Have the same problem…and got the same advise from Vincent Chen. Did not work either. Hope that Microsoft will publish a fix that actually works. None have so far

I have the same problem here, if you get the answer let me know

thanks a lot

I had the same problem. Tried a few fixes but none worked. I finally did an in-place upgrade of Vista and Windows Update is now back in business.

I found a suggestion on one of the microsoft forums to do a system restore. I had the same error after I inadvertenly re-booted the computer in the middle of windows update. I ran the system restore. Re-booted the computer. Then tried windows update again and it worked. Please note that this was for my new Dell Inspiron 1721 that I just received so fortunately it was fairly close to having all the patches already installed.

Same for me, still cant fix it. I have deleted system restores from that period to save room on my laptop so its a no go.

Nice one Microsoft.

Have had exactly the same problem and the same response from microsoft support: When I email them to tell them the last fix they suggested didnt work, they email back suggesting that I try the fix that didnt work the first time around.
It culminated in them saying “it seems that there is some issue with your Operating system.”
…Yes, its badly designed and poorly supported!!

Funny, my Ubuntu install and regular updates works great on a P3 with 256 MB Ram…

Sorry Shawn, had to say it!

i just recently am having this same error code come up 80073712, if anyone has anything new please let me know

Hey everyone,

Had a few new emails from Microsoft that were no help. They then closed the case without a fix. I reinstalled Vista today and everything is working great. My guess is that there is no fix.

This is absolutely amazing. I have the same situation, only twice in a row after two fresh installs of Vista 32.

As an IT professional, I find id absolutely amazing the CRAP that has been shipped under the name of VISTA. I cannot believe how bad this is!

Mark my words MS. My next purchase for personal use is a MAC.

Every recommendation from this point forward to the 1000′s of people who personally ask for my advise, will be getting a MAC.

I don’t even care if it’s a 2e. At least the thing does out of the box what you expect!

Microsoft… you SUCK!

I would like to thank you for your very complete description of your experience with this issue.

While I am sorry that you were unsuccessful, I used part of one of the fixes successfully.

The one I used was:
sfc /scannow

When I ran this, it stated that it found and corrected corrupted system files. Note: I DID NOT then run the in-place update. Rather, I then ran Windows Update. It ran successfully at that point.

Here is my recommendation for folks having this problem – run sfc /scannow first. It is the least intrusive and may fix things without deleting files, changing registry entries, running a full update of Vista or any other potentially dangerous operation.

I ran sfc /scannow and got this response “there is a system repair pending which requires reboot to complete. Restart Windows and run sfc again.”.
I did the restart, ran /sfc, and it keeps throwing back that message. I have no idea what is pending or how to stop it.
Any ideas?
The plot thickens

After I ran the “sfc/snannow” I got the following message:

Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
Details are included in the CBS.log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For example C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log

Not sure what this means but hopefully someone here can help.

I for one am done with Microsoft for ever. I just ordered my Power Mac 2.6 dual core intel today. Called Micron and have 4gb of mem on the way for it also. Never again will I own a microsoft product

I’ve encountered the same problem with this error. I tried running the sfc /scannow and was told the Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation. It boggles my mind that Microsoft would create an error code, then not know what the error code means. Gee, a corrupted file? How could that happen? There are only how many damn files in Vista?
If somebody finds a fix for this, please, keep us updated.

Same thing for me. I have been using Windows and developing software for it for almost 20 years and I find Vista to be the most frustrating OS to date.

If MACs were cheaper more people would switch.

No fix here. Vista SUCKS

I recieve the same error message and have been unable to get updated file after 11/05/07

I found a solution to the Vista Windows update error and have tried posting it to the thread. But twice it did not appear ans since all I got was a blank page when I submitted the post, I figured something was wrong.

I am sure your readers would like to have this because it totally worked for me and was easy. Trust me, I have tried everything else short of re-installing Vista.

So here is the solution that worked:

1. Open the start menu.

2. Type “cmd” into the search and right click on “cmd.exe” and choose “Run as Administrator”

3. Type in “takeown /f C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml”

4. Type in “cacls C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml /G < USERNAME >:F” Note: Your user name will display when you execute step three. (Don’t enter the “< " or ">“)

5. Type in “del C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml”

6. Reboot

7. Downloaded & install the Windows update Agent.

32-bit Users Download it Here:
http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7/windowsupdate/redist/standalone/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x86.exe

64-bit Users Get it Here:
http://download.windowsupdate.com/v7/windowsupdate/redist/standalone/WindowsUpdateAgent30-x64.exe

8. Start Windows update

Since its been so long since I have been able to update, Windows Update had to
update first!

Credit where credit is due:
I found the solution here: http://forums.techarena.in/showthread.php?p=3050763

I have the same problem, but I don’t have C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml either

Deleting ‘pending.xml’ worked. But now certain services fail to start and when installing any updates they give a new error . You have just got to hate Windows Vista Updates, always problems!

Renaming “pending.xml” worked for me!

The problem started when Vista downloaded updates released Dec 11th. When shutting down it stayed at “installing updates..” forever (30+ minutes) and I had work to do so I pulled the plug. This error code appeared after that. After trying everything I found renaming pending.xml worked.

Thanks all!
Dan

After more than a few tries, the solution posted by Frank Grubb actually worked. I’m confident that when Microsoft releases Vista SP1 comes, it will get completely hosed up again. My advice – buy a MAC – I did, and will never buy windows again!

