Update fails with "The update cannot be applied"

I have one Windows XP SP2 PC that will not install several updates:
KB 907417 (Update for Office 2003)
KB 906173 (Update for Outlook 2003 Junk Mail Filter)
KB 907492 (Update for Outlook 2003 Junk Mail Filter)
whether I use my WSUS server (which tries every day), the Microsoft Update
website, or manually download and run the specific file for the KB article.

The message says "The update cannot be applied" and the specific error code
for each is 0x80070658.

I've done this logged in as "Administrator".

What do I need to fix?

Thanks,
Jon

Hello I'm having the same problem trying to update mine as well. I also get
the same error number if you find help can you let me know about it to. t/y

"Jon Limmer" wrote:

> I have one Windows XP SP2 PC that will not install several updates:
> KB 907417 (Update for Office 2003)
> KB 906173 (Update for Outlook 2003 Junk Mail Filter)
> KB 907492 (Update for Outlook 2003 Junk Mail Filter)
> whether I use my WSUS server (which tries every day), the Microsoft Update
> website, or manually download and run the specific file for the KB article.
>
> The message says "The update cannot be applied" and the specific error code
> for each is 0x80070658.
>
> I've done this logged in as "Administrator".
>
> What do I need to fix?
>
> Thanks,
> Jon

I'm in exactly the same position. Same updates fialing with same error
message. I noted a possible solution in the Windows Update troubleshooting
section that concerned the status of the OSE service but I've checked that
out and it appears to be OK. Advice would be appreciated.

Thanks, Ian

"brwnsugama" wrote:

> Hello I'm having the same problem trying to update mine as well. I also get
> the same error number if you find help can you let me know about it to. t/y
>
> "Jon Limmer" wrote:
>
> > I have one Windows XP SP2 PC that will not install several updates:
> > KB 907417 (Update for Office 2003)
> > KB 906173 (Update for Outlook 2003 Junk Mail Filter)
> > KB 907492 (Update for Outlook 2003 Junk Mail Filter)
> > whether I use my WSUS server (which tries every day), the Microsoft Update
> > website, or manually download and run the specific file for the KB article.
> >
> > The message says "The update cannot be applied" and the specific error code
> > for each is 0x80070658.
> >
> > I've done this logged in as "Administrator".
> >
> > What do I need to fix?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Jon

Interesting. I decided to see if Office 2003 thought it was okay, trying
first to repair it and then remove it. In all cases, whether from the
Control Panel or from the Office 2003 CD, I get the following message
immediately:

"Error applying transforms. Verify that the specified transform paths are
valid."

and the program closes. So, it appears that the problem is that Office is
messed up which prevents anything (updates, fixes, uninstall, repair, etc)
from working.

I'd suggest the other two people who said they have this problem try a
"repair" themselves to see if they're in the same situation.

The question is how to fix this root problem, since I seem unable to do
anything with the installation I have. Is there some other utility that will
flush Office off this computer?

Hey Microsoft! How about some suggestions!

Jon

"Jon Limmer" wrote:

> Interesting. I decided to see if Office 2003 thought it was okay, trying
> first to repair it and then remove it. In all cases, whether from the
> Control Panel or from the Office 2003 CD, I get the following message
> immediately:
>
> "Error applying transforms. Verify that the specified transform paths are
> valid."
>
> and the program closes. So, it appears that the problem is that Office is
> messed up which prevents anything (updates, fixes, uninstall, repair, etc)
> from working.
>
> I'd suggest the other two people who said they have this problem try a
> "repair" themselves to see if they're in the same situation.
>
> The question is how to fix this root problem, since I seem unable to do
> anything with the installation I have. Is there some other utility that will
> flush Office off this computer?
>
> Hey Microsoft! How about some suggestions!
>
> Jon
>

I followed your idea to repair Office which is successful. Then I re-applied
the updates which were also successful.

Don

I'm glad it worked for you, as I'd hoped it would for me. Unfortunately, I
have more of a problem than you did and still need some help. I'd be willing
to uninstall/reinstall Office if I could... but I can't at this point.

Any help available out there in cyberland?

Jon