I have Vista ultimate and since early December 2008, I have not been able to get MS updates. Instead I get an error message code 80070026, unable to search for updates. BTW, it's a Dell XPS M1330 computer, recently purchased in July 2008. I have both McAfee and Windows Defender, which get regular updates. MS techies have not been able to resolve problem and I'm stuck.

Hi there! Thank you for using Bleeping Computer as your source of help today. If I saw clearly, you are having problems installing updates on Windows Vista.

I will request that you do both things listed.

1. Please tell me if you are currently running Service Pack 1 of Windows Vista.

2. My first evaluation of this situation is that you may have a Windows Installer error. Please do the following step-by-step:

1. Select Start > Run.
2. In the Open box, type CMD.
In the black box please enter the following text:

msiexec /unreg


3. When this process is complete, please type the following in the same window of CMD:

msiexec /regserver

5. Restart the computer, then recheck for updates.

If the above solution does not work, please try this Microsoft Solution: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946414/en-us

Hi there and thank you for your response. I'm unsure if I have the service pack as all my update history was removed when an MS tech was trying to solve this problem so I'm hesitant to do as you say without this information. Is there a way for me to find out if I have it installed?

Yes!

Right click on My Computer and click Properties.
You will see Service Pack 1 in the first paragraph of text if you have it installed!

Jay, yes my computer is running the Service Pack 1 of Vista (Ultimate). BTW, I've researched this error code and many techies have suggested that there may be a conflict with existing 3rd party antivirus program. I've turned off the real time protection as suggested and it didn't work. One also suggested uninstalling one program, which I haven't done. How valid is this? And how likely is it that a virus is preventing me from getting updates? You see I'm so worried that I downloaded the BETA One Care Scanner just in case, and it's running in the background as we speak. Once it's done then I'll do as you say. Will you be around for another hour?

The solutions you have listed are invalid. Most antivirus and solutions for firewall are set to automatically cooperate with Windows Update, as the security programs know that a system process is running by what is called TrustedInstaller. Once a security program sees the hidden codename TrustedInstaller, process are automatically allowed.

Did you try the fix it? http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946414/en-us

If you have, then you may have a corrupt user profile. I will allow you to post anymore results then I will help you with the next step in potentially solving this issue!

Jay,

I tried but it came back with this message: "fix it" failed, does not apply to your system.

I also tried to do the first instruction but the command screen is not doing anything???

Okay, I'll be waiting for the next step. P.S. The scan came back negative.

Can you explain what corrupt file means?

It means that your Windows Account is damaged/corrupt and you need to either access a different User Account that has Administrator Privileges or create a new administrator account. Please tell me if you have any questions about how to do this!

Before you do the above step, please open the start menu and enter Windows Update in to the search box. When it appears in the pane, please right click on it and click Run as Administrator. After you do that, please check for updates again!

Okay, I ran the updates as the administrator and got the same error message. Please tell me how to create a new administrator account. Thanks!

UPDATE: I changed the admin. acct. into a standard user acct and created a new administrator. I then ran updates (while as an administrator) and still no luck: same error message.

It is true that some Windows Sysem files have been damaged. Whenever System files get damaged, Microsoft Installer locks itself to prevent any further damage to your computer. This is known as Windows System File Protection. Please run System File Checker to automatically repair system files. After that completes, please restart the computer and run Windows Update again!

[Edit: spelling error]

To check this problem, please TEMPORARILY disable your firewall and any Internet Security software that may be blocking the connection attempts.

Then test Windows Update, then IMMEDIATELY re-enable the stuff that you disabled!

Let us know what happens.

Also, check the Windows Update log files ( http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902093 ) and let us know what you find there.

Thank you!

Hi Jay,

I will be getting home late tonight but will try your last instruction unless you think it's best to postpone it until this Confliker virus hysteria subsides. From your last comment, I take it that it's best if I don't take up John's advice. I seem to recall that MS techies have provided the same instruction to me in December and it didn't resolve the problem.

Thank you. I have tried the method that John placed in his post on my own one time, and I checked update logs, and the problem went unresolved. I had update errors back in Late January-Early February and I tried many methods--including John's.

In each Firewall and Antivirus Suites, there is a port automatically allowed to download and upload data for Windows Update. This port is number 443, which is the remote port. The port is heavily guarded by Windows Updates, security -type, to ensure the port is safe. This is the second most exploited port in Windows. Port 1025 is a port to download Windows Installer files for the updates, when those are available. Obviously, when we unregistered and Re-registered the Windows Installer in my first solution to you -- this was deemed okay! Obviously after the first solution, the problem still was not solved.

1 of two system files/folders have been damaged on your machine. Both of these are related to Windows Update.

Software Distribution folder
or
C:\Windows\System32\winipsec.dll <<<Windows IPSec SPD Client DLL (also located in %windir%\ServicePackFiles\i386)

------------

Along with System File Checker, please do the following:

Please run disk cleanup. This can be done from the Start menu>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Cleanup.

Make sure temporary files is checked and make sure they get removed.

