Why is Windows Update trying to install an update I don't need?
- by Oliver Salzburg
I have a Windows 7 system that currently has a single update pending:
Windows Internet Explorer 9 for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems
If I try to install the update, Windows Update will:
Create a restore point
Fail with the error: Code 9C48 Windows Update encountered an error.
The event log for the event reads:
Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x80070643: Windows Internet Explorer 9 for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems.
If you search the web for that error, there are many other people with the exact same issue.
Sadly, I am unable to apply the proposed solutions to my case, because I just installed this system.
There is nothing on it, except Windows 7. I installed the system and ran through the updates.
I also did the exact same process with this machine several times over the past few days due to a long-term test we just started.
I didn't have any problems with any Windows Update on the previous installation runs and I know I didn't do anything different this time because I followed the installation procedures instructions which are to be used during the test.
How did this happen and how do I solve it?
Further Investigation
So, as I always like to do, I ran the update again while running Process Monitor and dug up further details.
WindowsUpdate.log
First of all, there is a Windows Update log file located at C:\Windows\WindowsUpdate.log which I didn't know about. But I fail to see any significant entry in it, maybe you're more lucky:
2012-04-10 22:46:58:017 956 728 AU AU received approval from Ux for 1 updates
2012-04-10 22:46:58:017 956 728 AU AU setting pending client directive to 'Progress Ux'
2012-04-10 22:46:58:095 956 728 AU BeginInteractiveInstall invoked for Download
2012-04-10 22:46:58:095 956 728 AU Auto-approving update for download, updateId = {B33ACEC1-3265-4D01-9C37-AC0892E95ED9}.100, ForUx=1, IsOwnerUx=1, HasDeadline=0, IsMinor=0
2012-04-10 22:46:58:095 956 728 AU Auto-approved 1 update(s) for download (for Ux)
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 728 AU UpdateDownloadProperties: 0 download(s) are still in progress.
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 728 AU #############
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 728 AU ## START ## AU: Download updates
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 728 AU #########
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 728 AU # Approved updates = 1
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 728 AU AU initiated download, updateId = {B33ACEC1-3265-4D01-9C37-AC0892E95ED9}.100, callId = {35DF928B-B428-4BAC-8C63-55295967EFBB}
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 728 AU Setting AU scheduled install time to 2012-04-11 01:00:00
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 728 AU Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 728 AU Currently showing Progress UX client - so not launching any other client
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 bb8 DnldMgr *************
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 bb8 DnldMgr ** START ** DnldMgr: Downloading updates [CallerId = AutomaticUpdatesWuApp]
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 bb8 DnldMgr *********
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 bb8 DnldMgr * Call ID = {35DF928B-B428-4BAC-8C63-55295967EFBB}
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 bb8 DnldMgr * Priority = 3, Interactive = 1, Owner is system = 0, Explicit proxy = 0, Proxy session id = 1, ServiceId = {9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77}
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 bb8 DnldMgr * Updates to download = 1
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 bb8 Agent * Title = Windows Internet Explorer 9 for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 bb8 Agent * UpdateId = {B33ACEC1-3265-4D01-9C37-AC0892E95ED9}.100
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 bb8 Agent * Bundles 1 updates:
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 bb8 Agent * {6D9A90B7-FAF9-4A47-9EFE-A506264873B3}.100
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 bb8 DnldMgr *********** DnldMgr: New download job [UpdateId = {6D9A90B7-FAF9-4A47-9EFE-A506264873B3}.100] ***********
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 728 AU Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 728 AU # Pending download calls = 1
2012-04-10 22:46:58:110 956 728 AU ## RESUMED ## AU: Download update [UpdateId = {B33ACEC1-3265-4D01-9C37-AC0892E95ED9}, succeeded]
2012-04-10 22:46:58:313 956 bb8 Agent ** END ** Agent: Downloading updates [CallerId = AutomaticUpdatesWuApp]
2012-04-10 22:46:58:313 956 bb8 Agent *************
2012-04-10 22:46:58:313 956 718 AU #########
2012-04-10 22:46:58:313 956 718 AU ## END ## AU: Download updates
2012-04-10 22:46:58:313 956 718 AU #############
2012-04-10 22:46:58:313 956 718 AU Setting AU scheduled install time to 2012-04-11 01:00:00
2012-04-10 22:46:58:313 956 718 AU Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-04-10 22:46:58:313 956 718 AU Currently showing Progress UX client - so not launching any other client
2012-04-10 22:46:58:313 956 718 AU Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-04-10 22:46:58:313 956 aac AU Getting featured update notifications. fIncludeDismissed = true
2012-04-10 22:46:58:313 956 aac AU No featured updates available.