There is a God…!!! Thank you Frank. I had first been through the dreaded error code 80007FFFF in windows Update and got past that issue only then to be confronted with 80073712. Dan is correct – I had the same occurrence on December 15th when I updated – the shut down took forever and in my impatience I just turned off my DELL Precision 670. I, too, had work to do. Things got ugly from there on out. Every time I would shut down after that, if I had made any changes to Windows, then the shut down screen would display “Configuring updates”. Like – why is this an ongoing thing? This no longer happens after fixing these two WU errors… Incidentally, fixing these errors also resolved an issue I was having on boot up where the Windows Event service would fail to start – or I should say, it took so long to start that Windows notified me that it didn’t start, but eventually it would.

Thanks for the help…!!!

And to Jesse – I would love to primarily use a Mac or Linux but the ERP software I sell and support is Windows based and so all my clients work in a Windows world… *sigh*… I have a RedHat Enterprise WS as one of my workstations, but sadly only play with it when time permits…

Sue-Ellen

Thanks you have solved my problem. Same as you described Windows update failing with 80073712, removed pending.xml as described and hooray windows update bursts to life (no need to reinstall the WUA).

Thanks again

My brand new Dell blue-screened less than 2 minutes after starting it up the first time. Unfortunately it was right in the middle of checking if the OEM Vista installation was up to date. Now I have the same 80073712 error and none of the above fixes solve the problem.

So in my case Vista worked correctly for less than 2 minutes before I started getting errors…

Now, how many hours have I spent on this and what is my normal billing rate to my clients? I could just buy another laptop and chuck this one using this logic.

This would be funny if it didn’t hurt so much. I was laughing at my pain too b/c Shawn and the rest captured my frustration so well. I know a guy from MS, and I told him 3 years ago to just make stuff easier to use for normal people! do the ever freekin listen? No! that’s why apple is crushing them with everything. since i’m in finance and every business in my world uses MS, i’m stuck like the rest of us! so i have to hire some geek to do this crap or else lose my mind with this cmd//:\\ garbag! impossible that MS upgrades windows to vista to make it easier and then jams us with such a POS it is unbelievable. i am buying a new computer tomorrow with WINDOWS XP! this thing sucks, Big TIME!

[...] Windows Update – Error Code 80073712 [...]

Thank You! Frank G. It worked! I also had to update windows updater first and now I have over 30 necessary updates waiting to be installed. I was having other issues with explorer not permitting two windows to be opened simultaneously but have not checked yet to see if that was fixed also. If not I will post a comment here for help. Thanks again!

Same problem here. No “pending.xml” file found. Using WUA the SP1 update freezes at a max. of 13% yeilding the 80073713 error. ven trying to d/l a stand alone version overnight there was one interrupt and two file verification errors. This will be the 5th time I’ve re-installed Vista Home Premium since I bought the machine 3 weeks ago! I even tried installing XP X64 on my Dual-Core AMD but it can’t find my hdd!

I swear im having windows 95 flashbacks with vista. Makes me want to walk away from MS and switch to Linux or MAC. I should be spending my time on the internet looking for good pron sites, seelling crap on e-bay, or gaming… not stressing out because i spend 300 bucks on an OS that sucks balz. Damn you microsoft!! Is this the best you can do?

I have gone through the same things, all the supposed solutions to fix this…to no avail. EXCEPT! For some reason, my user rights on the C:\users\appdata\etc.. were not set as owner rights, nor full control rights. They were limited rights.

So, I took ownership of everything even though I was always an admin. All subfolder owner rights have been changed to full control.

This freed up Windows Update to find no less than 29 updates for me that are over 330MB of data. I am in the middle of successfully installing these. At least I think it is successfully installing(currently 49% complete)!

The bottom line is to check every folder and subfolder within c:\users to make sure you have full control.

It worked for me.
Andrew

I keep getting a huge amount of System lag, all the time, and I can’t fix it even with reformatting, so I assume it to be a corrupted update or something. My system seems not to have a pending.xml file, and I have no idea where to go from here.

After I ran the “sfc/snannow” I got the following message:

Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
Details are included in the CBS.log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For example C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log
this message i got it… what crap Vista is and than reboot to see if actauly works still same problem.. I have checked every folder and sub and within C/user nothing found it is been 7 days no updt ..MS do they know this error does exist and everyone is having the problem .. i wish they will recall all vista … as far vista I am done with it

pending.xml some of us odn;t have this and i tried what FRANK G qoute here it is not working for me .. please come up with other idea ..thanks everyone

Windows Vista Update does not work any more

I just found out that my system did not update since 7 days the
error code is 80073712
on november and december Windows Defender has been updated KB915597
on 30 november I did try to install KB917607, but it did not install

I have removed the temporary internet explorer files,
There is no pending.xml file in the winSXS folder
these are the files in the windows\system32 directory that start with WU*.*

13-11-2007 07:54 549.720 wuapi.dll
13-11-2007 07:54 31.232 wuapp.exe
13-11-2007 07:54 53.080 wuauclt.exe
13-11-2007 07:54 1.712.984 wuaueng.dll
13-11-2007 07:54 1.524.224 wucltux.dll
02-11-2006 10:46 87.552 WUDFCoinstaller.dll
02-11-2006 10:46 143.360 WUDFHost.exe
02-11-2006 10:46 181.760 WUDFPlatform.dll
02-11-2006 10:46 55.296 WUDFSvc.dll
02-11-2006 10:46 309.760 WUDFx.dll
13-11-2007 07:54 80.896 wudriver.dll
13-11-2007 07:54 33.624 wups.dll
13-11-2007 07:54 43.352 wups2.dll
18-05-2007 00:44 135.680 wusa.exe
13-11-2007 07:54 163.000 wuwebv.dll

What might be remarkable is the file date WUSA.EXE
Can that be the problem?? And how to solve this??
Or do you have other suggestions

NO “pending.xml” file that I could
> delete

i have just sent email to MS Help and support about the issues and will let you know what they come up with it i have given full details

I have talked to MS about this and if the solutions above do not work there is no other way to fix it except to install the OS over its self.