I'm unsure how to do System File Checker - it sounds as if it's specifically done for XP; is there a way you can clarify instruction or perhaps refer me to something that is more Vista specific? I'm very new to all this stuff. By the way I createad a new account but the updates didn't work. Do I use this new account when following the last two set of instructions?

Follow this step only, as saw in the tutorial, please!

okay, it didn't see anything open up

Try it in Command Prompt:

Go to Start, type in the search box: SFC.EXE /SCANNOW
right click on it and select Run as Administrator!

The message after the scan finished:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6001]
Copyright © 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>sfc.exe/scannow

Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.

Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 100% complete.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of th
em.
Details are included in the CBS.Log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log. For example
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log

C:\Windows\system32>

Jay,

I tried to proceed to the next set of instructions but couldn't find the Automatic Update folder, only Windows Update. Also no listing for Downloadable files.
I guess I'm stuck.

Okay, it may have fixed the bad file

Please rename the Software Distribution folder as you follow the process above.

Please make sure the Windows Update service gets stopped first, then go and rename it, then Restart the Windows Update service. Make sure you restart your computer, then recheck for updates.

As soon as this is done, please post back on whether we solved the issue or you need more solutions!

No luck with this one. Still getting the same error message on updates.

Edit: Came up with better solution, posted next reply below this

First:

• Go to Start / All Programs / Accessories. Right Click the 'Command Prompt' item and click the 'Run As Administrator' option.
• In the Command Prompt window, Paste the following command.
• REGSVR32 %SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32\WUAUENG.DLL
• Press ENTER.
• You should see a popup that says the command succeeded.
• Exit the command prompt and try Windows Update again.

THEN:

• Click Start. Choose Run.
• In the Run box, type: regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll
• Click OK.

No luck again. Tried update and the same error message appeared.

After 2nd set of instructions, it came back with this message:

The module "wuaueng.dll" was loaded but the call to DIIRegisterServer failed with error code 0x80070005.

Tried to run update and of course unsuccessful.

I was really hoping this would work.....

We are almost there to solving this issue.

The first error code has been solved.

Now to work on 0x80070005, the most common and easiest to solve -- hopefully!

This is a permissions issue. You do not have permission to check for Windows Updates. This is weird, I know...why are you not allowed? The solution is, is that we set our own permissions on the update folders for Windows Update.

75% of the time, this works.

-------------------------------------

PROCESS

The following files/folders need ownership. Please find them, and use the process below to take ownership.

c:\windows\windows Update.log
c:\windows\logs\cbs\cbs.log
c:\windows\software distribution


HOW TO TAKE OWNERSHIP

The following tool must be uninstalled after you have done the unlocking. It is not to be used as a power toy. It is a means for protecting the system environment while free up the lock on files.
Download this ZIP. Extract files. Locate the extracted files, double-click on README.txt and read it...then double-click on InstallTakeOwnership. When you are done taking ownership of the files listed above, please double-click on RemoveTakeOwnership. When you have removed the Take Ownership, please delete the folder.

Jay,

I don't know how to find the 3 files, can you give me step by step instruction?

Okay, I can find the two files except the windows update log? Can I still proceed? And then when I do take ownership, do I rename or delete those two files? The instruction is not very clear to me.

Thank you again for being so helpful.

edit: hang on -- posted too late...

When you take ownership, you leave them alone. They are now allowed to perform their normal duties.

If you have right clicked them and taken ownership, then you can recheck for updates.

The log for Windows Update should be fine.

Jay, what do you think happened to the windows update.log file? And do I proceed without it, ie just cbs.log and software distribution files?

If WindowsUpdate.log is not located in the Windows folder...please right click inside the Windows folder in any white area and mouse down to New>Text Document. Please make sure it gets named WindowsUpdate.txt

When that is done please right click on the new file created and click Take Ownership.

After this, you are all set to recheck for updates.

Okay, did as you said and checked for updates. It didn't work. I'll delete the zip file and restart the computer and see if it works. Will update you shortly.

DARN! Still no luck after restarting.

Last chance
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958045

Jay thank you for all your help but I guess I'm out of luck. I'm still hoping this can be resolved. I will continue to solicit help from the outside. Again, thank you!!!!

Please start a new support with Microsoft, in the Windows Update Support.

I am glad that you chose Bleeping Computer. I am disappointed with the fact that I could not help you solve the issue. After filing through all the problems I have ever had with updates, I gave you the best solutions. It is obvious that their is a Windows Error that is blocking the updates.

I also did not want to be the one to tell you that you would have to do an In-Place upgrade of Windows Vista (reinstall). If you do not want to open the support request with Microsoft, I think the issue can be solved with someone who specializes in solving those types of issues.

You could search the following Windows Update MVP Taurarian, and try their solutions. They have long lists on their MVPS website.

Also, you can check MowGreen's BC Blog.

Thank you!

edit: nothing, mis-click

Jay,
MS support suggested the In-place upgrade and it finally worked! In fact, I just finished and everything works now.
Again, you have been terrific, thank you very much again!!!

Well, I guess that being said, it must have been your only chance. At least we got somewhere, so there is my confidence level. I am glad for your patience, and good luck in your future computing endeavors.

Happy computing!

This issue is now resolved and fixed!