows Vista, but only for Service Pack 2 (SP2). This support for Windows
Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) is valid until November 26, 2009. Availability of
chat or e-mail support differs depending on your geographic location. Go to
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?prid=13014&gprid=582034 &
select appropriate category (i.e., Download issue; Installation issue;
Issues after you install a service pack).

You'll find additional support for Vista SP2 issues in
microsoft.public.windows.vista.general newsgroup and in these forums:

. http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistawu/threads/

. http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vistainstall/threads

. http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/itprovistasp/threads/

How to troubleshoot Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 service pack
installation issues
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947366

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 service pack installation fails with
error 0x80004005:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971204

Error message when you try to install Windows Vista Service Pack 2 or
Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2: "An internal error occurred while
installing the service pack":
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967818

>> I blame Microsoft for not issuing a patch... to deal with
>> this SP2 installer problem.

Description of the Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 installation
software feature update released April 28, 2009:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955430 [Has KB955430 been installed yet?]

The update is not installed successfully, you receive a message, and the
computer restarts when you try to install an update in Windows Vista (3
Resolution Methods)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949358

============

Vista SP2 Installation Tips:

. Your computer will restart several times during the installation process:
Make certain you've saved your work and closed all open applications before
beginning the install.

. Disable (1) your anti-virus application, (2) any real-time system
protections afforded by any anti-spyware applications (except Defender), &
(3) your third-party firewall (if any) and then (4) enable the Windows
Firewall _before installing or uninstalling_ Vista SP2.

. The installation process can take an hour or more: If you're installing
SP2 on a portable computer, make sure that you plug-in the power cord and
have the battery inserted into its bay.

. Vista SP1 is a prerequisite for installing SP2. If you use Windows Update
or the Automatic Update feature in Windows Vista, you will not be offered
the option to install SP2 until you first install SP1.

=============================

HOW TO install Vista SP2 manually

<QP>
Generally, these errors can occur if the system files are corrupted.

To make clear the current situation, I recommend downloading Windows Vista
Service Pack 2] in Normal Mode and installing it in Clean Boot Mode. Please
follow the steps below.

Note: This SP2 installation can be affected by certain third party programs
running in the background. If you are running any third party applications
such as Spyblocker, Internet or web accelerators (programs designed to boost
the speed of the Internet connection), security or anti-virus programs
(McAfee, Norton, etc.), I recommend we temporarily disable or shut them down
during our troubleshooting process. Please be sure to enable them again when
the update process has been completed.

Step 1: Download Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Standalone Installer
===================================================
1. Download Windows Vista SP2 from the link below according to your System
Type:

...Windows Vista Service Pack 2 - Five Language Standalone for x32-based
systems (Size: 348.3 MB)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=a4dd31d5-f907-4406-9012-a5c3199ea2b3

...Windows Vista Service Pack 2 - Five Language Standalone for x64-based
systems (Size: 577.4MB)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/3/b/83b8c814-b000-44a4-b667-8c1f58727b8b/Windows6.0-KB936330-X64-wave0.exe

2. Save the download to your desktop, do not Run it!

Step 2: Install Windows Vista SP2 in Clean Boot mode
========================================
Please disable all startup items and third party services when booting to
avoid conflict when installing Vista SP1:

1. Click "Start", type: MSCONFIG in the search box and press Enter.

Note: Please click "Continue" if the "User Account Control" window pops up.

2. Click "Services", check the "Hide All Microsoft Services" box and click
"Disable All" (if it is not gray).
3. Click "Startup", click "Disable All" and click "OK".

Note: Temporarily disabling the Startup Group only prevents the startup
programs from loading at startup. This shouldn't affect the system or other
programs. We can manually run these programs later. Go ahead and reboot your
system when prompted as you are exiting MsConfig.

4. After rebooting, right-click on the downloaded Windows Vista Service Pack
2 Standalone Installer, select "Run as Administrator" (if necessary) and
follow the instructions to install Windows Vista SP2.