I’ve been using an old P4 2.5ghz with Ubuntu for a while (about 2 years), and haven’t had any crashes or what-not (wifi was a little tricky to get going, but other than that, smooth sailing).

So, today I bought an uber-rig from this guy who custom built it and was moving on to another one. It had Vista installed. I had heard bad things about Vista, but never used it. After screwing around for a bit, Firefox locked up my comp when I tried to change the icons in the toolbar. (In Ubuntu, the program would just crap out and close, and you’d just restart it…in Windows, it locks up your mouse, keyboard, everything…had to reboot.) Now I’m trying to update Vista, and get this error code. I install the WGA applet, it verifies I’m using a genuine copy, but still gives me the error. All this and I’ve only been using Windows for about 2 hours now. I’m starting to miss Linux already…but, I really want to play some games! Oh, the humanity!

The fix outlined above – deleting the pending.xml file and installing WUA 3.0 worked for me. Thanks for the detailed analysis of the problem. I think that it is a disgrace that all of us are literally spending hours of our time trying to fix these issues (not the first I have had with windows updater) and without full understanding the knock on effects of our actions.

this error occurs on all illegal copies of Vista

Frank’s advice fixed the problem. Everything works fine now. Thanks a lot man !!

The error does not just happen with illegal copies, not only is mine legal, but MS also sent me a new CD in the mail to reinstall and repair this lovely error since they could not do it with all their “fixes”. After numorous times of trying to install the new CD and it failing each time, I have given up. They have no solution and will not even send me a return e-mail anylonger. I also tried working with HP on it and it was the same “fixes”.

So now I have a CD of Vista for Business and can’t even install it, because it will not overwrite any system files.

Frank’s advice worked for me.
Only difference was that I ran windows update straight after deleting pending.xml, without rebooting. This threw up a message (miraculously not an error) that windows had to install new Update software, which it then did automatically, before downloading and installing other updates. Thank you.

Frank’s advice worked for me. I didn’t need the reload of the Windows Update. When I rebooted and opened Windows Update, it had found 70MB of updates as I hadn’t been able to update for so long. My Toshiba laptop is now happily installing them without any problems

Thanks Frank!

Hey, i have a problem.
My vista is doing automatic updates.
Last time i turned on my computer and tried to get into the windows, instead of my Password screen,a message appeared saying:
Configuring Updates 3 of 3 – 0%
Dont turn off your computer.
It stayed like that for couople of minutes than it restared and stared all over again.
I tried safe mode. Doesn’t work, takes me back to the same place.
I cant enter my Windows.
HEkp. What to do?

Frank it will do this, it has a lot of updates to install so it will keep restarting and then configuring 1-3, but rest assured these are different updates so just let it keep doing it. Mine took about an hour of this but now is working fine!

Hi

I just cannot find the pending.xml is strange no ware to be found any advice.

thanks a lot

okay this is ridiculous…i tried the sfc/ scannow and the window appears for a fraction of a second and just disappears…no scan, ive resarted, shut down and tried over and over but nothing…also the computer runs like molasses in a blizzard. its a dell XPS 410. its 4 gaming(it can run any game out) its not even close to a year old…and prior to this it was FAST…very fast. the reason its slow is cuz(above &) everytime its on, it has updates that u have to shut down to install…but guess what…THEY FAIL…errors KB943899, kb946041 & kb944533. i mean i can shut it down to install a million times and it wont work…THIS IS WHY I WANTED A MAC….any help would be great(mainly about the sfc/ scannow…i’m yet to look up the other errors) thanks for all the info and i hope we all can get this fixed soon…also, how the hell can microsoft be allowed to do this? to put out such a terrible product? do they want MAC to win?

Fixes I tried:

1. run command “reg delete HKLM\COMPONENTS /v StoreDirty”
(system could not find)

2. deleting pending.xml
(system could not find)

3. sfc /SCANNOW
(found corrupt files but could not fix some)

4. give myself full rights to C:\users
(still get Windows Update error code 80073712)

Re-installing the entire OS is NOT an option!

October ’07 to March ’08 and still no fix form MS!

Mike D, make sure you are running the sfc /SCANNOW from a “Run as Administrator” cmd window.

After having this problem from about 6 weeks into running my Vista machine (it’s about a year odl now) and constantly checking the web forums to find a resolution with no joy, but after hours of head scratching not to mention the stupid suggestions given by Microsoft support I think I’m starting to get somewhere.

I tried installing Vista SP1 in the hope that it may sort out the problem. You can download this manually from the following address:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsvista/bb738089.aspx

It downloaded and got about 45minutes into installation before failing but after the failure, Windows Update was able to successfully download 6 updates and installed 5 of them. Unfortunately the one that it has been unable to install is the one that will seemingly get Windows Update back into a fully working state. It is called Update for Windows Vista and it contains and program which checks the systems update readiness and is designed to repair registry entries related to the correct working of Windows Update. Problem is, the geniuses at Microsoft have set this update up so that it will automatically download itself to your machine with the clever use of…. you guessed it…. Windows Update. Clever!

