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Windows Update Error 8000FFFF on Vista


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Posted

I have a new Dell Inspiron laptop with Vista Home Premium. When I try to

search for updates, it says "Windows could not search for updates" and gives

error code 8000FFFF. Any thoughts?

Posted

Hello Shaun,

 

 

I suggest to make a full recovery of the computer.

 

http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?query=0x8000FFFF&dg=microsoft.public.windowsupdate&cat=en_US_56d1dd45-de9e-4fc5-9bc1-2d1d0de6daee&lang=en&cr=US&pt=&catlist=&dglist=&ptlist=&exp=&sloc=en-us

--

http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?query=8000FFFF&dg=microsoft.public.windowsupdate&cat=en_US_56d1dd45-de9e-4fc5-9bc1-2d1d0de6daee&lang=en&cr=US&pt=&catlist=&dglist=&ptlist=&exp=&sloc=en-us

-

 

Good luck

--

 

 

 

"Shaun" wrote:

> I have a new Dell Inspiron laptop with Vista Home Premium. When I try to

> search for updates, it says "Windows could not search for updates" and gives

> error code 8000FFFF. Any thoughts?

Guest TaurArian [MS-MVP]
Posted

Comment:

A Third party program could be affecting the WU Service (anti-spwyare programs,

Internet/web accelerators, Firewall/Anti-Virus programs)

 

--

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

TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2008 - Australia

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

How to make a good post: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Defending your machine: http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/

http://taurarian.mvps.org/index.htm

 

Emails will not be acknowledged - please post to the newsgroup so all may benefit.

 

 

"Shaun" <Shaun@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:273EA2F1-B377-4A36-B93F-1A09B3A1408F@microsoft.com...

|I have a new Dell Inspiron laptop with Vista Home Premium. When I try to

| search for updates, it says "Windows could not search for updates" and gives

| error code 8000FFFF. Any thoughts?

Guest Jim W.
Posted

I'm having the same problem on my Vista Ultimate laptop. Disabling the AV

didn't work and the only firewall I'm using is the Windows Firewall. I

didn't have this problem when I last updated in May, before deploying to the

Middle East. Is anyone at Microsoft working on a solution?

 

"TaurArian [MS-MVP]" wrote:

> Comment:

> A Third party program could be affecting the WU Service (anti-spwyare programs,

> Internet/web accelerators, Firewall/Anti-Virus programs)

>

> --

> ====================================

> TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2008 - Australia

> ====================================

> How to make a good post: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

> Defending your machine: http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/

> http://taurarian.mvps.org/index.htm

>

> Emails will not be acknowledged - please post to the newsgroup so all may benefit.

>

>

> "Shaun" <Shaun@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:273EA2F1-B377-4A36-B93F-1A09B3A1408F@microsoft.com...

> |I have a new Dell Inspiron laptop with Vista Home Premium. When I try to

> | search for updates, it says "Windows could not search for updates" and gives

> | error code 8000FFFF. Any thoughts?

>

>

>

Guest LynnMc
Posted

I am having the same problem as you Shaun and the same type of laptop. Last

night the laptop updated and closed and all was working ok. This morning I

am being told that "Windows could not search for updates". I would

appreciate any help with this also.

 

Many thanks.

 

 

"Shaun" wrote:

> I have a new Dell Inspiron laptop with Vista Home Premium. When I try to

> search for updates, it says "Windows could not search for updates" and gives

> error code 8000FFFF. Any thoughts?

Guest Rhkent
Posted

I too am having this problem

Rhkent

 

 

"LynnMc" wrote:

> I am having the same problem as you Shaun and the same type of laptop. Last

> night the laptop updated and closed and all was working ok. This morning I

> am being told that "Windows could not search for updates". I would

> appreciate any help with this also.

>

> Many thanks.

>

>

> "Shaun" wrote:

>

> > I have a new Dell Inspiron laptop with Vista Home Premium. When I try to

> > search for updates, it says "Windows could not search for updates" and gives

> > error code 8000FFFF. Any thoughts?

Posted

A full recovery to factory settings is the only way You need to backup

everything then shutdown restart and press F8 and follow the instructions. Re

establish an internet connection and then update will work again - it did for

me - all three months worth!

 

"Shaun" wrote:

> I have a new Dell Inspiron laptop with Vista Home Premium. When I try to

> search for updates, it says "Windows could not search for updates" and gives

> error code 8000FFFF. Any thoughts?

  • 2 weeks later...
Guest Mohit Kapoor
Posted

"Shaun" wrote:

> I have a new Dell Inspiron laptop with Vista Home Premium. When I try to

> search for updates, it says "Windows could not search for updates" and gives

> error code 8000FFFF. Any thoughts?

 

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!!

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

I had the exact same problem as "lynnmc" had and man it's annoying

 

"Rhkent" wrote:

> I too am having this problem

> Rhkent

>

>

> "LynnMc" wrote:

>

> > I am having the same problem as you Shaun and the same type of laptop. Last

> > night the laptop updated and closed and all was working ok. This morning I

> > am being told that "Windows could not search for updates". I would

> > appreciate any help with this also.

> >

> > Many thanks.

> >

> >

> > "Shaun" wrote:

> >

> > > I have a new Dell Inspiron laptop with Vista Home Premium. When I try to

> > > search for updates, it says "Windows could not search for updates" and gives

> > > error code 8000FFFF. Any thoughts?

Guest TaurArian [MS-MVP]
Posted

Third party program could be affecting the WU Service (anti-spwyare programs, Internet/web

accelerators, Firewall/Anti-Virus programs).

If not, then suggest you rename the SoftwareDistribution folder to whatever you like.

How to rename the SoftwareDistribution folder in Vista -

1. Stop the Windows Update service (make sure you are logged on as an Administrator)

 

Start button || Control Panel ||System and Maintenance ||Administrative Tools

Double-click Services

(Provide the Administrator password or confirmation if prompted to do so.)

Right-click the Windows Update service and click Stop.

 

2. Click Start, type %windir% in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.

 

Locate and rename the SoftwareDistribution folder.

 

3. Start the Windows Update service

 

Start button || Control Panel ||System and Maintenance ||Administrative Tools

Double-click Services

(Provide the Administrator password or confirmation if prompted to do so.)

Right-click the Windows Update service and click Start.

 

This procedure will erase your history on the Windows Update Site. Not important.

 

 

--

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

TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2008 - Australia

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

How to make a good post: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Defending your machine: http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/

http://taurarian.mvps.org/index.htm

 

Emails will not be acknowledged - please post to the newsgroup so all may benefit.

 

 

"davmcn" <davmcn@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:D37FBC6B-EAD4-4FE1-ACD1-8204CC5611F1@microsoft.com...

|I had the exact same problem as "lynnmc" had and man it's annoying

|

| "Rhkent" wrote:

|

| > I too am having this problem

| > Rhkent

| >

| >

| > "LynnMc" wrote:

| >

| > > I am having the same problem as you Shaun and the same type of laptop. Last

| > > night the laptop updated and closed and all was working ok. This morning I

| > > am being told that "Windows could not search for updates". I would

| > > appreciate any help with this also.

| > >

| > > Many thanks.

| > >

| > >

| > > "Shaun" wrote:

| > >

| > > > I have a new Dell Inspiron laptop with Vista Home Premium. When I try to

| > > > search for updates, it says "Windows could not search for updates" and gives

| > > > error code 8000FFFF. Any thoughts?

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