To restore the computer to use a Normal Startup, repeat step 1 above. Then
click "Normal Startup" on the General tab, click "OK", and then restart the
computer.
</QP>
Modified from original MS Support source as quoted in
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/itprovistasp/thread/4491fe25-be44-430e-a384-fb58c5da5ad0/
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com

[Bitewolf]

I agree Vista SP is junk. Have tried several times to install SP 2. It always
ends up with "Reverting changes" for approx 5 hours.
By the way just look at the advice given to install SP on Vista. The
complexity of fixing this issue speaks for itself, try this and try that. How
Microsoft think people would dare to jump on a new OS. if they even cannot
make updates to a mature OS work is a mystery to me.

> .. Your computer will restart several times during the installation process:

> Make certain you've saved your work and closed all open applications before
> beginning the install.
>

> .. Disable (1) your anti-virus application, (2) any real-time system

> protections afforded by any anti-spyware applications (except Defender), &
> (3) your third-party firewall (if any) and then (4) enable the Windows
> Firewall _before installing or uninstalling_ Vista SP2.
>

> .. The installation process can take an hour or more: If you're installing

> SP2 on a portable computer, make sure that you plug-in the power cord and
> have the battery inserted into its bay.
>

> .. Vista SP1 is a prerequisite for installing SP2. If you use Windows Update

> or the Automatic Update feature in Windows Vista, you will not be offered
> the option to install SP2 until you first install SP1.
>
> =============================
>
> HOW TO install Vista SP2 manually
>
> <QP>
> Generally, these errors can occur if the system files are corrupted.
>
> To make clear the current situation, I recommend downloading Windows Vista
> Service Pack 2] in Normal Mode and installing it in Clean Boot Mode. Please
> follow the steps below.
>
> Note: This SP2 installation can be affected by certain third party programs
> running in the background. If you are running any third party applications
> such as Spyblocker, Internet or web accelerators (programs designed to boost
> the speed of the Internet connection), security or anti-virus programs
> (McAfee, Norton, etc.), I recommend we temporarily disable or shut them down
> during our troubleshooting process. Please be sure to enable them again when
> the update process has been completed.
>
> Step 1: Download Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Standalone Installer
> ===================================================
> 1. Download Windows Vista SP2 from the link below according to your System
> Type:
>

> ....Windows Vista Service Pack 2 - Five Language Standalone for x32-based

> systems (Size: 348.3 MB)
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=a4dd31d5-f907-4406-9012-a5c3199ea2b3
>

> ....Windows Vista Service Pack 2 - Five Language Standalone for x64-based

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Your computer's OEM install of Vista SP1 may be junk, BW.

Attempting a manual install per my previous reply should be a last resort.
Most users won't have to resort such a complex method to install it manually
or via Automatic/Windows Update.

In any event, free support's available so why not take advantage of it?

[Bitewolf]

Yes it is possible the OEM installation is the problem, since I have the
files prepacked on my VAIO. Sony seems to have problems with their hardware
similar to Microsofts problem with software.
But the issue is that MS soon only supports Vista SP2 installations. Since I
cannot upgrade from SP1 soon this will not be a in issue for MS. Magnificent
solution.

[Shenan Stanley]

scorpionleather wrote:
> Brit, did you read my message? I said that there are -three-
> different computers that belong to different people in my family,
> that all have problems with Vista SP2. I have applied SP2 to a
> total of around 5-6 computers so almost 50% of the computers I
> updated have problems installing the service pack. Therefore, it
> is not because of anything unusual. In fact all three of these
> computers have very standard, out-of-the-box setups.
>
> One is my brother's new Dell laptop in the US. The other is my
> mother's desktop computer also in the US. And the third computer
> is my father's Dell laptop in Europe (I connected remotely to his
> machine).
>
> You cannot possibly claim that 50% of the computers I updated have
> problems because of unusual configuration. I don't touch these
> computers other than making sure that my brother and parents do
> their regular Microsoft security updates. They tend to keep their
> desktops very simple, with very little 3rd party software
> installed.
>
> I blame Microsoft for not issuing a patch or a product alert to
> deal with this SP2 installer problem. They realled messed up on
> the Vista SP2 installer.

Bill Daggett wrote:

> This discussion belongs in microsoft.public.windowsupdate.
>
> I'm sending it there via crosspost.

