Corrupt WindowsUpdate registry

The entries in
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Win dowsUpdate
are almost all empty besides the main WindowsUpdate directory which has
three entries. I checked my other computer's registry, and it has about 5-20
entries per folder in the WindowsUpdate directory.

I've been trying to reinstall Service Pack 2 after a Repair which rendered
all of SP2's features useless, but still providing them, so that SP1's
features are also. This includes Windows Update and the Security Center.

These are the last entries in setupapi.log when I attempt to install Service
Pack 2, once it stops with error "Access is denied."

#E008 Setting registry value
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Win dowsUpdate\Auto
Update\ResetAU
#E033 Error 5: Access is denied.
#E065 Parsing AddReg section [Product.Add.Reg] in
"d:\59a6b73415dec6fc3ee8\i386\update\update.in f" failed. Error 5: Access is
denied.
#E064 Parsing install section [ProductInstall.GlobalRegistryChanges.Install]
in "d:\59a6b73415dec6fc3ee8\i386\update\update.in f" failed. Error 5: Access
is denied.
#E008 Setting registry value
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Win dowsUpdate\Auto
Update\ResetAU
#E033 Error 5: Access is denied.

Installing Service Pack 1 outputs the same Access is denied error. I've done
many searches for the errors I'm getting, but none of them deal with
completely corrupt WindowsUpdate registries, just WindowsUpdate registry
permissions.

My question: how can I repair my WindowsUpdate registry entries short of a
fresh install? I tried importing the non-unique ones from my other computer,
but they were "in use" even in safe mode, so they can't be edited either.

Any ideas would be very, very appreciated. Thanks.

f.yannaco wrote:

> The entries in
> HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Win dowsUpdate
> are almost all empty besides the main WindowsUpdate directory which has
> three entries. I checked my other computer's registry, and it has about 5-20
> entries per folder in the WindowsUpdate directory.
>
> I've been trying to reinstall Service Pack 2 after a Repair which rendered
> all of SP2's features useless, but still providing them, so that SP1's
> features are also. This includes Windows Update and the Security Center.
>
> These are the last entries in setupapi.log when I attempt to install Service
> Pack 2, once it stops with error "Access is denied."
Hi

Please see the "Access denied" section here:

http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm#C...Service_Pack_2


I suggest you start out with the SubInAcl.exe tip there and see if
that solves your problem.


--
torgeir, Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of
the 1328 page Scripting Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scr...r/default.mspx

"Torgeir Bakken (MVP)" wrote:

> f.yannaco wrote:
>
> > The entries in
> > HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Win dowsUpdate
> > are almost all empty besides the main WindowsUpdate directory which has
> > three entries. I checked my other computer's registry, and it has about 5-20
> > entries per folder in the WindowsUpdate directory.
> >
> > I've been trying to reinstall Service Pack 2 after a Repair which rendered
> > all of SP2's features useless, but still providing them, so that SP1's
> > features are also. This includes Windows Update and the Security Center.
> >
> > These are the last entries in setupapi.log when I attempt to install Service
> > Pack 2, once it stops with error "Access is denied."
> Hi
>
> Please see the "Access denied" section here:
>
> http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm#C...Service_Pack_2
>
>
> I suggest you start out with the SubInAcl.exe tip there and see if
> that solves your problem.
>
>
> --
> torgeir, Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
> Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of
> the 1328 page Scripting Guide:
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scr...r/default.mspx
>

I downloaded SubInAcl.exe, since I'm using XPHome, and I have no idea how
I'd use it to reset my Windows Update registry keys. I'm not sure if you just
assumed it was a Permission error, but to be clear: my WindowsUpdate registry
entries are completely corrupt. I can't access them at all, and after
creating a new folder inside WindowsUpdate, I couldn't delete it.

Is a clean install the only resolve? Or is there a registry repair program
somewhere?

f.yannaco wrote:

> I downloaded SubInAcl.exe, since I'm using XPHome, and I have no idea how
> I'd use it to reset my Windows Update registry keys.
Hi

Did you create and run the reset.cmd (that again run SubInAcl.exe)
as described here:

http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=7796&view=next



--
torgeir, Microsoft MVP Scripting and WMI, Porsgrunn Norway
Administration scripting examples and an ONLINE version of
the 1328 page Scripting Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scr...r/default.mspx

That worked perfectly. Thanks a lot. I wasn't exactly sure what you'd wanted
me to do with the program. Thanks.

Of course, though, now there's a new problem. But at least my WindowsUpdate
registry isn't corrupt and I can install SPs.

After installing SP2- even though I have most of its new, albeit broken
features already on SP1, it loads fine, logs in, and then there's a black
screen. I can move my mouse and access the task manager, but explorer won't
load. When shutting down, explorer.exe has to be end-tasked.

However, everything works fine in Safe Mode.

Which log file would I look at to find out why this is happening? It's a
very vague problem, I know.

Again thanks for your help.