On server 2008 r2 x64 Installed Desktop Experience, after some test and applying all available Windows Updates, it was subsequently removed. Now trying to reinstall the feature, it seems to be succesfull at first, but upon reboot, it resumes installation. And after 3 attempts it fails with error "update desktopexperience of package desktopexperience failed to be turned on. status: 0x80071a90" Run "src /scannow" and retried but same result. I've found similar issue posted as below, but the hotfixes stated in the article aren not listed in the "Uninstall an update". http://blogs.technet.com/b/asiasupp/archive/2010/11/23/attempt-to-install-desktop-experience-failed-with-error-code-0x8000ffff-in-windows-server-2008.aspx http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2500700/en-us I thought it maybe AV conflicting with Windows Defender, so disabled McAfee VSE, but still the same result. ANy help would be much appriciated.

Hi, I noticed that you have McAfee installed. Based on our internal knowledge base, McAfee will block the access to the file sstext3d.scr. At that point, I would like to suggest you temporarily uninstall McAfee and try to install Desktop Experience in Clean Boot to check the result. For the detailed steps of how to perform a Clean Boot, please refer to the following Microsoft KB article: How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135 What’s the result? Regards, Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Thanks Arthur Li, this did the trick and Desktop Experience is installed succefully. Many thanks.