(11/21/09) - I have Vista (64bit version), and I was getting this error for
three weeks myself. Thanks to one the suggestions below, I got it to work.
The suggestion that worked for me was to "manually" install each update
"individually". I could not use the windows automatic update feature. Here's
what I did (BTW, I did not have to turn off my firewall to do this):
1) Went to Bing.Com
2) Typed in the exact name of the update as it was displayed on the Windows
Update Screen (e.g. Security Update for Microsoft Office Excel (KB######)
3) Bing found the exact match to what I typed in on the Microsoft website
4) I clicked on the link
5) Selected "Download"
6) And Viola, it worked :-)
7) I repeated this step four more times, and now I've successfully installed
all five updates that I'd been trying to install for three weeks.
8) Thanks again to all of the tips people listed below, that was helpful and
the "manual" update tip worked for me.
Hope this works for other people as well.
"installation bug" wrote:
> I also get code 646. This has been going on more than a week. Microsoft
> continues to download and try to install KB974234, KB972581, and KB973709. Up
> until now all downloads have installed autimatically and successfully. I
> consider this a bug. If microsoft can't install the software on my system,
> how do I get them to stop trying?
>
> "TaurArian" wrote:
>
> > Some procedures here that might assist:
> >
> > How to troubleshoot failures updating your Office installation from the
> > Office Update Web site
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304498
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2010 - Update Services
> > http://taurarian.mvps.org
> > ======================================
> > Disclaimer: The information has been posted "as is" with no warranties or
> > guarantees and doesn't give any rights.
> >
> >
> >
> > "kummer0485" <> wrote in message
> > news:713673E2-6E06-4064-BF03-...
> > >I need help....my computer keeps trying to install a update that it keeps
> > > failing on. I get a code 646 error saying windows updated encountered an
> > > unknown error when im trying to install the office 2003-mircosoft office
> > > outlook 2003 junk email filter...its an important update it says so i want
> > > it
> > > to get installed and not have to worry about it.please help 
> >
> >
> >
> >