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:

> If you cannot install any updates, Windows Update is an appropriate
> newsgroup. If you're having problems installing Vista SP2 only...
>
> Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available
> for Windows Vista, but only for Service Pack 2 (SP2). This support
> for Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) is valid until November 26,
> 2009. Availability of chat or e-mail support differs depending on
> your geographic location. Go to
> http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?prid=13014&gprid=582034
> & select appropriate category (i.e., Download issue; Installation
> issue; Issues after you install a service pack).

<snipped>

Bitewolf wrote:
> I agree Vista SP is junk. Have tried several times to install SP 2.
> It always ends up with "Reverting changes" for approx 5 hours.
> By the way just look at the advice given to install SP on Vista. The
> complexity of fixing this issue speaks for itself, try this and try
> that. How Microsoft think people would dare to jump on a new OS. if
> they even cannot make updates to a mature OS work is a mystery to
> me.

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> Your computer's OEM install of Vista SP1 may be junk, BW.
>
> Attempting a manual install per my previous reply should be a last
> resort. Most users won't have to resort such a complex method to
> install it manually or via Automatic/Windows Update.
>
> In any event, free support's available so why not take advantage of
> it?

Bitewolf wrote:
> Yes it is possible the OEM installation is the problem, since I
> have the files prepacked on my VAIO. Sony seems to have problems
> with their hardware similar to Microsofts problem with software.
> But the issue is that MS soon only supports Vista SP2
> installations. Since I cannot upgrade from SP1 soon this will not
> be a in issue for MS. Magnificent solution.

PA Bear gave you a link where you can get assistance with Vista SP2
installation issues. You are having a Vista SP2 installation issue. You
might want to use that free assistance (by the method of your choice, email,
online chat, telephone depending on your location) if you need to get
assistance.

Repeating what PA Bear already gave to you:

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows Vista, but only for Service Pack 2 (SP2). This support for Windows
Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) is valid until November 26, 2009. Availability of
chat or e-mail support differs depending on your geographic location. Go to
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?prid=13014&gprid=582034 &
select appropriate category (i.e., Download issue; Installation issue;
Issues after you install a service pack).

So get yourself some free support. Who knows - they might have just the
suggestion.

Now - let me warn you - the one and only time I had to use this support for
Windows Vista SP2 installation issues - Microsoft failed in my opinion. I
know of many others with much differing results than mine - after all - I
had probably exhausted most of the normal troubleshooting issues long before
I called (I essentially had, although I was avoiding some of the more
drastic on purpose) - so it is highly likely your situation is different
from mine enough so that your attempt might be more successful (or you may
be willing to go with the steps I was not willing to do.)

I had worked on it for hours and not been able to get SP2 installed. I
finally let go of my "I can do it" attitude/ego and called for the free
support. I talked to them for over an hour and in then end - they wanted me
to format and install from scratch.

I disconnected from the call politely, but thinking that solution was
horrible. They had been 'on-track', I thought, with the repair installation
path they had suggested near the end of the conversation, but they did not
carry it through. So I did. The problem had been my Windows Vista SP1
integrated DVD did not give me the proper options - my thought is that I had
leftovers from the failed SP2 attempts and it thought my SP1 integrated DVD
was a version below what it had installed. That was incorrect - but finding
everything that it might check for seemed out of the question. I downloaded
a MSDN copy of Windows Vista with SP2 integrated and use that to perform a
repair installation with my product key. Everything has been smooth sailing
ever since and the only thing I lost (noticable) was my Internet Explorer
home page setting.

Now - giving Microsoft their fair shake - I doubt they could have
recommended I download the MSDN copy of Windows Vista with SP2 integrated
and used it to perform the repair installation, but maybe they could have
just asked, "Do you have a copy of Windows Vista with SP2 intgrated you can
get your hands on?" - showing they at least thought of it. *grin*

In any case - it is the only time (knock on wood) I have had trouble with
SP2 for Windows Vista. I have not installed SP2 for Vista as extensively as
I have SP3 for Windows XP - but enough to make that statement and add that
is less than 1% of machines so far. It's actually to be expected. Who
knows how many millions/billions of hardware/software combinations exist and
to expect any one entity to be able to compensate for all the possible
dfferences would be ridiculous, IMO.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

[scorpionleather]

I can see how there could be problems with OEM customizations to SP1, but
just want to note that in my case one of the failed computers had Vista
installed from the original Vista CD. In other words, not OEM. The other
two are Dell laptops that came with Vista.