You can download this directl from MS on the following address:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821

I’m trying to run it at the moment with not exactly the greatest level of success but I now have MS Update in a state where it can successfully check for updates and tell me which ones I need. Next step is making them all install. Wish me luck, and same to you all.

Andy B. – I had hoped. But I still can’t install SP1 on Vista after that.

Tried every reccommendation I could find without success. Finally the solution at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821 worked first time for me.

the reference suggested by steve above seems likely to work – it talks you through how to install and run checkSUR (check for system update readiness) to troubleshoot your computer, correct software issues and then allow updates to install. it refers to several error codes which apparently can then be rectified in addition to 80073712. All looks good and i’m optimistic. However i need help here – i’ve never modified my registry system before. I have completed a restore point in case of mistakes. I typed in the first command once i had got through actions one and two of steps to manually install rand run CheckSUR. However i am obviously doing something wrong as at instruction three my computer in response to entering info on this line comes back with ‘reg add’ syntax error. Please could someone advise me of what command exactly i should use to add that line of info before instruction 4 which relates to reg delete. Thanks.

FINALLY…a new solution offered by Microsoft. After trying everything else presented on this forum (and others), this actually worked! Now windows updates like it’s supposed to.

System resources, such as file data, registry data, and even in-memory data, can develop inconsistencies during the lifetime of the operating system. These inconsistencies might be caused by various hardware failures or might be caused by software issues. In some cases, these inconsistencies can affect the Windows servicing store, and they can cause software updates not to work. The System Update Readiness Tool tries to resolve these inconsistencies. When the System Update Readiness Tool detects incorrect manifests, files, or registry data, it might replace the incorrect data with a corrected version.

1. Please download the System Update Readiness Tool from the link below according to your System Type:

System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista 32-bit

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=D22AF4E2-1AAF-4672-8951-4B7920F982E9&displaylang=en

System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista 64-bit

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=8BD75C06-D9F1-4700-ACF3-3A58D533597A&displaylang=en

2. Double click on the downloaded file to run the System Update Readiness Tool and restart the computer to check the results.

Thnks for your efforts Tracy C. and every one else. I downloaded and installed the System Update Readiness Tool, rebooted and at Windows Updae got my familiar Error #80073712. I have communicated with two dfferent MS techs and the final advice was to reinstall Vista. Thanks Mr. Gates. I’ll keep listening and trying.

Deleting pending.xml fixed it for me as well. Thanks Frank. . .I worked on it for 2 days.

Add me to the list of NOTHING HAS WORKED and I refuse to reinstall. I am THISCLOSE to reinstalling WinXP Pro…

I got sp1 to download on my dell xps m1330 by running Sfc/ scannow .

Before I did that, Windows Update would only download 13% before failing and issuing error code 80073712.

Gosh…i just have a same problem and it doesn’t seem to be fixed at all unless reinstalling Vista. I have tried everything I could and it seems like my Vista is getting messed up more and more…
Way to go..MS….

I’ve had this error since December of 2007 and have tried everything mentioned in the post,the comments, and by Microsoft tech support with no success (I refused to reinstall Vista).

I just resolved my particular 80073712 error today after coming across a post I saw in the TechArena forums by Jeff Woods.(http://forums.techarena.in/showthread.php?p=3613065 -Last post on the page)

I downloaded and ran the System Update Readiness Tool (mentioned in a previous post), which was unable to automatically fix my problem but was able to identify the issue in its logfile:
(C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\checksur.log)

Checking component store
(f) Corrupt Manifest CSI 0xC0150006 x86_microsoft-windows-i..nternetcontrolpanel_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16575_none_8d0cb78254e644a9 Manifest: Parsing failed
—

The log file indicated an error reading the manifest file mentioned (on a side note, the sfc /scannow command was also able to find this same error and provide some more specific information regarding the manifest file location).

I went to the manifests folder (C:\Windows\winsxs\Manifests) and located a .manifest file with the same name as the problem file mentioned in checksur.log.

After opening it with notepad and comparing with the other multiple manifest files with similar names (only the hex code after the “none” in the filename was different), I noticed that the first 40 lines of the problem file was littered with garbage text (manifest files have a nice clear xml structure) which was evidently giving windows update problems when it was trying to parse the garbage text.

After painstakingly determining the corrupted portion of the file was standard and duplicated among all the other manifest files that shared its name, I copied and replaced the garbage text with the text from a clean manifest file and saved it. Modifying a manifest file requires manually taking over the file and granting privileges to your username- google the takeover and icacls commands for further info.

Note: Modifying a manifest file is not something I’d recommend for the lighthearted (my file was corrupted so it wouldn’t have mattered if I screwed it up) and you should also remember reset the file to its default privileges afterwards.

I ran the System Update Readiness tool again and found no errors. I proceeded to complete all my windows updates with no further problems.

Due to the generic nature of the 80073712 error this may not work for you, but you might at least get a hint as to what might be the problem using the System Update Readiness tool.

Thanks to Jeff Woods over at TechArena for posting his experience or I would never have been able to finally fix this error.

