Update fails and fails to restart server machine

When I restart the windows server 2003 with SP1 machine,
it says a message similar to "Do not power off the machine" and "Doing
updates 1 of 21". It keeps sitting there the whole day.
I have to manuall reset the machine.
I get the following error when it does the update and it is stuck there for
ever.

Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library
"Runtime Error!"
Program: C:\WINDOWS\System32\MsiExec.exe
The application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual way.
Please contact the application's support team for more information.

MsiExec.exe Application Error:
The exception unknown software exception (0x40000015) occured in the
application at location 0x7813461a

Click OK to terminate the program
Click on CANCEL to debug the program.

When I click OK the error popup keeps coming back again and again.

I open IE browser and select windows update.
It says Automatic update is doing the update and thus it fails there also.
How do I do the windows update now?

"smm" <> wrote in message
news:0499BC6A-853A-4A2E-8FCE-...
> When I restart the windows server 2003 with SP1 machine,
> it says a message similar to "Do not power off the machine" and "Doing
> updates 1 of 21". It keeps sitting there the whole day.
> I have to manuall reset the machine.
> I get the following error when it does the update and it is stuck there for
> ever.
>
> Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library
> "Runtime Error!"
> Program: C:\WINDOWS\System32\MsiExec.exe
> The application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual way.
> Please contact the application's support team for more information.
>
> MsiExec.exe Application Error:
> The exception unknown software exception (0x40000015) occured in the
> application at location 0x7813461a
>
> Click OK to terminate the program
> Click on CANCEL to debug the program.
>
> When I click OK the error popup keeps coming back again and again.
>
> I open IE browser and select windows update.
> It says Automatic update is doing the update and thus it fails there also.
> How do I do the windows update now?


Look for clues in the logs the updates create.

Otherwise my guess would be that you symptom is related
to the symptoms described here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916089/en-us

(MSKB Boolean search for
hotfix AND "windows update" AND msi
Modified: 14 days
)


The same search finds an even more recently updated
"Guided Help" KB910359 which you may find useful or informative too.


Good luck

Robert Aldwinckle
---

Hi,
I am unable to re-install the windows installer.
It gives the following error when I try to run it:
=====================
Setup has detected that the Service Pack version of this system
is newer than the update you are applying.

There is no need to install this update.
======================
Somehow the microsoft installer is corrupt.
Shall I remove the Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 by removing from
Add/Remove Programs and then try re-installing the Service Pack 1?
Is that safe to do?

Thanks,
Mani

"Robert Aldwinckle" wrote:

> "smm" <> wrote in message
> news:0499BC6A-853A-4A2E-8FCE-...
> > When I restart the windows server 2003 with SP1 machine,
> > it says a message similar to "Do not power off the machine" and "Doing
> > updates 1 of 21". It keeps sitting there the whole day.
> > I have to manuall reset the machine.
> > I get the following error when it does the update and it is stuck there for
> > ever.
> >
> > Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library
> > "Runtime Error!"
> > Program: C:\WINDOWS\System32\MsiExec.exe
> > The application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual way.
> > Please contact the application's support team for more information.
> >
> > MsiExec.exe Application Error:
> > The exception unknown software exception (0x40000015) occured in the
> > application at location 0x7813461a
> >
> > Click OK to terminate the program
> > Click on CANCEL to debug the program.
> >
> > When I click OK the error popup keeps coming back again and again.
> >
> > I open IE browser and select windows update.
> > It says Automatic update is doing the update and thus it fails there also.
> > How do I do the windows update now?
>
>
> Look for clues in the logs the updates create.
>
> Otherwise my guess would be that you symptom is related
> to the symptoms described here:
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916089/en-us
>
> (MSKB Boolean search for
> hotfix AND "windows update" AND msi
> Modified: 14 days
> )
>
>
> The same search finds an even more recently updated
> "Guided Help" KB910359 which you may find useful or informative too.
>
>
> Good luck
>
> Robert Aldwinckle
> ---
>
>
>