So it affects both OEM customized Vista and off-the-shelf Vista.

[scorpionleather]

"Shenan Stanley" <newsh...@gmail.com> wrote in message

>I talked to them for over an hour and in then end - they wanted me to
>format and install from scratch.

That's why I'm not bothering to call Microsoft support. In my experience
they know how to come up with lots of busy-work steps to adjust the
computer's configuration (disable this and that, safe mode, etc) - which do
not fix a programming error in the service pack installer. I am sure that
psychologically it makes their users feel like they did something
productive, after tinkering with their machine for hours. It's like if my
car's engine is broken, and the repair shop on the phone telling me to
remove items from the trunk, wash and polish the car, etc. and maybe
magically it will start running again. Based on info available online, I
know that the end result will be to re-install Vista because SP2 doesn't
know how to cope with prior Vista updates.

> I have not installed SP2 for Vista as extensively as I have SP3 for
> Windows XP - but enough to make that statement and add that is less than
> 1% of machines so far.

I doubt it's that small percentage because 3 out of the 6 computers I tried
to update have problems and will not update to Vista SP2. That is a 50%
failure rate for the computers I tried, and each of these computers belong
to different people and were purchased at different times... a mix of
desktops and laptops, some old and some new, some OEM Vista and another one
is off-the-shelf Vista... still getting a 50% failure rate.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Repost:

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows Vista, but only for Service Pack 2 (SP2). This support for Windows
Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) is valid until November 26, 2009. Availability of
chat or e-mail support differs depending on your geographic location. Go to
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?prid=13014&gprid=582034 &
select appropriate category (i.e., Download issue; Installation issue;
Issues after you install a service pack).

[Shenan Stanley]

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Repeating what PA Bear already gave to you:
>
> Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available
> for Windows Vista, but only for Service Pack 2 (SP2). This support
> for Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2) is valid until November 26,
> 2009. Availability of chat or e-mail support differs depending on
> your geographic location. Go to
> http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?prid=13014&gprid=582034
> & select appropriate category (i.e., Download issue; Installation
> issue; Issues after you install a service pack).
> So get yourself some free support. Who knows - they might have
> just the suggestion.
>
> Now - let me warn you - the one and only time I had to use this
> support for Windows Vista SP2 installation issues - Microsoft
> failed in my opinion. I know of many others with much differing
> results than mine - after all - I had probably exhausted most of
> the normal troubleshooting issues long before I called (I
> essentially had, although I was avoiding some of the more drastic
> on purpose) - so it is highly likely your situation is different
> from mine enough so that your attempt might be more successful (or
> you may be willing to go with the steps I was not willing to do.)
> I had worked on it for hours and not been able to get SP2
> installed. I finally let go of my "I can do it" attitude/ego and

> called for the free support. I talked to them for over an hour and

> in then end - they wanted me to format and install from scratch.
>

> I disconnected from the call politely, but thinking that solution
> was horrible. They had been 'on-track', I thought, with the repair
> installation path they had suggested near the end of the
> conversation, but they did not carry it through. So I did. The
> problem had been my Windows Vista SP1 integrated DVD did not give
> me the proper options - my thought is that I had leftovers from the
> failed SP2 attempts and it thought my SP1 integrated DVD was a
> version below what it had installed. That was incorrect - but
> finding everything that it might check for seemed out of the
> question. I downloaded a MSDN copy of Windows Vista with SP2
> integrated and use that to perform a repair installation with my
> product key. Everything has been smooth sailing ever since and the
> only thing I lost (noticable) was my Internet Explorer home page
> setting.
> Now - giving Microsoft their fair shake - I doubt they could have
> recommended I download the MSDN copy of Windows Vista with SP2
> integrated and used it to perform the repair installation, but
> maybe they could have just asked, "Do you have a copy of Windows
> Vista with SP2 intgrated you can get your hands on?" - showing they
> at least thought of it. *grin*
> In any case - it is the only time (knock on wood) I have had

> trouble with SP2 for Windows Vista. I have not installed SP2 for

> Vista as extensively as I have SP3 for Windows XP - but enough to
> make that statement and add that is less than 1% of machines so

> far. It's actually to be expected. Who knows how many
> millions/billions of hardware/software combinations exist and to
> expect any one entity to be able to compensate for all the possible
> dfferences would be ridiculous, IMO.