Thanks frank this prob has been doing my head in for quite a while now.The fix u have put up worked gr8 from me…many thanks

Frank, your trick work very well, you have saved me, thanks

Hello James,
What you have told is perfectly true…i got the same message..i follwed your instructions..but i am not able to manually take control fo the file…i used the command in cmd.exe
ICACLS x86_microsoft-windows-ie-extcompat_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.20823_none_3b406d13f29e9601[/grant[:r] Sid:perm[F]] …but i kept getting the error as invalid parameter “[/grant[:r]“..can you please help…??

I last communicated this site on April 25. After six months of trying and getting angry with MS I have reinstalled Vista. Lots of wok but problem solved. Thanks everyone, and a special thanks to Bill Gates for another faulty system.

Good discussion- much appreciated. Our problem started with 8000ffff error stopping all updates. This was corrected with registry HKLM/Components editing noted in opening post. This revealed an underlying 80073712 error fixed with WUA reinstall as also noted in opening. Here are some additional hints that helped:
1. Turn off auto update including checking.
2. Failed update or checking can trigger problem HKML/Component values which have to removed each time.
3. We worked in safe mode with network support.
4. File permissions were changed by opening Windows Explore run as administrator. Browse to file then properties>security>advanced. Change ownership, change permissions, check/change inherited properties. Safe mode helps avoid open file access denied problems.
5. Prior to each reboot we started cmd run as administrator and ran “netsh winsock reset” (others say it helps ???)

I want to KILL myself! I have 2 Vista Machines and BOTH OF THEM get this error!
I think I’ll just downgrade to XP…
but then again, I don’t want to have to reinstall all my drivers and software…. EFFFFFFF!!!!

Thanks a lot for the solution! Used the one given by Frank Grubbs.
Perceverance will pay off (sorry i am dutch).

Just ran into the 80073712 error. I found that the pending.xml fix didn’t work because Microsoft changed the directory naming somewhere along the line. It’s now under \Windows\system32\TEMP\ under a different name. Deleting the subdirectory contents didn’t help however.

The sfc /scannow also showed uncorrectable errors. I downloaded the System Update Readiness Tool and it took off automatically. After a few hours, it successfully installed the updates and rebooted my system. Thanks to everyone for your help. This was like the “good old days” of Windows. Looking at that C: prompt means the nightmares will never ever really go away.

Hi,

This is a great thread, it sounds like there are several different problems / solutions associated with the above error code. At the root of the problem appears to be corrupted Vista files, and the cause of this corruption can be multiple. A common theme seems to be switching off the machine during an update, in particular an update that occurs when the machine is shutting down.

The fixes:

1. Those with a Pending.xml file seem to be able to get a fix as described above.

2. Those without (like me) have a little more to do.

- The sfc /scannow approach works for some. But in my case just says it can’t fix the errors and leaves me with a log file I don’t know what to do with.

- I wound up following these instructions from Microsoft
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957310/en-us.

a. Download the system readiness tool. It repairs corrupted files probably better than sfc /Scannow.

b. Download the standalone version of Vista SP1 and install.

c. If that doesn’t work then to a “repair” update of Vista using your original CD.

Good luck!

H

frank grubbs’ suggestion helped a lot!

i’ve been trying to fix this problem for quite some time now and i found that suggestions in most of the forums on the net ignore one major problem, that the “pending.xml” file does not exist!

i ran a ” *.xml ” search in the winsxs folder, and found that such an xml file was there in the folder :

C:\Windows\winsxs\Temp\PendingRenames\

the file had the name :

b3b08064fa14c901d30000005811bc0e.pending.xml

i used frank grubbs’ method (above) to delete this file, and did a reboot.
win update has been working fine since then

i restate the procedure i followed (modified frank grubbs’ method) :

1. Open the start menu.

2. Type “cmd” into the search and right click on “cmd.exe” and choose “Run as Administrator”

3. Type in “takeown /f C:\Windows\winsxs\Temp\PendingRenames\b3b08064fa14c901d30000005811bc0e.pending.xml”

4. Type in “CACLS C:\Windows\winsxs\Temp\PendingRenames\b3b08064fa14c901d30000005811bc0e.pending.xml /G :F” Note: Your user name will display when you execute step three. (Don’t enter the ““)

5. Type in “C:\Windows\winsxs\Temp\PendingRenames\b3b08064fa14c901d30000005811bc0e.pending.xml”

6. Reboot

7. Downloaded & install the Windows update Agent.

note, though, that i did not need to perform step 7

In a nutshell, the first thing i would suggest to anyone having this problem is to run a search to look for all ‘xml’ files having “pending” in their name, and try to delete such file(s).

Hi,
Reading glomerulus solution, I find I have some 50 C:\Windows\winsxs\Temp\PendingRenames!!!!
These appear to have been created on tow occasions when I tried to install SP1 via Windows update. Do I have to use the cmd procedure for ALL the Pending Renames or just the last one? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

What if pending.xml is not present in C:\windows\winsxs?

soo…i have found 80 of these so called pending.xml files…it won’t let me delete a single one of them…and i just tell me after runing the Sfc/ scannow and it keeps telling me to reboot over and over after i rebootalas…this is idiotic and futile….CURSES!!

Thanks a lot guys! I had the same problem and struggled a lot to get it right. The suggestion given by Frank(Frank Grubbs Says: December 5th, 2007 at 12:33 pm)worked for me. The mistake i was making for a long time was that – for the mentioned in similar solutions – I was entering the WINDOWS LOGIN NAME. Actually you have to enter COMPUTER NAME\WINDOWS LOGIN NAME as the USERNAME. This will work fine.

