Windows 7 update fails with error 8000FFFF
I've got a Windows 7 x64 installation that I've had for around three months. Everything has been fine and working up until a few weeks ago. When I run Windows Update it finds updates and allows me to select them, but when I run the install it fails with error 8000FFFF. Update used to work, but then suddenly quit. I've dug through tons of forum and web sites regarding this specific error, but they all of their solutions do nothing to fix my problem. In frustration I decided to put in a spare hard drive and install Windows 7 from scratch. I did that and the first thing I tried to do after logging in was updates and it failed for the same reason (8000FFF). I have the same situation with a Windows Storage Server 2008 x64 that I have as well. It has been runing for about six months or more and updates were working fine. Then update started failing for the same or some other reason about the same time. On this machine I can start the update and see it report a percentage downloading the update. It gets to about 5 or 6 percent and then fails. Is there some possible networking issue at play in my situation? I have earlier Windows versions (XP, XP64, Svr 2003 and Svr 2003 R2) and updates work fine on those. I know those are using a different mechanism, but I do not notice any other kind of networking issues from my house to the Internet. I have not changed anything or any settings in my firewall at all. Is there some specific protocol, port or something that has to work prefectly in order for the new Windows update to work? All of my machines are pretty much Intel based. Win7 box is a Core2Duo on an EVGA 680i motherboard. The servers are Intel Xeons with Intel motherboards, chipsets and nics. Thanks for any advice and help
April 14th, 2010 4:55am

You may check if the updates were installed before. If so, remove it and then reinstall. Remove an update If it does not help, please temporary disable antivirus and firewall, then install the updates again. If the issue persists, please try the following method. 1. Launch REGEDIT 2. Locate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\COMPONENTS 3. Check if these three values exist under the COMPONENTS key: PendingXmldentifier NextQueueEntryIndex AdvancedInstallersNeedResolving If the keys exist, back up the Components key, then delete the three above values. 4. Restart. Arthur Xie - MSFT
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April 14th, 2010 10:57am

Thanks for the responses guys, but I tried that solution when I first started researching this problem. I don't have any of those keys in my registry.I'm beginning to think this is also the same problem that is preventing me from installing the .NET 4 framework. I see in the log log where it tries to install a component using the windows update agent and it fails with the same (generic catastrophic unknown) error 8000FFFF.Antivirus was turned off and the Windows firewall was disabled and still no joy.Thanks again
April 16th, 2010 2:01am

Which updates cannot be installed? You may open Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Windows Update\View update history to see the result and let us know. Arthur Xie - MSFT
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April 16th, 2010 10:14am

Hello, I am having exactly the same issue. I have not had an issue with updates before on this install, and have installed numerous updates previously. However it is the most recent two updates which are failing, these being KB980408 & KB975496, published 27/04/10. The issue seems to be that it is not actually downloading the files at all. Clicking install brings up the downloading screen, and it instantly pops to 11% and then hangs, eventually (after a few minutes) it brings up a failed screen. Attempting to install individually or together brings up error 8000FFFF. The above values you suggest do not exist in my registry, I also tried renaming the softwaredistribution folder, and although this reset windows update, the problem was still the same. UPDATE: I just attempted to manually install KB980408, and it takes a while before finally simply stating "the following updates were not installed".
May 6th, 2010 1:22am

Hi, I am getting the same error as well. Ever security update starts to download gets to 11% and hangs. Then errors out with the 8000FFFF error. All updates have failed since 6/7/2010.
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July 12th, 2010 6:22pm

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