2012-04-10 22:47:00:107 956 aac AU BeginInteractiveInstall invoked for Install
2012-04-10 22:47:00:107 956 aac AU Auto-approving update for install, updateId = {B33ACEC1-3265-4D01-9C37-AC0892E95ED9}.100, ForUx=1, IsOwnerUx=1, HasDeadline=0, IsMinor=0
2012-04-10 22:47:00:107 956 aac AU Auto-approved 1 update(s) for install (for Ux), installType=1
2012-04-10 22:47:00:107 956 aac AU #############
2012-04-10 22:47:00:107 956 aac AU ## START ## AU: Install updates
2012-04-10 22:47:00:107 956 aac AU #########
2012-04-10 22:47:00:107 956 aac AU # Initiating manual install
2012-04-10 22:47:00:107 956 aac AU # Approved updates = 1
2012-04-10 22:47:00:107 956 aac AU ## RESUMED ## AU: Installing update [UpdateId = {B33ACEC1-3265-4D01-9C37-AC0892E95ED9}]
2012-04-10 22:47:13:773 2232 9fc Handler : WARNING: Exit code = 0x8024200B
2012-04-10 22:47:13:773 956 718 AU # WARNING: Install failed, error = 0x80070643 / 0x00009C48
2012-04-10 22:47:13:773 2232 9fc Handler :::::::::
2012-04-10 22:47:13:773 2232 9fc Handler :: END :: Handler: Command Line Install
2012-04-10 22:47:13:773 2232 9fc Handler :::::::::::::
2012-04-10 22:47:13:851 956 a7c Agent *********
2012-04-10 22:47:13:851 956 a7c Agent ** END ** Agent: Installing updates [CallerId = AutomaticUpdates]
2012-04-10 22:47:13:851 956 718 AU Install call completed.
2012-04-10 22:47:13:851 956 a7c Agent *************
2012-04-10 22:47:13:851 956 718 AU # WARNING: Install call completed, reboot required = No, error = 0x00000000
2012-04-10 22:47:13:851 956 718 AU #########
2012-04-10 22:47:13:851 956 718 AU ## END ## AU: Installing updates [CallId = {FCFF2A5C-25AB-4FB9-AB2B-35C65CCA6A9F}]
2012-04-10 22:47:13:851 956 718 AU #############
2012-04-10 22:47:13:851 956 718 AU Install complete for all calls, reboot NOT needed
2012-04-10 22:47:13:851 956 718 AU Setting AU scheduled install time to 2012-04-11 01:00:00
2012-04-10 22:47:13:851 956 718 AU Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-04-10 22:47:13:851 956 498 AU Getting featured update notifications. fIncludeDismissed = true
2012-04-10 22:47:13:851 956 498 AU No featured updates available.
2012-04-10 22:47:14:366 956 168 AU No featured updates notifications to show
2012-04-10 22:47:14:366 956 168 AU UpdateDownloadProperties: 0 download(s) are still in progress.
2012-04-10 22:47:14:366 956 168 AU Triggering Offline detection (non-interactive)
2012-04-10 22:47:14:366 956 168 AU AU setting pending client directive to 'Install Complete Ux'
2012-04-10 22:47:14:366 956 168 AU Changing existing AU client directive from 'Progress Ux' to 'Install Complete Ux', session id = 0x1
2012-04-10 22:47:14:366 956 168 AU Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-04-10 22:47:14:366 956 b78 AU #############
2012-04-10 22:47:14:366 956 b78 AU ## START ## AU: Search for updates
2012-04-10 22:47:14:366 956 b78 AU #########
2012-04-10 22:47:14:366 956 b78 AU ## RESUMED ## AU: Search for updates [CallId = {0198DD3A-D7B0-48F5-A77D-795F8A1BDCE8}]
2012-04-10 22:47:16:097 956 718 AU # 1 updates detected
2012-04-10 22:47:16:097 956 718 AU #########
2012-04-10 22:47:16:097 956 718 AU ## END ## AU: Search for updates [CallId = {0198DD3A-D7B0-48F5-A77D-795F8A1BDCE8}]
2012-04-10 22:47:16:097 956 718 AU #############
2012-04-10 22:47:16:097 956 718 AU No featured updates notifications to show
2012-04-10 22:47:16:097 956 718 AU Setting AU scheduled install time to 2012-04-11 01:00:00
2012-04-10 22:47:16:097 956 718 AU Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-04-10 22:47:16:097 956 718 AU Successfully wrote event for AU health state:0
2012-04-10 22:47:16:113 956 55c AU Getting featured update notifications. fIncludeDismissed = true
2012-04-10 22:47:16:113 956 55c AU No featured updates available.