Cool
I was able to fix this problem once with the System Update Readiness Tool, but as the new Update Agent came out I’m running into the same old 0×80073712 error again… sigh

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I get this back when I try Franks method:

Invalid parameter “/G”

What do I do now?

Hey, I had a problem where Windows Search 4.0 Wouldn’t install, I Kept getting the error code “80073712″.

To fix it….I kept trying to install it…it eventually worked and is now installed!

Maybe for some people, keep trying to install ot maybe??

Look at Andy B’s solution up above and that’s all you need to do. The other’s don’t work.

This message is for Frank Grubbs. Ok, I haven’t been able to install any updates on Windows Vista for over a year and kept getting that error code 80073712. So I went on this blog, after a lot of researching, and followed the instructions as you listed above. I got the updates finally to install but now everything else is a mess. My computer keeps shutting down unexpectantly. I can’t even get into MSN. My MSN email sign in screen is smaller and aqua blue now and only shows a small photo there but nothing else. The MSN files have disappeared. I tried reinstalling MSN and it didn’t work. How can I reverse what I did in those files, transfer ownership back to the System and restore the deleted “pending xml” file? I would rather have it the way it was before than how it is now. I tried to go back to an earlier restore point and that didn’t work. Also I’m not sure if I accidently did something else to cause this mess. If you or anyone else can help, I’d sure appreciate it.

I have had the same issues with Vista and I am utterly FED UP. I have had to re-install Vista 3 times since getting my Dell less than 2 years ago and They are telling me now that I again have to re-install the OS. My system will not download the system update readiness tool and therefore will not install the SP1. Explorer is a piece of crap and has been having all kinds of issues I now use firefox only. Mark my words, my next purchase will be a MAC. I am very dissapointed…

this is really anoying me can any one help if anyone has any fix plz email me i would be so pleased. ty

I found a solution that worked. All you gotta do is unplug your computer, disconnect any cables and coards and pull the machine into the middle of the room (preferably on a cement floor). Douse the whole thing in gasoline and set it on fire, then go buy a Mac.
After this, your machine will work perfectly.

I just purchased my HP Pavilion laptop 3 days ago, and I’m running into a problem with update KB957388. I keep getting error code 80073712. It’s amazing this problem is so common and MS doesn’t even have a solution. I’m tried the aforementioned on deleting the pending.xml and renaming it, but I there’s no pending.xml file. I also downloaded and reinstalled the windows agent 3.0 and nothing! So frustrated! If I’m unable to download updates from the first day of purchase, restoring my computer to factory settings certainly will not even help. I’m thinking of returning this lemon I just purchased!

I’d been getting this coded error ever since I upgrade from XP to Vista. The following link and download make this error go away. Finally! Microsoft has software to analyze and then fix (hopefully) these type of update issues. It’s called, System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008 at this site:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821

Good luck.

I managed to fix it using this “modified Frank G method” combined with KB947821.
Simply using KB947821 did not solve the problem, had to delete files named like b3b08064fa14c901d30000005811bc0e.pending.xml
(about 10 of them).
However, after deleting those files from Windows\winsxs\Temp\PendingRenames\
I did reisntall WUA 3.0 and the result was again he error code. My experience is that you shouldn’t (re)install WUA 3.0.
Removed again one or two NEW longfilenamed.pending.xml-s from PendingRenames directory, reboot, then KB947821 then managed to download and install updates, about 300 MB.

Commands I used (Vista home premium, Japanese!! on a Sony VAIO, ^_^ I don’t speak Japanese):
command prompt run as Administrator, then
1. takeown /f C:\Windows\winsxs\Temp\PendingRenames\longfilename.pending.xml
2. icacls C:\Windows\winsxs\Temp\PendingRenames\longfilename.pending.xml /grant Administrator:(WDAC)

3. After this in Explorer right click, File properties, Security Tab, I gave Full Allow to myself (the user). Well, I did it for the Administrators, Users, User, to all, but only one was enough. I have to mention that the User was also Admin. Well, you’ll have to try, or give full Allow to all. More clicks, less frustration.
Then I managed to delete those files, one by one (GOTO 1. with next file).
help on icacls: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753525.aspx
using icacls you can specify multiple files. I don’t know about takeown.

That’s my fix. But it is ridiculous, my dad received like 10 pages of crap from MS Support, without any helpful solution. Their last and final advice was to REINSTALL. HA-HA!! Mr Gates, PAY ME for working as your damn support tech guy!!

And it is a shame that such a bug can exist WITHOUT any solution for TWO years now. It is also a … shame that THE SUPPORT PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA how to fix this thing, when an average user asks for help. And it is STUPID when the tool you supposed to download updates and fixes with GETS CORRUPT and you can’t download those fixes. AND, the biggest joke of all, WHY DO WE NEED TO DOWNLOAD … UPDATES AND FIXES????? Sell a … software that works, do they sell “corrupted” cars? TVs? Books? Medicine?