scorpionleather wrote:
> That's why I'm not bothering to call Microsoft support. In my
> experience they know how to come up with lots of busy-work steps to
> adjust the computer's configuration (disable this and that, safe
> mode, etc) - which do not fix a programming error in the service
> pack installer. I am sure that psychologically it makes their
> users feel like they did something productive, after tinkering with
> their machine for hours. It's like if my car's engine is broken,
> and the repair shop on the phone telling me to remove items from
> the trunk, wash and polish the car, etc. and maybe magically it
> will start running again. Based on info available online, I know
> that the end result will be to re-install Vista because SP2 doesn't
> know how to cope with prior Vista updates.

> I doubt it's that small percentage because 3 out of the 6 computers
> I tried to update have problems and will not update to Vista SP2. That is
> a 50% failure rate for the computers I tried, and each of
> these computers belong to different people and were purchased at
> different times... a mix of desktops and laptops, some old and some
> new, some OEM Vista and another one is off-the-shelf Vista... still
> getting a 50% failure rate.

Sorry - I have installed SP2 on over 200 computers at this time and only
have had trouble with one. So yes - it is that small of a percentage. It
happened to be one that I did not do the initial install or a prior cleanup
on as well - the rest, I had done either cleanup and/or the initial install
or image on. So it does seem to be not Vista - but who did the initial
install, how it was done and how it has been maintained - as usual. ;-)

I don't think it is busy-work - after my ticket was read and what I had done
already explained - they just didn't have much to tell me to do anymore.
And the stuff I had done was pretty serious stuff - including SFC /SCANNOW -
which did find some corrpupt files - but since the already updated to SP2
files were not corrupt...

And I did not re-install Vista - I did a Repair installation on the one and
lost nothing but the setting for my IE homepage.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Why have you hijacked Bitewolf's thread?

[scorpionleather]

Yes so that someone in India can ask me to run dozens of analysis scans on
the computers, disable everything etc. to waste my time for a few hours,
only to end up re-installing Vista at the end. No thanks, I'd rather see
Microsoft issue a patch through Windows Update, because SP2 install failed
on 3 out of 6 computers I tried. More than just coincidence or "unusual
configuration." More like a programming bug. Software bugs are not fixed
by talking to someone on the phone.

[Michael]

"scorpionleather" <scorpio...@nospam.noemail.com> wrote in message
news:uVXS%23csHK...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

If you don't want to take any of the advice being offered here, take a hike!
There's already enough cry-baby regulars posting. You don't have an
invitation, so talk to the hand.

--

Don't pick a fight with an old man.
If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.

[Shenan Stanley]

Doubtful - but your choice. Wait away - or get Windows Vista with SP2
integrated and perform a repair install and continue on with your life (it's
pretty quick and painless.)

[scorpionleather]

I'm looking for a real fix for this bug, other than re-installing Vista.
e.g. Someone tell me WHY 3 out of 6 computers failed. What is the technical
reason? You don't fix technical programmer problems just by tinkering
around aimlessley with the configuration. Michael I don't think your post
adds anything to the discussion, you just don't want to hear that there is a
programming error in the SP2 installer.

[Shenan Stanley]

In order to tell you why each of the individual computers failed would take
investigation of each. There are various reasons such an installation could
fail - ranging from corrupt system files to conflicting software installed.
Some antivirus software can scan files and interrupt the process, some
malware can as well. A bad hard disk drive, a certain program being loaded
at the time of the install, the installation of pre-release software without
proper preparation, etc and so on.

If you actually want help you would need to pick one of the machine and give
details - from the software installed to how you went about installing SP2.
What is shown in the event log? What is shown in the WindowsUpdate log?
What antivirus software is installed? What antimalware software have you
run and is any running resident? What patches (excluding SP1) are now
installed?

Again - repair install is not a re-install, per se. It essentially replaces
the system files - that's all.

[Michael]

"scorpionleather" <scorpio...@nospam.noemail.com> wrote in message

news:OwCPk8sH...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

You've already been given suggestions. I've done 25 machines without a
single problem. The fact that you're running at 50% leads me to believe
you've tinkered with half, hence the 3 that have problems. I'm not the
technical guru here. No one here *works* for Microsoft, so you blowing off
steam here isn't going to get you anything but comments like mine. Chill
out and ask legitimate questions, keeping in mind the MVP's here, among a
few others, will do their best to help you. Otherwise, talk to the hand!