2012-04-10 22:47:18:780 956 bb8 Report REPORT EVENT: {27479C66-E930-4F9C-AFF2-27EDD76DED8F} 2012-04-10 22:47:13:773+0200 1 182 101 {B33ACEC1-3265-4D01-9C37-AC0892E95ED9} 100 80070643 AutomaticUpdates Failure Content Install Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x80070643: Windows Internet Explorer 9 for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems.
2012-04-10 22:47:18:780 956 bb8 Report CWERReporter::HandleEvents - WER report upload completed with status 0x8
2012-04-10 22:47:18:780 956 bb8 Report WER Report sent: 7.5.7601.17514 0x80070643 B33ACEC1-3265-4D01-9C37-AC0892E95ED9 Install 101 Unmanaged
2012-04-10 22:47:18:780 956 bb8 Report CWERReporter finishing event handling. (00000000)
WU-IE9-Windows7-x64.exe
The actual update that is executed is downloaded and stored at the following location:
C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\Install\WU-IE9-Windows7-x64.exe
Executing that file manually, results in the following error message:
IE9_main.log
The IE9 installer/updater also creates an own log file located at
C:\Windows\IE9_main.log
For the update session in question, the installer logged:
00:00.000: ====================================================================
00:00.016: Started: 2012/04/10 (Y/M/D) 23:10:53.897 (local)
00:00.032: Time Format in this log: MM:ss.mmm (minutes:seconds.milliseconds)
00:00.063: Command line: "C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\Install\WU-IE9-Windows7-x64.exe"
00:00.078: INFO: Setup installer for Internet Explorer: 9.0.8112.16421
00:00.094: INFO: Previous version of Internet Explorer: 9.0.8112.16443
00:00.110: INFO: Checking if iexplore.exe's current version is between 9.0.6001.0...
00:00.125: INFO: ...and 9.1.0.0...
00:00.141: INFO: Maximum version on which to run IEAK branding is: 9.1.0.0...
00:00.156: ERROR: A newer version of Internet Explorer is already installed on the system.
00:00.188: ERROR: Internet Explorer version check failed.
01:03.789: INFO: Setup exit code: 0x00009C48 (40008) - A more recent version of Internet Explorer is installed.
01:03.820: INFO: Scheduling upload to IE SQM server: http://sqm.microsoft.com/sqm/ie/sqmserver.dll
01:03.852: INFO: SQM Upload returned 403
01:03.867: INFO: Cleaning up temporary files in: C:\Windows\TEMP\IE978E.tmp
01:03.883: INFO: Unable to remove directory C:\Windows\TEMP\IE978E.tmp, marking for deletion on reboot.
01:03.898: INFO: Released Internet Explorer Installer Mutex
Which pretty much confirms what the error message says when executing the update manually; it's simply already installed or even obsolete because a newer version is installed.
So, why does it try to keep installing the update?
Possible solutions?
Uninstalling Windows Internet Explorer 9 and manually installing the cached C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download\Install\WU-IE9-Windows7-x64.exe will result in the same error after applying all pending updates.
Applying the FixIt for the issue You receive “0x80070643” or “0x643” error codes when you try to install .NET Framework updates through Windows Update or Microsoft Updates will not resolve the issue.
Applying the suggested solution for the issue Error message when you try to install updates by using the Windows Update or Microsoft Update Web site: "0x80070003" will not resolve the issue.
Running the FixIt Automatically diagnose and fix common problems with Windows Update does report having resolved issues with Windows Update, but didn't resolve the issue.
Running the FixIt for the issue How to troubleshoot Windows Update or Microsoft Update when you are repeatedly offered an update does not resolve the issue. Neither with normal nor with aggressive settings.