Ridicule No. N When I installed that … computer, I installed that … Vista, I expect to get REAL Admin access, and finally I, the Admin end up with this stuff, unable to delete files because NO ONE, not even SYSTEM has full rights, only the TrustedInstaller thing!! IDIOTIC!!! And I have to search the net for magical commands and tricks…

I’m so happy to have found this site before I lost my mind. Am in the middle of the ‘modified Frank G method’ but thought I’d point out that the use of:
icacls /grant Administrator:(WDAC) fails for me every time, even though in the Help for the icacls command an identical example is provided. It says that Administrator:(WADC) is an invalid option. Even if I put COMPUTERNAME\Administrator. Go figure.
However, the earlier suggestion did work:
cacls /G :F
After that I could delete the .xml files in PendingRenames OK in Explorer, but not, strangely, at the command line.
I have worked in technical support for years. What the *** are ordinary Windows users meant to do? Pay me, I suppose!

And it worked!! However, Windows has forgotten how to start up, and I can only get in by running the Boot Menu (F12) and manually selecting the hard disc to boot from (even after checking the BIOS).

One small thing – McAfee is displaying a similar symptom – I cannot run SecurityCenter because it says it needs a reboot, and after reboot it says the same thing. I’m guessing this is associated with the original problem and will try a re-install of McAfee to fix that.

So – what worked for me was doing the deletes of the PendingRenames .xml files, and then installing the System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008 at this site: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821

Best of luck to all, and thanks to all also.

Ok people,
Ive just spent the last week trying to figure out how to get the updater working again. Credit must go to where its due. Thanks to everyone!! Just a quick note to those that cant find the pending.xml file, make sure that the option to hide protected operating system files is UNCHECKED. Then follow the steps pointed out by frank gubbs then EVERY ONES A WINNER.

Thanks a ton Mr. Frank Grubbs, ur solution worked. I’ve been trying to solve this problem for a couple of days- scanned the microsoft website, was on the phone a with an online technician for almost 3 hours, but all in vain. Ur solution solved the problem in a few minutes, thanks very much, God bless u.

I’ve tried all kinds of things, haven’t found a solution yet, I can’t find the pending.xml so that doesn’t help and I even tried the system readiness update tool, which did nothing as far as I can tell.

This problem started for me after I reinstalled Vista due to Services failing. Frank’s solution worked for me. Thanks Frank.

I’m running Vista Basic 32 Bit. After installing the Update
get the Error Code 80073712 when I’m trying to search for new Updates.

I have tried the fix on http://support.microsoft.com/kb/KB931712 but
the reg key doesn’t exist.

Please help to solve this problem, thanks

Bye,
hendro

I have ran into the problem several times with windows vista and I have found that there is a conflict with vista and Google desktop. If you delete Google desktop the computer will update fine. this has fixed the problem every time I have had the issue.

Just got this problem on my laptop. Microsoft isnt impressing me with this.

Now on to SP2. I had no problem with SP1, probably because PC was new, now with SP2 all the other downloads worked except this one.

i found the pending.xml file but when itried to delete it it said access denied and would not delete???? help

Just fixed the problem for my machine (error code 80073712) when installing SP 2. I never did have a pending.xml file but what finally worked was the new System Update Readiness Tool (KB947821) [April 2009]. I executed it on my Vista Ultimate 32bit system ( http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0435684b-8d12-4028-9cb0-b2903257f1fd). When it finished running I checked the log file and it said that I had 16 errors and it fixed three. Apparently one of the three was the problem as I then ran a downloaded SP 2 update file and it was successful.

Pending.xml is a file under Temp in the winsxs folder. The file full name is 9c08d4d75deac901e9040000f4035c05.pending.xml

[QUOTE] The issue is that the WUA 3.0 (7.0.6000.374) upgrade is corrupted, essentially the system reports the WUA to be 7.0.6000.374 but the files on the disk are still from the old version (you can check some of the DLLs like wups.dll, wuaueng.dll etc… in the windows\system32) … and you cannot install the WUA 3.0 even manually.

Delete the following file:
C:\windows\winsxs\pending.xml

Since Windows security will not allow you to do this, hereunder the procedure to take ownership of the file:

Run a command prompt with “Run as Administrator”. Type in the following commands:
takeown /f C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml
cacls C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml /G :F

Delete the file.

Reboot the machine, then manually install the WUA 3.0 downloadable from here:
x86 WUA 3.0
x64 WUA 3.0[/QUOTE]
This fix worked for me. And I did not even have to install WUA, just deleting the file did away with problem.

Actually I did have to install WUA too as Windows Update was still giving errors

Hello fellow sufferers.

I developed this problem after installing Windows Vista Service Pack 1. I’ve attempted a number of fixes and they all failed.

This is what worked for me:

1. You will need a Vista restore disc. If your pc does not have one, download from here

http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/

and burn to cd or dvd. This is ESSENTIAL. I was unable to access C:\ any other way.

2. Load Rescue Disc and reboot. You will need to change bios settings to change boot order.

3. When boot starts you will be presented with the option to Repair my Windows installation. Proceed with this and problems will be located and a fix attempted. Follow the prompts.

4. After this step you will be presented with various options. Select “Command Prompt”.

5. At C:\
Type takeown /f C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml

6. Then, delete C:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml

7. Reboot with Rescue Disc. Select “System Restore” and select a re3store point. In my case, only the last 3 days were available so I chose the oldest one. Allow to complete.

8. Reboot after System Restore completes. Now this is where another problem surfaces, at least on my machine. When I rebooted I was then presented with yet another error message; OLEACC.DLL is missing or deleted. Of course, I did not delete it and had no idea why it was “missing”.

9. Next, I rebooted into command prompt and ran “chkdsk /f”. Chkdsk was able to find and recover the alleged missing OLEACC.DLL.