[scorpionleather]

There is frequent mention of antivirus, and I did try while disabling this
prior to attempting to install the standalone full install of SP2. One
computer has AVG Free, the other has NOD32, and the third has Bitdefender.

Now, the thing that has me perplexed is that these 3 computers are
completely different ages and types (desktop + laptops) from different
manufacturers (Dell + another) and different methods of original Vista
install media (OEM + off the shelf CD)... and there is nothing in common
with the types of applications installed on these machines, as they don't
belong to me so the only thing I do is to make sure they are doing their
security updates.

I spent several hours researching my mother's Vista SP2 failure, and
ultimately that led to the possible solution of re-installing or restoring
Vista entirely, and that did not seem like an acceptable solution. Then the
other two computers also failed their installs with different error codes
and I was totally shocked this could happen to such a major OS.

[Shenan Stanley]

<snipped>
In Vista General newsgroup (may have some overlap due to crossposting with
WindowsUpdate):
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windows.vista.general/browse_frm/thread/48154730a1f9bf50/
(longer, gets off-topic more through argument instead of discussion)

In WindowsUpdate newsgroup (may have some overlap due to crossposting with
Vista General):
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/browse_thread/thread/cc1c7c11f9853bc5/
(not quite as long, less argumentative - although it either has or will
happen)

scorpionleather wrote:
> I'm looking for a real fix for this bug, other than re-installing
> Vista. e.g. Someone tell me WHY 3 out of 6 computers failed. What
> is the technical reason? You don't fix technical programmer
> problems just by tinkering around aimlessley with the
> configuration. Michael I don't think your post adds anything to
> the discussion, you just don't want to hear that there is a
> programming error in the SP2 installer.

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> In order to tell you why each of the individual computers failed
> would take investigation of each. There are various reasons such
> an installation could fail - ranging from corrupt system files to
> conflicting software installed. Some antivirus software can scan
> files and interrupt the process, some malware can as well. A bad
> hard disk drive, a certain program being loaded at the time of the
> install, the installation of pre-release software without proper
> preparation, etc and so on.
> If you actually want help you would need to pick one of the machine
> and give details - from the software installed to how you went
> about installing SP2. What is shown in the event log? What is
> shown in the WindowsUpdate log? What antivirus software is
> installed? What antimalware software have you run and is any
> running resident? What patches (excluding SP1) are now installed?
>
> Again - repair install is not a re-install, per se. It essentially
> replaces the system files - that's all.

They don't necessarily have to have a piece of software in common. They can
have a maintenance plan in commoon (or lack of one) or they could all be
used by an individual who might have visited the same web page, got infested
by the same malware (unbeknownst to them) or made some of the same changes
to the systems in question without knowing it might later come back to cause
issues and thus - doesn't remember when the time does come they even made
said changes.

Yes - all three *now* have different AV software. Did they (any pair of
them) ever have one of the other systems current AV installed? What about
antimalware applications? All threee of them ever have anything specific
run on them to clear something up? What about other third party software
(from security software like firewalls to just plain software, like Adobe
products, Corel products, other freeware and paid software?) Any specific
tweaks done to all three systems to speed up things? A registry edit for
the networking here, a change for hibernation there, maybe a turning off of
specific services so that they do not load at startup? How often is
software installed/uninstalled on the systems and by what manner?

How are the systems backed up and how often? How often are they
defragmented? What about CHKDSK? Scanned for malware (not viruses, but
things most AV software will not pick up...)? Do they all have the same
post-SP2 patches installed?

*I had found, in my research with that one computer I had issue with, there
was supposedly someone who had called Microsoft with the issue and in the
end, Microsoft had them remove a certain patch, reboot - and they could
install SP2 for Windows Vista - some others removed the language packs -
which happened in SP1 installs as well. Many merely had to disable most of
their 'resident' software to get it to install. A few had to do malware
scans and cleanup a bit - some even had to get rid of old install leftovers
that were blocking them.

Sometimes the clue was buried in the C:\Windows\WindowsUpdate.log file.