I then rebooted and the pc started with everything back to the restore point chosen. I have lost no programs or data and amazingly my pc has never run better.

I am now doing a full backup of my system. Trying to deal with this was incredibly tedious.

I know everyone’s pc is different but I hope this is of some help. Just persevere as I did and you might get lucky!

I’m going to try Frank’s solution….. Error 80073712…..
have been to many other sites and the blogs would drive Einstein bonkers.
I’m a newbie. Have a Lenovo PC and so far have had to have MOtherboard and ram replaced (on warranty, thank God !) did their “one key recovery” a thousand or more times
seems at the outset, it was infected with the Mida Trojan, quarantined it, up popped
Assistant_180 which spreads infections and is removed by PC Syware Doctor which I scan with constantly.It reappears while online and when I reboot(offline)I did a standalone download successfully but PC says “failed”.I’m sorry I gave away my XP to PC’s 4Kids. I hate Vista. I’ll let you know if it works.PC slower than Molasses at the North Pole. Did I tell you I HATE Vista? … = : ( ….. !

OMG.. you guys… HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!! The first post..was telling you what he had tried …. and didn’t work, including your favorite…”pending.xml” file fix… well HELLO!!!!!!!!!!! It isnt’ working for some. All 3 of the fixes on this mile long page isn’t working for some..why the hell do you all keep posting the same crap… some people are looking for the fix that fixes it it…not the one that is plastered on every damn search result… we’ve already been there, done that. I’ve tried the “pending.xml, System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista, sfc /scannow, system restore, net stop wuauserv and net stop cryptsvc, In-Place Upgrade… still nothing. So why do people post useless info.. like.. buy a MAC, use a different operating system, and to use fixes that the original post already mentioned he tried. Try adding something that works and isn’t on this page. 106 posts, that I spent 30 min to read and it was all the same story. So the original dude posts the things he did.. then you all respond by telling him to do it all over again. NO CLUE.. I’m going to try the last resort.. format and re-install..but the way it is sounding.. that may be a dead end. Hopefully someone will add something thing in here and other forums, that I haven’t seen or tried.

I fixed that problem with fix number 3

I read so many testimonials and do sympathize with all of you. Before I tried anything, I decided to system restore a whole month back and it worked for me. It has been a week now without any problems and let my laptop slowly reinstall the important updates… good luck to all.. from gene cordoni

i am having the same error is it an easy fix without me going to the command prompt?

try this if you can’t get rid of “requires reboot to complete” while sfc /scannow:

sfc /scannow /OFFBOOTDIR=c:\ /OFFWINDIR=c:\windows

this worked for me… good luck

I, like most of you, am encountering the same error yet again. For some reason Vista does not like this PC and I constantly get errors with Windows Update…this time suprisingly after formatting and reinstalling the O/S. My fix? I’m going back to my RC build of Win7. It worked fine, never had issues.
Typical of Microsoft though, how to repair all the issues with a faulty O/S? Release a better O/S a little over 2 years later. I know its no help on this issue, but after running it on both my PC and Laptop for almost a year, I am extremely happy with it and recommend it to everyone.

switch off vista updates as vista is crap anyway

I have tried every solution to this problem and I have found none of them work!!!!
I guess I will have to do a clean install, but I wont be putting vista back on here!!!!!!!!
Peice of s^*t!!!!!!!!

computer shutsdown unexpectedly this is my problem with it so i search the net about it. so i encounter this 80073712 error code. i just update my computer. i just updated mine and the problem was solved.

[...] Blog Post bei SaintJohnShawn Veröffentlicht am Freitag, den 12. Februar 2010 um 18:14 Uhr Abgelegt unter: Lösung, Software Tags: 80073712, berechtigung, ntfs, Windows, windows update Trackback-Adresse Kommentare verfolgen oder selbst einen verfassen Gelesen: 3 | zuletzt: 12. February 2010 [...]

Glomerulus’ fix (posted October 9 2008) above worked for me.

Deleted Pending.xml Updater comes to life

Same here. The updater did a self-update and now it updates normally.

For over over a year I have tried to install vista sp2 and never managed as I kept getting the Error Code 80073712 dispite following instructions (some very complex) on every website I could find (including this thread) but, what did work was the very simple fix given by
ComputechApril 8th, 2009 at 2:16 am

Well done Computech

Microsoft sucks and leads the world at the same time. This is scary. We are doomed!

MY WIFE IS SITTING HERE WITH A MAC AND HAVING NO PROBLEMS. I DON,T EVEN WANT TO TELL HER WHAT I AM TRYING TO DO WITH ALL OF MY CODES!

Same error while working on a customer’s laptop when trying to run Windows update in Vista 32 bit. No service packs installed, In fact no updates showing at all. Has Google desktop installed but I disabled in msconfig.

Most suggestions near the beginning of this thread and others are to run sfc /scannow. Tried that and got error message that an update was pending and to restart the computer and try again. Did that and did that. No change. The key word pending got me curious and I found the pending.xml file in c:\windows\winsxs folder. Had to take ownership of it then added the user Everyone and gave it full control. Then I was able to delete the file.

Restarted the computer and installed SP1 and SP2 no problem. Everything working now.

Sorry to bump this, but after a week of working on a computer for a friend, this page led me to fix it. Not sure what step it was. but I did everything in one go (didnt have pending.xml though), rebooted and updates began downloading by themselves

thanks folks

Frank Grubbs: WAY TO GO – IT WORKS ************